North Coast Adventure

The NSW North Coast is an outdoor adventurer’s dream. From hiking trails that lead through World Heritage national parks and prehistoric rainforest and spectacular lookouts, to sand-boarding down immense dunes, there’s never a dull moment. You can also go diving with sea turtles, raft down wild rapids or surf the perfect wave.

Couple enjoying a walk through Burrawan State Forest at Herons Creek in Port Macquarie, North Coast

Hiking & bushwalking

One of the best ways to explore this incredible region is on foot, from short walks to multi-day hikes that stop at scenic campsites. Explore untouched rainforest and rugged wilderness at some of the top walking trails on the NSW North Coast including:

Wonga Walk in Dorrigo National Park
Protestors Falls track in Nightcap National Park
Lyrebird track in Wollumbin National Park
Iluka Rainforest track in the Iluka Nature Reserve
Border Loop walk in Border Ranges National Park

Woman abseiling Gap Creek Falls in Watagans National Park, Lake Macquarie

If you want to challenge yourself further in the bush, strap in for some abseiling and rock climbing. Watagans National Park near Lake Macquarie has a number of great sites or you can try out the seaside granite at Port Stephens. The North Coast is also the place to find incredible waterfalls, hidden away in lush rainforest and perfect for a cooling dip. Don’t miss Minyon Falls in Nightcap National Park, and Dangar and Crystal Shower Falls near Dorrigo.

Surfing & watersports

Surf some of the world's best surf beaches, including stunning National Surfing Reserves in Newcastle, Crescent Head, Lennox Head and Angourie, south of Yamba. It’s not just the experts who are catered for with surf schools all along the coast, especially in Byron Bay and Coffs Harbour.

Scuba diver watching a turtle on a scuba dive at Julian Rocks in Byron Bay, North Coast

Swim with wild dolphins with Dolphin Swim Australia in Port Stephens. Dive with turtles, rays and other marine life in Solitary Islands Marine Park with Jetty Dive, or further north with Sundive Byron Bay or Blue Bay Divers. You can also dive with grey nurse sharks in Fish Rock Cave off South West Rocks – one of the best cave dives on the planet.

The Wajaana Yaam Adventure Tours stand up paddleboarding experience on the Corindi River, Red Rock

Join an indigenous guide on a stand up paddle boarding tour of the Coffs Creek with Wajaana Yaam Adventure Tours. In the Clarence Valley, ride Australia’s longest whitewater trail or take a rafting tourof Nymboida River. Zip around Lake Macquarie in a jet boat at hair-raising speeds with JetBuzz Watersports.

Quad biking experience on the Stockton Sand Dunes in the Worimi Conservation Lands, Port Stephens

Adrenaline junkies

Take a 4WD or quad bike out onto Stockton Beach in the Worimi Conservation Lands, near Port Stephens. Here, you’ll take on the towering Stockton sand dunes, which rise to 40m high. Sand Dune Adventures combines local Aboriginal cultural history with quad-bike riding on the dunes.

Byron Bay Ballooning flight in Byron Bay, North Coast

For a different view of the coast, try skydiving at Port Macquarie or Coffs Harbour or tandem hang-gliding at Byron Bay, near the World Heritage-listed Wollumbin National Park. You’ll get to see the North Coast’s tallest peak on the way down. Try hot-air ballooning with Byron Bay Ballooning and experience sunrise over the sea.