NSW North Coast with Kids: A handy holiday guide
North Coast NSW
Explore the NSW North Coast with your family
From the beaches to the hinterland, from Stockton Dunes in Port Macquarie to Byron Bay, Kingscliff and Tweed Heads, the North Coast of New South Wales is perfect for a family road trip. No matter where you set up camp, there’s adventure and excitement waiting!
Travel up The Legendary Pacific Coast route from Sydney and you will pass through some of the country’s most famous coastal towns. The North Coast has a little of everything: beaches, national parks, relaxed lifestyle, yummy fresh produce, arts and crafts, wildlife, rainforests and adventure on and off the water.
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North Coast holiday regions
Your NSW North Coast family holiday guide
The NSW North Coast has a lot going for it, from the surfie town of Byron Bay to the hills of Nightcap National Park near Lismore. But if we let you in on a little secret, there’s more to see and do in this area than you might think – especially for kids.
There are also some great family tourist towns all up and down the coast, from kid-friendly Kingscliff just near the Queensland border down to Yamba and Evans Head.
You know the names of these beach holiday hotspots: Lake Macquarie, Port Stephens, Hawks Nest and Forster-Tuncurry on the Barrington Coast, Port Macquarie, Newcastle, Coffs Harbour, Kempsey, Ballina, Byron Bay, Lennox Head, Lismore, Yamba, Kingscliff, Murwillumbah and more!
Brunswick Heads
In Brunswick Heads, a small fishing town on the north side of Byron, it’s always busy but still feels really chilled. There are some awesome cafes and restaurants, in particular, Yami and Old Maids. For the best dining experience here, the locals recommend you grab some chicken and chips from Birds of Paradise or sweet treats from Bruns Bakery to eat in the riverside park.
There are several local hire services renting out kayaks and canoes, making it easy to explore the river. If you’re fearless, join the other local kids jumping off the bridge at high tide, or head down to Torakina, a safe swimming beach just near the mouth of the Bruns River.
Byron Bay & Ballina
Byron Bay is the North Coast region’s star destination, especially if you’re a surfing fan. Join the locals at The Pass for an easy wave, or if you’re more advanced head round to Cosy Corner.
For all the non-surfers, you’ll still have plenty to see and do with trendy shops, cool cafes, and plenty of awesome people-watching spots. Make time for the lighthouse walk, which passes up along the foreshore, over the rocky headland and up to the cape.
Byron’s beaches are legendary – and sparkling – and Main Beach is a family favourite. Likewise, Ballina and Lennox Head beaches beckon – try Lighthouse Beach and Lennox Head Beach – but be sure to explore beyond the golden sands into the rainforest and the Byron Bay hinterland!
Yamba & Evans Head
If you want a quiet holiday where you just spend quality time with your loved ones, Yamba and Evans Head are the best places. Both have a laidback vibe that seems to make your holidays last longer. Enjoy the town’s cafes and ice creameries, go beach-hopping to swim, surf or chill, and take a dip in the Blue and Green Pools.
Kingscliff & the Tweed
Experience an abundance of family fun in the Tweed, which includes the towns of Tweed Heads, Cabarita, Kingscliff and Murwillumbah, in northern NSW. Seaside vacay or country getaway – the Tweed has all you need for a family break that’s packed with fun, adventure, learning and laughs.
There’s loads to do, from visiting Tropical Fruit World to cruising the Tweed River on a Catch a Crab Tour, stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking and snorkelling with Watersports Guru, and visiting Hosanna Farmstay in the hinterland to feed the animals.
Barrington Coast
Stretching from the mountains of Barrington Tops National Park to the sea, this slice of the NSW Mid North Coast includes towns and villages like Pacific Palms, Myall Lakes, Forster, Tuncurry, Tea Gardens, Hawks Nest and Seal Rocks.
Wander coastal woodlands bounded by long isolated beaches at Mungo and Seal Rocks, or dig your toes into the white sands on the southern shores of the Barrington Coast. Hawks Nest is especially good for families, Jimmy’s Beach suits little ones and Forster has a pretty family beach with a tidal pool.
Take a walk with a National Parks and Wildlife Service discovery ranger on a Junior Ranger safari at Myall Lakes National Park. See the tallest tree known in NSW, The Grandis, in the picnic area in Myall Lakes National Park, just north of Bulahdelah. The beaches, sand dunes, forests, and wetlands of Hat Head National Park provide a great setting for bushwalking, camping, or a relaxing picnic.
Macleay Valley Coast
South West Rocks, Hat Head and Crescent Head have been welcoming families for decades. Surf’s up, the water is clear and the sun always shines in this naturally awesome part of the NSW North Coast.
Trail Bay is renowned as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, protected from the big swells its just perfect for young families. It’s patrolled too! The historic village of South West Rocks is the place to take a leisurely stroll through fashion boutiques, chat over a great coffee at a waterfront café or be pampered in a day spa.
What to do on the NSW North Coast
The question is ‘what CAN’T you do here?’ because on the North Coast of NSW, you can do just about anything!
Depending on your destination, you will discover that the North Coast has hundreds and hundreds of attractions – natural, historic, indigenous, wildlife, museums, sporting, amusements and entertainment – with enormous appeal for all ages.
Riverside family camping spots offer outstanding opportunities for swimming, lounging on inflatables, or watching out for platypus. At the same time, the NSW North Coast’s lakes are ideal for kayaking, fishing, boating, swimming, stand-up paddleboarding, snorkelling, and waterskiing. While older kids might also be keen to learn to surf with one of the many surf schools in the area, kids of every age will adore the local fun parks.
Take a deep-sea charter and venture out into the clean clear waters of the Pacific Ocean and you may just haul in a catch of yellowtail kingfish, or try your hand in the estuaries and inshore reefs – the latter bound to net you mackerel, bluefin tuna or even a black marlin.
If you prefer to watch, not catch, the abundant marine life, hop onboard one of the regular whale-watching cruises (between May and November) or a dolphin-watching cruise.
Family accommodation on the NSW North Coast
When it comes to family holidays, nothing beats a relaxing stay at a New South Wales holiday park, whether it’s by the beach or in the bush. It doesn’t matter if you want to camp, glamp, bring your caravan, or stay in a tiny house, deluxe cabin, or a villa – there’s an accommodation option for everyone.
Reflections Holiday Parks has 25 locations to choose from throughout the NSW North Coast, each filled with family-friendly features from playgrounds to mini golf. They include Jimmys Beach Holiday Park in the tranquil mid-north coast town of Hawks Nest, where you can swim in calm blue waters and spot dolphins passing by, and North Haven Holiday Park, half an hour south of Port Macquarie, where you can go fishing or kayaking in the nearby river, explore the neighbouring Dooragan National Park and trek up North Brother Mountain.
Make your stay even sweeter and save $25 on your first stay over $100 when you join The Outsiders Loyalty Club. The free program gives you some great perks, including $25 guest credit for every 7 nights you stay.
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Opening image: Lake Macquarie. © The Legendary Pacific Coast