Sydney to Crescent Head road trip: Distance, time & best stops

Sydney to Crescent Head road trip: Taree to Port Macquarie

The leg from Taree to Port Macquarie brings the Cattai Wetlands near Coopernook, although veering coastward again for Crowdy Bay National Park is more rewarding. The Diamond Head campground is a famously good place for seeing kangaroos.

Meanwhile, near the Pacific Highway, you can see the enormous Bird Tree in Middle Brother National Park, drive past Queens Lake and maybe pay a visit to Lake Cathie a visit.

Port Macquarie is an attraction-packed potential stop. Turn east at the junction with the Oxley Highway to go into the city.

Things to do in Port Macquarie include the Sea Acres Rainforest Centre, riding camels on Lighthouse Beach and taking scenic helicopter flights.

Port Macquarie accommodation picks

The best Port Macquarie accommodation options are…

For a great value motel: East Port Motor Inn.
For families: NRMA Port Macquarie Breakwall Holiday Park.
For quality apartments with a heated pool: Northpoint Apartments.
For beachside location: Flynns Beach Resort.
For overall quality: The Mid Pacific.

Stay with the Pacific Highway and Billabong Zoo and Cassegrain Wines are the main attractions before reaching Kempsey.

Sydney to Crescent Head drive: Kempsey and Crescent Head

Kempsey pays tribute to the nation’s most adored country musician at the Slim Dusty Centre.

Kempsey accommodation picks include the riverside Park Drive Motel and the pool-equipped Motel Kempsey.

At the southern end of Kempsey, dogleg back to the south-east down Crescent Head Road. The road skirts the northern end of Maria National Park before reaching surfer favourite Crescent Head. Surfaris hosts its long-running surf camps here.

Crescent Head is best known for its surf beaches – Killick Beach and Goolawah Beach are either side of the small town. However, it can also be used as a base for exploring Goolawah National Park, Limeburners Creek National Park and Hat Head National Park.

The main accommodation option in Crescent Head is the Crescent Head Holiday Park.