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Casuarina Coastal Reserve

Casuarina Coastal Reserve stretches along to coast from Rapid Creek to Buffalo Creek and includes most of Darwin's most popular beach areas.

At low or medium tides it is possible to walk all the way from one end to the other, with Sandy Creek the only place where you need to get your feet wet. During high spring tides the sea prevails and there are only limited stretches of sand that can be easily accessed.

Casuarina Coastal Reserve Nightcliff Entrance

The footbridge provides pedestrian and cycling entrance to the coastal reserve from Nightcliff, connected to the bike track that runs along Rapid Creek and on to the Nightcliff jetty and boat ramp.

Rapid Creek footbridge provides access from the Nightcliff area

Across the bridge you are welcomed to the Casuarina coastal reserve by new recreation facilities providing toilets, shaded areas and BBQs.

Vehicle access to this area is from the end of Trower Road, with a new sealed road that runs along the back of the beach from here, past Casuarina Beach and the Surf Club to the Free Beach car park.

Casuarina Coastal Reserve entrance facilities.

Facilities at the Nightcliff entrance to the reserve, just over the footbridge.

Casuarina Entrance to the Coastal Reserve

Follow Trower Road to the very end, you will come to a roundabout at about the center of the reserve. Turn right down a steep little hill to access the Surf Life Saving Club parks and more beaches.

The reserve has been divided into several different recreation areas to accommodate different activities.

For dog lovers there are different areas to watch for, some allow dogs off leads, some require dogs to be on leads and some areas prohibit dogs altogether. Check the regulations here.

The Darwin Surf Life Saving Club (DSLS) is located between the Casuarina Beach and the Free Beach, with vehicle access from the road that runs behind the beach.

Darwin Surf Life Saving Club

Lots of green grass and shade make the DSLSC a popular place.

A licensed bar is open from 5pm on Friday and Sunday. There is also a function room available for hire.

Of course there are all the usual activities associated with a surf club, swimming, surfboat rowing, life saving skills and patrols and so on.

Call 8945 0447 for more details.

There are information boards located at popular spots and car parks to detail the activities permitted in the immediate vicinity.

Download a Parks and Wildlife Information PDF here

The information board below is located at the Free Beach car park.

Information board at the Free Beach car park details the immediate area.

Free beach car park with new toilets and solar lighting

Good sign posting through the reserve.

It would be hard to get lost here, there is good sign posting in addition to the information boards with their detailed maps and comments.

This is the end if the sealed road at Casuarina beach, vehicle access to Lee Point Beach is via lee Point Road.

There are several car parks along the back of the beach with walking tracks onto the beach.

Walking tracks from the various car parks provide access to the beach.

However you can walk to Sandy Creek and further if the tide is low enough. The photo below shows the crocodile trap at Sandy Creek at low tide, as you can see the creek is only a trickle across the beach, but remember the croc trap is there for a reason.

Sandy Creek Looking downsteam over the beach.

Sandy Creek Crocodile Trap

Sandy Creek crossing the beach

Crocodiles don't need much water to hide in so keep to areas where the water is ankle deep and visibility is good.

Especially in the wet season, crocs can be on the move as the bigger ones force smaller crocs to seek safe water.

Continuing on along the beach will take you around Lee Point and on to Buffalo Creek. There is a built up walkway with a walk bridge across the mangroves and a bird hide before you get to the Kiosk and picnic areas at the Buffalo Creek boat ramp,

During the migratory season the beach is alive with birds,