Walks from Illaroo Campground, Yuraygir National Park, NSW.

Most of the walks leave from the Illaroo South Picnic Area which is at the southern end of Illaroo South Campground.

Angophora Grove Walk, Grade 3, 1.2 km return.
This walk is a short section of the Yuraygir Coastal Walk and passes Rocky Point Campground. Keen walkers can contine on through Minnie Water to Wooli which is a Grade 4 track, 14 km one way.

Coastal views on the Angophora Walk

The Angophora Grove Walk links to the Minnie Water Village track which makes a nice circuit walk.

Sivereye

Rocky Point Campground 180m, 260m return.
Rocky Point Campground is a walk-in campground just south of Illaroo South Campground. A 130m walk from the car park didn't sound like much so I was keen to have a look. I soon discovered that much of the distance to the campground was up hill which made it a less attractive option to lug camping gear to the site. There are no facilities at the site and fires are not allowed. It would seem that this campsite is aimed at through hikers doing the Yuraygir Coastal Walk.

Steps to Rocky Point Campsite.

Rocky Point Campsite

Minnie Water Village. Grade 3, 1.76 km return.
This is a hand, easy walk that links the campgrounds to the village of Minnie Water. We found this to be an attractive walk through wallum heath. There were a variety of Banksia species and abuntant birdlife.

Minnie Water Village Walk

Banksia ericifolia

Banksia aemula

Eastern Spinebill

Common Crow Butterfly

Yuraygir Coastal Walk north to Sandon.
We were keen to walk north from the campground to Sandon. We had some difficulty locating the walking track. We explored Illaroo Campground North and the Group Camping Areas looking for a trail-head to no avail. Eventually we walked down to the beach and started walking north. Four wheel driving is not allowed in front of the campgrounds at Illaroo but just north of the campgrounds there is a beach access point for four wheel drives and they can drive along the beach, at low tide, to Sandon. A NSW vehicle pass is required to drive on the beach. Shortly after passing the beach access point we saw the familiar sign posts for the Yuraygir Coastal Walk so we walked back into the dunes and followed the track past a locked gate.  Walkers can freely access the track but only Sandon residents and authorised vehicles can unlock the gate.

4WD entry to the beach.

Coastal walk to Sandon from Illaroo.

We were a bit disapointed that this section of the Yuraygir Coastal Walk was really just a sandy four wheek drive road with limited views of the beach and kilometer after kilometer, the deep sandy ruts were a challenge to walk on. Sections of the coastal walk that we have done before were dedicated walking tracks along the edge of the coast with beautiful vistas. Infamously, in the past, I was so busy enjoying the view from the section between Angourie and Shelly Beach that I tripped and dislocated my finger. 

We returned the way we had come and descended back to the beach.

Returning from the walk.

Brahminy Kite.

Surfing is popular in front of Illaroo Campgrounds.

Illaroo Campground, Yuraygir National Park, NSW.

Surfing beach in front of Illaroo Campground.

We have long been fans of Yuragir National Park as we love the Yuraygir Coastal Walk which stretches from Angourie to Red Rock south of Wooli. This trip we decided to camp at Illaroo South Campground to explore the area around Minnie Water and Wooli. We have heard many great reviews for the Illaroo Campgrounds and we were not dissapointed. We had a relaxing stay and found the campground to be very well managed. Our camping neighbours generously gave us a a bag of delicious home grown manderines. 

Drinking water station on Illaroo Road.

There are different sections to the campground. Illaroo South has a mixture of defined and open sites and there is a bollarded section with an open grassy area for walk-in tenting. Illaroo North seemed to be mostly defined sites. In the winter, we had no problem finding a great site but I would imagine that in the summer, it would be a good idea arrive early to find a site. There are no water taps in the campgrounds but there is a drinking water station on the way in along Illaroo Road. Further north, there are a couple of large-group camping areas but these need to be prebooked online. To the south of the picnic area, Rocky Point is a small walk-in campsite suitable for campers walking the Yuraygir Coastal Walk, however, it has no facilities. 

Beachside site at Illaroo South Campground.

Walk in tent site at Illaroo South Campground.

Defined beachside campsites at Illaroo North Campground.

Rocky Point Campsite.

Sunrise from our campsite at Illaroo South Campground.

There is a pleasant picnic area at Illaroo South with parking and a picnic shelter.

Illaroo South Picnic Area.

Lookout in Illaroo South Picnic Area.

There is an unpatrolled surf beach in front of the campgrounds and rocky headlands to explore. There is an area with continual fresh water run-off between the campground and the beach which created an interesting habitat for sundews and frogs. We could hear what we think were Striped Marsh Frogs but didn't manage to see any.

Beach access from Illaroo South Campground.

Interesting rock headland in front of Illaroo Campground.

Sundews.

There is a lookout in the campground and another in the picnic area. When schools of bait fish were prevelant we saw dolphins surfing and gannets diving into the sea.

Australasian Gannets diving for fish.

