Broken Head Nature Reserve 98 ha

One of the few places in NSW where secluded beaches are fringed with rainforest. Enjoy the beautiful scenery of Broken Head, on the track that starts near the council caravan park. This is a great place for whale watching during winter.

4 km south of Byron Bay, off Coast Road.

Brunswick Heads Nature Reserve 177 ha

This reserve offers the magical combination of beach, estuary and littoral rainforest. It is the ideal location for a bushwalk, swim, picnic or a spot of river fishing.

20 km north of Byron Bay at Brunswick Heads, just off the Pacific Highway.

Cape Byron State Recreation Area  99 ha

Cape Byron Headland Reserve stands on the most easterly point of the Australian mainland. A spectacular clifftop walking track offers panoramic views of the ocean and north coast hinterland. The reserve is an outstanding vantage point for viewing a diverse range of marine life, including turtles, dolphins and the humpback whales on their annual migration. Meander your way along the walking tracks through diverse coastal plant communities, including rainforest that stretches right down to the beach sands. See the Cape Byron Lighthouse and stay the night in the lightkeeper's quarters (bookings essential 02 6685 6552).

2 km east of Byron Bay, along Lighthouse Road.

Mount Warning National Park 2380 ha

A World Heritage-listed park, which is the remnant central plug of an ancient volcano. Now eroded down to half its original height, The 1100-m-high Mount Warning offers a fantastic walk to the summit through rainforest communities, with a challenging final rock scramble rewarding you with 360° views of the bowl-shaped Tweed Valley.

Stay nearby at the caravan park on the main access road.

12 km south-west of Murwillumbah, off Kyogle Road.

Nightcap National Park 8080 ha

Minyon Falls, with its picnic area and awesome 100-m waterfall, provides a great start to the 30-km Whian Whian Forest Drive (unsealed). This scenic route takes in areas of Nightcap National Park and nearby State forest, passing Rummery Park, a great picnicking and camping spot in a section of State forest. Rainforest dominates the Minyon Falls loop track, and visitors can see remnants of the original forests which once covered much of the State's north-east.

Nightcap National Park features a variety of forest ecosystems, containing significant populations of threatened plants and animals-including koalas, red-legged pademelons and Albert's lyrebirds. Journey to the lush rainforests of Terania Creek (unsealed roads), with its picnic area and shaded 1.4-km return walk to the breathtaking Protestors Falls.

Swimming is not permitted at this spot, because it is the habitat of the endangered Fleay's barred frog. A variety of other walks are provided at Mount Nardi picnic area, reached via sealed road from Nimbin. Electric barbecues are provided at Mount Nardi.

For visitors seeking self-sufficient bushwalking, the historic Nightcap track links to a network of tracks to the west and east into Whian Whian.

No fires are permitted in the park; portable fuel stoves only.

35 km north of Lismore. Whian Whian Forest Drive (unsealed) is off the Lismore-Mullumbimby road.

Tyagarah Nature Reserve 763 ha

Eight kilometres of secluded and unspoilt beach backed by coastal heath await visitors to this reserve. This is the perfect place for a quiet walk or a spot of birdwatching or fishing.

Turn off the Pacific Highway at Grays Lane, 10 km north of Byron Bay.

Wilson Nature Reserve 27 ha

This Big Scrub remnant contains a significant patch of dry rainforest. The rare marbled frogmouth is found here, and koalas inhabit the sclerophyll forest.

Located on the southern outskirts of Lismore, on City View Drive off Wyrallah Road.