Horseshoe Bay Beach, South West RocksCredit: Destination NSW
Scenic coastal views from Horseshoe Bay Beach, South West Rocks.
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With nearly 700km of natural playgrounds stretching from cosmopolitan Newcastle to the glittering Tweed, the North Coast boasts some of New South Wales’ most spectacular ways to stay and play. And whether you’re planning a warming winter weekender, laidback spring fling or a longer summer sojourn, you’ll find tranquil beaches to call your own, charming villages, and wild wonders to energise your body, soul and inspiration. Here, six unmissable highlights for your North Coast hit list.
1. Renowned for its world-class surf and home of the largest ocean pool in the Southern Hemisphere, Newcastle has no shortage of oceanic drawcards. But for a day on the beach away from the crowds, Dudley Beach is a serene patch of coast just a quick side-step away in Glenrock State Conservation Area neighbouring Lake Macquarie. Dudley Beach offers a long swathe of golden shore to swim in as well as rockpools for crab-watching, bubbling blowholes and even a clothes-optional section in the northern end. Newcastle’s perfect combo of beachy vibes, cultural cool and creative buzz means this seaside destination makes the perfect weekender, with a handy airport, glitzy accommodation like Crystalbrook Kingsley and QT Newcastle, and hyped eateries Cake Boi, Flotilla and Light Years.
2. A visit to Lord Howe Island, a UNESCO World Heritage-listed paradise off the North Coast and only a two-hour flight from Sydney, is an absolute must. As one of only 400 visitors allowed on the island at any one time, enjoy days on the beach with no one else around as fish swim at your feet, you snorkel the pristine waters, tackle full-day hikes to the peak of Mount Gower and enjoy peachy sunsets with a cocktail in hand.
This crescent-shaped isle is home to the world’s most southerly coral reef, with 450 fish species and 90 types of coral, many of which only live here. Hand-feed the friendly fish at Ned’s Beach, or cruise further out on a swimming, snorkelling or diving tour. Hike the island’s twin peaks for panoramic views of the lagoon, reefs, mountains and plunging cliffs. Stay where designer chic meets laidback beach-house style at Capella Lodge, or rest your head at one of Australia’s oldest family-run businesses, Pinetrees Lodge, whose owners have lived on Lord Howe since 1848.
Newcastle Beach, Newcastle Credit: Destination NSW
Aerial overlooking Newcastle Beach, Canoe Pool and Newcastle Baths, Newcastle.
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Newcastle Beach, Newcastle Credit: Destination NSW
Aerial overlooking Newcastle Beach, Canoe Pool and Newcastle Baths, Newcastle.
Lord Howe Island Credit: Destination NSW
Scenic views of Lord Howe Island captured by Eugene Tan
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Lord Howe Island Credit: Destination NSW
Scenic views of Lord Howe Island captured by Eugene Tan
3. Blink and you’d miss this tiny jewel of a beach, Horseshoe Bay, tucked between two creeks on the mid-north coast at South West Rocks. Shaped like its charmed name, the aquamarine cove is a favourite with families for its calm waters, rugged natural surroundings and colonial heritage. Out of the water, go for brunch at Malt & Honey and spend the night in the colourful bowling alley and bar at Social Alley. There are plenty of cool places to lay your head, too. Relax in luxury at the town’s modern beach cabins at Salt or spend the night up high in the Smoky Cape Lighthouse Keeper’s Cottage.
4. In the north, laidback Yamba has been tipped as the ‘next Byron Bay’, but it’s a holiday hotspot in its own right, with a host of locally run cafes, restaurants and hotels making it a must-visit. Just 90 minutes down the coast of its more famous beachside neighbour, Yamba has long drawn surfers from far and wide to ride Angourie Point, a National Surfing Reserve ranked among the top right-hand point breaks in Australia.
Laidback venues make quiet nights a little more lively: The Wobbly Chook brewery pours craft micro beers, live music venue Last Rites showcases local talent and boutique hotel The Surf draws design-lovers for its relaxed coastal aesthetic and rooftop pool overlooking Main Beach.
Horseshoe Bay Beach, South West Rocks Credit: Destination NSW
Scenic aerial views overlooking Horseshoe Bay Beach, South West Rocks.
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Horseshoe Bay Beach, South West Rocks Credit: Destination NSW
Scenic aerial views overlooking Horseshoe Bay Beach, South West Rocks.
The Surf, Yamba Credit: Elise Hassey
The Surf is Yamba’s first boutique hotel.
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The Surf, Yamba Credit: Elise Hassey
The Surf is Yamba’s first boutique hotel.
