Surf Tripping the NSW North Coast

We Are Explorers acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the Countries on which these adventures take place who have occupied and cared for these lands, waters, and their inhabitants for thousands of years. We pay our respects to them and recognise that sovereignty was never ceded.

As two women new(ish) to the surf scene, we decided it was time to venture to the North Coast of NSW to see what all the fuss was about. We knew exactly where we wanted to go for our expedition: Brunswick Heads, Lennox Head, and Scotts Head. The results are in, and I’m pleased to announce NSW’s North Coast goes down a treat.

Read more: Remember to leave no trace

Itinerary Facts

Coming from Queensland, we started our trip in Brunswick as it’s only a two-hour drive from Brisbane. But if you’re located further south, you might want to do this itinerary in reverse and kick off your trip in Scotts Head. You do you.

Day 1 – Brunswick Heads

9AM: Refuel at the Salty Mangrove

After our drive, we were running on adrenaline alone – granted this could have lasted us a while – but we reasoned that we’d earned ourselves some fuel other than diesel. The Salty Mangrove in New Brighton is the place to grab a feed and coffee, as it’s just near the Brunswick Head Nature Reserve… an ideal swell check location.

10AM: Surf at Brunswick Head Main Beach

We gauged the waves and the wind and decided that paddling out from the north head would do us (s)well. Brunswick Heads isn’t necessarily known for its surf like Lennox or Scotts Head, but don’t count it out. We pulled on our wetties for a morning of crisp waves. If you’re not an experienced surfer (don’t worry you’re in good company), beware: the rocks!

12PM: Grab Lunch from Bruns Bakery

Nothing says ‘post-surf feed’ quite like a pie. And we found ourselves the mothership of pies at Bruns Bakery. This joint, popular with both locals and tourists, has been in action since 1950. You know what this means? Bloody good recipes that have stood the test of time.

We opted for the lamb and rosemary pie (delish!) and a turkey and brie sanga (because we’re classy like that). Ah yes, now for something sweet. We chowed down on a brownie and a donut… for research purposes, of course.

Don’t think it’s possible to visit a coastal town and not sample the baked goods

1PM: Check Out the Hub

There’s nothing better than arriving in a new spot and moseying through town. Plus, I love a thrift, so Brunswick Heads felt like a warm hug of vintage stores. If pre-loved clothes aren’t your deal, that’s okay, they also have stores featuring all the beloved beachy streetwear. When we were done with shopping (only at the behest of our bank accounts), we secured our beach reads for the week thanks to BrunsBooks.

2PM: Try Kayaking or Stand-Up Paddleboarding

It’d be pretty rude to come to Bruns and not take advantage of the river. After our morning surf, we still had energy to burn. Naturally, stand-up paddleboarding and kayaking were on the cards. If you, like me, are a fan of the SUP life, revel in your ability to balance, and where necessary, be humbled by Mother Nature herself. There are heaps of options to hire the goods you need, so we went for an easy self-service option.

3:30PM: Check-in at Reflections Massy Greene

Reflections Holidays has 40 unique locations dotted all along the coastline. In Brunswick Heads, we were spoiled for choice with not one, not two, but three Reflections Holidays locations: Massy Greene, Ferry Reserve, and Brunswick Heads. We opted for Massy Greene, a two-minute drive from the main street. While Massy Greene is close to Bruns’ bustle, we lucked-out in the serenity department with our homey cabin overlooking the river.

4PM: Visit the Brunswick Hotel

The Brunswick Hotel is a hub for all things booze and culture. We claimed a picnic table, ordered a pint, and with a view of the river, watched the sunset as live music played. Also, if you’re nosey like me, it’s the go-to haunt for people-watching.

6PM: Eat Out for Dinner

Brunswick is blessed with a rather superb food scene. We slurped down big bowls of beef Pho at Pink Lotus (across the road from Reflections Brunswick Heads) and followed it up with gelato from next door’s In the Pink. Yep, it’s a tough life.

Day 2 – Brunswick Heads to Lennox Head

7AM: Drive from Brunswick Heads to Lennox Head

Windows down, volume up. You know the drill.

