EXPLORE: PORT MACQUARIE, NSW
Hugging the coast from Port Macquarie to the stunning Hat Head National Park.
AUSTRALIA is home to some of the best coastal drives on the planet and, just a couple of hours’ drive north of Sydney, one of these drives will lead you to a spectacular campsite in the Hat Head National Park.
This beach-hugging adventure starts just north of Port Macquarie and incorporates beach and unsealed roads. The amazing diversity of the coastal track north of Port Macquarie is definitely a well-kept secret, with the track beginning once you dismount the ferry at Settlement Point Ferry North.
This trip introduces travellers to a number of stunning natural attractions, as well as some lowrange action, before arriving at the perfect coastal campsite known as Hat Head National Park. Have your camera at the ready as this route is home to dingoes, koalas, kangaroos, wallabies, reptiles and a variety of bird species.
The journey begins by catching a ferry from Settlement Point across the Hasting River to the North Shore. After the ferry ride that lasts only a couple of minutes follow the signposts to Plomer Road, which leads to Point Plomer. You have two choices here: you can either take the beach drive, or the track that runs parallel to the beach behind the dunes. We decided to take the Point Plomer Track behind the beach as we had planned to tackle some of the Killick Beach further up the coast.
The Point Plomer Track is a narrow, soft sand track with a few large potholes thrown into the mix. As you drive along you’ll notice some opportunities to veer off to the right to access the beach, and if you have the time on your side you should definitely check out some of the spectacular beaches along this route – so have an air compressor at the ready.
Keep an eye on low-slung branches that overhang the
THE COASTAL TRACK NORTH OF PORT MACQUARIE IS A WELL-KEPT SECRET
track, as they’ll scrape the side of your vehicle if you get too close. There are also some deep depressions along the track with not much room to skim around them; these are fine when dry, but in wet conditions these depressions can quickly fill with water and cover the full width of the track. Take your time in wet conditions and you shouldn’t have any dramas in a standard 4WD. The Point Plomer Track runs for 12km before finally arriving at the beach and campsite at Point Plomer. The camping ground here is located right beside the beach.
After Point Plomer continue hugging the coastline until you reach the Limeburners Creek Nature Reserve, and if you have time, check out Saltwater Lake and the nearby rainforest. There are also plenty of interesting sites along this track to pull over for a cuppa and admire the beautiful coastline – one of these spots is just to the right of the Limeburners Reserve information sign.
Point Plomer Track continues to run through the scrub behind the long, narrow Goolawah Lagoon, and after a few kilometres it arrives at the Goolawah Beach which looks out at the Tasman Sea – part of the South Pacific Ocean. In the distance you will see the huge water tank overlooking the 5km-long beach at Crescent Head. Along this beach you’re also likely to see plenty of fishermen chancing their luck as they cast their rods from the comfort of the shore.
The town of Crescent Head has a real chilled-out feel about it, with a tidy population of about 1100. If you have time, drive up to the large water tower in the town, which provides great views of the Goolawah National Park, Killick Beach and Hat Head National Park in the distance.
A couple of kilometres out of town we took the signposted right-hand turn for Richardson’s Crossing, the entry point to the impressive Killick Beach, an 11km low-range beach run that
will take you all the way to the Hungry Gate Campground. You’ll need to get a permit to access Killick Beach from the Crescent Head campground/information office. If you happen to have a surfboard on your 4WD then you’re in the right place, as this area is also an international hot spot for surfing. It is advisable to check out tidal times before tackling Killick Beach, as you don’t want to be rushing late in the evening on a quiet beach as the tide is making its way in. Remember, you have 11km of beach driving ahead, so keep that in mind before going onto the beach late in the evening. We learned this from experience, as we had left it a bit late before reaching Killick Beach and it was a bit of a rush trying to make sure we made it to our camp ahead of the incoming tide. We didn’t get the chance to enjoy the beach run as we were too busy wiping the sweat from our brows in an attempt to reach the end of the beach. With that said, Killick Beach is a striking whitesand beach backed by large sand dunes, and it’s important to maintain momentum even if you aren’t in a rush as it can be pretty soft in parts. After plodding along we were relieved to see the exit point to reach our campsite. It’s a good idea to put down the foot as you approach the exit, as it can be a bit tricky with soft sand and a bit of an incline. Upon exiting the beach you’ll be close to the Hungry Gate Campground in the Hat Head National Park – our final destination on this short coastal trip. Within a couple of minutes of leaving the beach we reached the campsite, an open area with a spacious feel that’s protected from the ocean by large sand dunes and thick vegetation. There are also some hidden corners where you can hide away from the main camping area, and we parked the Land Rover in a sheltered area behind the dunes under a large gum tree. You are never far from civilisation on this
KILLICK BEACH IS AN INTERNATIONAL HOT SPOT FOR SURFING
track, but you can feel isolated and very much away from it all and that makes this place even more special.
The Hungry Gate Campsite is a bit of a gem; it’s quiet, secluded and offers fire pits and plenty of space. After setting up camp it was on with the fire and out with the rotisserie for a well-deserved dinner of roast chicken washed down with a couple of cold beers. We pitched up here for two nights and enjoyed some chill-out time, a spot of fishing and some tasty camp cooking.
If you decide to tackle this route in the near future don’t forget recovery gear and a shovel – you don’t want to get stuck when the tide is coming in. Also, allow for extra fuel as you will burn more fuel than normal while driving on the beach. Many of the campsites along this coastal route rely on honesty boxes, so bring change. Insect repellent is a must as the mozzies can be a bit of a pain around some of the campsites, particularly in summer heat.
Other than that, simply enjoy what this little part of the world has to offer. Fish along Limeburners Nature Reserve, stroll through the rainforest canopy at Sea Acres Nature Reserve, and stop and take some time out to enjoy the many beautiful beaches and headlands you’ll pass along Point Plomer Track.
With a number of options for great fishing, beach driving and bush-type camping, this adventure has all of the ingredients for a cracking weekend away in your 4WD.