Things to do in Nambucca Heads, NSW

The best things to do in Nambucca Heads, NSW, include whale-watching from the Captain Cook Lookout and kayaking in the Gaagal Wanggaan National Park.

Nambucca Heads is one of a series of underrated beach towns on the New South Wales North Coast. Along with the likes of Forster, Arrawarra, Yamba and Lennox Head, it helps make a slow Sydney to Byron Bay road trip highly appealing.

Nambucca Heads is a beach town that spreads along the northern side of the Nambucca River Estuary. It’s one of those places that simply looks good, with glimmering sand bars interspersing the blue waters, and dolphins flitting among them.

Nambucca Heads on the drive from Port Macquarie to Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, Australia — Nambucca Heads is a fabulous potential stop on the drive from Port Macquarie to Coffs Harbour in New South Wales. Photo courtesy of the Legendary Pacific Coast.

Things to do in Nambucca Heads: Captain Cook Lookout

Predictably, the list of things to do in Nambucca Heads features a lot of beaches. Main Beach is home to the Nambucca Heads Surf Life Saving Club, although the much smaller Shelly Beach is closer to Nambucca Head itself. It’s worth climbing up to the Captain Cook Lookout above Shelly Beach for fabulous views of the river and coastline. Between May and November, you’ve also got a good chance of spotting migrating humpback whales from the Captain Cook Lookout.

South Beach is the absolute stunner, though. It stretches all the way south to Scotts Head, and the Gaagal Wanggaan National Park protects it. This relatively new national park – it was only declared in 2010 – covers the near-pristine coastal dunes, the extensive mangrove system and littoral rainforest.

Fairy wrens, pelicans and kookaburras hang out here, while Warrell Creek is a gorgeous spot for kayaking.

Things to do in Nambucca Heads: The V-Wall

Another Nambucca Heads attraction is the V-Wall. This breakwall is piled high with rocks, and over the years it has become traditional to leave a message on said rocks. The Nambucca Heads V-Wall has essentially become an open-air art gallery, covered in good-natured graffiti.

Nambucca Heads is on the Port Macquarie to Coffs Harbour leg of the Sydney to Coffs Harbour drive. If heading north, you turn off the Pacific Highway just after Macksville.

Nambucca Heads accommodation options include the Ingenia holiday park, the functional Jabiru Motel and the Beach Rooms, which has an outdoor pool.

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