Macleay River

1,412 mentions

The Macleay snakes from gorges to sea, offering house-boat holidays, sunrise paddles and riverside cycleways right through Kempsey. Anglers chase bass under paperbark canopies, while newly landscaped foreshore parks host weekend markets and picnic spots with million-dollar water views for locals year-round.

2

Crescent Head Main Beach

1,198 mentions

Home to one of the world’s best point breaks, Crescent Head pairs longboard waves with a family-friendly tidal lagoon and ocean-view café strip. Dawn surfers, sunset walkers and monthly markets create an easy coastal buzz just 15 minutes east of Kempsey town.

3

Kempsey CBD

1,046 mentions

Heritage façades along Smith Street now house latte labs, Indigenous art galleries and pop-up night markets. Free parking, supermarkets and a riverside skate plaza make everyday errands breezy, while highway bypass works have returned a relaxed, village feel to the main drag.

4

Nambucca Heads River Foreshore

934 mentions

Colourful V-walls murals, pelican feeding decks and floating pontoon pools line this sun-drenched estuary. Morning SUP sessions mingle with evening fish-and-chip picnics, and new boardwalk lighting encourages leisurely strolls long after the sun slips behind the headland.

5

Pacific Highway (access)

903 mentions

Completed dual-carriageway upgrades cut travel to Coffs Harbour to 40 minutes and Sydney to under five hours. Safer, faster trips boost tourism and fresh-produce freight, while locals enjoy stress-free weekend dashes to city concerts or Gold Coast theme parks.

6

South West Rocks CBD

801 mentions

Seaside cafes, boutique surf shops and a historic cinema sit a sand-shuffle from Horseshoe Bay. Dive boats to Fish Rock Cave depart the creek, while sunset drinks on the lawn at the pub anchor a laid-back, holiday vibe 365 days a year.

7

Kempsey District Hospital

712 mentions

This modern riverside campus offers 24-hour emergency, maternity and renal services, supported by visiting specialists. Peace-of-mind healthcare attracts retirees and young families, while a new clinical-training wing draws health professionals keen to balance career with coastal living.

8

Yarriabini National Park

641 mentions

Sub-tropical rainforest climbs to 495 metres, rewarding hikers with ocean panoramas and falls draped in strangler figs. Birdwatchers spot glossy black cockatoos, and shaded picnic areas make it an easy nature escape minutes from Scotts Head and Grassy Head beaches.

9

Nambucca Plaza Shopping Centre

587 mentions

Coles, cinema, medical suites and a food-court air-condition life’s essentials under one roof. Plenty of free parking and EV chargers mean locals can grab groceries, catch a movie and recharge—car and caffeine—without heading north to big-box centres.

10

Trial Bay Gaol & Arakoon National Park

542 mentions

Kangaroos graze outside 19th-century prison ruins perched above turquoise Trial Bay. Calm waters suit beginner snorkellers and paddleboarders, while cliff-top campsites book out months ahead for full-moon rises and whale-watching. History and natural beauty collide here in glorious fashion.

11

Hat Head National Park

498 mentions

Dramatic sand dunes meet wildflower-lined hiking trails and headland lookouts perfect for spotting migrating humpbacks. Secluded beaches offer spearfishing and beach-launch surf breaks, yet the campground’s only 25 minutes from Kempsey’s supermarkets and hospital—true wilderness without sacrificing convenience.

12

Mount Yarrahapinni Lookout

451 mentions

A winding rainforest drive leads to 180-degree views spanning Macksville valley to the Pacific. Picnic shelters, fresh mountain air and nightly stargazing sessions make this vantage point a local favourite for photography and quiet reflection above the coastal bustle below.

13

Kempsey Railway Station

392 mentions

Daily XPT trains link to Sydney and Brisbane, offering stress-free travel for students, seniors and surfers alike. Park-and-Ride and bike lockers make commuting simple, while the heritage-listed station building adds old-world charm to modern transport convenience.

14

Grassy Head Beach

345 mentions

Backed by littoral rainforest, this uncrowded stretch delivers gentle holiday patrolled waves and rock-platform fishing at either end. A small caravan park and picnic reserve foster a nostalgic camping culture, perfect for unplugged weekends away from crowds.

15

Frederickton Riverside Precinct

299 mentions

Restored wharf sheds house a famed pie shop and weekend live-music deck overlooking the Macleay’s tidal flow. Riverside walk-and-cycle paths, playground and dog-off-leash lawn make this once-sleepy hamlet a buzzing pit-stop for highway travellers and locals alike.

16

Nambucca Heads High School

264 mentions

Strong STEAM programs, surf-life-saving electives and a modern performing-arts centre serve students from Valla to Scotts Head. Consistent HSC results underpin residential demand, while the school’s community garden and twilight markets knit families tightly into coastal life.

17

Coffs Coast Regional Airport (45 min)

231 mentions

Daily jets to Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane shrink business trips and family visits without capital-city hassle. Planned runway extensions for holiday-charter flights promise tourism growth and keep Kempsey–Nambucca residents globally connected yet blissfully distanced from big-city bustle.

18

Kempsey Golf Club

198 mentions

Koalas lounge in eucalypts beside lush fairways of this friendly par-70 layout. Affordable memberships, twilight social comps and a sun-soaked clubhouse deck make it as much about community and post-round schnitzels as it is about handicaps.

19

Stuarts Point Boat Ramp

167 mentions

All-tide ramp launches fishos into the Macleay Arm or straight through the bar to offshore reefs. Plenty of trailer parking, picnic tables and a nearby café mean families can mix fishing, crabbing and sandy-toed playtime in one lazy outing.

20

Slim Dusty Centre & Museum

154 mentions

Dedicated to Kempsey’s favourite son, the centre showcases guitars, gold records and an interactive trucking-songs exhibit. A highway-front café, conference hall and monthly country-music nights attract road-trippers and locals, celebrating outback spirit in the singer’s proud home town.

Area Hotlist — Kempsey - Nambucca NSW