Best things to do in Nambucca Heads

Find out what makes a World Heritage Area special at Parque Nacional de Dorrigo, part of Gondwana Rainforests of Australia. The park includes significant habitats of native animals and is of outstanding ecological value. Visit the park’s Rainforest Center to see interactive displays on this rare rain forest environment. The center’s staff can guide you through the story of the rain forest's evolution and provide insight into the animal and plant species that call it their home. The park also contains several trails allowing hikers to access a number of pristine waterfalls. Another notable feature is the Skywalk, an elevated walkway through and above the treetops, providing visitors with convenient spots to observe the local bird life.

Perched on a granite plateau at 140 m (460 ft) above sea level, the light of Smoky Cape Lighthouse is the highest in town. This lighthouse is still in operation and lights up the coastline nightly. During daylight hours, the lighthouse is open for tours of its historic building, a treat for any maritime enthusiast. Consider renting a room at the former lighthouse keeper's cottage that's converted into a bed and breakfast. Supplement your lighthouse tour with hikes in the surrounding national park, where you'll find breathtaking views over the water and an array of local flora and fauna.

Located at the end of the north pointing peninsula on the eastern side of Trial Bay, Trial Bay Gaol is a protected wildlife area with a stunning lookout over the water. Consider camping on the point's beach where the National Parks and Wildlife Service operates a campground. Divide your visit between Trial Bay Gaol's natural wonders and the manmade Trial Gaol, an impenetrable prison that held Australia's most notorious criminals in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The prison was expensive to run, so building projects there were abandoned in 1903. Nowadays you can visit the impressive granite structure and view the cells that once housed the accused at the Trial Gaol Museum.