Crescent Head

Crescent Head is a coastal village in Kempsey Shire on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales, about 20 kilometres southeast of Kempsey. Centred on a curved sandy beach and rocky headland at the mouth of Killick Creek, it is renowned for its long right-hand point break. Declared a National Surfing Reserve, it lies adjacent to Goolawah and Hat Head National Parks and is known for surfing, fishing and relaxed beachside character.

Visitors can expect a small beach town centred on a crescent-shaped sandy beach, rocky headland and Killick Creek estuary. The foreshore has a surf beach with a long point break, patrolled areas in season, grassy reserves and lookouts from the headland. The village has low-rise shops, cafes and holiday parks. Surrounding areas include Goolawah National Park, Hat Head National Park, coastal walking tracks, and estuary areas for swimming and fishing.

The area is part of the traditional lands of the Dunghutti people. European settlement developed in the late 19th century as a fishing and farming village. From the 1960s it became nationally known for surf culture due to its consistent point break, later recognised as a National Surfing Reserve in 2008.

Crescent Head is recognised as a significant surf culture location in Australia, designated as a National Surfing Reserve. It retains a relaxed coastal village character and is valued for beach recreation, fishing and community surf events.