Paddling in Tooloom National Park

Tooloom National Park sits in the ranges of far northern New South Wales, inland from the coast and close to the Queensland border.

The park protects subtropical rainforest and wet sclerophyll country, and the water here runs in creeks rather than big rivers — clear, shaded, and fed by the surrounding ranges. Tooloom Creek is the water most paddlers will encounter.

The Bandahngan campground sits on its banks, and the creek can be paddled near the falls — a short, exploratory outing rather than a long run.

The falls themselves are a drop, not a navigable feature, but the waterhole below draws swimmers and the creek above offers calm water worth putting a kayak on.

A visitor kayaking here noted paddling upstream from the falls area, the water quiet enough to cover ground at a relaxed pace.

Platypus have been spotted in Tooloom Creek, which tells you something about water quality and how little disturbance this country sees. Kangaroo Creek and Wild Cattle Creek are also within the park.

Both drain rainforest terrain, which means flows are seasonal and tied closely to rainfall — the ranges catch weather moving in off the coast, and creek levels can change quickly. This is not a whitewater destination.

The paddling is quiet-water and exploratory, suited to an inflatable or a light touring kayak you can carry to the water.

Access is limited to what the park's campground and day-use areas provide, and the small scale of the reserve means you're not planning multi-day river logistics — you're paddling as part of a camp stay, not the other way around.

Being inside a national park on Githabul Country means the usual expectations apply: carry out everything you carry in, treat the waterways with the same care you'd want to see from the next visitor, and check current conditions and any access requirements with NSW National Parks before you go.