The coastline of Northern New South Wales from the Tweed Heads border down to Newcastle is approximately 677 kilometres. It is known as the “Legendary Pacific Drive” and is made up of a series of coastal beach towns, uncrowded beaches and a striking volcanic hinterland. On one of our many jaunts down the North Coast of New South Wales – head hopping from beach town to beach town, we discovered some spectacular beaches protected by protruding headlands.
After departing Burleigh Heads we crossed the New South Wales border at Tweed Heads past Fingal Head, Brunswick Heads to Byron Bay and Broken Head, a distance of only 79 kilometres. Head hopping, in most cases involves only a short detour off the Pacific Highway, to reach some of these gorgeous little beachside spots.
Views from Fingal Head towards Tweed Heads
Byron Bay has its own headland known as Cape Byron, that is the most easterly point of Australia. It is marked by a lighthouse and a popular walking track from Wategos Beach up to the cape.
Views from Cape Byron towards Broken Head
Just 12 kilometres south of Byron is the lovely little camping area and surfing spot known as Broken Head. We’ve spent many a Christmas camped in this great little camping ground, that is idyllically located near the headland and is surrounded by national park. It’s a great alternative to staying in the overly busy and crowded Byron Bay, but still close enough so that you can take advantage of the great eateries and shopping in town.
Broken Head
We continued 11 kilometres to Lennox Head, past Skennars Head, Evans Head, Woody Head and Brooms Head. We made our way through the Northern Rivers region to Red Rock Headland, where we spent two beautiful days.
Throughout the years we’ve spent many a holiday camped at Evans Head and Lennox Head at the Lake Ainsworth Caravan Park, on the freshwater tea-coloured lake adjacent to the beach. Whilst Woody Head is another family favourite of ours, located near the fishing village of Iluka.
Rock Pools at Woody Head
Red Rock is a quiet little village with a large nature-based caravan park located adjacent to the beach, headland and river. It’s interesting to wander around this ancient rock formation, especially the rock pools on the headland that are fascinating to explore.
Red Rock in Northern NSW
If you feel up to a walk you can stroll all the way along Corindi Beach to the next headland at Arrawarra.
Corindi Beach
With views to die for from the headland over the Solitary Islands, Woolgoolga is 28 kilometres shy of Coffs Harbour. It is probably best known for the large Sikh Temple that dominates the landscape. Also known as Woopi, Woolgoolga is renowned for its swimming, surfing, fishing, whale watching, diving and snorkelling, and scenic walking tracks.
Views of Woolgoolga Beach from the headland
After a short stop here taking in the jaw-dropping coastal views, we decided to move on, travelling to the southern side of Coffs to the town of two rivers – Urunga. At Urunga Heads the Bellinger and Kalang rivers meet and there is a great caravan park located right on Urunga Lagoon and river estuary.
Urunga Lagoon
The elevated one kilometre Urunga Boardwalk is also accessible from the caravan park. It takes you over the Urunga Lagoon and along the estuary mouth, to the edge of the Pacific Ocean. Then it continues along the Kalang River in the pretty Bellinger Heads State Park to the confluence with the Bellinger River.
Boardwalk at Urunga Heads
Our journey persisted to coastal spots such as Hungry Head, Wenonah Head, Nambucca Heads, Scotts Head, Grassy Head, Hat Head and finally to Crescent Head, where we stayed a couple of days. A distance of 104 kilometres. The area is known as the Macleay Valley Coast and is surrounded by an abundance of natural beauty, including spectacular coastal national parks, endless bushwalking trails, great fishing, and whale watching.
Nambucca Heads
Set between a river and beach, Crescent Head is located an easy 40 minutes from Kempsey. This slice of paradise is a relaxing waterfront getaway, that is very popular with surfers and families. We stayed at the Crescent Head Holiday Park overlooking one of the most legendary right-hand surf breaks in the world.
The long surf break at Crescent Head
When you’ve had enough of the beaches and surf, there is a golf course located on the headland near the caravan park and plenty of scenic walking trails.
Crescent Head at Sunset
Moving on we left Crescent Head and headed towards The Great Lakes district passing Racecourse Head, Diamond Head, Nobby Head, Crowdy Head, Black Head and Red Head until we reached the twin towns of Forster-Tuncurry. Tuncurry – meaning ‘plenty of fish’ in aboriginal language was about 147 kilometres south of Kempsey.
Views over Forster Beach
The old wooden bridge over Wallis Lake that joins the two towns together we measured to be 700 metres in length. During our stay here we walked over the bridge many times on our morning walk and coffee expeditions.
Bridge over Wallis Lake at Forster-Tuncurry
After three idyllic days at Forster-Tuncurry we drove out through the Great Lakes district past Smiths Lake and visited some beautiful pristine beaches such as Elizabeth Beach, Boomerang Beach and Blueys Beach. We drove to an out of the way coastal spot called Seal Rocks and walked up to the lighthouse perched atop a headland at Sugarloaf Point. There were magnificent views over Treachery Beach to the south and Sugarloaf Bay to the north.
Seal Rocks near Forster
After a picturesque drive through the Buladelah State Forest with glimpses of the biggest of the Great Lakes – Myall Lake, we drove the 147 kilometres out towards Port Stephens passing Charlotte Head and Yacaaba Head. We stopped here for a few days at Shoal Bay near the town of Nelson Bay. You can read more about our stay in Port Stephens HERE
Myall Lake
There are so many perfect little heads and headlands along the Northern New South Wales coastline that not only have great surf breaks for the surfers but also pristine beaches, river estuaries and great camping and caravan parks. It sometimes makes me wonder why we feel the need to venture outside of our magnificent country to travel abroad. Australia has so much natural beauty and untouched terrain that is ripe for the picking.
