This 24km Fingal Heads to Pottsville Walk Traverses NSW’s Most Northern Beaches

Explorer Sarah claims this could be the best unofficial multi-day walk in Australia – and it’s only 15 minutes from Gold Coast Airport.

We Are Explorers acknowledges that this adventure is located on the traditional Country of the Bundjalung People who have occupied and cared for the lands, waters, and their inhabitants for thousands of years. We pay our respects to them as the Traditional Custodians and recognise that sovereignty was never ceded.

Quick Overview of the Fingal Heads to Pottsville Walk

Although not an official multi-day hiking track, this 24km coastal walk from Fingal Heads to Pottsville in Northern NSW is easy enough to follow and can be completed in anywhere from 1-3 days, with camping at holiday parks along the way.

Dreamy headland views for literal days

Fingal Heads to Pottsville Walk Facts

Distance: 24km
Duration: 1-3 days
Nearest towns: Kingscliff/Pottsville/Tweed Heads

About the Fingal Heads to Pottsville Walk

This multi-day beach walk from Fingal Heads to Pottsville in the Northern Rivers of NSW is both easy to walk and follow – as long as you keep the ocean on your left, you’re going the right way. More importantly, there are lots of places to stop for a picnic, coffee or a beer en route.

The walk can be done in one day or over several days. There’s road access, public transport, and campgrounds dotted along the route so ultimately, you can make it as long or short as you like.

It’s not a remote hike by any means, but that means you can cater it to your needs more easily

The Tweed Coast is placed perfectly between the bustling Gold Coast and the trendy Byron Bay area.

It’s comparatively undeveloped and quiet, with friendly locals and a great sense of community while still having access to infrastructure like shops and public transport. There’s a lot of nature and wildlife about, so you’ll be sure to spot an osprey, a koala or a curlew if you keep an eye out (or ask a friendly local where to look).

Read more: Explore The Tweed, Like A Local

How to Get to the Fingal Heads to Pottsville Walk

By Plane

The closest airport is Gold Coast, QLD, about a 15-minute drive from the start of the walk at Fingal Head. You can also fly to Ballina, NSW (1 hour drive) or Brisbane, QLD (1.5 hour with no traffic).

By Car

This is a one-way walk so you’ll either need two cars to organise a car shuffle or arrange to be picked up by bus, taxi, or Uber. If you’re doing this trip with one car, it’s best to drive to Pottsville and then get the bus or taxi back to Fingal to start the walk so that your car is waiting for you when you finish.

By Taxi or Uber

It’s best to book taxis and Ubers ahead of time as they’re not usually waiting around these rural areas.

By Bus

You’ll need to get the 603 bus from Pottsville to Tweed and then ask the driver to let you know when to get off to change to the 606 to Fingal. It’s possible to get public transport all the way to Brisbane/Gold Coast/Gold Coast Airport!

Hot tip! NSW buses take cash, but once across the border, you can tap your card to pay on QLD transport.

Where to Stay Along the Fingal Heads to Pottsville Walk

Camping on this stretch is on Crown Land and is managed by Tweed Holiday Parks. Established in 1997, they cover seven beachside campgrounds between Fingal and Pottsville: Fingal, Kingscliff North, Kingscliff South, Hastings Point, Pottsville South, Pottsville North, and Tweed. Each park has a choice of caravan/tent sites, cabins, and safari tents. There are also Airbnbs, apartments, and resorts to choose from if that’s more your thing.

Tweed Holiday Park right on the sand in Fingal | Photo by Tweed Holiday Park

Skill Level

Beginner

The Fingal Heads to Pottsville Walk is perfect for beginners – no experience needed. If you get started and decide it’s not for you, you can get the bus back or arrange a taxi from most spots on the walk. This walk is also perfect for families because you can easily do sections of it and break it up with a swim or a play at the playground (Fingal, Kingy, Salt, and Hastings all have playgrounds right on the beach).

Essential Gear for the Fingal Heads to Pottsville Walk

• A good hat
• Sunnies
• Swimmers
• Sunscreen and zinc
• Lots of water (can refill or buy more in towns)
• Your camera (lots of great photo opportunities on this route)
• Your phone to keep track of how you’re getting on along the route/for emergencies (there may be large stretches of sand where you’re the only people around)

Read more: Remember to leave no trace

Moments of beach to yourself

What It’s Like Hiking the Fingal Heads to Pottsville Walk

Day 1 – Booningbah/Fingal Heads to Kingscliff

Distance: Approx 7km

Start your walk at Fingal Beach Surf Life Saving Club. Walk past the playground and onto the mowed area of grass. Follow the path through the trees and keep left to go up to Fingal Headland and check out the lighthouse and the view over Jungurra Ngarrian/Cook Island.

Jungurra Ngarrian/Cook Island

Booningbah/Fingal, or the place of the giant echidna, is an important place for Bundjalung people who are the Traditional Owners of the Tweed. Follow the steps down from the lighthouse and take a right to follow the path onto Dreamtime Beach. From here, follow the sand until you get to Kingscliff.

