A few months back the Mid North Coaster checked out Goolawah Beach in Crescent Head – more commonly known as “Back Beach” – for a quick dip and noticed a new gate blocking vehicle access.

The gate stood out, not just because it’s a big metal structure, but because driving along this beach has long been popular, especially for beach fishing and those taking the “yellow highway” home from work.

Curious about the reasoning behind the new restriction, I reached out to NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) to ask why cars are being kept off not only this beach but others across the Mid North Coast, and to see if more gates are set to be installed in the near future.

🐢 Protecting wildlife

Goolawah Beach lies within national parkland. According to a NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service spokesperson, this particular gate was installed in November 2024 to help protect nesting shorebirds, turtles and other wildlife in Goolawah National Park.

“The installation occurred in accordance with the Goolawah National Park, Goolawah Regional Park and Limeburners Plan of Management,” the spokesperson said.

The Plan of Management (PoM), adopted by the Minister for the Environment on March 6 2024, outlines regulations for vehicle access. Page 26 under four-wheel driving and motorcycling specifically states commercial fishers are permitted access to beaches in accordance with the Commercial fishing access policy.

“NPWS is working with licensed commercial fishers and DPI Fisheries to ensure they have appropriate access. Once this is complete, the gate will be locked,” the spokesperson said.

Besides driving and fishing, this beach like many others has also been a popular spot for dog walking and horse riding, so I looked a little further.

🐕 No dogs on the beach from June 30

The PoM also outlines restrictions on dog walking. While dogs are currently allowed on leash through the transitional dog walking route in Goolawah National Park until June 30, this will end after this day — meaning dogs will no longer be permitted anywhere in the park.

The current transitional arrangement is intended to enable people to continue to walk through the park to the Kempsey Shire Council’s dog walking area until a new pedestrian access route to the council’s dog walking area can be constructed outside the park.

Additionally, on page 27, the PoM states that horses are not permitted as it is incompatible with other recreational uses and with the protection of the parks’ natural values.

⧛ More gates coming to the Mid North Coast?

I asked if more gates were being installed on the Mid North Coast over the next six months, and a spokesperson said there were no plans to install other gates before June— the end of the 24/25 financial year.