The area around Coffs Harbour Australia is packed full of interesting places to visit and stunning locations for setting up camp. Actually this whole stretch of coast is one gorgeous surf beach after another, one headland with superlative views after another. We had come to see Urunga boardwalk, a structure we had heard which set Urunga (Oo-run-ga), apart from other seaside towns (thanks to Mel from All Around Oz for the tip).

Ocean View Hotel Urunga

We parked opposite the grand old pub, the Ocean View Hotel and went exploring. It wasn’t far to the Public Access sign beside Reflections Urunga Caravan Park, also known as the Reflections Holiday Park, with it’s prime waterfront position. A short walk later and we were there. It is also possible to drive and park lagoon side.

I’d not seen photos of the structure, or researched it beforehand so was flabbergasted to see timber pylons as far as the eye could see. The current boardwalk was built in four stages 1988/1991/2007/2010 and is just short of 1km long. It’s a popular place to push a pram, jog or walk the dog.

Follow me.

The tide was low during our visit which transformed the boardwalk into an excellent viewing platform to watch Pied Oyster Catchers hunting in the sand below.

A low 260 metre walkway disappears south from the main boardwalk into the mangroves of Urunga lagoon.

A deeper channel of water runs close to this platform and we could clearly see many sizeable fish below us.

Extending from the shore over the Urunga Lagoon, the boardwalk finishes at the ocean beach, which doubles as an off-leash dog beach. Hungry Heads beach, 2.5 km south from here is used as the Urunga town beach and is patrolled by Urunga SLSC.

The View looking north toward Bongil Bongil National Park, Sawtell and Coffs Harbour.

Urunga Boardwalk Looking Back

Storm clouds gathering behind Urunga Boardwalk Beach, New South Wales.

The gathering clouds were impressive and there was a decided spring in our step on the return trip.

The rock wall is a training wall… training the river. We first noticed this phenomena further south at South West Rocks. On the right hand side of the boardwalk are the Bellinger (which flows through Bellingen) and Kalang Rivers who join here and enter the ocean as one. Urunga Lagoon is to the left.

You can see where the secondary boardwalk joins the 1 km long one in the photo below.

Urunga Map

This map shows the river system.

Urunga Seafood

• Lindsay’s Oysters and Fresh Seafoods, 8451 Pacific Highway.
• Cross the Kalang River bridge north of Urunga and it’s beside the BP Service Station.

We are big seafood lovers and received this recommendation from a local. Their oysters, farmed nearby in the Bellinger River, looked amazing, but we purchased Snapper and Blackfish fillets for dinner that night. They were the freshest and tastiest fish fillets we’d eaten in a long time. The shop itself had that fresh clean smell about it, that I wish all seafood outlets had.

Urunga Distances

• Urunga to Coffs Harbour – 28.8 km – Coffs is biggest town in the Urunga area.
• Urunga to Bellingen – 15.6 km – Bellingen is an interesting hinterland town and gateway to Dorrigo Rainforest.
• Urunga to Sydney – 500 km – Sydney is the Capital of New South Wales
• Urunga to Brisbane – 418 km – Brisbane is the Capital of Queensland

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