Walk the walk 

Considered one of the best boardwalks on the east coast, the one-kilometre Urunga Boardwalk starts in town, before following the Kalang River to the junction of the Bellinger River and continuing onto the ocean. A shorter diversion crosses the Urunga Wetlands, teeming with birdlife including pelicans, white-faced herons and osprey. The entire length is wheelchair accessible and lined with interpretative signage. Along the way, keep a lookout for playful bottlenose dolphins in the estuary.  

Urunga Boardwalk, Urunga

On the water

For a different perspective on the region's rivers, book a lesson or tour with Ozfoiling, who run beginner-friendly efoil (electric hydrofoil) tours and one-on-one instruction on the pristine waterways around Urunga. No experience is needed to give it a go. For more adventurous participants, Ozfoiling also teaches unpowered ocean foilsurfing and runs open-ocean foil tours.

Ozfoiling, Urunga - Credit: OZfoiling

Hungry Head is Urunga’s most popular surf beach, a long stretch of sand backed by dunes and bushland. It’s also the spot for beach fishing and whale watching from May to November. Urunga Lido (also known as Urunga Lagoon) is in the river just off the boardwalk. The water is calm and crystal clear, making it ideal for family swimming, stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking or snorkelling, with schools of fish weaving around the pylons of the boardwalk above. Further north, explore the Solitary Islands Marine Park, which has some of the best snorkelling and scuba diving in the state.

Hungry Head, Urunga

Fun attractions 

For a small town, Urunga offers a host of fun and sporty activities. Play a round of golf at its lovely riverside golf course; try go-karting at Raleigh Raceway; learn about bees and taste honey at The Honey Place: or visit the award-winning Raleigh Winery Cafe where you can taste wines on a deck overlooking the Bellinger River.

C.ex Urunga Golf Club, Urunga - Credit: Mitch Franzi

The town is also a great base for exploring the Waterfall Way, a scenic driving route via Bellingen and the World Heritage-listed Dorrigo National Park. 

Dorrigo Skywalk, Dorrigo National Park

Where to stay

Set right where the river meets the sea, Reflections Urunga is one of the prettiest and most relaxing holiday parks on the Coffs Coast. Accommodation ranges from powered caravan and camp sites to self-contained cabins. Reflections Hungry Head has 10 rustic cabins hidden amongst the bushland behind the beach. For a golf-side base, Riverside Holiday Resort Urunga sits beside C.ex Urunga Golf Club on the banks of the Kalang River, with self-contained apartments and a pool. Right in the village and overlooking the rivers, the heritage Ocean View Hotel offers pub-style accommodation.

Reflections Urunga, Urunga - Credit: Reflections

Getting there

Urunga is just over five hours’ drive from Sydney and less than 30 minutes south of Coffs Harbour.  Or take things slow and make this a memorable stop on the Legendary Pacific Coast road trip, as you explore the spectacular NSW North Coast. You can also catch the train direct from Sydney, which takes around 8.5 hours. Direct flights operate from Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra and Brisbane to Coffs Harbour Airport. If you don’t drive here, hiring a car is the best way to explore the Coffs Coast region and its many scenic drives, including the Waterfall Way.