A small coastal reserve protecting remnant littoral rainforest near Australia's easternmost point.
Broken Head Nature Reserve
Broken Head Nature Reserve is a small protected coastal reserve in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, Australia, located on and around the Broken Head promontory roughly nine kilometers south of Cape Byron, the easternmost point of the Australian mainland. Covering about 98 hectares, the reserve preserves an intact segment of littoral rainforest, a vegetation community that hugs the coastline and has been extensively cleared elsewhere in New South Wales for agriculture, housing, and sand mining.
The reserve sits within the traditional Country of the Arakwal people of the Bundjalung Nation, and its rainforest, beaches, and headlands remain culturally significant to Indigenous communities. Beyond its ecological value, the reserve is also known for its network of walking tracks, scenic lookout points, and beaches such as Kings Beach, which sits within its boundaries.
Broken Head Nature Reserve has drawn attention not only for its natural values but also for its cultural history. Kings Beach, in particular, has long been recognized as an important gathering place for LGBTQIA+ communities in regional Australia, giving the reserve a distinctive social and heritage dimension alongside its environmental significance.