Crescent Head  New South Wales

The point break off the Big Nobby headland at Crescent Head - a village about 19km south-east of Kempsey on the NSW mid-coast - is famous among wave surfers throughout the world.

In fact, the surfing doesn’t get much better than around here, especially when, for most of the year, there are long stretches of golden sand that you won’t have to share with anyone.

Anglers, too, are drawn to the surf and estuarine fishing. From the crest of 100m high Crescent Head you can almost see forever, with coastal views stretching over marine parkland to Hat Head in the north and to Point Plomer to the south.

To the south, both Goolawah Reserve, which embraces a 10km long coastal strip, and Limeburners Creek Nature Reserve, which conserves 9,125ha of creek-networked heath and rainforest, are popular havens for bush-walkers, surfers, campers, canoeists and family holiday-makers.

Vacationers looking for a tranquil corner of the world where they can surf, swim fish and explore to their heart's content might have to back-track to reach Crescent Head, but they won't be disappointed by an area that is one of the best-kept secrets on the NSW coast.