Where Rivers, Lagoons and Long Surf Beaches Meet

Overview

Bundjalung National Park stretches along the far north coast of New South Wales between Iluka and Evans Head, with the Pacific Ocean on one side and a mix of river systems, wetlands and coastal bush on the other. It covers about 35 kilometres of coastline and takes in a broad sweep of beaches as well as the Esk River catchment, giving the park a character that feels both open and watery rather than purely ocean-facing.

What makes this park stand out is the way so many different coastal landscapes sit close together. Around the shore there are surf beaches, shallow reefs and freshwater lagoons, while further inland the country shifts to creeks, wetlands and forested levees along the Esk River.

Highlights

The scenery here is shaped by water. Ten Mile Beach gives the coast a long, uninterrupted feel, while the Evans River, Jerusalem Creek and the Esk River bring a quieter, more sheltered side to the park. That mix of ocean, estuary and freshwater is what gives Bundjalung its distinctive sense of space.

Another standout is the contrast between exposed shoreline and softer inland country. Along the Esk River, clear slow-moving water winds through a catchment that remains largely natural, with wetlands, mangroves in the lower estuary, and eucalypt forest rising on the natural levees above the surrounding low-lying ground.

Best Time to Visit

Bundjalung suits different kinds of visits across the year, but the milder months are often the most comfortable for walking, with warm days and less of the heavy summer humidity. From May to November, the coast is also part of the annual whale migration route, which adds another layer to the experience of being near the headlands and open beaches.

At any time of year, this is a place that tends to feel best when you want to spend time around the water, whether that means ocean beaches, calm creeks or the freshwater edges that run through the park.

Plants and Animals

Bundjalung National Park protects a varied patchwork of coastal habitats, and that diversity shows up clearly in the vegetation. Across the park you move through heathland, banksia country, eucalypt forest, mangroves along the estuary and wetland areas linked to the Esk River catchment.

Animal life is just as varied. The park is known for birdlife around its waterways and shore, and native animals seen here include red-necked wallabies. Its coastal wetlands and river systems are an important part of what supports that richness.

Culture and Heritage

Bundjalung National Park has living cultural connections for Bundjalung people, and those connections are still part of how the place is experienced today. The park’s coastal and river landscapes are tied to stories, values and an ongoing relationship with Country.