Explore Tyagarah Nature Reserve – Everything You Need To Know
If you’re looking for a perfect escape to nature without overwhelming crowds or tourists, then it’s high time you visited Tyagarah – a coastal jewel of the NSW region.
Tyagarah is a 7-km-strip of perfect shoreline that starts at Byron Bay and ends in Brunswick Heads. It’s family-friendly, nature trails are endless and camping is on offer.
Whatever your preference, Tyagarah Nature Reserve has it all. For adventure ladies looking for an escape, this is what you need to know.
Before you go:
The area is stunning no matter the season, but if you’re eager to see local wildlife, take part in whale watching during their migration or spend time sunbathing and surfing, Spring and Summer are best.
Spring is when you will be most likely to spot whales crossing the ocean, while summer boasts many a surfing-friendly wave for beginners.
If you plan to drive from Byron Bay, you can easily access the Reserve via the Greys Lane road. Park
entry is $8 per vehicle. However, especially if the weather is mild enough, and you’re staying in the vicinity, you can also visit the park on a bike, or via the 640 bus from Ballina to Mullumbimby.
Sorry ladies, the area isn’t pet friendly. You need to leave your fur friends at home.
Don’t forget to bring the right protective gear, including high-quality hiking boots, insect repellant, sunscreen, plenty of water and snacks.
What to see:
Tea Tree Lake must be on your list.
For the past 22,000 years, perhaps even longer, this coastal region has been the native land belonging to the people of Arakwal, an Aboriginal tribe that preceded the European settlers, and they are the true custodians of the Byron Bay region, so the park bears significance as a part of their local history.
Side by side with people, this park is inhabited by many curious species that are unique to the region, as well as others that are common all across Australia, but you’ll have a unique opportunity to observe them in their natural habitat in those seven kilometers of coastline.
You will see white-bellied sea eagles and Brahminy kites hunting for food by majestically storming towards the waves to catch their prey, humble Australian bush turkeys roaming about in the bushland, and the Pied oystercatchers searching the coast as well – it’s a dream-come-true for bird enthusiasts, and a paradise for those who’d like to give bird-watching a go.
In addition to the famous wallaby, which you might even see in action in Tyagarah, there are even several endangered species you can come across, such as the long-nosed potoroo (which is a marsupial as cute as its name).
Where to stay:
Byron Bay is a perfect place to pitch a tent or stay in an Air BnB. Some of the more affordable, but still very comfortable and fun options include the Suffolk Beachfront Holiday Park and the Broken Head Holiday Park, where you can stay either in a cabin on the ground, or you can pitch up a tent, or come with your own van.
Surrounding tracks:
Although this park alone is more than enough to keep your schedule busy with all the native wildlife and a wide variety of ecological communities, it’s worth researching the surrounding area when it comes to hiking trails and bushwalking tracks, as well.
Cape Bryan Walking Track: Is a loop almost 4km in length, and offers a challenging route even that’ll take at least two hours even for the advanced hikers. Once again, if you do decide to visit in the spring, and tackle this track, make sure you bring your binoculars, because you’ll venture into the rainforest, and make a few stops at several breathtaking clifftops, from where you’ll be able to watch the whales during their annual migration.
Happy adventuring ladies.