Fast facts
- Coastal holiday town much loved by locals and visitors alike
- Set on a headland at the mouth of the Nambucca River
- 512 km north of Sydney, population 6,200
Why go there
Nambucca Heads is one of the prettiest towns on the coast, where surf beaches and riverscapes, hills and long, flat stretches of bush and sand dunes combine to glorious effect.
The town’s popularity as a holiday destination is celebrated in the Vee Wall, a breakwater on which holidaymakers have recorded their impressions with colourful and often irreverent wit.
History
Before European settlement the Nambucca area was inhabited by the Gumbaynggir and Dainggatti peoples. Cedar cutters were followed by sawmillers but it was not until the 20th century brought the railway line and the Pacific Highway that the town began to flourish as a leisure destination.
Things to do
- Spend a day on the pristine and uncrowded beaches - at Scotts Head, Nambucca Heads and Valla Beach.
- Taste the succulent Nambucca River oysters fresh from the shell.
- Enjoy the birdlife on the Nambucca River.
Events
- The Volkswagen Spectacular, held in August, is a tribute to the world’s favourite bug. Volkswagens from every era form an eight km long convoy on the Pacific Highway before parading through the town of Nambucca Heads.
Don’t miss
- A splash in the surf at Valla Beach.
- The rainforest at Gordon Park.
- The Lions Riverfront Walk, west of the Vee Wall.
- The Headland Historical Museum, documenting local history and culture.
- Nambucca Heads Markets, second Sunday of each month.
