📍11 Best Things To Do In Pottsville, NSW. (Activities & Attractions.) (2024.)
WONDERING WHAT THE BEST THINGS TO DO IN POTTSVILLE ARE?
Pottsville is a gorgeous sleepy town located on the NSW coast, halfway between the border city of Tweed Heads and Byron Bay, the place famous for being the epitome of the idyllic Australian lifestyle. Although it’s somewhat off the tourist radar, for those who like relaxed seaside getaways, this stunning spot is a fantastic place to pull off the Pacific Highway and disconnect for a few hours or days and lap up the pristine beachside atmosphere.
From swimming and surfing at the beaches to stand up at a boarding and kayaking at the creek, here are a few of the best things to do in Pottsville for those bringing their A-game.
👉 My top 3 picks for what to do in Pottsville, NSW:
- Surfing, hydrofoiling or windsurfing at the beaches.
- Kayaking, stand up paddleboarding or snorkelling at Mooball Creek.
- Watching the sunset or Sunrise from Norries Head.
Planning Your Trip? Use My Favourite Resources!
Tours/Experiences: I recommend Viator.
Accommodation: I recommend Booking.com.
Flights: I recommend Aviasales.
Car Rental: I recommend economybookings.
Best Things To Do In Pottsville.
1. Drink In The Beautiful Seaside Atmosphere.
Pottsville Beach.
The greatest thing about all the seaside towns in the Northern Rivers region of NSW is that they all have the gorgeous pristine beaches that Australia is famous for, and Pottsville is no exception with beautiful stretches of soft squishy and shorelines running all up and down the coastlines.
The most popular local one is the town’s namesake beach that follows the shoreline south from the mouth of Mooball Creek as its the closest and only one that’s patrolled, making it a great place to swim, surf and boogieboard in the waves.
Along with all the others, it’s also a beautiful location to go for long barefoot walks in the sand, building epic sandcastle forts, digging giant holes to semi bury friends and family and for keeping your eyes sea birds, crabs and other creatures hanging out on the surface and for birds of prey in the sky, and dolphins (year round) and whales (winter months) coming up to the surface of the water.
Note: Pottsville Beach is only patrolled only on weekends between the September school holidays and the Easter school holidays.
2. Splash Around At The Nearby Creek.
Mooball Creek.
One of the best places to visit in Pottsville is, undoubtedly, Mooball Creek. Running parallel to the ocean and the road that runs between the township and its southerly neighbour, Wooyung, it is a a gorgeous change of pace to the many beaches that line the shoreline.
The calm, tranquil waters also make it great for birdwatching, swimming, stand-up paddleboarding and kayaking, while the boat ramp on Phillip Street near the bridge is great for launching boats and jet skis for creek exploration or heading away from shore for some fun adventures in the ocean.
3. Visit A Romantic Viewpoint.
Hasting’s Point Lookout.
At the town next north, the Hastings Point Lookout is a must-visit viewpoint not far from Pottsville. With manicured lawns and the absence of unavoidable foliage, this is a gorgeous spot to get uninterrupted panoramic views of the both the northern and southern coastlines and the rugged rock formations at the base of the small headland. Plus, its a gorgeous, easily accessible spot to watch the sun rising over the ocean, making it an especially magical place to enjoy a romantic early morning picnic with your significant other, and maybe even pop THE question.
4. Appreciate The Stunning Coastline & Search For Marine Life.
Norries Headland.
Venture even further up the coast to Cabarita Beach where the Norries Headland offers more gorgeous views of the seascape from a higher elevation. It’s also the one of the best places between the border and Byron Bay to look for signs of marine animals from the mainland, such as pods of bottlenose dolphins which like to come close to shore year round and humpback whales further in the distance during their annual migration each winter.
5. Enjoy Picnicking By A Serene Lake.
Cudgen Lake.
Just in from the coast, Cudgen Lake is another gorgeous place in Cabarita Beach worth adding to your Pottsville itinerary. This stunning place is fantastic for peaceful picnics, thanks to the picturesque scenery being more protected from the wind, wild swimming, snorkelling, kayaking, and stand-up paddleboarding.
