Fishing in Wallingat National Park

Wallingat National Park sits on the Mid North Coast of NSW, about 30 km south-west of Forster, bordered by Wallis Lake to the east and state forests on most other sides.

The park holds a mix of forest, swamp, and creek country, with the Wallingat River as its main waterway.

Access is via unsealed roads off The Lakes Way through Sugar Creek Road, Shallow Bay Road, and Thomas Road — manageable in a 2WD in dry conditions, but worth checking before you go in winter. The Wallingat River is the anchor.

There's a campground on the river, which puts you on the water without a long walk in. There is good fishing in both the river and the lake — Wallis Lake lies just beyond the park boundary and is closely tied to the system.

Along Double Wharf Road and Sugar Creek Road there are river fishing spots worth exploring, though car access to some of these is restricted, so expect to walk sections.

Sugar Creek runs through the park and has a picnic area — a reasonable base for working the creek on foot.

The network of dirt roads that cross the park passes near several of the smaller creeks in the system, and the swampy, forested terrain means many of these hold water year-round.

Swimming is a warm-weather activity alongside fishing, which points to the river running with enough depth and flow in the warmer months to be worth the trip.

The park sits close enough to the coast that the lower Wallingat system will have tidal influence, something to factor into your timing. Standard NSW fishing regulations apply.

Check with NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service before you go — access conditions on the unsealed roads change with the seasons, and some river access points require a walk once the tracks close to vehicles.

The egrets working the shallows along the river are usually a reliable sign that something is moving. Pay attention to them.