Whoota: Wallingat Forest Drive and nature experiences

Wallingat Forest Drive is in Whoota; Wallingat National Park is nearby. Wallingat Forest Drive runs along Thomas Road in Whoota; the park adds walks, birdwatching, scenic drives and camping to your outing. When planning your day, you can choose between a forest circuit, various trail routes and activities on the water.

Wallingat Forest Drive in Whoota

The 25-kilometre loop passes through dense forest with tall eucalypts and cabbage tree palms. It leads to the picnic area on the Wallingat River, where swimming is possible. You can also mountain bike and horse ride along the loop. The forest route and riverside picnic offer a different focus from the walking and cycling trails in nearby Wallingat National Park, so you can plan your day around the activities you want to enjoy.

Trails and views in nearby Wallingat

The Double Wharf Trail follows the eastern bank of Boggy Creek and the Wallingat River on foot or by mountain bike. At Sugar Creek, the trail crosses a water crossing and continues to the Reedy Creek Trail. Along the way, it passes through swampy casuarina forests and tall paperbarks; dry eucalypt forest grows on the higher ridges. Proximity to the water and the variety of forest types shape this route.

The Double Wharf to Whoota Lookout Cycle Loop follows the Double Wharf Track to the Reedy Creek Trail. Casuarinas, paperbarks and cabbage tree palms line the route and are home to abundant wildlife. The route leads to a lookout with 360-degree views. There is also a picnic table at nearby Whoota Whoota lookout. From there, you can see extensive eucalypt forests, Wallis Lake and the winding, rugged coastline.

The relatively flat Southern Boundary Trail starts at the Gur-um-bee picnic area, follows Sugar Creek Road and the Southern Boundary Trail, then returns to the starting point via Thomas Road. Comparing it with the Double Wharf Trail highlights their different features: here, the relatively flat route and return to the starting point are key; there, the water crossing and changing forest types take centre stage.

River activities and practical information

At the Cockatoo picnic area in nearby Wallingat National Park, you can fish, swim and watch birds. A nearby ramp lets you launch a kayak and paddle on the Wallingat River. There is also a campground on the Wallingat River in the national park. Together with the picnic area on Wallingat Forest Drive, these offer different reasons to spend time by the river, while remaining separate locations.

The unsealed roads in nearby Wallingat National Park are accessible to two-wheel-drive vehicles in dry weather. If you are looking for a holiday rental in Whoota, you can plan your outings around your preferred focus: the loop on Thomas Road, or the trails, lookouts and river activities in the nearby park. This lets you factor the different nature destinations into your choice of accommodation.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Malabar, Colyton, Uralla, Heatherbrae, Waratah, Palmdale, Scotts Head, Marrangaroo.

For the main travel overview: New South Wales.