There aren’t a lot of coastal towns whose mainstream business titles allude to surfing so as to draw a clientele, but a realtor in Crescent Head NSW does just that. Then there is the large tent and caravan park sitting at the edge of the city’s famous point which was put there primarily for the convenience of visiting surfers. If any town deserves the title of “surf city,” it should be Crescent Head.
Of course, there are many “surf cities” in Australia. It comes with the territory. Australians love surfing because they love the ocean and have some of the best surfing waves in the world at their doorstep. In spite of the fact that some of the Queensland breaks get the most exposure, New South Wales has the most surfing beaches and the most consistent waves in the country. Crescent Head stands out since it is a break that appeals to surfers of all levels of ability.
You have to go a little out of your way to find Crescent Head, but it’s worth it. Simply follow the road signs as you are passing through Kempsey. After about 15 minutes, you will be there It is a nice drive that skirts the edge of Maria National Park. The whole of the city of Crescent Head is nestled behind the headlands itself and to each side are countless miles of undeveloped beaches and coastland.~You can’t really discover Crescent Head accidentally, because it isn’t located on a major highway. To reach it, you turn off the Pacific Hwy at Kempsey and go about twelve miles (twenty kilometers) east to the coast. The drive in takes you through the beautiful Maria National Park. This is a sign of things to come, because Crescent Head is surrounded by untrammeled beaches and bushland.}
Crescent Head was first found by surfers back in the early longboard or Malibu era, when style and grace on a surfboard were the signs of an accomplished surfer. The point at Crescent Head is perfect for this type of surfing and it became a mecca for surfers from all over Australia.
In the 70s, surfers started making radical changes to their surfboard designs and the “shortboard era” began. For a time, Crescent Head went out of favor with surfers. Longboard surfing is back in, though and Crescent Head has received the honor of being recognized as National Surfing Reserve.
While shortboard surfers now look elsewhere for the best waves, riding longboards or “Mals” (short for Malibu) has enjoyed a revival and older surfers with families continue to flock there. For that matter, even non-surfing families love Crescent Head. If you’re looking for a quiet, family oriented getaway “far from the madding crowd,” then it is perfect. Sandwiched between Maria and Hat Head National Parks, it is an island of tranquility whose population consists mainly of surfers and their families.
This isolation is one of the things that makes it so worth your while to turn off the Pacific Highway and discover Crescent Head and the other small communities on the mid-north coast. Because Highway 1, the major Australian coastal route, does not skirt the sea along the section of road here, many tourists drive past without knowing what they’re missing. If you break from the pack and visit, you will be welcomed with open arms by their friendly locals. You can stay at a Crescent Head accommodation that offers just the basics, like a tent site or parked trailer or you can stay at a well-appointed B&B or guesthouse run by a local surfer. Whether you want to ride the waves or just sit back and relax, Crescent Head is the perfect place for you and your family.
