Mulumun Trail
Summary
Council and NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service will deliver the Mulumun Trail. The project will connect four of the Macleay Valley Coast’s national parks and link the five headlands to showcase the stunning coastline of the Macleay Coast.
Once complete, the project will provide residents and visitors with the opportunity to walk parts or the whole trail, with the option to camp overnight at a local national park or stay other existing nearby accommodation.
This will be a unique experience with nature-based attractions for outdoor enthusiasts, keen walkers and those who enjoy a leisurely stroll to take in the view.
To add to this, Council will also look to secure future funding to develop the walking trail further and a kayaking adventure into the coastal experience.
Funding
Council and NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service secured $3,355,000 from the NSW Government’s Regional Tourism Activation Fund. Council and NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service will also fund the project by contributing $850,000 and $574,500, respectively.
Timeframe
Work will begin February 2025 with Stage One of the project due for completion by the end of June 2026. Stage Two has yet to be funded and as such, a completion date has not yet been set for that stage.
Mulumun Trail
Mulumun means "coastal" in Dunghutti.
During community consultation on the naming of the coastal trail, the Kempsey Shire community expressed strong support for a name with Dunghutti origins.
In the November 2024 consultation, the majority of submissions requested that the trail’s name reflect Dunghutti culture. In response, we sought to honour this feedback by retaining the base concept of the Five Headlands Experience while incorporating Dunghutti language and culture into the name.
Mulumun Trail was discussed and endorsed by Dunghutti language experts, following a request from the Dunghutti Local Aboriginal Land Council and guidance from the Dunghutti Elders Council.
Public Exhibition of Mulumun Trail Masterplan
The Mulumun Trail Masterplan and supporting documents are now on exhibition via Your Say Macleay: ksc.pub/Mulumun-Trail.
Public exhibition closes, close of business Wednesday 1 November 2025.
Update
2025
September 2025
Mulumun Trail Master Plan on public exhibition.
August 2025
Trail officially renamed to Mulumun Trail.
July 2025
Construction on the trail connecting Goolawah Beach to Big Nobby Headland is complete.
February 2025
Construction to commence on trail section from Crescent Head to Goolawah Beach.
Further detail on the construction here
2024
February 2024
Council went out to tender for consultants to develop and deliver the Five Headlands Coastal Experience Master Plan, Brand and Signage.
April 2024
The Kempsey Shire community was surveyed to gather their preferences for walking trails in the Macleay region.
May 2024
Tender awarded to Arterial Design to develop and deliver the Master Plan, Brand and Signage.
November 2024
The Kempsey Shire community was consulted for suggestions on naming the coastal trail. The proposed name is currently undergoing approval by the appropriate Traditional Owners.
2023
January – December 2023
Design and procurement phase.
2022
December 2022
Funding for Stage One was secured in with detailed designs and plans to follow.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Mulumun Trail?
The project will connect four of the Macleay Valley Coast’s national parks and link five headlands through a combination of walking trails and kayaking to showcase the beauty of the region.
Once complete, the project will provide residents and visitors with the opportunity to walk parts of, or the whole trail, with the option to camp overnight at a local national park, holiday park or other preferred accommodation option.
For now, stage one, the walking section of the track, which runs from Matty’s Flat in the north of the Shire down to Point Plomer, has been funded. Council will look to secure funding to develop the kayaking adventure into the coastal experience in the future and extend the track from Matty’s Flat to Grassy Head at that stage.
Who is delivering this project?
The delivery of this project is in partnership between NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service and Kempsey Shire Council. Council and NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service secured $3,355,000 from the NSW Government’s Regional Tourism Activation Fund. Council and NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service will also fund the project by contributing $850,000 and $574,500, respectively.
What are the economic benefits of this project?
The total benefits generated by the investment are estimated at $37.5M and exceed the cost of the project ($6.5M) over a 10-year period.
Increased visitation and expenditure in the region as a result of the Mulumun Trail will benefit existing tourism business operators and attract further investment from the private sector to develop products and services to meet the needs of visitors. This could include transport, merchandise, accommodation, food and beverages, and guiding services. An increased length of stay for existing markets will improve the occupancy rate of accommodation facilities and may result in investment in new accommodation infrastructure to meet market needs.
Additional visitor spending associated with the experience will generate a total of 38 full time equivalent jobs in Year 1, increasing to 48 in Year 10. On a sector basis, the jobs generated by visitors will be mainly concentrated in accommodation; food and beverage; recreational services and other visitor products and services; transport (including shuttles); and other retail.
Critically, implementing the recommendations will ensure the profile of the Region is significantly improved as Australia’s nature tourism destination. This is aligned to the State Government’s strategic goals for regional development and tourism growth.
What are the social benefits of this project?
Participation in trail activities offers many social, health-related, and cultural benefits to residents and visitors alike. Developing the Mulumun Trail has the potential to deliver benefits in health and wellbeing for the community.
An increased profile for the North Coast region as a result of the Mulumun Trail is also likely to contribute towards greater regional pride within local communities. Other regional locations in Australia have successfully increased community participation and spirit through similar projects. It could be expected that the project will help to mobilise the local community and provide optimism and energy across the local economy and communities.
How was this project funded?
Council and NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service secured $3,355,000 from the NSW Government’s Regional Tourism Activation Fund. Council and NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service will also fund the project by contributing $850,000 and $574,500, respectively.
When will works start?
Works to bring the Mulumun Trail to life commenced in February 2025. The first phase of construction took place in Crescent Head with the upgrade and realignment of the existing "Fisherman's Track" located between the Water Tower located on Skyline Crescent and the northern section of Goolawah Beach.
When is the project expected to be completed?
Stage One of the project is due for completion by the end of June 2026. Stage Two has yet to be funded and as such, a completion date has not yet been set for that stage.
How long will the track be?
Stage one of the track has been fully funded. This leg of the track will be approximately 83 km long and will run between Back Creek in South West Rocks and Point Plomer in Limeburner’s Creek National Park.
Background
This project links in with Council's Delivery Program and Operational Plan 2022-2026 item of commencing planning for priority nature-based projects as per Macleay Valley Coast Destination Management Plan
The Mulumun Trail is listed as a key project in the Horizon 2030: Macleay Valley Economic Development and Tourism Strategy and Macleay Valley Coast Destination Management Plan 2019-2019.
Photo Gallery