The Location
Crescent Head.
Small town. No fuss. One of the great longboard breaks on the east coast.
The Town
A surf reserve. A national park. A bakery worth the drive.
Crescent Head sits in the Macleay Valley on the NSW Mid North Coast. Five hours north of Sydney, six south of Brisbane, an hour and a half from Coffs. The point is a National Surfing Reserve (declared 2008), with one of the longest right-hand waves in the country peeling off all the way to Killick Creek. The Malibu Classic runs every May.
Hat Head National Park starts where the deck looks. Goolawah and Limeburners Creek are minutes south. The town itself is small. Pub, country club, surf club, Foodworks, a chemist, the boat ramp, and Barnett's Bakery, which is the real reason half the locals walk into town. Kempsey is 12km inland for the bigger errands. When you're weighing up holiday houses in Crescent Head, walkability is everything — and The Deck is seven minutes from the sand.
Local Guide
Where the locals go.
Surf & Beach
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Back Beaches (south)
Uncrowded waves, dramatic dunes, 4WD beach access (permit required).
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Crescent Head Point
One of the longest right-hand point breaks in the country. Mellow, peels off the point and runs all the way to Killick Creek. National Surfing Reserve since 2008.
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Front Beach
Patrolled in holiday periods. Surf life saving club + cafe. Safe family swimming bay at the estuary mouth — just cross the bridge.
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Malibu Classic
Held every May. Australia's classic longboard contest, on home turf.
Eat & Drink
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Barnett's Bakery
Arguably the best bakery on the Mid North Coast. Worth the walk.
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Cheetah Five
Coffee, lunch, dinner. Dog-friendly courtyard.
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Crescent Head Tavern
Schnitzels, schooners, the front bar at sunset.
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Sea Sea
Coffee and casual food, dog-friendly. Locals' pick.
Explore
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Crescent Head Country Club
Nine-hole golf course on the headland, two tennis courts, a bowling green, a bar, and a bistro. Open to non-members. 8 minutes' walk.
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Goolawah National Park
Spectacular coastline and significant Aboriginal heritage. Caravans and tents share space south of town.
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Hat Head National Park
Coastal walks, secret beaches, kangaroos on the headland at dusk. Visible from the deck.
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Killick Creek estuary
Walk across the bridge for swimming, fishing, and the boat ramp out to sea.
Getting Here
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From Brisbane
~6 hours south. Yamba and Sawtell are good breakpoints.
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From Sydney
5 hours / 437km north via the M1 and Pacific Highway. Stop in Forster or Port Macquarie for a leg-stretch.
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Nearest airports
Port Macquarie (~1 hr south) and Coffs Harbour (~1.5 hr north). Both have rental cars on-site.
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Nearest town
Kempsey, 12km inland. Major supermarkets, hospital, fuel. Town itself has Foodworks, chemist, post office, butcher, vet, surf shop.
Read More
Plan your trip to Crescent Head.
The Map