Road trip NSW: A seaside charmer where grafitti is an artform for all the right reasons.
After picking up my Sydney car rental, there were two options for trekking up north to charming Nambucca Heads for a week stay. One, the six hour or so journey along the Pacific Highway, or a longer trip tackling the exotically named Thunderbolts Way would take the best part of nine hours without any breaks. The shorter option won the vote in our car.
Nambucca Heads is a fascinating place and if ever you have doubted graffiti being an artform for the right reasons, the city’s mighty Vee Wall Breakwater will put paid to your reservations.
The minute you wander through this vibrant, giant outdoor gallery of graffiti tributes to lost loved ones and pets marked on the rocks, you get a real sense of the spirit of this coastal hamlet set in a picturesque hills and hinterland on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales, about halfway between Brisbane and Sydney.
Around the corner and tucked away on the beach is beautiful Nambucca Beach Holiday Park, only 2km from the heart of town. It’s a colourful and clean holiday park with modern facilities and a ripper beach behind its tree-lined boundary. All budgets are covered and include shady powered campsites and multi-coloured bathing boxes up to funky surf shacks beautifully fitted out with slick kitchens and spacious rooms. The beachy themes – little surfboard number plates a beaut touch – and the sounds of crashing waves make for a dreamy atmosphere to easily drop off for some seriously good snooze time at night.
As far as activities inside the park go, families certainly can’t get bored as the venue includes a heated swimming pool, trikes for the kids, playground and giant jumping pillow, super clean games room with table tennis, jukebox, pool table and arcade games, and also a TV room where DVD movie sessions are held during school holidays and on rainy days. The BBQ facilities are excellent, too.
But don’t forget to spread your wings and venture outside and around town – and the region. Such a connection with the sand, sea and surf from the town’s ship-building history means there are many beach-related attractions including super beach walks, the VeeWall, town centre Mural boasting marine creatures leaping about, and check out Beachcomber Marine for great value boat and rod hire for a fish or a cruise along the Nambucca River. Venture further and head for coastal or hinterland touring, The Pub With No Beer (yep, the one that inspired the Slim Dusty song) in nearby Macksville and check out Scott’s Head lookout and watch out for great roadside food stalls along the way.
The place offers up many “unforgettables” – the friendly kookaburras who befriend you from the shack verandahs, the delicious breakfasts and quality coffee at the Watermark Café, the VeeWall and the Bubble O’ Bill ice-creams sold at the holiday park kiosk, a real hit with the kids … and dads.
Nambucca Beach Holiday Park is located at Swimming Creek Rd, Nambucca Heads. Phone 1800 223 224 or 02 6568 6120. Website: www.nambuccabeach.com.au
SCOTT PODMORE