It’s described as one of the best lookouts in New South Wales. But how in the heck do you actually get to Whoota Whoota Lookout?
This is the question the husband and I recently grappled with while visiting Pacific Palms on NSW’s Mid North Coast. You’re told by the Visitor Information Centre and the internet that you can drive right up to the lookout and that a 2WD vehicle will do. A dream! Technically both are true, but certainly not as simple as it sounds. Or so this pair of Sydney toss bags found out.
It took us a good couple of days and multiple attempts to get to Whoota Whoota Lookout, which is deep inside Wallingat National Park. But absolutely worth it! The 360-degree views across the Great Lakes, eucalypt forest and 100km of coastline – just wow!
With the internet proving no help to us (it was a good ol’ paper map that solved this riddle in the end), I thought I’d provide some advice on how to get to Whoota Whoota Lookout, from one urbanite to another.
Ignore Google Maps
Google my man, what’s the deal? You totally led us off track, literally. Google will instruct you to take Yarric Road (off Cooma Road). DO NOT TAKE YARRIC ROAD. Admittedly, it looks potholed and dodgy from the get go. But Jude insisted. Yes, I will blame the husband.
We got 50 metres before scraping the underbelly of the car and having to abort. In hindsight that was a blessing because at the top of the road, there’s a locked gate. Yarric Road is a dead end. It’s also super narrow, with nowhere to turn around, so you have to reverse back down the road. Fun times.
Starting point
Instead, enter Wallingat National Park from Sugar Creek Road (at the intersection of The Lakes Way). The lookout is a 20km drive from the turn-off, through lovely, peaceful forest, with plenty of signage to point you in the right direction.
4WD vs 2WD
You need to navigate 15km of unsealed track to get to the lookout, and the road is quite rocky and rough. A 4WD vehicle is advised. Mind you, we did do it in the most obnoxious 2WD vehicle possible. But, let me tell you, it was a very slooooow, anxious drive to get to the top. And with no phone coverage, I wouldn’t recommend anyone follow suit, especially after heavy rains as there are some steep patches. The eyes were definitely closed on some of the drive up (should probably add here that I was the passenger).
Yep, that’s a surfboard on the back
The lookout itself
Once at the top there’s a big landing (no railing), a single picnic table and no toilets. But you’re here for the views, and my god they’re spectacular.
