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Australia🇦🇺 | beachesCrescent HeadLongboard point, wild kangaroos, Malibu Classic, open sand | things to do and best time to go

Explore Cottesloe BeachExplore Seventy-Five Mile Beach

Backpacking in Crescent Head
👍 Recommendedbeach ranked #16
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 15, 2026

Crescent Head is home to Little Nobby, a point break that was part of the 1960s surf scene and hosts one of Australia’s longest-running longboard festivals, the Malibu Classic. The beach sits on the New South Wales mid-north coast, in Australia, east of Kempsey. The sand is clean, the crowds thin out away from the point, and there is no nightlife to speak of. Swimming is fine between the flags. A meat pie at the bakery came to roughly A$6.50 and was eaten, with commitment, on the headland while longboarders queued for waves like commuters. Kangaroos graze on the headland grass.

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✨ Why go?
Ranked #16 beach in AustraliaWhat makes this beach worth visiting

Backpackers stop here for the surf, and for the unusual number of people who have come for exactly that. Crescent Head Point is a long right-hand wave that peels slowly, which makes it forgiving for learners on foam boards and a showcase for veterans on logs. Board hire and lessons are available in the village, so you do not need your own gear. The second draw is the kangaroos on the golf course and headland, a daily crowd that needs no ticket. The village is small and quiet, so it works as a slow pause on the Pacific coast, with enough cafes and a pub to keep you fed.

💡 HighlightsPlaces and moments you shouldn't skip

  1. Crescent Head Point: the long right-hand point break that put the village on the surf map, best watched from the headland even if you never paddle out.
  2. Learning to surf or longboard: the gentle, lengthy waves suit beginners, and local schools and shops rent boards and wetsuits.
  3. Kangaroos on the headland and golf course: wild eastern grey kangaroos graze on the grass around the point, most easily seen at dawn and dusk.
  4. Malibu Classic: the annual longboard contest on the point, with retro boards, a festival crowd and a rare busy weekend in a quiet town.
  5. Crescent Head Main Beach walk: a long, open stretch of sand running north from the point for a beachcombing stroll, with a sunrise view over the Pacific.
Start with the point break, because watching it from the headland costs nothing and explains the whole village.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.

Things to do near Crescent Head

Sunset Kayak Eco Tour with Marine Scientist

Sunset Kayak Eco Tour with Marine Scientist

5.0(90) 2h
From €41
per personViator
Whale Watching in Coffs Harbour

Whale Watching in Coffs Harbour

4.8(42) 1h 30m
From €60
per personViator
Double Dive to South Solitary Island Coffs Harbour

Double Dive to South Solitary Island Coffs Harbour

4.9(37) 6h
From €167
per personViator
Coffs Harbour Ground Rush or Max Freefall Tandem Skydive on the Beach

Coffs Harbour Ground Rush or Max Freefall Tandem Skydive on the Beach

5.0(12) 2h
From €274
per personViator
The Big Banana Fun Park - 1-Day Summer Ultimate Pass

The Big Banana Fun Park - 1-Day Summer Ultimate Pass

4.6(15)
From €56
per personViator
Treetops Adventure Coffs Harbour Tree Ropes Course

Treetops Adventure Coffs Harbour Tree Ropes Course

5.0(7) 2h 30m
From €37
per personViator
Daytime Kayak Eco Tour of New South Wales

Daytime Kayak Eco Tour of New South Wales

5.0(5) 2h
From €41
per personViator
Coffs Harbour Climbing & Junior Ropes Course

Coffs Harbour Climbing & Junior Ropes Course

5.0(1) 2h 30m
From €25
per personViator
Prison Break Escape Room

Prison Break Escape Room

0.0(0) 1h
From €28
per personViator
School Of Wizards Escape Room

School Of Wizards Escape Room

0.0(0) 1h
From €28
per personViator

Ratings based on Tripadvisor reviews. When you book through this link, you support our work at no extra cost to you.

