It’s Pleasantly Crescent

It’s been fifteen years since my last visit. As I drive into the nestled familiarity of Crescent Head North Coast NSW nothing stands out as being wildly different. A good sign is the perennial absence of traffic lights and the ever-present, pin-striped caravan annexes popular in the 80s. Nostalgia is preserved. If Crescent Head can survive the development fetish of the nineties and early naughties it can survive anything.

One notable change is the number of holiday houses, albeit non-intrusive and non-‘vertical’. They blend into the attractive curvature of the headland in neighbourly fashion without blocking views. Nearby beaches ‘Delicate Nobby’ and ‘Point Plummer’ offers fabulous seclusion if desired.

These camping areas sport beautiful, quiet beaches especially this time of year and a surf school for the daring to do something different. There are also many great diving spots, from a height and in the depths, waiting to immerse you.

If you’re not a camping purist there is a nice compromise in CrescentHeadHolidayPark off Pacific St, next to Killick Creek. The HolidayPark has the advantage that it’s super ideal for families. The kids can play together safely and look after themselves while you soak up some sun and catch up on that reading.

At the other end of the creek is the lake which can yield a good catch for those who drop a line. If you book early you might snag a river front spot for $140 dollars a week or cabins a re available from

Go back fifteen years and the caravan park was the primary indulgence of the middle class. Today it is affordable for everyone. On a recession conscious budget it is as a great value for money option.

But if this isn’t your thing, and you don’t mind dishing out a bit more, you can choose from many of the great holiday homes available, averaging $800 a week. My brother and his wife, their friends and family, totalling 6 adults and five children under the age of six, easily squeezed into a cosy four bedroom house. Complete with floor boards and modern kitchen, it features a lofty deck sitting on the roof with panoramic views - ideal for smokers and sunsets.

The tribe managed to score a great spot near the local pub and shops. Everything you need for a short term stay. There is an IGA, cafes, bakery, fish and chip shop and of course the Country Club offering enough entertainment to wind you down to the appropriate pace.

Remaining architecturally unchanged, the Crescent Head Tavern is unlike any pub I have seen. Its high ceilings and open floor plan, blur the line ingeniously between inside and out, ensuring the sea breeze is never uninvited. The bistro is a welcomed addition with affordable prices and freshly caught fish in the local area, as well as a decent menu for the kids.

Everything about this place is unpretentious, including the golf course. It sits picturesque on the edge of the headland, looking out over the sea. A great equaliser, it’s a tame round of six holes, more like a bigger version of mini putt- putt than the world’s most difficult game. It’s ideal for beginners and the experienced alike and something you can do in a couple of hours as opposed to half a day.

Modesty is the calling card of Crescent Head. As my nephew and I ride our bikes through CrescentHeadCaravanPark I notice that it is a real social hive of cackling kids and old school annexes. You wouldn’t think the recession is anywhere near. The lots are divided up but somehow this doesn’t matter. All the kids get along and look after themselves. Everyone shares space with ease and privacy without the need to shut off completely, making it a great escape.

Visitors Book

Crescent HeadCaravanPark - Pacific St Crescent Head

The verdict: Fantastic for families. Kids can enjoy the company of other kids making free time.

Bookings: 1800 00 66 00

Getting there: 5 hours North of Sydney

www.pointbreakrealty.com.au/ -