The Journal · 29 May 2026
How to get to Crescent Head
Driving directions and travel times to Crescent Head, NSW — from Sydney, Brisbane, the nearest airports, and Kempsey. Everything you need to plan the trip.
Crescent Head sits on the NSW Mid North Coast, in the Macleay Valley, about twelve kilometres east of Kempsey. It’s an easy detour off the highway — here’s how to get here from wherever you’re starting.
Driving from Sydney
About 5 hours (437km) north. Take the M1 and the Pacific Highway, then turn off at Kempsey and follow the road east to the coast (around 20 minutes from the highway). Good leg-stretch stops along the way: Forster, Port Macquarie, or Kempsey itself for supplies.
Driving from Brisbane
About 6 hours south via the Pacific Highway. Yamba, Coffs Harbour and Sawtell all make good breakpoints if you want to split the drive.
Flying in
- Port Macquarie Airport — about 1 hour south. Direct flights from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, with rental cars on-site.
- Coffs Harbour Airport — about 1.5 hours north. Also has rental cars.
- Kempsey has a small airport too, 12km away.
You’ll want a car either way — there’s no taxi service in Crescent Head, and public transport is limited.
Getting around once you’re here
The beauty of Crescent Head is that you barely need the car once you arrive. From The Deck, it’s a 7–15 minute walk to the beach, the point, the pub, the country club, Barnett’s bakery and the cafés. Parking in town is free.
Stocking up
Crescent Head has a Foodworks for the basics, plus a butcher, bakery, chemist and bottle shop. For a big shop, Kempsey (12km) has the major supermarkets. We keep the pantry stocked with cooking basics, tea and coffee — so really, just bring milk and whatever you fancy cooking.
Worth knowing
If you’re heading to the back beaches south of town, you’ll need a 4WD and a National Parks permit for beach driving. Otherwise, a regular car gets you everywhere you need to go.