🌤️ When to go?Seasonal considerations and timing

  • Summer (Dec to Feb): Warm and humid, 19 to 28°C (66 to 82°F), with daylight stretching past 7 pm. Water sits around 23 to 25°C (73 to 77°F). School holidays fill the village and push prices up.
  • Autumn (Mar to May): Clear days of 17 to 25°C (63 to 77°F), smaller crowds, and consistent swell for longboarders at Little Nobby.
  • Winter (Jun to Aug): Dry and mild, 8 to 19°C (46 to 66°F), with dark by 5 pm. Cheapest beds, cold water, and whales passing offshore from June to November.
  • Spring (Sep to Nov): Warming to 12 to 24°C (54 to 75°F) with quiet beaches and lower rates.
Book summer weekends early, since the village has limited beds.

source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: highly recommended for travelingFEBFebruary: highly recommended for travelingMARMarch: highly recommended for travelingAPRApril: highly recommended for travelingMAYMay: good for travelingJUNJune: fair for travelingJULJuly: fair for travelingAUGAugust: fair for travelingSEPSeptember: good for travelingOCTOctober: highly recommended for travelingNOVNovember: highly recommended for travelingDECDecember: highly recommended for traveling
australia-beach-crescent-head
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🛏️ Where to stay?How to pick the right area

The village of Crescent Head itself is the place to stay, because everything sits within a 10 minute walk of the sand. Options are small: a caravan park and holiday cabins beside Killick Creek, a few motels and guesthouses along Main Street, and holiday rentals you can split among friends. Expect roughly A$35 to 60 for a powered or unpowered campsite and A$120 to 220 for a cabin or room, with rates climbing in December and January. Social scenes are low-key. Surfers gather near the point and the general store, so you meet people on the beach rather than in dorms. Port Macquarie, about 45 minutes … read more 👉
The village of Crescent Head itself is the place to stay, because everything sits within a 10 minute walk of the sand. Options are small: a caravan park and holiday cabins beside Killick Creek, a few motels and guesthouses along Main Street, and holiday rentals you can split among friends. Expect roughly A$35 to 60 for a powered or unpowered campsite and A$120 to 220 for a cabin or room, with rates climbing in December and January. Social scenes are low-key. Surfers gather near the point and the general store, so you meet people on the beach rather than in dorms. Port Macquarie, about 45 minutes south, has proper hostels and a livelier backpacker crowd if you want nightlife.
Best hostels in Australia


Best quality hotels in Australia

🛡️ SafetyScams, Hazards, and Annoyances

Crescent Head is a patrolled-in-season surf beach, and the main hazards are ordinary ones: rips and punchy shore breaks. Swim between the flags when volunteer lifesavers are on duty, mostly in summer and school holidays, and ask them where the rip is running that day. The point break draws experienced longboarders, so beginners do better away from the lineup. Bluebottles wash up on northeasterly winds in summer, and the sun is strong, so bring a rash shirt and hat. Lock valuables in your car or leave them behind. Theft is rare but not unknown.
Check Country Safety

FAQCommon questions from travelers

Drive to reach it, since no train or regular bus stops in the village. Crescent Head lies about 20 km off the Pacific Highway near Kempsey, roughly 4.5 to 5 hours north of Sydney by road and 45 minutes from Port Macquarie. Coaches stop at Kempsey, where you will need a rental car, rideshare or taxi for the final 20 minutes.
Surfing is the main draw, and swimming is good when conditions are calm. The right-hand point break at Little Nobby is one of Australia's best for longboarding, and board hire and lessons run about A$40 to 80. Swim between the flags in season. Snorkeling is poor because the water is often turbid and there is no reef to speak of.
Yes, the beach and village foreshore are free, with no entry fee. Parking in the village is generally free too, though some time limits apply near the shops. Camping at the caravan park costs around A$35 to 60 a night. Board hire and lessons are the main extra costs.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

Other Australian beaches near Crescent Head

Explore more nearby:

  • Byron Bay—Cape lighthouse, The Pass, Julian Rocks, hinterland sunset| 290 km away
  • Manly Beach—Ferry crossing, the Corso, Shelly Beach cove, North Head| 330 km away
  • Shelly Beach—Aquatic reserve, blue gropers, shore dives, Fairy Bower walk| 330 km away

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We 💚 feedbackSumming up the experience

Crescent Head suits surfers and slow travelers who are happy with a wave, a pie and a kangaroo sighting in place of nightlife. Learners will like the gentle point. If you want parties or snorkeling, skip it. I would book a lesson early in your stay.

✈️ When did I visit Australia?
On my trip to New Zealand in 1993, I had a short stop in Australia as well.

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on my own backpacking experience in Australia, supplemented with up-to-date research and feedback from other travelers. Travel details can change, so if you notice anything outdated or incomplete, feel free to let me know.



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