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Destinations > Hidden Gem
Hidden Gem
One of the main problems that can occur when you are travelling along little used roads in remote national parks like Willi Willi is the distinct possibility of being stopped by trees that have fallen across the road. Since chainsaws are unlawful to use and carry in national parks, you might have to resort to using an axe if you have one or to try and reverse around and go back.
It's approximately 7km from the Wilson River Picnic area to the summit after which the road flattens out for a short while before it begins twisting down through the rainforest. This area would be extremely slippery in wet weather, so make sure you get out quickly if rain starts pelting down. At about the 12km mark you enter Kappara State Forest for about 1km then dart back again into Willi Willi for a further 4.5km until you reach the national park boundary. From here you continue down through the adjoining state forest for a further 11km until you emerge into lush cattle grazing country in the valley below. You are now on Roland Plains Road, which you can follow for about 30 minutes to Telegraph Point on the Pacific Highway.
To reach the central and northern sections, head back to the Wilson River turnoff on Hastings Forest Way in Bellangry State Forest and keep heading northwest for another 11km until you see the Banda Banda forest loop track branching off to the right. This track winds up through some spectacular rainforest for a couple of kilometres before it finally arrives at a magnificent Antarctic beech forest. Some of these ancient trees are said to be at least a thousand years old, with many of their gnarled trunks and branches covered with mosses and lichen. There is a good chance that you will only be able to drive half the way and will have to walk the rest, as there are often fallen trees across the track here that block the way.
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There is no designated camping area in Willi Willi, so the nearest place to spend the night is at Brushy Mountain 7km further on up the road from the Banda Banda turnoff in adjoining Werrikimbe National Park. Birdlife is prolific, especially in the early morning when crimson rosellas and king parrots can be seen feeding amongst the low bushes. Another rainforest bird that is often sighted here is the extremely well camouflaged scaly thrush as it hops along the forest floor searching for worms.
From Brushy Mountain the track heads north through thick bush for about 22km to the former logging camp of Kookaburra. There are a couple of minor creek crossings within a couple of kilometres of leaving the camping area but they won't present any problems unless it has been raining heavily for a couple of days. The exit point on the second of these crossings is rocky and fairly rough so take it slow.
From Kookaburra, the track branches off to the northeast along Carrai Road and follows the boundary of the national park for a few kilometres until you see McCoys Trail branching off to the right. This is a no through road that eventually ends at private property so it's probably best to keep going straight ahead into Carrai State Forest and then through Castles Nature Reserve.
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It's approximately 7km from the Wilson River Picnic area to the summit after which the road flattens out for a short while before it begins twisting down through the rainforest. This area would be extremely slippery in wet weather, so make sure you get out quickly if rain starts pelting down. At about the 12km mark you enter Kappara State Forest for about 1km then dart back again into Willi Willi for a further 4.5km until you reach the national park boundary. From here you continue down through the adjoining state forest for a further 11km until you emerge into lush cattle grazing country in the valley below. You are now on Roland Plains Road, which you can follow for about 30 minutes to Telegraph Point on the Pacific Highway.
To reach the central and northern sections, head back to the Wilson River turnoff on Hastings Forest Way in Bellangry State Forest and keep heading northwest for another 11km until you see the Banda Banda forest loop track branching off to the right. This track winds up through some spectacular rainforest for a couple of kilometres before it finally arrives at a magnificent Antarctic beech forest. Some of these ancient trees are said to be at least a thousand years old, with many of their gnarled trunks and branches covered with mosses and lichen. There is a good chance that you will only be able to drive half the way and will have to walk the rest, as there are often fallen trees across the track here that block the way.
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There is no designated camping area in Willi Willi, so the nearest place to spend the night is at Brushy Mountain 7km further on up the road from the Banda Banda turnoff in adjoining Werrikimbe National Park. Birdlife is prolific, especially in the early morning when crimson rosellas and king parrots can be seen feeding amongst the low bushes. Another rainforest bird that is often sighted here is the extremely well camouflaged scaly thrush as it hops along the forest floor searching for worms.
From Brushy Mountain the track heads north through thick bush for about 22km to the former logging camp of Kookaburra. There are a couple of minor creek crossings within a couple of kilometres of leaving the camping area but they won't present any problems unless it has been raining heavily for a couple of days. The exit point on the second of these crossings is rocky and fairly rough so take it slow.
From Kookaburra, the track branches off to the northeast along Carrai Road and follows the boundary of the national park for a few kilometres until you see McCoys Trail branching off to the right. This is a no through road that eventually ends at private property so it's probably best to keep going straight ahead into Carrai State Forest and then through Castles Nature Reserve.
next page »
