Kangaroos are such an icon of Australia, the loveable, soft animal bounding around on its hind legs, often with a joey tucked away in its pouch. Spotting these wonderful creatures is a must-do while visiting Australia and I'm pretty sure we found one of the best spots in New South Wales (and probably the country) to do just that.
We're currently living full-time in our campervan, a 2018 Mercedes Sprinter, and exploring Australia, with a plan of "driving the lap" (completing the entire perimeter of the country). I first visited Australia in 2019, following the classic backpacker route, mostly visiting big cities, staying in hostels and traveling by public transport. This time, with the freedom of our campervan, we're trying to hit the lesser known spots and go slower.
Emerald Beach is a beautiful beach town on the east coast, located just north of the Waterfall Way and Coffs Harbour, and the ultimate beach getaway destination. Think surfing, beach vibes, cute town and, of course, kangaroos.
For thousands of years, the Gumbaynggirr people lived on this land, long before any Europeans arrived. They were known as the "sharing people" because "their land was so rich that food and other resources were commonly shared with other nations."
The first Europeans to see the Coffs Harbour coastline, including Emerald Beach, were Captain James Cook in 1770 and Captain Matthew Flinders in 1779 although neither landed here. It was not documented again until 1847 when Captain John Korff took refuge in bad weather in what is now known as Coffs Harbour after attempting to reach the Bellingen River a bit to the south. Settlement only really began in the area in the 1870s, considerably later than surrounding areas, mostly for cedar timber.
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Below is some useful information for preparing for your trip to Emerald Beach. In all cases, please be sure to check with the relevant local authorities for the latest and accurate information.
Language: The official language of Australia is English. In Emerald Beach, the traditional language of the Gumbaynggirr people is Gumbaynggirr.
→ Learn more about the language of the Gumbaynggirr people.
Currency: The currency used in Australia is the Australian dollar, denoted as AUD $. I use a Wise account when I travel which allows me to have a single, free account with multiple currencies. I only have to pay once to convert my money in the app and then I can pay in AUD $!
→ Check the latest currency conversion between AUD $ and your local currency.
Data: Before you arrive, I recommend purchasing an eSim on your phone so that you can access data the moment you land. eSims are much more convenient as it means you don't have to put a separate physical Sim into your phone. AirAlo offers great deals for eSims of various data sizes and time lengths with Optus.
→ Load an international eSim on your phone with AirAlo.
If you are visiting Australia long term, you might wish to put a physical Sim in your phone as AirAlo is geared more towards short term visitors on holiday. This way you can access a local phone plan. There are three main mobile phone network providers in Australia: Telstra, Optus and Vodafone. Telstra has the best coverage across the country whereas Optus and Vodafone are good within cities. I recommend Telstra as it means you have the best coverage while you travel around the country, especially in rural areas.
Visa: All passport holders except New Zealand require a visa to visit Australia. All arrivals must fill out an Australian arrival card before landing.
→ Check which visa you need for Australia.
Time of year to visit: Australia can be visited all year-round. Emerald Beach can get very hot and busy especially around the school summer holidays and cool in the winter months. I recommend visiting in spring (September-November) or autumn (March-May) for pleasant, sunny days.
Length of stay: We spent a day exploring the Look At Me Now Headland and the surrounding beaches but there are so many activities to do around here, you could easily spend longer. We'd love to come back and spend a few days surfing at Headland Beach, the northernmost tip of Moonee Beach.
By flight: The closest airport to Emerald Beach is in Coffs Harbour, just a 20-minute drive south. You can take bus 390 from Coffs Harbour Airport to Coffs Harbour and transfer to bus 393 on to Emerald Beach.
Coffs Harbour Airport only has domestic flights from Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne so if traveling internationally, the easiest would be to get a connecting flight through one of these three major cities.
By car: The best way to get to Emerald Beach is with your own wheels. The most popular way of exploring Australia is by camping - whether with a motorhome, campervan, caravan or a roof tent on top of a car. This gives you the ultimate freedom of going as fast or as slow as you like.
→ If you don't have your own car, you can rent one in Coffs Harbour.
By bus: Bus 393 runs between Coffs Harbour and Woolgoolga, stopping in Emerald Beach along the way. The Look At Me Now Headland is about a 20-minute walk from the bus stop.
Emerald Beach is a beautiful beach town on the east coast, located just north of the Waterfall Way and Coffs Harbour, and the ultimate beach getaway destination. Think surfing, beach vibes, cute town and, of course, kangaroos.
Here is how we spent a day exploring this gorgeous stretch of coast:
Spot kangaroos at the Look At Me Now Headland
The most famous attraction to Emerald Beach is getting to spot grey kangaroos at the Look At Me Now Headland. The headland walk is about a 2km loop up the hill from the parking lot, you're almost guaranteed to always spot these adorable Australian icons.
Please remember they are wild animals; give them space and do not touch them.
Go swimming at Shelly Beach
This peaceful little stretch of beach is just north of the Look At Me Now Headland with gentle waves and golden sand. Perfect for a lazy beach day.
Go surfing at Headland Beach
Headland Beach, the northernmost point of Moonee Beach, is one of the best spots for surfing on the Coffs Coast with reliable, protected waves, especially perfect for non-advanced surfers looking to get out in the water. The beach is just stunning, with waves lapping the coast and pretty rockpools and headlands surrounding it.
Make sure to check out the view overlooking the beach from the Look At Me Now Headland.
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Hi! I’m Jana, a Dutch-German-British-Canadian with a dream of seeing every country in the world. I am a storyteller, photographer and adventurer passionate about documenting and sharing my travels.