5. Blessed with beaches, Byron Bay has a stretch of sand for everyone – but The Pass is famous for being one of the most popular right-hand point breaks in Australia. Located between Clarkes Beach and Wategos, this North Coast strip caters to surfers of all levels (depending on the swell) and attracts families and out-of-towners alike to splash around in the small rockpools and to climb Fisherman’s Lookout, a timber viewing platform with incredible panoramas of the bay. If you’re looking for a different way to explore the coast, Zephyr Horses offer a sunrise or sunset tour, where you’ll follow a forest trail through the area’s diverse flora to the beach; or explore the water on a tour with Cape Byron Kayaks, meeting turtles, dolphins and whales (if you’re there between May and November) along the way. On the food front, try local produce at the popular Byron Farmers Markets, sit back at long lunches at hatted restaurants or wholefood cafes, and duck into Cape Byron Distillery to sample gin infused with native botanicals. Your lodging can be as lively as a backpacker hostel or as serene as a five-star wellness retreat, with many hideaways in the hinterlands in between.
6. The Tweed is well-endowed with its fair share of glittering coastal gems lapping the shore. The gorgeous Cabarita, or “Caba” as it’s known to locals, has heavenly scented day spas and beach-view bars, famous surf breaks and stunning viewpoints, such as Norries Headland. Revived surf motel Halcyon House has become a beacon of style since opening in 2015, the home of breezy diner Paper Daisy, where the menu is local, tight and finely executed. Just 20 minutes from beautiful Fingal Head Beach, visit Husk Farm Distillery to taste its refreshing rum made from local cane sugar and spread out under an umbrella on the lawn
Cape Byron Kayaks, The Pass Credit: Destination NSW
Experience all the fun and adventure of a Cape Byron Kayaks guided tour in Cape Byron Marine Park. Feel the exhilaration as you paddle your kayak with the dolphins, turtles, and whales that frequent the enticing waters of Byron Bay. Whether you are a novice or an experienced kayaker your adventure will include paddling the magnificent protected bay, surfing the waves, encountering abundant marine life, relaxing and enjoying all the Tim Tams you can eat once back at the beach.
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Cape Byron Kayaks, The Pass Credit: Destination NSW
Experience all the fun and adventure of a Cape Byron Kayaks guided tour in Cape Byron Marine Park. Feel the exhilaration as you paddle your kayak with the dolphins, turtles, and whales that frequent the enticing waters of Byron Bay. Whether you are a novice or an experienced kayaker your adventure will include paddling the magnificent protected bay, surfing the waves, encountering abundant marine life, relaxing and enjoying all the Tim Tams you can eat once back at the beach.
Halcyon House, Cabarita Beach Credit: Destination NSW
Paper Daisy restaurant located within boutique hotel Halcyon House, Cabarita Beach.
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Halcyon House, Cabarita Beach Credit: Destination NSW
Paper Daisy restaurant located within boutique hotel Halcyon House, Cabarita Beach.
Sea Cliff Bridge, CliftonCredit: Destination NSW
Sun rising over the Sea Cliff Bridge, Clifton.
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Buckle up for a spectacular journey exploring the Grand Pacific Drive, taking in rugged coastal cliffs, pretty beachside towns and secluded stretches of sand, stopping in at wineries and immersing in pockets of rainforest all within easy reach of Sydney.
Coast along ocean roads
Heading south from central Sydney, your journey begins well before the official starting point of the Grand Pacific Drive. Relish an increasing sense of freedom as you leave Sydney’s southern suburbs behind and find yourself driving through the open coastal bushland of the Royal National Park. Cruise into the first-ever declared national park in the country for an invigorating hike along one of the many walking trails in this expansive oceanside nature reserve, or make memories when you come face to furry face with a koala at Symbio Wildlife Park, immediately south of the Royal National Park in Helensburgh.
Follow the winding road down the steep escarpment from the Royal National Park to begin your Grand Pacific Drive odyssey by cruising along the spectacular Sea Cliff Bridge, which winds for 665m around sheer cliff faces with the waves of the Pacific Ocean crashing below. Rest and recharge with coffee and a refreshing swim at one of the beachside villages along the coastal road, such as Austinmer, before continuing on to Wollongong, NSW’s third-largest city. Here you can immerse in Aboriginal, Asian, colonial and contemporary art at Wollongong Art Gallery, tour fascinating Nan Tien Temple, the largest Buddhist temple in the southern hemisphere, or dive under the waves at one of the city’s golden beaches.
Hug the coastline as you leave Wollongong bound for the stunning surf beaches of Shellharbour, taking in the bird-rich expanses of Lake Illawarra to your right and the deep blue of the ocean to your left along the way. Marvel at the skill of surfers catching powerful waves at Minnamurra Beach and Killalea Beach, which together form the Killalea National Surfing Reserve. Join awestruck locals at Minnamurra Whale Watching Platform to spot majestic humpback whales making their way along the coast on their annual migration from Antarctica from May to July and from September to November.
Symbio Wildlife Park, Helensburgh Credit: Destination NSW
Friendly koala at Symbio Wildlife Park, Helensburgh in the Illawarra region.
