Walks and Hikes in North Haven

Coastal walks

The North Haven walking tracks along the coastline reward those who explore it on foot. The clifftop walk to Camden Head Lookout delivers sweeping views over the Camden Haven inlet that no car window can match. From there, the Mermaid Lookout Track winds through coastal bushland to secluded coves that most visitors never find. The Kattang Nature Reserve offers a gentler pace through rare coastal heath, where birdlife is plentiful, and the crowds are not.

Camden Head to Mermaid Lookout

Combine the climb to Camden Head Lookout with the Mermaid Lookout Track for a half-day walk that earns its views. River on one side, ocean on the other, and hidden coves below the headland – it's one of those walks around North Haven that stays with you long after you've peeled off your boots.

Rainforest walks

Just inland from the coast, the landscape shifts dramatically. North Haven hikes don’t get much better than Dooragan National Park. Thick with subtropical rainforest, it’s the kind of wildlife many venture to Australia to see: koalas in the canopy, king parrots flashing through the trees, and views from the summit that take in the entire Camden Haven valley. Quieter still is Burrawan State Forest, home to an ancient Red Bloodwood tree that puts the rest of the bush into perspective.

Dooragan National Park summit walk

This is the walk that locals recommend first. The trail climbs through dense rainforest before opening up to one of the most spectacular panoramas on the mid north coast – the river, the towns, and the Pacific stretching out beyond. Start early, move slowly, and check every tree for koalas.

Hinterland hikes

For those looking for hikes around North Haven that go a little further, Crowdy Bay National Park is worth the drive north. It's a completely different kind of wilderness: open dune country, long empty beaches, and kangaroos grazing at Diamond Head as the light softens toward evening. Pair it with a stop at the Perch Hole picnic area for a swim or a fish on the way – a perfect full day out for groups or families who want to make a proper adventure of it.