Here are some ideas for things
to do when you're staying in Wooli
Things to see and do in Wooli NSW
Visiting Wooli on the NSW North Coast? Looking for things to do? With the Pacific Ocean, Solitary Islands Marine Park, the pristine Wooli Wooli River and the large Yuraygir National Park on your doorstep, Wooli offers plenty of activities and natural attractions.
Boating and Canoeing on the Wooli River
Canoes – Free to use for guests – No visit to Wooli is complete without a paddle on our beautiful river! When you stay at Wooli River Lodges, canoeing is included in your stay. Guests are free to borrow one of our three canoes to explore the river. It’s just a few steps from your lodge to the river’s edge where our canoes are waiting for you.
Our Canoes – Our canoes are Old Town Rockport and are suitable for up to 3 people. There is a compartment for your valuables. Life jackets and paddles are supplied. Please contact us if you have any questions about our canoes or paddling on the Wooli River or book your stay now.
Walking
Wooli is surrounded by some excellent walking tracks and trails: in town, along the beach and river, up to Wilsons Headland and in Yuraygir National Park. The walking tracks range from 6.1km to 15.6km in length and are relatively flat and easy going. You may even see the endangered coastal emu Dramaius Novaehollandiae. A delightful walk right from the lodges, starts at the telegraph pole opposite the entry to the lodges and takes you to the beach. You pass through spectacular heath lands and you’ll see the wide variety of plants and birds that the area is renowned for. Get a map from the visitor information centre or the Wooli River Lodges reception.
Fishing
Wooli has long been famous for outstanding fishing, due to its distance from other coastal centres. Dangle a line from the riverbank or in the estuary (flathead, whiting, bream), off the rock wall (jewfish, mangrove jack) or on the beach (bream, jewfish, tailor). Alternatively, launch a boat from one of Wooli’s boat ramps or go on a fishing charter (see below).
Fishing Charters & Whale Watching Tours
Go river or deep-sea fishing with one of Wooli’s deep sea fishing operators, who can also take you out on a whale-watching cruise to see migrating Humpback whales between May and November.
Wooli Deep Sea Tours – 02 6649 7100 – website www.woolidive.com.au
Diving & Snorkelling Tours
The Solitary Islands Marine Park, just off our coast, offers an unforgettable underwater world for you to enjoy. Wooli has an excellent scuba diving centre and PADI training facility offering snorkelling and diving tours and training. You can also try some easy snorkelling yourself in the Wooli River and at Diggers Camp.
Wooli Dive Centre – www.woolidive.com.au
River Tours
Private river charters (max. 14 people), eco tours, self-drive river boats (max. 12 people, no licences required) are all available on the pristine Wooli Wooli River.
Call Bruce on – 0439 409 909
Wooli River Explorer – website www.wooliriverboathire.com.au
Boat hire
If you’re staying at Wooli River Lodges, you can take out one of our 3-seater canoes free of charge. If it’s a tinnie you’re after, you can hire a runabout at Wooli River Boat Hire, which also rents out fishing gear.
Wooli River Lodges – Wooli River Canoeing
Wooli River Boat Hire – website www.wooliriverboathire.com.au
Swimming
Wooli has kilometres of beautiful, unspoilt beaches for you to enjoy, with beach patrols available during holiday periods. The Wooli Wooli River, one of the cleanest in Australia, has a sheltered lagoon at its mouth at high tide and is perfect for a calm swim in crystal clear waters. There is a cove and some great rock pools at Diggers Camp just north of Wooli. And if you’re staying at Wooli River Lodges, you can also take a refreshing dip in our riverside pool.
Surfing
Bring your surfboard and surf some of the breaks on protected beaches along the outstretched coastline at Wooli and Minnie Waters and at Wilsons Headland (for more experienced surfers).
Photography
Keen photographers, both amateur and professional, love Wooli and its surroundings for its abundance of natural beauty, interesting landscapes and incredible birdlife and wildlife. Different times of the day and different seasons offer plenty of opportunities for some amazing shots you will be proud to show off.
Birdwatching
Wooli is a veritable birdwatchers’ paradise. With the river just a few steps away and the vast wilderness of Yuraygir National Park just across the road and on the opposite side of the river, Wooli River Lodges is an ideal base for birdwatchers. Around 190 species of birds have been recorded at Yuraygir NP, 30 of which are listed as endangered.
Birds seen near Wooli River Lodges over 2 days in summer:
| Brown Quail Chestnut Teal Australian Wood Duck Pacific Black Duck Australian Pelican Great Cormorant Little Black Cormorant White-faced Heron Cattle Egret Great Egret Little Egret Intermediate Egret Nankeen Night Heron Australian White Ibis Black-shouldered Kite Whistling Kite White-bellied Sea Eagle Buff-banded Rail Black-tailed Godwit Whimbrel Eastern Curlew Sandpiper Beach Stone Curlew Masked Lapwing Pied Oystercatcher Silver Gull Crested Tern Peaceful Dove Spotted Turtle-Dove Crested Pigeon Bar-shouldered Dove Common Bronzewing Glossy Black Cockatoo Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo Galah Rainbow Lorikeet |
Scaly-breasted Lorikeet Australian King Parrot Eastern Rosella Common Koel Pheasant Coucal Tawny Frogmouth Laughing Kookaburra Rainbow Bee-eater Brown Treecreeper Red-backed Fairy-wren Superb Fairy-wren Southern Emu-wren Little Wattlebird Noisy Friarbird Little Friarbird Blue-faced Honeyeater Noisy Miner Tawny-crowned Honeyeater White-cheeked Honeyeater Eastern Whipbird (H) Magpie-lark Satin Flycatcher Willie Wagtail Grey Fantail Black-faced Cuckoo shrike Olive-backed Oriole Figbird White-breasted Woodswallow Pied Butcherbird Australian Magpie Torresian Crow Welcome Swallow Golden headed Cisticola House Sparrow Red-browed Finc |
For groups and individuals – Bird watching groups are most welcome to stay at our quiet Wooli riverside accommodation. Please call to discuss options. Even if you’re not an avid bird watcher, it’s a good idea to bring binoculars when visiting Wooli, as you’re bound to hear or see interesting birds you’d want to have a closer look at – even right from the veranda of your lodge.
More birdwatching resources
To book a birdwatching tour, contact Simon Clayton of Birdrangers
For recent report on birds seen at Wooli River Lodges see here and here
For more information, please visit Lloyd Nielsen’s Birding Australia website.
Bowling
Lawn bowls is available at the Wooli Bowling & Recreation Club. Phone: (02) 6649 7525.
Tennis
Play a game/set/match at the Wooli Tennis Courts. Phone: (02) 6649 7606.
Dining out
If you want to eat out in Wooli, you can choose from the following options: Harry’s Chinese Restaurant at the Wooli Bowling Club and Emilio’s Bistro at the Wooli Hotel
