Woolgoolga to Moonee Beach provides a stunning section of coastal area with some great vantage spots for whale watching, whilst Woolgoolga Headland and Look at Me Now Headland provide stunning views of the Solitary Islands. Read the story of the Dammerals family at Emerald headland.
Look At Me Now Headland
Woolgoolga is a seaside village in the northern beaches area of the Coffs Coast and only 25kms north of Coffs Harbour. The town home to the Guru Nanak Sikh Temple and the famous Curryfest event held in September every year. Known to the locals as ‘Woopi’ the area offers plenty of natural beauty including Sherwood Nature Reserve and Woolgoolga Creek Picnic area.
.The early morning sunrise from Woolgoolga Headland is so worth it! The sky offers glorious swathes of colours and if you’re luck you might see a pod of dolphins frolicking or Whales breaching during the cooler months of migration season from May to September.
There are plenty of cafes to fuel up on a big breakfast for the big day ahead try Bluebottles Brasserie or Beachouse café. Join the Coastal track at Woolgoolga’s back beach and settle into a steady rhythm across the golden sand. Before you know it, you’ll hit Sandy Beach just in time to satisfy your coffee cravings at the Sunken Chip take away and espresso bar are just a short walk back from the beach. They do the yummiest homemade donuts to accompany your coffees.
The next stretch of the walk covers two more beaches and across Bare Bluff to Emerald Beach. A park, restaurants and cafes are just a stone’s throw from the sand and Rattle restaurant offers seating on the deck overlooking the ocean.
After a fresh seafood lunch, take a short stroll along Serenity Bay and around Emerald Beach Headland. You’ll discover the Dammerel History Walk with interpretive signs along the way about the Dammerel family who took the job as full-time operators of the signal station in 1884. It’s a story stretching over 40 years of extremely hard work, including a beautiful love story and a family tragedy.
Next along the trail is the spectacular Look At Me Now Headland. This is the spot to take a few photos of the large, mob of Eastern Grey kangaroos reclining peacefully in the afternoon sun. The scene will put a big smile on your face and a key instagrammable spot to share with friends!
This section of the walk offers plenty of birdlife and you might even spot a threatened Zieria plant. Continuing on from Look at Me Now is 5.5km to Moonee Beach with plenty of wildlife watching along the way. The walks are home to abundant birdlife and offers big open-air spaces to spot migrating whales and dolphins frolicking in the waves.
The final section of the day’s walk is the long, pristine stretch of sand to Moonee Beach and Moonee Creek. The Creek is a great spot for kayaking, fishing, swimming or picnicking along the estuary, but you’ll need low tide to cross the Moonee Creek. You’ll be very ready to enjoy a comfortable cabin and wind down for the night at Moonee Reflections Holiday Park.
Please take care when crossing Moonee Creek and always cross at low tide.
Alternative Walk Sections
Heading North 3km Loop to Woolgoolga Lake
From the Woolgoolga village head north along the beach to Woolgoolga Lake a coastal lagoon ideal for swimming, kayaking and fishing. The walk along the white sandy beach as plenty of vistas including the Solitary Islands and you’ll also pass the site of ‘The Buster Shipwreck’ buried in the sand. The ship was a steamer that ran ashore in 1893 which is sometimes uncovered depending on the sea’s conditions. Stop for a picnic in the reserve before heading back along the road through coastal forests and past a flying fox colony onto the town centre.
Please check the tides – walking along the beach is easiest at low tide. Areas that are best walked at low tide include creek crossings at Arrawarra and Moonee Creek and around rocks on Campbells Beach.
For weather, tides and rips: bom.com.au , ripcurrents.com.au
