Brunswick Heads, NSW
An unspoiled coastal town with amazing swimming spots, a retro feel and laid back vibes.
Where To Stay In Brunswick Heads
There’s a few great options locally but our pick is Terrace Reserve Holiday Park, another beautiful property from the Reflections group. You’ll find both Powered Sites and Cabins available here, and whilst this isn’t one of those parks that are overflowing with different facilities it’s incredibly well maintained, has a fun and family-friendly atmosphere and who needs a pool when you’ve got waterfront accommodation sitting over the picturesque Simpsons Creek.
Where To Eat & Drink In Brunswick Heads
Regarded by many in the know as their favourite pub in Australia, Hotel Brunswick is a classic coastal pub with a sprawling beer garden set looking out over the river. There’s classic pub fare on offer and some delicious pizzas, but if you’re feeling a tad more adventurous across the menu you’ll find various interesting Japanese options including Sushi and Sashimi prepared by an extensively trained and experienced chef. When the weather calls for an ice-cream, Bernardi’s and In The Pink are both great options - we’re not going to pick one over the other, it’s like choosing a favourite child. Bruns Bakery is a local institution and its range of pastries, cakes, sourdough and pies is not to be missed. We can’t forget coffee, and we think the best in town is found at Salt Mill.
What To Do In Brunswick Heads
Brunswick Heads is a beautiful spot and has remained relatively unspoiled despite significant development in other coastal towns nearby, so know when you come here it’s the sort of place where you're more than likely to just relax and enjoy the pleasures of nature. A big part of what makes Brunswick Heads appealing is its unique waterways where you’ll find a river of crystal clear water feeding out into the ocean. The river is a great place for kids to go for a dip thanks to its calm and shallow waters, or if you’re feeling like exploring further then take a kayak or stand up paddleboard out. If you need to hire a kayak or SUP, Brunswick Buccaneers located on the riverfront is the go to place. The surf beach is great and patrolled on weekends, public holidays and school holidays. If you’re after some indoor fun, the Brunswick Picture House is a multi-purpose venue which could be hosting live Cabaret, Comedy or Music or playing the latest movies depending on the night.
The Essentials In Brunswick Heads
There’s both a pharmacy and a well stocked IGA supermarket in the main shops here. For camping gear, you’ll need to make the 15 minute drive to Byron Bay where Byron Bay Camping & Disposals will more than likely have what you need, if not, there’s a BCF located in Ballina which is another 15 minutes on from Byron Bay.
The Drive
As always, we give you the rundown on the drive you’ll take from the three closest capital cities.
From Brisbane - 86 km straight down the M1 means no stops needed, you’ll arrive in almost bang on one hour.
From Sydney - At 833 km along a mostly coastal route, this drive is doable in one day but of course stops will be needed. If you have time to stop overnight, we would highly recommend it with a range of great towns in between. If you want a shorter drive to your first stop, go for Seal Rocks, if you want a longer drive to your first stop, we recommend South West Rocks.
From Melbourne - You’ll have 1,630 km to travel from Melbourne which is just under 17 hours driving time all up. The journey takes you around the eastern edge of the Victorian Alpine Region, along the Snowy Valley and then hits the coast north of Sydney then hugging it all the way to Brunswick. Beechworth, Seal Rocks and South West Rocks are some great stops to consider.
