New South Wales · Attraction
Arakwal National Park
First-nations beach on Byron's doorstep
schedule 1 min read / Updated Jun 2026
Arakwal National Park protects three kilometres of pristine Tallow Beach immediately south of Cape Byron, along with coastal heath, wetlands and bushland that support rare and threatened species. Proclaimed in 2001 under Australia's first national park Indigenous Land Use Agreement, the park is jointly managed between the Bundjalung of Byron Bay Arakwal community and NSW National Parks, making it a place of deep cultural as well as natural significance.
Tallow Beach stretches south from the Cape Byron headland in an almost unbroken sweep of white sand, backed by dunes and heath that feel a world apart from the bustle of Byron Bay town. The beach is a nesting site for shorebirds and provides important foraging habitat for migratory species. The park also protects a large part of the last remaining Byron Bay Graminoid Clay Heath, a critically threatened ecological community, as well as habitat for the endangered Byron Bay ground orchid.
The park is a stronghold for two vulnerable frog species, the wallum froglet and the wallum sedge frog, and birdwatchers regularly record honeyeaters, swamp wallabies and sea eagles within its boundaries. Whale watching from the beach and headland edges is excellent between June and November, when humpbacks pass close inshore.
Access to Tallow Beach is from the Cosy Corner carpark at the end of Tallow Beach Road. There are no formal facilities within the park itself beyond the carpark, so visitors should bring water, sun protection and any supplies they need. Entry to the park is free; a small hourly parking fee applies at Cosy Corner.
Where to stay
Holiday parks near Arakwal National Park.
1 option via our booking partner
Bookings handled by our partner Parkbooker. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Scenic views
