With a camp kitchen on site, you'll have everything you need to whip up meals after long days exploring the 325 acres of bushland.  The park is in a relatively remote spot, so pack your own provisions or head into Stuarts Point village, just five minutes away.

 The Point Cafe & Takeaway is perfect for a freshly brewed coffee or a casual bite overlooking the river. At nearby Scotts Head (15 minutes), Driftwood Café next to the beach dishes up wholesome breakfasts and Asian-inspired lunches in a laid-back setting. 

Venture 40 minutes north to South West Rocks and you'll find Chop 'n Chill, where waffles, burritos and seafood chowder come with coastal vibes.

Start right at the park with walking tracks winding through subtropical rainforest and paperbarks, where we spotted over 70 bird species during our stay. The private river jetty gives you direct access to 298 kilometres of glassy Macleay River waterways, perfect for kayaking, swimming or casting a line for bream and flathead. A two-minute stroll takes you across the timber footbridge to a long golden stretch of beach, ideal for surf fishing or beachcombing toward Grassy Head. The River Walk, starting from Ocean Street in Stuarts Point, meanders 2.5 kilometres through mangroves and banksias to secluded swimming spots we returned to again and again. 

Around 20 minutes away, Mount Yarrahapinni in Yarriabini National Park rewards the climb with 360-degree views across the entire Macleay Valley Coast. 

History buffs shouldn't miss Trial Bay Gaol (40 minutes), a stunning granite ruin perched on cliffs where kangaroos lounge among the cells, and the iconic Smoky Cape Lighthouse nearby, NSW's highest lighthouse and an exceptional whale-watching vantage from May to November.

The park is smoke, drug and alcohol-free, creating an incredibly peaceful family atmosphere that surprised us in the best way.