📍9 Best Things To Do In Kingscliff, NSW & Nearby Fingal Head. (Activities & Attractions.) (2024.)

WONDERING WHAT THE BEST THINGS TO DO IN KINGSCLIFF ARE?

Kingscliff is a peaceful coastal town just south of the Queensland-NSW border, and together with neighbouring Fingal Head, creates a picture-perfect place for those looking to escape the tourist crowds and reconnect with nature.

From swimming in the stunning crystal-clear waters of Cudgen Creek to walking along the scenic pathways beside the Tweed River and appreciating the unique natural beauty from the Fingal Head Lighthouse, here are all my favourite reasons these sleepy towns wedged between the river and the ocean are two of the Northern Rivers’ best-emerging destinations for weekend beach escapes.

1. Make Memories At The Nearby Creek.
Cudgen Creek.

One of the biggest reasons Kingscliff is such a drawcard is, undoubtedly, Cajun Creek. This gorgeous waterway on the southern side of the township features crystal clear turquoise water that looks like something you’d see off the coast of a distant paradisiacal island.

Visitors can explore both sides of where this stunning creek flows into the sea, but the northern bank is more scenic thanks to the Cudgen Creek Boardwalk which follows the shoreline for 300m. Whether you walk or cycle, do some of the trail or the whole thing, be sure to keep your eyes peeled for movement in the water as you never know what marine animals you may see. Fish and turtles are not uncommon sights, but if you’re really lucky, you may even see a dolphin swimming around having a grand ol’ time, as was reported on the news in late 2023!

Speaking of swimming, this is a gorgeous place to frolic in the water or even give snorkelling a go. But a word to the wise: it is freezing. I went in on a sweaty 37-degree day in November and the water was “refreshing”, to say the least—I was shivering the whole time, so do a workout before or bring a wetsuit. If you don’t want to go in the drink or at least not fully, stand-up paddleboarding is also a great activity, as is kayaking or canoeing. Either way, this beautiful creek is the perfect place to make memories with your loved ones.

Just be considerate of the current, especially if you have kids or aren’t a strong swimmer because, even though it looks calm, it can actually be quite fast-flowing even a few metres from shore.

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2. Frolick Around In The Ocean.
Kingscliff Beach.

One of the best things about coastal towns is, of course, the beaches, and Kingscliff is no exception. The town’s namesake beach lies just in front of the township and is a fantastic place to go swimming, bodyboarding, skimboarding, and surfing. The southern end is also the only location in the nearby vicinity patrolled by lifeguards, ensuring the safest dip in the ocean; however, it is only on weekends between the September school holidays and the Easter school holidays.

The esplanade behind is also a great place to walk or cycle along, with the town on one side and parks and shoreline on the other. Things get even better if you’re staying at the Tweed Holiday Park, which sits directly behind the beach, just north of the township, and within walking distance of Cudgen Creek, which is particularly great on weekends and during peak periods when it can be busy.

3. Search For Bottlenose Dolphin & Humpback Whales.
North & South Rock Walls.

Swapping swimming for scenery, two of the most picturesque places in Kingscliff are the north and south walls. Framing the edges of Cudgen Creek so that it remains a permanent waterway that empties into the sea, these two rock walls are lovely spots to enjoy the natural beauty of this serene township. From here, you can enjoy the long stretch of beachfront stretching all the way along the Fingal Peninsula, the vivid azure colours of Cudgen Creek and the crashing waves and glistening waters of the Pacific Ocean.

Along with enjoying the picturesque oceanscapes, this is the best place in town to look for marine animals. Keep your eyes peeled for sea turtles swimming near the rockwall, and pods of bottlenose dolphins behind the waves. And if you visit in winter, you may even see humpback whales doing all sorts of unique behavioural movements on the water’s surface far off in the distance during their annual migration up and down the east coast of Australia. (Binoculars recommended.)

4. Go For A Quiet Stroll Along The Beach.
South Kingscliff Beach.

For somewhere a little more secluded, there’s no place quite so easily accessible, but that feels so far away than South Kingscliff Beach. To get to this gorgeous stretch of coastline, park at the South Cudgen Creek car park and within just a few steps, the scenery changes from the calm waters of the creek to the crashing waves of the ocean, making it the perfect place to toe the line between the two.

What’s great about this beach is that it is undeveloped, so despite being so close to town, it feels a world away, which is great for peaceful walks and romantic seaside picnics when you just want to do is get away from it all and enjoy a little piece of paradise to yourself.

Located on the narrow peninsula between the Tweed River and the Pacific Ocean, just south of the QLD/NSW border, is the aptly named Fingal Head. Although it’s a tiny village, this place makes up for its meagre size in sheer coastal and estuarine beauty.

5. Practice Landscape & Wildlife Photography.
Fingal Head Lighthouse.

Fingal Head’s most unmissable attraction is the Fingal Head Lighthouse. It’s only a short walk to this beautiful hidden gem, but it’s well worth it. However, it’s not because it has extraordinary architecture, which it doesn’t, sharing the same design as the Richmond River Lighthouse in Ballina, but it does have beautiful scenery that makes it a must-visit.

