Things to do
Things to do in Nambucca Heads
The Nambucca River at Nambucca Heads from the hill. Photo: Localapple, CC BY 3.0
Nambucca Heads is a river-and-sea town, and nearly everything worth doing is on the water or above it. Here is the local's list, from the official tourism and council sources.
On the water
Walk the V-Wall. The breakwall at the river mouth, at the end of Wellington Drive, is covered in rocks painted with holiday messages, memorials and artwork. A boardwalk runs to it from the Visitor Information Centre near Giinagay Way, past Bellwood Park. Free. Our V-Wall guide.
Swim at Main Beach or Shelly Beach. Main Beach is patrolled in summer; Shelly Beach is the calm one, once named the best mainland beach in Australia, according to Visit NSW. The beaches guide.
Paddle or fish the river. The estuary beaches along the Nambucca River are calm water for families, fishing, kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding.
Above the water
Watch for whales at Captain Cook Lookout. High above the point where the river meets the Pacific, the lookout is one of the region's best spots for migrating whales, dolphins and sunrise, says the NSW Government.
Play the Island Golf Club. Visit NSW calls the Nambucca Heads Island Golf Club Australia's first island golf club.
Art and stories
The Nyambaga Bindarry Public Art Trail. Artworks and signs along the foreshore tell stories of the Gumbaynggirr people and their connection to this country.
The Bowra Street mosaic. A street mosaic that tells the story of the Nambucca River from the mountains to the sea.
The Stringer Art Gallery. Local artists and themed exhibitions inside the Nambucca Community and Arts Centre.
Ride and walk
The Macksville to Nambucca Heads Cycleway. A flat 25 km return ride through the countryside.
Jacks Ridge Mountain Bike Park. Trails for every level in the Nambucca Heads State Forest.
Gaagal Wanggaan (South Beach) National Park. South of the river mouth, jointly managed with the Gumbaynggirr people: rainforest walks, kayaking on Warrell Creek, and South Beach for experienced surfers and beach fishers.
Further up the valley
The art deco Bowraville Theatre, upgraded in 2026, hosts concerts and screenings. Macksville has the river foreshore and the town's museums; see the Macksville guide.
Common questions
What is Nambucca Heads known for?
The painted rocks of the V-Wall at the river mouth, its four ocean beaches including calm Shelly Beach, Captain Cook Lookout for whale watching, and the river.
Is Nambucca Heads worth visiting?
For water, walks and a slower pace, yes. It is about 40 minutes south of Coffs Harbour, so it also works as a day trip.
When can you see whales at Nambucca Heads?
During the humpback migration, roughly May to November, from Captain Cook Lookout.