The 6 best things to do in Evans Head, NSW: Top attractions guide

The 6 best things to do in Evans Head, NSW: Top attractions guide

The best things to do at Evans Head, NSW, include surfing at Air Force Beach, fishing charters, and koala-spotting in the Bundjalung National Park.

The best things to do in Evans Head, NSW, are:

  1. 4WDing down Airforce Beach.
  2. Deep sea fishing charters.
  3. Kayaking in Bundjalung National Park.
  4. Spotting koalas on the Gummigurrah walking track.
  5. Watching whales from the Razorback Lookout.
  6. Discovering WWII history at the Evans Head Heritage Aviation Museum.

These activities are all covered in more detail below.

Where is Evans Head?

Evans Head is a small beach town on the Evans River in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales. It’s on the North Coast, between Yamba and Ballina. Visitors might opt to take a short detour off the Pacific Highway to visit on the drive from Sydney to Byron Bay or Coffs Harbour to Brisbane.

No-one’s ever going to successfully portray Evans Head as an all-action town. But it can be an utterly lovely place to hang out.

Evans Head is a pretty beach town in northern New South Wales.
Evans Head is a pretty beach town in northern New South Wales.

Things to do in Evans Head, NSW: Evans Head Beach and Airforce Beach

Primarily, of course, Evans Head is a beach town. Evans Head Beach and Airforce Beach are the main hangouts, Evans Head Beach being the safest for swimming and novice surfers. It gets a degree of protection from the occasionally large swells that crash in elsewhere.

Airforce Beach, meanwhile, is long. So long, in fact, that it doubles as a road – 4WD vehicles are allowed to drive along it. This makes Airforce Beach popular with anglers who will often drive up and fish for a few hours.

If fishing is your thing, then Evans Head Deep Sea Fishing Charters will take you out onto the ocean for a day. Pearl perch and snapper are the specialist catches in this area.

Best Evans Head attractions: Bundjalung National Park

But Evans Head isn’t just about the ocean. There are several waterways around Evans Head that are ideally suited for kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding. These include the Evans River estuary and Jerusalem Creek in the Bundjalung National Park, to the south of town.

The Bundjalung National Park is a good place to see wild koalas, too. You’ll find them in the treetops along the 3.3km Gummigurrah walking track.

Things to do in Evans Head, NSW: Razorback Lookout and Goanna Headland

In terms of coastal lookouts, there are several excellent spots around Evans Head for sweeping sea views. Arguably the best panoramas come from the Razorback Lookout and Goanna Headland, however. Keep an eye open for migrating humpback whales and the local dolphin pods.

In terms of cultural attractions, the Evans Head Living Museum does the old buildings, farming equipment and local heritage thing. The Evans Head Heritage Aviation Museum, meanwhile, looks at the massive Australian Air Force training camp that was based here during World War II.

Evans Head is a 31km drive south of Ballina, or a 70km drive north of Yamba. Accommodation is available at the Evans Head caravan park.

More New South Wales town and city guides

Albury | Anna Bay | Ardlethan | Batemans Bay | Bathurst | Bellingen | Berry | Bowral | Byron Bay | Cabarita Beach | Central Tilba | Coffs Harbour | Colo Heights | Cooranbong | Corowa | Dubbo | Eden | Ewingsdale | ForsterTuncurry | Gerringong | Googong | Goolgowi | Gosford | Greenwell Point | Griffith | Gundagai | Hawks Nest | Huskisson | Inverell | Jindabyne | Jugiong | Junee | Kiama | Kingscliff | Kurrajong | Leura | Lismore | Macksville | Mathoura | Mittagong | Mogo | Mollymook | Moree | Moruya | Moulamein | Nambucca Heads | Narooma | Narrandera | Nelson Bay | Newcastle | Nundle | Nyngan | Oberon | Port Macquarie | Sydney | Tamworth | Terrigal | Tocumwal | Tweed Heads | Ulladulla | Werris Creek | Wisemans Ferry | West Wyalong | Yamba | Yass | Young