From the footpath around the headland, enjoy gorgeous views overlooking the breathtaking Pacific Ocean, including the nearby landmass of Cook Island, and along the northern coastline into Queensland as far as the eye can see, and south towards Kingscliff and beyond.

Also be sure to check out the impressive lava columns that jut out from the sea close just offshore from where the land meets the water and keep eyes peeled on the water and the sky, as there are Australasian gannets dive-bombing for dinner and bottlenose dolphins frolicking in the nearby waters, which is what I was fortunate enough to see them when I visited, so there’s a pretty good opportunity to see wildlife.

6. Picnic Beside The State’s Northernmost River.
Tweed River.

Fingal Head is one of those one-road-in, one-road-out kind of places. But don’t let that put you off, as that one road follows the beautifully maintained western banks of the Tweed River between the highway to the village proper. This beautiful stretch of foreshore real estate has a pathway stretching that entire distance with views peppered throughout for walking, running and cycling, but it’s Boat Harbour Park that is the true highlight here.

This tranquil park has gorgeous views overlooking NSW’s northernmost river, a peaceful beach for swimming and getting into paddlecraft, such as kayaks and stand-up paddleboards, a boat ramp and pier for launching and parking bigger vessels like boats and jetskiis and their towables like waterskiis, wakeboards and tubes.

6. Add Some Adrenaline To Your Itinerary.
Tweed Heads & Coolangatta.

Just north of Kingscliff and Fingal Head lie the Twin Towns of Tweed Heads and Coolangatta. Not only do these two places represent the top of the Northern Rivers region and the bottom of the Gold Coast, but the former is also NSW’s northernmost city, while the latter is Queensland’s southernmost.

Geographical significance aside, these places are excellent accompaniments to a visit to Kingscliff and Fingal Head. Between the two, there are some really unique things to do, including learning to surf or testing your existing surfing skills at Snapper Rocks, one of the most famous surfing spots in the world, going for a scenic cruise on the Tweed River, swimming with humpback whales (winter only) or watching the sunrise from one of the gorgeous lookouts.

Or for something incredibly unique and unforgettably thrilling experience the thrill of skydiving and soft landing on the beach, one of the few places in Australia where you can do so or one of my favourite activities ever: take a high-octane, adrenaline-pumping aerobatic flight in a Yak 52 Russian fighter plane. All the attractions these destinations have perfectly combine the world-class excitement cities afford while providing the tranquillity only being off the tourist trail can offer, making it a win-win-win.

7. Visit The Town Down South.
Cabarita Beach.

If you’d like to keep your visit entirely away from the city and away from the popular haunts, Cabarita Beach, along the shoreline in the other direction, is another great place to include in your itinerary. Having even more incredible beaches with little foot traffic, this beautiful seaside town is worth visiting thanks to Norrie’s Headland, which has gorgeous views overlooking the coastline. Plus, it has Lake Cudgen, a stunning spot for scenic picnics, calm water wild swimming, and peaceful kayaking and SUPing adventures. It is an especially great location for inexperienced paddlers, as it is not subjected to currents like the Tweed River.

8. Walk, Run Or Cycle A Heritage Train Track.
Northern Rivers Rail Trail.

Heading inland, one of the best places for the fit and active to explore is the Northern Rivers Rail Trail. Stretching from Murwillumbah Railway Station to Crabbes Creek, this 24-kilometre track (one way) along the old railway line is a great way to get out of the car and explore the hinterland on foot or on two wheels.

What makes this trail so great is that it offers a way to see the countryside while also exploring some heritage attractions, both that you would be able to see driving, but many more that you can’t. On this breathtaking pathway, discover old train stations and several other railway artifacts such as the turntables used to turn the locomotives around and goods sheds for for storing all sorts of things. There are also many bridge crossings and several tunnels, including one 524 meters long, for which you will definitely need a headlight or torch to go in.

You can either complete this trail in one mammoth go, just tackle a section of it, or make it an overnight multi-day adventure where you stop at the towns along the way and get picked up at the other end. Furthermore, what makes this one of the best rail trails is that it’s well supplied with drinking fountains, toilets, benches, bike racks, bike pumps, a fix-it station, and even an e-bike charging station for those riding with electric wheels, making it an excellent outing for all comers.

9. Take A Scenic Drive Around Mt Warning.
Hinterland.

Driving along the Pacific Highway to Kingscliff and Fingal Head, it’s easy to see that this region is incredibly scenic. However, one of the best things to do is get off the highway and drive the backroads to get an even more intimate look at the beautiful landscapes.

One of the best routes is to head out towards Murwillumbah, where you can see the formidable Mount Warning up closer. This mountain is not just visually stunning as it is the remnant plug of the old Tweed Valley volcano but has cultural significance as it is the first place in Australia that the morning light touches. The surrounding area around the sacred peak features an eroded caldera, and with the volcanic soil and the region having the most annual rainfall in NSW, it is a breathtaking place to drive around.

From its relaxing seaside atmosphere to its beautiful beaches overlooking the ocean and the peaceful Tweed River behind, to the southern tip of the Gold Coast and its unique experiences a short drive away, there are some fantastic things to do in Kingscliff, Fingal Head and surrounds that can either make it a great off-the-beaten-track beach escape, the perfect blend of country and coastal or an epic mix or serenity and adrenaline.

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