The Macleay Valley Coast is a region of New South Wales north of Port Macquerie, stretching over 3,300km2 between Crescent Head in the south and Grassy Head in the north.
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.
After leaving the Barrington Coast behind, we stopped in at Port Macquarie before we carried on up the east coast of Australia towards the Macleay Valley Coast, home to just under 32,000 people.
For thousands of years, the Dunghutti and Thunggutti people lived on this land, long before any Europeans arrived. The first Europeans arrived in 1827 with the establishment of a cedar farm and land grants handed out from 1835, primarily for farming cows and corn.
Every single spot (and more) that I mention in all my blog posts about Australia can be found in my Australia | Ultimate Map!
This is a digital map featuring hundreds of my favourite restaurants, campgrounds, accommodations, shops, photo spots, museums, beaches, lakes, animal spots, bridges, viewpoints, hikes and SO much more in Australia, including its three external territories.
Each pin includes exact locations, images, detailed information, the ability to open and save the spot in your Google Maps and a link to my relevant blog post to read more.
COMING SOON → Buy the Australia | Ultimate Map!
Below is some useful information for preparing for your trip to the Macleay Valley Coast. 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 the Macleay Valley Coast, the traditional language of the Dunghutti and Thunggutti people is Dhanggati.
→ Learn more about the language of the Dunghutti and Thunggutti 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. The Macleay Valley Coast, situated on the southeast coast of the country, north of Port Macquarie in New South Wales, 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 two days on the Macleay Valley Coast exploring the beaches, museums, towns and viewpoints although you could spend much more time exploring the area!
Crescent Head Lookout
The Macleay Valley Coast is a region of New South Wales north of Port Macquarie, stretching over 3,300km2 between Crescent Head in the south and Grassy Head in the north.
By flight: The closest airports to the Macleay Valley Coast are Port Macquarie to the south or Coffs Harbour to the north. They are both about an hour away however both are domestic airports only connecting with Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne (CH only) and Lord Howe Island (PM only).
The closest international airport is just over 400km away in Sydney, so the easiest would be to get a connecting flight through there.
By car: If you're driving around the country as we are in our campervan, then the easiest way to get to the Macleay Valley Coast 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 Sydney.
You might want to start in Sydney as your base for renting a campervan to explore Australia.
→ Rent a campervan in Sydney with Apollo, Camplify, Indie or Juicy.
By train: Sydney connects with Brisbane on the North Coast Railway, stopping along the way on the Macleay Valley Coast.
→ Plan your trip by train to the Macleay Valley Coast.
By bus: Both Premier Motors and Greyhound run coaches between Sydney and Brisbane including stops on the Macleay Valley Coast.
The Macleay Valley Coast stretches over 3,300km2 between Crescent Head in the south and Grassy Head in the north. Kempsey is the main town in the area and a great option for basing yourself in.
By bus: Busways serves the Macleay Valley Coast, primarily around the Kempsey area.
→ Plan your trip by bus around the Macleay Valley Coast.
By car: If you have your own wheels, of course you can drive yourself around.
By Uber: Uber is available in Kempsey.
By guided tour: Coach Holidays and Tours offers a six-day guided tour of the Macleay Valley Coast and Port Macquarie.
A map of the Macleay Valley Coast
Hotel: Not traveling by campervan? Driving in a car? Visiting from Sydney, Newcastle, Port Macquarie or Brisbane? Whatever your reason for needing a place to stay, there are some great accommodation options all around the Macleay Valley Coast.
→ Check out all the accommodation options on the Macleay Valley Coast.
Camping: We are driving "the lap" around Australia, exploring the country in our campervan. The best way to find camping spots is to use an app. We use Wikicamps Australia, a cheap app that has every single amenity listed (both free and paid) that you might need on the road. This includes things like where to fill up fresh water, where to dump grey water, where to empty toilets, where to stay, gas stations, information points and also has suggestions for things to do as you go.
→ Download the Wikicamps Australia app.
We spent a night at the free Lions Park Campground in Macksville at the northern end of the Macleay Valley Coast, right on the shores of the Nambucca River. It wasn't super quiet with traffic going through town, but we're always grateful to places that permit free camping; they even provide toilets and picnic areas right on the riverfront.