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Symbio Wildlife Park, Helensburgh Credit: Destination NSW
Friendly koala at Symbio Wildlife Park, Helensburgh in the Illawarra region.
Minnamurra River, NSW Credit: Destination NSW
Friends kayaking on the Minnamurra River on the NSW South Coast
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Minnamurra River, NSW Credit: Destination NSW
Friends kayaking on the Minnamurra River on the NSW South Coast
Have a blast in Kiama
Jump back in your car for the short drive to Kiama, a pretty beachside town that’s best known as the home of the world’s largest blowhole. Glory to the power of nature as the ocean sprays water 30m into the sky at the Kiama Blowhole before following the Kiama Coast Walk track to Little Blowhole and a seemingly never-ending series of scenic headlands and bays. Recharge after a bracing coastal walk with a wholesome burger at Kiama’s Hungry Monkey, or graze on the all-day brunch menu at Diggies Kiama. Linger longer and top up your ‘vitamin sea’ levels while taking in the ocean views from your room at one of the many accommodation options in Kiama.
Rejoin Princes Highway for the 10-minute drive to Crooked River Wines, to sample fine wines and craft beer and slide down freshly shucked South Coast oysters, before the short drive to Gerringong, a classic beach town where the allure of the laidback lifestyle is hard to resist. Slip back into the swimsuit you’ve left drying in the back of the car for a revitalising dip at Gerringong’s Werri Beach before easing into a seat at The Hill Bar and Kitchen for a post-swim snack of locally sourced seafood or perhaps an ale or a glass of wine.
Cruise from Gerringong through lush coastal farmland to the village of Gerroa for a soul-soothing walk along the white sands of Seven Mile Beach before checking into a beach house looking out over the ocean. Or steer your car back onto the coastal road to cross into Seven Mile Beach National Park and the start of the Shoalhaven region. Settle in to a secluded luxury suite at Bangalay Luxury Villas at Shoalhaven Heads, at the southern end of Seven Mile Beach, to rest before communing with the ocean on a sunset stroll. Complete a memorable day of exploration by indulging in incredible food incorporating native ingredients and locally sourced and foraged ingredients at the in-house restaurant Bangalay Dining.
Seven Mile Beach, Gerroa/Shoalhaven Heads Credit: Destination NSW
Surfer catching waves at Seven Mile Beach which stretches from Gerroa to Shoalhaven Heads.
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Seven Mile Beach, Gerroa/Shoalhaven Heads Credit: Destination NSW
Surfer catching waves at Seven Mile Beach which stretches from Gerroa to Shoalhaven Heads.
Bangalay Dining, Shoalhaven Heads Credit: Anna Wiewiora
The breezy Bangalay Dining restaurant at Bangalay Luxury Villas in Shoalhaven Heads.
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Bangalay Dining, Shoalhaven Heads Credit: Anna Wiewiora
The breezy Bangalay Dining restaurant at Bangalay Luxury Villas in Shoalhaven Heads.
Go wild in Jervis Bay
Keep the good times coming by sampling your way south at the wineries of the Shoalhaven Wine Coast, including Coolangatta Estate and Mountain Ridge Wines, both around a five-minute drive from Bangalay Luxury Villas. Then follow the Shoalhaven River inland and cross the placid waterway on the outskirts of Nowra, the largest town in the region.
Refuel yourself and your car before the 20-minute drive from Nowra to the sheltered waters of Jervis Bay. Here you can splash around on powder-white, tree-lined beaches or hire a kayak from Sea Kayak Jervis Bay to paddle the clear waters of Jervis Bay Marine Park while spotting dolphins, seabirds and penguins. Take a scenic cruise with Dolphin Watch Cruises for a thrilling encounter with bottlenose dolphins — and with migrating humpback whales in winter and spring. Or slide under the waves and swim with seals and colourful reef fish with Dive Jervis Bay.
Relish an unusual wine pairing with a Whales & Wine tour, combining tastings at two local vineyards with a two-hour whale-watching cruise around the bay. And bliss out in a cottage or glamping tent at The Woods Farm or retreat to an elevated safari-style luxury tent at Paperbark Camp to restore your energy levels ahead of another memorable day on the bay.
Coolangatta Estate, Shoalhaven Heads Credit: Destination NSW
Sun setting over the scenic grounds of Coolangatta Estate, Shoalhaven Heads.
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Coolangatta Estate, Shoalhaven Heads Credit: Destination NSW
Sun setting over the scenic grounds of Coolangatta Estate, Shoalhaven Heads.
Dolphin Watch Cruises, Jervis Bay Credit: Somethingswild
Sun rising over Huskisson Wharf in Jervis Bay.
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Dolphin Watch Cruises, Jervis Bay Credit: Somethingswild
Sun rising over Huskisson Wharf in Jervis Bay.