Five Headlands Coastal Experience

February 2025

Construction to commence on trail section from Crescent Head to Goolawah Beach. 

Further detail on the construction here

February 2024

Council went out to tender for consultants to develop and deliver the Five Headlands Coastal Experience Master Plan, Brand and Signage.

April 2024

The Kempsey Shire community was surveyed to gather their preferences for walking trails in the Macleay region.

May 2024

Tender awarded to Arterial Design to develop and deliver the Master Plan, Brand and Signage.

November 2024

The Kempsey Shire community was consulted for suggestions on naming the coastal trail. The proposed name is currently undergoing approval by the appropriate Traditional Owners.

January – December 2023

Design and procurement phase.

December 2022

 Funding for Stage One was secured in with detailed designs and plans to follow.

The project will connect four of the Macleay Valley Coast’s national parks and link five headlands through a combination of walking trails and kayaking to showcase the beauty of the region.

Once complete, the project will provide residents and visitors with the opportunity to walk parts of, or the whole trail, with the option to camp overnight at a local national park, holiday park or other preferred accommodation option.

For now, stage one, the walking section of the track, which runs from Matty’s Flat in the north of the Shire down to Point Plomer, has been funded. Council will look to secure funding to develop the kayaking adventure into the coastal experience in the future and extend the track from Matty’s Flat to Grassy Head at that stage.

The delivery of this project is in partnership between NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service and Kempsey Shire Council. Council and NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service secured $3,355,000 from the NSW Government’s Regional Tourism Activation Fund. Council and NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service will also fund the project by contributing $850,000 and $574,500, respectively.

This project links in with Council's Delivery Program and Operational Plan 2022-2026 item of commencing planning for priority nature based projects as per Macleay Valley Coast Destination Management Plan.  

The Five Headlands Coastal Experience is listed as a 'game changer’ project in the Horizon 2030: Macleay Valley Economic Development and Tourism Strategy and Macleay Valley Coast Destination Management Plan 2019-2019.

The total benefits generated by the investment are estimated at $37.5M and exceed the cost of the project ($6.5M) over a 10-year period.

Increased visitation and expenditure in the region as a result of the Five Headlands Coastal Experience will benefit existing tourism business operators and attract further investment from the private sector to develop products and services to meet the needs of visitors. This could include transport, merchandise, accommodation, food and beverages, and guiding services. An increased length of stay for existing markets will improve the occupancy rate of accommodation facilities and may result in investment in new accommodation infrastructure to meet market needs.

Additional visitor spending associated with the experience will generate a total of 38 full time equivalent jobs in Year 1, increasing to 48 in Year 10. On a sector basis, the jobs generated by visitors will be mainly concentrated in accommodation; food and beverage; recreational services and other visitor products and services; transport (including shuttles); and other retail.

Critically, implementing the recommendations will ensure the profile of the Region is significantly improved as Australia’s nature tourism destination. This is aligned to the State Government’s strategic goals for regional development and tourism growth.

Participation in trail activities offers many social, health-related, and cultural benefits to residents and visitors alike. Developing the Five Headlands Coastal Experience has the potential to deliver benefits in health and wellbeing for the community.

An increased profile for the North Coast region as a result of the Five Headlands Coastal Experience is also likely to contribute towards greater regional pride within local communities. Other regional locations in Australia have successfully increased community participation and spirit through similar projects. It could be expected that the project will help to mobilise the local community and provide optimism and energy across the local economy and communities.

Council and NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service secured $3,355,000 from the NSW Government’s Regional Tourism Activation Fund. Council and NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service will also fund the project by contributing $850,000 and $574,500, respectively.

Works to bring the Five Headlands Coastal Experience to life will commence in February 2025. The first phase of construction will take place in Crescent Head, where trail users will see the upgrade and realignment of the existing "Fisherman's Track" located between the Water Tower located on Skyline Crescent and the northern section of Goolawah Beach.

Stage One of the project is due for completion by the end of June 2026. Stage Two has yet to be funded and as such, a completion date has not yet been set for that stage.

Stage one of the track has been fully funded. This leg of the track will be approximately 83 km long and will run between Back Creek in South West Rocks and Point Plomer in Limeburner’s Creek National Park.