Listed is a SNAPSHOT OF LOCAL ATTRACTIONS

This information is current as at November 2001. It only lists a few of the many activities that occur in the region.

General Information on National Parks and Nature Reserves

There are over 30 National Parks and Nature Reserves on the North Coast of NSW and includes the World Heritage listed Border Ranges National Park. Many of the parks and reserves can be visited on a day trip. Information, specific to each park and reserve, plus a location map is provided at Broadwater Beach Retreat.

Broadwater National Park - general

• The Park is of special interest to birdwatchers for its extraordinary array of bird life. The Atlas database has recorded sightings within the Park of over 200 heath, sedgeland, shrubland, wader and sea birds. The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) have listed over 50 endangered, protected and vulnerable birds. In addition, they have listed over 40 threatened animal species and have records for 417 native plant species, including 23 of particular conservation concern. For more details, view either the Atlas Bird database or the Atlas of NSW Wildlife.

Birdwatching along fire trails in Broadwater National Park

• The Park has many fire trails, suitable for bush walking and bird watching. The trails wind through the Park - often along the perimeter of wetlands, which makes them sometimes wet and coloured a tea-brown from organic matter which has accumulated in the swamps and lagoons over the years. Many of the Park's flowers can be seen from the fire trails. At the cottage, we have a topographical map with fire trails marked.

Birdwatching along Broadwater Beach

• The stretch of unpopulated beach between the Richmond River at South Ballina and Broadwater, is about 20 km in length has abundant birdlife. It supports14 - 15 breeding pairs of Pied Oystercatchers (classified as vulnerable) and between 30 - 70 non breeding individuals. This forms a significant local population given that the state population is estimated at about 250 birds. Their nesting season is August to December. Information from NPWS pamphlet.

Broadwater Beach Lookout

• The lookout is about 50 metres from Broadwater Beach Retreat and has expansive beach and ocean views. From the lookout, you can experience seabirds, dolphins and the occasional humpback whale - as well as the visual phenomena of wild weather and electrical storms.

Picnic Areas

• There are many picnic areas around Broadwater and Evans Head and fresh water is available at most. About 2 kms north of Broadwater Beach Retreat, there is a lovely picnic area with barbecues, toilets, water and picnic tables. It has a wooden walkway to the beach.

Other Wildlife

• Wilson Nature Reserve, near Lismore, contains the only significant patch of dry rainforest left from the original 'Big Scrub', and is also one of the best spots to see koalas.

• Tucki Tucki Nature Reserve between Lismore and Broadwater, on the Wyrallah Rd has a small colony of koalas

• Broadwater Koala Sanctuary, at the southern side of Broadwater, has resident koalas

• Whale watching from June to end of September. To book a local tour contact Ballina Ocean Tours

• Doubleduke State Forest, about 45 km south west of Woodburn, has lots of kangaroos, wallabies, possums, koalas, the rare brush-tailed phascogale and the emu. At night, spotlighting commonly produces sightings of various gliders, including sugar gliders and squirrel gliders

Walks

• Broadwater National Park has only two "proper" walking tracks. The main walk goes to Salty Lagoon and along the way passes through diverse vegetation areas including banksia scrub, wet heath areas and finally coastal dunes, which lie between Salty Lagoon and the surfing beach (Air Force Beach). Birds seen here in the year 2001 include black swans, spoonbills, brolgas, ducks and darters. Salty Lagoon is close to Evans Head, on the Evans Head - Broadwater Road, and the walk is an easy 3 km return. There is no fee to enter the Park.

• Bunjalung National Park has many walking tracks including the Dirrawong Track, which is accessed through Evans Head. The track passes through savannah woodland and sedge swamp before skirting littoral rainforest remnants adjacent to the Evans River. There is a daily fee to enter the Park

• A topographical map, located at the cottage, has all fire trails within Broadwater National Park clearly identified.

Aboriginal significance

• At the end of the Dirrawong track, in Bunjalung National Park, is an aboriginal midden.

• The Jenna Jenna Track, slightly left of the Dirrawong, leads over a hill past the old campsite of the local Aboriginal people. Both of these tracks are only minutes from Evans Head.

• The Gurrigai Art and Craft Gallery is located at New Italy, 12 kms south of Woodburn, on the Pacific Highway.

Markets

• There are local arts and craft markets each weekend, including one held monthly at Evans Head. More details can be found at the cottage and on the websites listed below.

Festivals and Celebrations

• Annual Orchid Festival in spring at Woodburn

• Evans Head Fishing Classic in June

• Coraki Tea Tree Festival on the last weekend in October

• Great Eastern Fly-in, at Evans Head, in late December

• Bentley Art Show in late July

Canoeing

• Good canoeing on the Esk River, located in Bunjalung National Park, about 30 kms south of the cottage. It is considered one of the last wild coastal rivers!

At the cottage is a comprehensive list of activities.

For more information visit the websites below
Richmond Valley: www.richmondnet.com.au/tourism ,
Ballina: www.balinfo@balshire.org.au and
Lismore: www.tourism@liscity.nsw.gov.au
Northcoast Portal: www.northcoast-portal.com