The main birds in the campground were White-cheeked Honeyeaters, Rainbow Lorikeets and Black-faced Cuckoo-shrikes. We shared our site with a Pheasant Coucal that seemed to sleep in the bushes next to our tent and come out during the day to sunbake.

White-cheeked Honeyeater.

Pheasant Coucal, Illaroo South Campground.

There were also lots of Masked Lapwings both in the campground and on the beach. 

The spurs are visible on this Masked Lapwing.

I will cover the walks in the next blog. 

Details for Illaroo Campground, Yuraygir National Park NSW:
Where: 53 km south-east of Grafton. South of Grafton turn off the Pacific HWY onto Eight Mile Lane. Turn right into Wooli Road. Turn left into Minnie Water Road. Turn left into Illaroo Road. The first campground is Illaroo South, then Illaroo North and lastly Illaroo Group Campground.
Access: The last couple of kilometers is an unsealed 2WD all weather road.
Booking & Fees: No bookings. Park entry fee of $8 per vehicle per day. (Or buy an annual pass before arrival for about $45). Camp fee $12 per adult per night. $6 child 5 - 15 year old. Under 5 free. Contractors come around at least twice a day, 7 days a week to collect fees. Cash only. Take correct change. The group camping area is booked online.
Sites: 60 sites in total. Some open grassy areas and some defined beachfront areas. Suitable for walk in tent areas, camping beside your vehicle and all rig types.
Facilities: Tables. Wood and gas barbeques. Fire rings, BYO wood. Non-flush toilets. Bins. Walks. Lookouts. There is a drinking water station just after entering the park along Illaroo Road, next to the information sign. No water at the actual campground. We received text messages but were unable to phone in or out with Telstra. I think the local provider is Optus. 4WD access to a short section of the beach is near the group campground. Fishing is allowed with a NSW recreational licence.
Illaroo South Picnic Area: Large shelter with gas barbeques and tables. Infomation. Walks. Lookout.
Prohibitions: No pets. No smoking. 


Wildlife: Lace Monitor, Micro Bats, Flying Foxes, Humpback Whales, Dolphins. Heard Striped Marsh Frogs. Butterflies: Black Jezebel, Cabbage White, Large Grass-yellow, Yellow Albatross, Common Crow. Birds: White-bellied Sea-eagle, Wedge-tailed Eagle, Brahminy Kite, Whistling Kite, Osprey, Australian Brush Turkey, Grey Butherbird, Pied Biutherbird, Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo, Little Pied Cormorant, Little Black Cormorant, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, Bar-shouldered Dove, Great Egret, Little Egret, Superb Fairy-wren, Red-backed Fairy-wren, Grey Fantail, Australasian Figbird, Double-barred Finch, Noisy Friarbird, Australasian Gannet, White-faced Heron, Blue-faced Honeyeater, Lewin's Honeyeater, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, White-cheeked Honeyeater, Australian White Ibis, Sacred Kingfisher, Laughing Kookaburra, Rainbow Lorikeet, Australian Magpie, Magpie-lark, Masked Lapwing, Fairy Martin, Noisy Miner, Australian King Parrot, Australian Pelican, Pheasant Coucal, Crested Pigeon, Silver Gull, Grey Shrike-thrush, Little Shrike-thrush, Silvereye, Eastern Spinebill, Royal Spoonbill, Welcome Swallow, Black Swan, Caspian Tern, Pied Oystercatcher, Little Wattlebird, Willie Wagtail. Saw three Brolgas on private property on the drive out of the national park to the highway.

Noosa Spit Recreation Reserve, Noosa Heads, QLD.

Noosa Marine Rescue Tower at Noosa Spit.

Noosa Spit Recreation Reserve, also known as Noosa Woods, is at the western end of the famous shopping precinct in Hastings Street, Noosa Heads. There are several large car parking areas along Claude Batton Drive which give easy access to a network of walking trails throughout the spit and provide access to Noosa Beach.

We parked about half way along Claude Batton Drive and walked west towards the Noosa River inlet. 

Secluded beach facing Noosa Inlet.

Terns resting on a sandbar in Noosa Inlet.

Then we explored the mangrove areas along Woods Bay. It's a good idea to wear insect protection if you venture into this area.

Woods Bay looking towards Noosa Parade.

Sacred Kingfisher at Noosa Woods.

Scarlet Honeyeater at Noosa Woods.

After returning to the car park we decided to leave the car where it was and followed another path out to Noosa Spit. We walked right past a very handsome Pied Butcherbird feasting on the fruit of a Beach Alectryon.

Pied Butcherbird.

Approaching the spit we noticed a Juvenile Striated Heron out in the open hunting for small crabs.

Juvenile Striated Heron in stealth mode.

We walked past the Marine Rescue Tower and watched boats crossing the bar. Even in calm conditions there are small waves for boats to negotiate. There are views towards Noosa Heads in one direction and down Noosa Beach to Noosa Heads in the other direction.

Crossing Noosa Bar. Noosa North Shore in the background.

Looking north-west from the break wall at the end of the spit.

Looking south-east towards Noosa Heads National Park.