Top 15 Attractions and Activities in Kempsey, Australia

This town by the Macleay River is a noteworthy stop along the Pacific Highway.

However, beyond being a venue for riverside picnics and a departure point for the Mid North Coast, Kempsey is renowned for two significant elements of Australian culture.

One is the country music icon Slim Dusty, who resided in the town and is commemorated through an annual festival and a distinguished museum.

The other is the reliable Akubra hat, produced in Kempsey since the 1970s and emblematic of the resilient character of rural Australia.

The eastern coastline features a continuous expanse of surfable beaches and towering headlands, flanked by rainforest and serene creeks. The nearby town of South West Rocks boasts colonial history as well as a world-renowned diving site at Fish Rock Cave.

1. Slim Dusty Centre

Kempsey served as the hometown for a significant figure in Australian popular culture.

The country music artist Slim Dusty (1927-2003) excelled in the Bush Ballad genre and was the first Australian to achieve an international hit with “A Pub with No Beer” (1957). Dusty’s career extended over six decades, with one memorable performance shortly before his passing being a rendition of “Waltzing Matilda” at the closing ceremony of the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

In homage to this iconic personality, the Slim Dusty Centre was inaugurated in Kempsey in 2015, utilizing Slim’s family archives that feature a wealth of costumes, instruments, photographs, and other memorabilia.

This innovative multimedia venue provides an intricate and affectionate depiction of Dusty’s life and career, as well as Australian arts and culture in a broader context.

2. Kempsey Museum

In the early 1980s, the Pritzker Prize-winning architect Glenn Murcutt was tasked with designing the structure for the Kempsey Museum, which also accommodates a gallery for Aboriginal art and the district’s visitor information centre.

The museum delves into the history of the Macleay Valley, tracing back to pre-European settlement and extending to contemporary times.

The exhibits derive from an extensive collection of original items and cover various themes, including Aboriginal history, natural history, telecommunications, shipping, boot making, the local country music scene, textiles, the timber industry, and military history.

3. Akubra Hat Showroom

This hat manufacturer has been operational for over 130 years, relocating from Sydney to Kempsey in 1974. Akubra has become such an integral part of Australian identity that its classic wide-brimmed rabbit fur felt hats are commonly referred to as “Akubras” and have long symbolized the resilience and tenacity of rural Australians.

Akubra hats are designed for durability, and despite their premium pricing (over $200), hundreds of thousands are sold annually.

For a quality gift or memento that epitomizes Australian culture, a visit to the factory store in Kempsey is highly recommended.

4. Dunghutti-Ngaku Aboriginal Art Gallery

Nestled within an annex of Glenn Murcutt’s Kempsey Museum and Macleay Valley Information Centre is a vibrant space dedicated to Aboriginal art.

The Dunghutti-Ngaku Aboriginal Art Gallery showcases the works of emerging and established artists from the indigenous Dunghutti region as well as the Mid North Coast area.

Over the past 12 years, the gallery has developed an impressive collection, and fresh displays are maintained with numerous exhibitions throughout the year.

In the shop, visitors can explore handmade Aboriginal giftware, including scarves, homewares, upholstery, jewellery, and stationery.

5. Hat Head National Park

The coastline to the east of the Macleay River is remarkable and should be included in your travel plans.

A series of coastal national parks are in close proximity to Kempsey, with Hat Head National Park being the nearest, preserving extensive secluded beaches, towering sand dunes, and dramatic headlands.

Although the park spans a relatively narrow area, it encompasses a remarkable diversity of ecosystems, ranging from coastal heath to wetlands, rainforest, and heathland, all accessible via designated walking tracks.

This area provides an ideal environment for birdwatchers, featuring a rich array of species including fantails, black swans, egrets, honeyeaters, herons, kookaburras, and white-tailed sea eagles, among others.

The park also lies within the traditional territories of the Dunghutti people, with shell middens, campsites, burial sites, and ceremonial grounds scattered throughout the landscape.

6. Smoky Cape Lighthouse

Hat Head National Park’s primary attraction is the tallest lighthouse in New South Wales, perched 111 metres above the ocean on a slender granite headland adorned with coastal heath.

Smoky Cape Lighthouse serves to guide vessels into the mouth of the Macleay River at South West Rocks and is celebrated not only for its breathtaking setting but also for its refined architectural design.

Constructed in 1891, it was one of the last lighthouses crafted by colonial architect James Barnet (1827-1904), with a focus on aesthetic appeal.

On the site, charming cottages for the keepers and their assistants are available for holiday rentals.

Visitors can gaze across Smoky Beach and enjoy a diverse array of birds, as well as potentially sighting humpback whales during the winter months.

7. Crescent Head

Kempsey is the access point to this charming coastal village, situated on the headland of the same name.

Due to a peculiarity in local road networks, Crescent Head tends to be overlooked by most travelers on the Pacific Highway, as reaching it requires a detour, turning south from Kempsey along Crescent Head Road.

As previously mentioned, this coastline is known for its excellent surf conditions, particularly Killick Beach to the north, which is famed for its long right-hand break, ideal for longboarding.

This location also hosts Australia’s premier amateur longboard competition, the Crescent Head Malibu Classic, held annually at the end of May.

