Located a short drive from Pambula or Eden on the NSW Sapphire Coast, Haycock Point picnic area is a favourite with families, tourists and locals. Relax at a shaded picnic table while the kids play on the grass, and enjoy the wonderful ocean views as you eat.

When you’ve finished lunch, there’s lots on offer, from fishing and swimming to birdwatching or bushwalking. For a short walk, the 10min Haycock Point walking track takes you to the spectacular point. If you’re feeling energetic, the 3km Haycock Point to Barmouth Beach walking track starts from the picnic area and is great for all ages.

Beautiful but unpatrolled, Long Beach stretches south from Haycock Point and is a popular spot to surf and fish. You can also drive to the nearby Pinnacles formation, or visit Severs Beach to see Aboriginal middens.

The weather and water are warmest from summer through to Easter, but this is a beautiful spot at any time of year. Visit on a clear, sunny winter day to catch a glimpse of a whale breaching out deep, while sea birds soar over the coastline. You might see echidnas, goannas, or kangaroos and wallabies grazing as…