Hat Head National Park Park

Address: Hayman Island, Whitsunday Region, Queensland, Australia

Hat Head National Park is a protected coastal park on the mid-north coast of New South Wales that conserves headland, beach and littoral rainforest environments. It protects a narrow stretch of coastline with sand dunes, rocky headlands and sheltered inlets.

Key attractions include long sandy beaches, coastal walking tracks, birdwatching and visible Aboriginal cultural sites such as shell middens. The headland provides viewpoints for seasonal whale migration and for observing shorebirds and marine life.

The park was created to conserve coastal and cultural landscapes and has been managed to protect its natural and Aboriginal heritage while allowing low-impact recreation such as walking, swimming and camping. Facilities are modest and oriented to day visitors and small-scale camping.

Hat Head National Park lies on the New South Wales mid-north coast near the small village of Hat Head and the town of Kempsey, approximately 350 to 370 kilometers north of Sydney by road.

• Wildlife timing: Look for migrating whales from the headland during the May to November season and for shorebird concentrations on exposed beaches at low tide.
• Access and facilities: Access is via local roads from the nearby town of Kempsey; the park contains short walking tracks suitable for day visits and a small number of camping sites at the village.

What to See#

• Hat Head village: A small coastal village located within the park that provides the primary access point, basic visitor facilities and camping areas for overnight stays.
• Hat Head headland and beaches: A long sandy beach and exposed headland that offers coastal walking tracks, vantage points for sea birds and seasonal whale watching from May to November.
• Rainforest and cultural sites: Areas of littoral rainforest and sand-dune habitat that support diverse birdlife and contain Aboriginal cultural sites including shell middens.

Most visitors arrive by private charter boat or by scheduled seaplane/helicopter transfers from Hamilton Island or the Whitsunday coast. Regular boat and air links from Airlie Beach/Hamilton Island connect passengers to Hayman.

• Book accommodation well in advance during Australian summer (December-February) - Hayman is small and popular with resort guests.
• Try a short reef snorkel in the morning when water is clearest; the island sits on the Great Barrier Reef's edge.
• Pack reef-safe sunscreen to protect coral if planning to snorkel or dive.