Terrigal - Places to See

Terrigal Lagoon and Rotary Park

Rotary Park lies between the southern shore of Terrigal Lagoon and Terrigal Drive. Large trees line the lake's foreshore and, on the eastern side of the bridge, in the corner of the large park, is a paddleboat and canoe hire service.

The Skillion
The most prominent feature of Terrigal is the headland, known as Broken Head, just over the hill from the main shopping strip. The northern side of the headland is quite wide and flat, constituting an open grassy parkland. What makes it distinctive is 'The Skillion' on the southern side (called Kurawyba by the Awabakal Aborigines). This narrow section of the headland rises dramatically in an easterly direction to a considerable height over a very short distance. The surface is well-grassed so it makes a short but steep walk where the view is worth the climb. There is a lookout south to First Point beyond Avoca Beach and north to Yumbool Point in Wyrrabalong National Point just south of The Entrance.

Terrigal Beach
Terrigal Beach marks the southern end of 4 km of unbroken beach which extends northwards to Spoon Bay on the southern side of Wamberal Point. The northern section is known as Wamberal Beach - a good patrolled family beach with moderate surf and a rockpool area.

Wamberal Lagoon
Just behind the northern beach is tranquil Wamberal Lagoon. The land on either side of the lagoon is a sanctuary for protected birds and animals - best seen from Remembrance Drive, which runs off Ocean View Drive. The car park at the end of Remembrance Drive has an information sign regarding the reserve and is also a convenient access point to Wamberal Beach, the surf lifesaving club and a kiosk, all just around the corner.

Forresters Beach
On the northern side of Wamberal Point is Forresters Beach, named after Robert Forrester who settled there in 1861. It is another holiday area with a quiet beach and scenic views. Hang-gliding is common. Kalakau Avenue runs along the beachfront. There is an elevated viewing platform opposite Crystal St. The beach is about 1 km in length from the rocky headland of Cromarty Hill to the north, within Wyrrabalong National Park.

Wyrrabalong National Park
The park covers 597 ha but is divided into two physically separate sections. Wyrrabalong, meaning 'headland looking over the sea' is a word of the Darkinjung people who once occupied the narrow strip of coastline between Forresters Beach and Bateau Bay, which now constitutes the southern section of the park (140 ha).

The southern section is characterised by high, exposed coastal cliffs of sandstone and shale and extensive rock platforms at either end that are ideal for fishing and exploring at low tide. There are woodlands of blackbutt, spotted gum and bloodwood along the plateau, with shrubs and heath (mostly coastal banksia and she-oak) on the gentler slopes to the west. There is plenty of marine and bird life and mangrove stands at the southern end of Bateau Bay. Fauna includes goannas, bandicoots, fantails and the tawny frogmouth.

Wyrrabalong Lookout is located on Cromarty Hill. There is a car park and an adjacent concrete platform with views to the south and west. A short path leads to Wyrrabalong Lookout on the cliff's edge, 132 m above sea-level, from where there are views south to The Skillion.

A 1.6-km walking track leads along the cliffs through the attractive woodland to the other viewing platform, Crackneck Lookout (274 m high) where there is a large clearing and car park with information boards and a picnic-barbecue area. The walking track continues northwards for another 2 km to Bateau Bay. For further information contact National Parks and Wildlife Service (02) 4320 4200.