Our Guide to Wooli, NSW: Things to Do, See & Eat

If you’ve never been to Wooli before, it’s a pretty special little place...

Wooli is tucked away on the NSW North Coast, with the ocean on one side of town and the Wooli Wooli River on the other. It’s surrounded by Yuraygir National Park, so even though there’s plenty to do, it still feels quiet and largely untouched.

We’re the family behind The Spot, a beachfront holiday house in Wooli, and we spend a lot of time here ourselves. We’ve pulled together some of our favourite places to go and things to do while you’re here, especially if you’re visiting with kids.

Wooli Beach

Obviously, the beach is a big part of any trip to Wooli.

Wooli Beach stretches along the eastern side of town and there’s plenty of room to find your own patch of sand. Depending on the day, you can swim, surf, take the kids down for a play or just go for a walk along the beach.

One of our favourite things about The Spot is having direct access to the beach. It makes beach days with kids so much easier because you can wander back to the house when someone needs a snack, a nap, another towel or whatever else you somehow forgot to bring without even having to cross a road.

Spend some time on the Wooli Wooli River

The river is one of the things that makes Wooli different from a lot of other beach towns.

It runs along the western side of the village and is a beautiful spot for kayaking, paddleboarding, fishing or simply spending some time by the water. The calmer water can be a nice change from the beach, particularly when you’re travelling with kids.

You can also hire a boat locally if you want to explore a little further. We recommend Bruce at Wooli River Boat Hire, the pontoon boat is a lot of fun if you are a larger group!

Walk down to the Breakwall

If you feel like stretching your legs, head towards the southern end of Wooli and walk out along the breakwall. You’ll often see people fishing here, and it’s worth keeping an eye out for dolphins, turtles and whales during migration season. The mouth is also an amazing place to play with young kids and on the right tide is one of the most stunning places in the region. 

Go Sand Duning

Sand duning is always a hit with the kids! Grab a boogie board and head for the dunes for some very low-tech holiday entertainment.

The kids can spend ages racing down the sand, trying to make it further each time (and wearing themselves out climbing back to the top). It’s simple, free and usually ends up being one of those things they want to do over and over again. If you stay at The Spot, we provide all the boards you need to get across the river plus the bodyboards, toboggans and even a sand board to ride down!

Check out this reel of one of our adventures to the Wooli Sand Dunes - https://www.instagram.com/p/DRRfh11kuw2/

Grab a coffee at Wooli Wooli Cafe

We’re always happy when a holiday town has somewhere good to grab a coffee, and Wooli has Wooliwooli Cafe.

It’s an easy stop in the morning for coffee and something to eat before you head off for the day. The food is awesome and the service is even better. 

Have a meal at The 383

If you’re travelling with kids, The 383 is definitely one to add to the list. The huge kids playground is one of the best you'll find inside a pub and means you can actually sit down and enjoy a meal while the kids are happily occupied.

Check out the Bowlo

Head to the Wooli Bowlo for a game of lawn bowls and a drink. It’s a fun, easy afternoon activity with the family and a good change of pace from another day at the beach. There are usually kids toys set up and there is also a tennis court across the road that can be hired too. 

Head to the Wooli Hotel Motel

The Wooli Hotel Motel is another spot worth checking out while you’re here.

You can head down for lunch, dinner or a drink, and they also have live music and events throughout the year. Every now and then they get some surprisingly big acts coming through Wooli, which makes for a very fun weekend if you time your stay well.

Explore Yuraygir National Park

One of the best things about Wooli is how much nature there is around you.

Yuraygir National Park runs along this part of the coast and has beautiful beaches, bushland, headlands and walking tracks to explore.

Wilsons Headland, is an easy option if you want to get out for a walk and see a little more of the coastline. Pack your swimmers and some lunch and you can easily make a morning or afternoon of it.

Go Snorkelling or Diving

The waters off Wooli are part of the Solitary Islands Marine Park, which is home to an incredible mix of marine life.

If diving is your thing, Wooli is a great base for getting out to the Solitary Islands. There are also opportunities for snorkelling and boat trips, depending on the weather and conditions.

Take a trip to Minnie Water

Minnie Water is close enough to Wooli for an easy little day trip and is well worth a visit.

There are more beautiful beaches, picnic areas and coastal walks to explore, and it’s a nice option if you’re staying for a week and feel like seeing somewhere different. They also have an awesome general store, famous for their Toohey’s meat pies!

Staying in Wooli

If you’re looking for somewhere to stay, The Spot is our family’s beachfront holiday house in Wooli.

We’ve tried to make it feel like the beach houses we remember growing up with, just with a few more comforts. It’s relaxed, a little retro and designed for families to actually use and enjoy.

Best of all, it is absolute beachfront, so once you arrive you can unpack, slow down, dive into the ocean and settle into Wooli time.

If that sounds like your kind of holiday, we’d love to have you stay.