We spent two days exploring the beaches, museums and viewpoints of the Macleay Valley Coast. Here is everything we did in the area to get you started, in geographical order from south to north:
Walk to the viewpoint at Crescent Head Lookout
On the Crescent Head headland, a short walk up to the Crescent Head Lookout ends at a stunning viewpoint overlooking Pebbly Beach. It's especially beautiful at golden hour.
Park at the end of Skyline Crescent and walk down the grassy trail to the end of the headland.
If you're here between May and November you might even spot migrating humpback whales in the ocean.
The grassy pathway to the lookout
The view to the ocean
Overlooking Pebbly Beach
Learn about the history of Trial Bay Gaol
We were so impressed by our visit to the Trial Bay Gaol in Arakoon, just east of South West Rocks. It's located in Arakoon National Park, operated by NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, and does a fantastic job of preserving the history of the prison.
After 13 years of construction, the Trial Bay Gaol opened in 1886 overlooking the incredible coastal views of the national park in which the prisoners were due to build a breakwater for a safe harbour. Constant weather struggles meant that the breakwater never came to fruition and the project ended in 1903; you can still see fragments of what remains partially submerged out into the water.
The Gaol is well known for Sheriff Harold Maclean, one of the early supporters of prison reform instead of punishment and he offered nice accommodation, time for activities in their spare time, wages for work done and skills training so that those who completed their sentences were more employable (although not all who led the Gaol shared these sentiments).
The Goal was reopened from 1915 to 1922 for German sympathizers during the First World War who were also permitted to socialize freely within the grounds, swim, fish, box, bowl and play tennis and chess. They also worked either in or outside of the Goal and earned wages.
At the time of writing, we paid AUD $11 per person (so worth it!!) which gives you free access to wander the grounds including stepping inside all the different rooms and some of the old cells. There is a very informative video to watch when you arrive as well which tells the story before you start exploring. You don't need to pre-book tickets, simply show up and purchase them on site.
It has been a reserve since 1946 and part of the national park since 1987. You might even spot the resident kangaroos lazing about the grounds!
Spot the kangaroos!
Spot the remants of the abandoned breakwater project
Swim at Back Creek Bridge
We absolutely loved spending a day at Back Creek Bridge, a favourite among locals. It's a brilliant place to swim above the shallow sandbank near the shore and you'll most likely spot people jumping off the bridge into the water below. The water under the bridge flows out in a rip-like current to the ocean and it's so fun to paddle along or grab an inflatable ring and float down. You can swim to shore and walk back up to the beach over and over again.
Spot pelicans at South West Rocks Boat Ram
We stumbled upon the South West Rocks Boat Ramp because we found a potable water tap there (thanks, Wikicamps!) to refill our van with and then we spotted so many wild pelicans in the waters!
Since this is a boat ramp with fish cleaning facilities, the pelicans like to hang out here to try and catch the offal, so you're pretty much guaranteed to spot them here.
Hang out on Little Beach
Little Beach, much as the name says, is a beautiful little beach with sheltered, calm water. There are rock pools appearing at low tide so it's the perfect spot for a relaxing beach day.
See the view over Scotts Head Beach
We caught golden hour over Scotts Head Beach from Scotts Head Lookout on the far right of the beach. It's a very short set of steps up to a wooden platform with perfect panoramic views over the beach and out to the ocean. Perfect way to end the day!
BOOK AN EXPERIENCE IN NEW SOUTH WALES!
PIN THIS POST TO REFER BACK TO LATER!
GET READY TO TRAVEL!
— Book tours and experiences - with GetYourGuide
— Get all the gear you need for your trip - with Amazon (North America)
— Get all the gear you need for your trip - with Amazon (Europe)
— Find a place to stay - with Booking.com
— Choose a hostel to stay at - with Hostelworld
— Purchase global travel insurance - with World Nomads
— Load an international eSim on your phone - with AirAlo
— Start your own travel blog - with Hostinger
— Join the GetYourGuide Travel Creator Community - with GetYourGuide
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.
