Yuraygir National Park

Positioned on the NSW north coast between Yamba and Coffs Harbour, Yuraygir National Park boasts the state’s longest stretch of undeveloped coastline. With 65km of striking cliffs, rocky headlands, isolated beaches and quiet lakes set against a backdrop of forests, heaths and wetlands, this colossal park is a place to experience, not just see.

Yuraygir National Park was established in 1980, incorporating the former Angourie and Red Rock national parks, which were reserved in 1975.
A number of former agricultural properties have been purchased and added to the park, with revegetation work carried out in some areas.
A large area of former cane farming land was restored by the former Soil Conservation Service under contract to the National Parks and Wildlife Service.
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From the early 19th century the Clarence coast became a relatively isolated place in an economically marginal region. The soils of it forests, heathlands and swamps were not suitable for intensive agriculture.
While commercial fishing, sandmining and summer holidays brought people to the coast in the 19th and 20th centuries, its distance from major roads and from large regional centres meant that it was bypassed in the 1960s North Coast development boom.
Areas such as Sandon village and Wooli have been popular holiday spots for people in Grafton over several generations.
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A snapshot in time
1828 Captain Rous' expedition notes the existence of the Sandon River
1840s Decade of Red Rock massacre
1914 First hut built at Sandon (north side)
1940 Bird and animal sanctuary proclaimed between Angourie and Woolgoolga; shooting prohibited
1940s Logging intensifies
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1943 World War II mustard gas trials between Wooli and Minnie Water
1950s Maclean Shire Council establishes camping reserve by the Sandon River
1962 Banana plantation near Station Creek
1969 Sand mining escalates
1975 Red Rock and Angourie national parks gazetted
1977 Sand mining banned
1980 Yuraygir National Park gazetted, amalgamating Red Rock and Angourie national parks.

Source: environment.nsw.gov.au