Over the treetops to the bay and the headland on a clear day

Crescent Head is small, and that’s the point.

A local guide to Crescent Head, NSW

A small town with no fuss, and one of the great longboard breaks on the east coast.

The town

A surf reserve, a national park and 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 all the way to Killick Creek. The Malibu Classic runs every May.

Hat Head National Park starts where the deck looks, and 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.

The area

What’s at the bottom of the hill.

Local guide

Where the locals go.

Surf and beach

Back Beaches (south)

Uncrowded waves, dramatic dunes, 4WD beach access (permit required).
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.
Front Beach

Patrolled in holiday periods. Surf life saving club + cafe. Safe family swimming bay at the estuary mouth — just cross the bridge.
Malibu Classic

Held every May. Australia’s classic longboard contest, on home turf.

Eat and drink

Barnett’s Bakery

Arguably the best bakery on the Mid North Coast. Worth the walk.
Cheetah Five

Coffee, lunch, dinner. Dog-friendly courtyard.
Crescent Head Tavern

Schnitzels, schooners, the front bar at sunset.
Sea Sea

Coffee and casual food, dog-friendly. Locals’ pick.

Clear water at the estuary, with rocks and the beach beyond — The estuary, for calm-water swims

Explore

Crescent Head Country Club

Six-hole golf course on the headland, two tennis courts, a bowling green, a bar, and a bistro. Open to non-members. 8 minutes’ walk.
Goolawah National Park

Spectacular coastline and significant Aboriginal heritage. Caravans and tents share space south of town.
Hat Head National Park

Coastal walks, secret beaches, kangaroos on the headland at dusk. Visible from the deck.
Killick Creek estuary

Walk across the bridge for swimming, fishing, and the boat ramp out to sea.
Limeburners Creek National Park

Bushwalks, fishing, and dramatic coastal scenery to the south.
Mini Golf (opened 2024)

Eighteen holes around a small ornamental lake. Native plants, sandstone walls, wooden bridges. Family-friendly, dog-friendly on lead.

Getting here

From Brisbane

~6 hours south. Yamba and Sawtell are good breakpoints.
From Sydney

5 hours / 437km north via the M1 and Pacific Highway. Stop in Forster or Port Macquarie for a leg-stretch.
Nearest airports

Port Macquarie (~1 hr south) and Coffs Harbour (~1.5 hr north). Both have rental cars on-site.
Nearest town

Kempsey, 12km inland. Major supermarkets, hospital, fuel. Town itself has Foodworks, chemist, post office, butcher, vet, surf shop.