Behind the beach, the tranquil Killick Creek invites visitors for shallow swimming in its clear waters.

Moreover, a must-do activity is the climb to the summit of Crescent Head, which offers a lookout with stunning vistas of the coastline, particularly spectacular for sunrises and exceptional opportunities for whale watching during winter.

8. Goolawah National Park

This national park essentially comprises a singular, extensive beach extending just south of Crescent Head and tapering outwards for approximately five kilometres.

A visit to Goolawah National Park enables you to experience a pristine beach devoid of signs of modern human habitation.

Camping in nature along the shoreline is available, with options for swimming in the shallows or enjoying some of the Mid North Coast’s finest surfing.

Beachcombers will relish this locale, as it is home to diverse wildlife, including various bird species, goannas, turtles, dolphins, bandicoots, and koalas in the ancient eucalypt forest.

9. Kempsey Riverside Park

Kempsey features a picturesque grassy area alongside the west bank of the Macleay River.

This area serves as a popular rest stop for travelers on the Pacific Highway and is equipped with picnic tables and barbecues for a comfortable break during long journeys.

Numerous ducks and geese inhabit the park (it is advisable to bring birdseed rather than bread), along with a public wharf and boat ramp.

In recent years, the children’s playground has been enhanced with new equipment, including a six-metre climbing net and a 25-metre flying fox.

On the first Saturday of each month, a market takes place in this charming setting, featuring over 100 local stallholders offering fresh produce, plants, cut flowers, homewares, fashion, arts and crafts, jewellery, and delectable hot food.

10. Rudder Park Lookout

Situated opposite Riverside Park on the elevated east bank of the Macleay River, a modest park offers a sweeping view that extends for miles, overlooking Kempsey and the surrounding landscape.

Within Rudder Park, visitors will find various amenities sheltered by trees, including a children’s play area, picnic tables, and restrooms.

The lookout faces west, providing a splendid vista during late afternoons when the sun casts a golden hue upon the river.

11. Wigay Aboriginal Culture Park

At the Macleay Valley Coast Visitor Centre, guided tours of this 2.75-hectare park, located not far from Kempsey’s central business district, are available.

This park is home to diverse plant species traditionally used by Aboriginal communities for medicinal and nutritional purposes across various ecosystems, including rainforest, dry woodland, and wetlands.

An educational bush tucker tour, arranged by appointment, offers fresh insights into the local bushland, though visitors are welcome to explore independently from Monday to Friday.

12. Slim Dusty Festival

The Slim Dusty Festival is a four-day tribute to Australian music and culture, held over the first weekend of September.

Each year, an extensive lineup of musicians performs on the beautifully landscaped grounds of the Slim Dusty Centre and at various venues throughout Kempsey.

These performances are complemented by a myriad of activities at the Centre, including bush poetry recitals, a talent competition (On the Horizon), discussions with artists, and even workshops on whip-making and demonstrations on whip-cracking.

13. South West Rocks

This quaint coastal town is situated half an hour away at the mouth of the Macleay River and offers numerous attractive pursuits. Here, we present just a few highlights.

Foremost, South West Rocks is located adjacent to the picturesque Horseshoe Bay Beach, a serene sandy cove embraced by Norfolk Pines and a lush grassy foreshore.

Not only is this location favorable for safe swimming, but it also features a right-hand surf break ideal for novice surfers to practice their skills.

For larger, more expansive beaches, the massive Trial Bay Front Beach and Gap Beach (accessible only via 4WD) are a short distance away.

The world-renowned Fish Rock Cave lies offshore, extending for 125 metres and serving as a breeding ground for grey nurse sharks. Several diving centers in the area are poised to take you on an unforgettable adventure.

Additionally, stand-up paddleboarding is a popular activity in South West Rocks, with the clear and inviting waters of Back Creek being perfect for this recreational pursuit.

14. Trial Bay Gaol

We conclude with the historical site of Trial Bay Gaol, an old public works prison and internment camp located at the eastern boundary of Trial Bay, where kangaroos can often be spotted. Situated atop the waves at Laggers Point, now part of Arakoon National Park, these granite ruins are exceptionally well-preserved and date back to the 1870s.

Originally conceived as a progressive facility, Trial Bay Gaol provided prisoners with opportunities to acquire professional skills and enjoy leisure activities such as swimming, sports, and fishing, aside from their regular tasks comprising a 36.5-hour work week.

It later transitioned into an internment camp for prominent Germans deemed “enemy aliens” during World War I before being closed and subsequently stripped when the conflict concluded.

A guided tour provides insights into the site’s history, leading you through the gaol and its museum filled with informative displays.

Climbing the watchtower rewards visitors with breathtaking views from the headland, particularly during the sublime humpback whale migration in winter.

15. Macleay Valley Coast Visitor Centre

Returning to the Murcutt-designed complex in South Kempsey, you will find the primary tourism resource for the district.

This facility offers travelers the opportunity to stretch their legs while enjoying the peaceful ambiance of the surrounding park and its flourishing vegetation.

There is an off-leash area for dogs just behind the Centre, ample parking for vehicles of various sizes, a playground for children, and even grazing space for horses.

Inside, the visitor centre is stocked with brochures, pamphlets, and souvenirs, along with a knowledgeable and friendly team ready to assist with local information.