Read more: Learn About Bundjalung Culture

And take a dip in Kingy Creek!

As it’s an unofficial route there are no track markers, but the phone signal is good (until you get to Pottsville where it can be patchy), so you can use the maps ap on your phone to keep track of how you’re going.

If you want to stay overnight and explore Kingscliff, or Kingy to the locals, there are two campgrounds to choose from. One in town opposite the pub, and one to the north of town, which is a short walk to cafes and shops but is probably quieter, especially at weekends.

Day 2 – Kingscliff to Hastings Point

Distance: Approx 14km

Leaving Kingscliff, follow the ocean until you get to Cudgen Creek, turn right and follow the footpath along the creek to the Cudgen Creek Bridge. Cross over the bridge and then take a left into the park. Take the first beach access point on your right and keep walking south (right) with the ocean on your left.

Beach access south of Cudgen Creek

Alternatively, if it’s stinking hot you can opt to walk on the shaded boardwalk for some of this section which follows the beach from Cudgen Creek almost to Cabarita (approximately 6km). This’ll take you conveniently close to the Salt Village French Patisserie, which does amazing bakery treats.

There’s a mostly shaded footpath on your way from Kingy to Caba

In Salt Village you’ll find a small shop, a pub, and a few restaurants (and beach access if you’ve been walking on the boardwalk). If you take the shady beach path instead of walking on the sand you have to cut back onto the beach at the end of the path, just before Cabarita.

The end of the track is obvious, there’s a wooden rail and the footpath turns sharp right towards the road. Take the left onto the beach here and continue walking south (ocean on your left).

If you choose the beach route, you’ll see the big sand dunes to your left and a long stretch of sand to your right that takes you past Salt, Casuarina, and Cabarita. Follow the sand until you reach Cabarita. Hop off here for Woolies, cafes, and restaurants. When you’re ready to make the final stretch to Hastings Point, follow the steps up to Cabarita Headland and climb to the top to take in the view.

View of Cabarita Headland

Head back down the steps through the parking area and then across to the beach access to keep walking until you get to Hastings Point, where you have to cut up onto the road at Peninsula Street. At the end of the road take a left onto the Tweed Coast Road and walk a short distance on the footpath along the main road until you cross the bridge.

Once across the bridge, you’ll reach the beach on Cudgera Creek which is sheltered and perfect for a swim at high tide. Hastings Point isn’t a town, but there’s a small General Store here which sells fish and chips and a bigger restaurant next to the petrol station just before the bridge.

There are several options for camping in Hastings Point if you want to stop over. There’s the Tweed Holiday Parks campground opposite the creek (you can camp on the headland during school holidays), and the North Star Holiday Resort, which is set back from the beach but has more facilities.

Tweed Holiday Park campground – how good is that? | Photo by Tweed Holiday Parks

Day 3 – Hastings Point to Pottsville

Distance: Approx 3.5km

From the beach, walk up to Hastings Point Headland to watch the waves (and the whales in winter). From the headland, you cut down onto the beach and walk approximately three kilometres along the sand until you reach Mooball Creek in Pottsville. From here it’s a short walk across the bridge into town if you want to grab a bite to eat.

Hastings Point Headland looking south to Pottsville

If you’re staying to enjoy Pottsville (Potty to the locals), there are two campgrounds in town to choose from, the southern site is close to town and to the creek, while the northern site is a little further up the road, but has a swimming pool.

After an epic Aussie beach adventure, it’s time to put your sand-covered feet up and enjoy a well-earned rest.

A hike where you’ll always get to watch sunset at the beach

FAQs Fingal Heads to Pottsville Walk

Can I take my dog on the Fingal Heads to Pottsville walk?

Not all of the beaches allow dogs along this route, so it’s best to leave your friend at home, just to be safe.

Do I have to book ahead for camping?

Yes. Unfortunately, the secret’s been out for some time about these lovely Tweed Coast beaches, and the cabins and campgrounds tend to book up, especially at weekends and school holidays. That being said, you could call on the day and see if there’s availability at one of the campgrounds along the route, it’ll just depend on the time of year.

When’s the best time to walk from Fingal Heads to Pottsville?

There’s not much shade on the beach so early mornings or winter would be best. In the winter you’ll also be able to see whales from Fingal Headland, Cabarita Headland, and Hasting Point Headland. There are a lot of community events in the towns along this walk so check community Facebook pages for local markets, live music, and various surf festivals, triathlons, and other events throughout the year.

Where can I go wild swimming?

Everywhere!

One of my favourite things about beach walks is that you can hop in the water whenever the mood takes you. The Tweed Coast is great for surfing, so a lot of the beaches are fairly wavey and can be dumpy or have a lot of rip currents. So it’s best to wait until you get to a lifeguard-patrolled area if you aren’t familiar with these beaches.

Cudgen Creek (Kingscliff), Cudgera Creek (Hastings Point), and Mooball Creek (Pottsville) also offer great swimming spots around high tide. While there are no waves to contend with, there’s still a lot of current flowing through here so be mindful and watch your feet on the oysters.

Sarah was hosted by Tweed Holiday Parks for this article.