Hat Head National Park is a stretch of New South Wales coast where the beaches draw people in summer, while the wildlife and walking tracks keep it worth a visit year-round. With children, the anchors are Smoky Cape, where you can join a guided tour of the lighthouse and watch for humpback and southern right whales swimming past the headland in season, and the Green Island walking track, a short but very steep walk that suits older children better than toddlers. The roads into the park are unsealed but passable in an ordinary car; only the drive down to the Gap Beach picnic area needs a 4WD. The thing to know before anyone runs into the water: the beaches here are not patrolled by lifeguards and can have strong rip currents, so treat them as places to paddle and explore rather than to swim freely.
Family FAQ
How much does Hat Head National Park cost?
Park entry is AUD 8 per vehicle per day.
Where are the toilets at Hat Head National Park?
Toilets at Smoky Cape campground; a non-flush toilet at Gap Beach picnic area.
Is there parking at Hat Head National Park?
Enter via Arakoon Road, Gap Beach Road, Hungry Road or The Gap carpark on unsealed 2WD roads; Gap Beach picnic area needs a 4WD.