Best Places To Visit Near Pottsville.
6. Kingscliff & Fingal Head.
Halfway between Pottsville and Tweed Heads lie the peaceful townships of Kingscliff and Fingal Head. The former is the larger of the two and boasts the stunning Cudgen Creek, which is the perfect spot for swimming, kayaking, and snorkelling, thanks to its crystal-clear azure waters that is more often associated with the waters around stunning paradisiacal islands.
Slightly further up the coast lies Fingal Head, situated on a narrow peninsula between New South Wales’s northernmost estuary, the Tweed River, and the Pacific Ocean, with one of the must-visit places being the Fingal Head Lighthouse. While the structure itself isn’t overly impressive (it’s a twin of the Richmond River Lighthouse in Ballina), the view from the headland its on is breathtaking, with scenery showcasing both the northern and southern coastlines, along with striking lava columns jutting out of the sea and the nearby Cook Island in the distance.
7. Brunswick Heads.
South of Pottsville, Brunswick Heads is one of my favourite tiny towns on the Northern Rivers coastline. This is because, along with having even more of the pristine beaches this region is known for, it’s also one of the few places where you can enjoy views of the sea, the shoreline and the rugged mountain peaks from one place. Furthermore, the ocean is also a fantastic place to go swimming, surfing and snorkelling, while the river is great for kayaking, and cruising.
8. Byron Bay.
A little further down the coast is the world-famous Byron Bay. Known as being the epitome of the idyllic Australian lifestyle, people come from all over the world to visit these famous shores. One of the best places to see is the Cape Byron Lighthouse, a beautiful structure atop a steep and rugged headland, where stunning coastal scenery awaits. While there, a walk to the base of rocks is a must as it leads to the perfect photo opportunity to signify you’ve been to the most easterly point of mainland Australia, where you’ll be blown away by the views. Possibly literally, as it can get very blustery down there, so walker caution is advised.
But if you think that’s the creme of the crop of what this breathtaking town has to offer, it’s just the tip of the iceberg. Surfing and swimming is a given, but kayaking trips, skydiving and scenic flights in a hang glider and a gyrocopter are just two of the unforgettable experiences you can do to make your visit even more memorable.
9. Mt Jerusalem National Park.
Combining hikes with scenery, one place not to miss is Mt Jerusalem National Park. This breathtaking nature reserve has some beautiful walking and biking trails. One of the best to stroll is to Unicorn Falls, a stunning 4.2km return track that leads to a small but picturesque waterfalls surrounded by towering trees, one of many picturesque landmarks of this kind in the greater Byron Bay and Northern Rivers regions.
10. Northern Rivers Rail Trail.
For those itching for a cycle, one of the best places to go nearby is the Northern Rivers Rail Trail. Starting from the Murwillumbah Railway Station in the town of the same name and concluding at Crabbes Creek just west of the highway southwest of Pottsville, the 24-kilometre track follows the old railway line and features many relics from its former era, such as old tunnels and heritage turntables, used to rotate locomotives on their axis and is a great way to incorporate exercise into visit to the region.
11. Drive Around Wollumbin National Park.
The most significant landmark in the region is Mt Warning. Although the breathtaking walk to its summit is now sadly closed, you can see this striking peak from many places across the region, including along the highway just south of Tweed Heads. But, for a closer look at this culturally significant mountain that is the first place on mainland Australia, the sunlight touches each day, a drive to Murwillumbah is a must, with many places along the route having incredible views of this sacred spot.
Conclusion: What To Do In Pottsville New South Wales.
From relaxing activities like building sandcastles, taking photos, and enjoying picnics and barbecues, to refreshing water activities such as swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, and stand-up paddleboarding, as well as more intense sports like surfing, hydrofoiling, and windsurfing, Pottsville is the perfect getaway for everything in a beautiful and peaceful atmosphere.
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