7:30AM: Sip on a Morning Brew at Shelter

We were feeling a bit boujee so sat down at Shelter Lennox. With a warm cuppa in hand, Shelter’s ocean views and classy vibes didn’t disappoint.

8AM: Check the Swell at Pat Morton Lookout

Pat Morton Lookout has the best vantage point to see Seven Mile Beach’s famous right-hand break into shore. We’re not world-class surfers, so we peeked over the hill to see what Boulder Beach was offering.

8:30AM: Surf at Boulder Beach and Hit the Coastal Walk

Our swell check confirmed that Boulder Beach was the ideal spot for us. As the name suggests, this is a rocky beach so keep that in mind. Once we tired ourselves out, we plonked our boards back on the roof, and started the coastal walk.

This walk usually starts at the Pat Morton Lookout and continues for 3.5 hours to Ballina. We had surf on our minds, so we chose to walk from Boulder to Pat Morton and back again, and I’m so glad we did. Not to brag, but we saw pods of dolphins, whales, and bales of turtles.

Absolutely cracking day

12PM: Chow Down on Lunch

After a morning of surfing and walking, we were in need of a pub feed. The main street of Lennox follows the beach, which means a lot of restaurants are blessed with ocean views. The Lennox Hotel is no exception. They have heaps of weekly specials ensuring you can fill your belly without emptying your bank account too drastically. Me? I went for the obvious choice, a parmi.

2PM: Explore the Main Street

Now as much as I love a pub feed, I often overdo it, and find myself in an exhausted state known to many as the ‘food coma’. My remedy in Lennox was to walk it off by having a bit of sticky beak. Bookstores, thrifting, and the ultimate cure, wellness stores. Nothing says inner peace quite like essential oils and locally-made products from stores like Seed & Husk.

3PM: Check-In at the Reflections Lennox Head

Nestled between the Lake Ainsworth and Seven Mile Beach is Reflections Lennox Head. We decided that life is in fact better outside so opted for an evening of glamping. I’m talking about a timber deck with a bathtub and BBQ, a living room, kitchenette, bathroom, and beds for four.

We had all the comforts of home, but instead of walls, it was breathable canvas. It’s safe to say, I was close to making our home for the night my forever home.

4PM: Watch the Sunset at Pat Morton Lookout

We couldn’t get enough of the lookout and returned for golden hour. After all, it’s the best spot in town to watch the sunset. I advise making the most of the grassy plains with a picnic rug and a bottle of whatever you drink.

Yep, we’re back

5:30PM: Eat Dinner in Town

Much like Brunswick, Lennox Heads makes ‘what’s for dinner?’ an exciting question. It’s options galore. Head back to Shelter for an evening of fine dining? Thai food at Lex Thai Garden? We chose for a night upstairs at Lennox Pizza. Red wine and beef ragu pasta is not a bad way to round off the day.

Day 3 – Lennox Head to Scotts Head

7AM: Swim at Seven Mile Beach

We wandered two minutes from our glamping set up to Seven Mile Beach because nothing says, ‘Good morning!’ quite like icy cold water at 7am. Who needs caffeine?

7:30AM: Stop for Coffee at Williams St Bar and Kitchen

We do… we need caffeine. Luckily, Williams St Bar and Kitchen is just across the road from our morning swim location. Here, we secured the goods and perched streetside in the sunshine with the welcome addition of banana bread and maple butter.

Started the day right

8AM: Drive from Lennox Head to Scotts Head

On the road again! We turned the tunes up and those three hours flew by.

11AM: Arrive in Scotts Head and Get Amongst the Waves

Truthfully, I’d never heard of Scotts Head before planning this trip. When we arrived, it was hard for me to believe I’d spent so much of my life without knowing of this place. We had our priorities straight and headed to the beach immediately.

Here, we parked up, pulled the boards off the roof, and reckoned once again that we could kick it out there in the surf. Candidly, I played around in the shallows and the whitewash, as the barrels out back were too rich for my blood. For avid surfers who live and die by the height of waves, Scotts Head can offer barrels ten feet tall.

1PM: Refuel by the Ocean

We like to avoid leaving the beach at all costs, so we made lunch in Wombat the Troopy’s camp kitchen.

2PM: Head to the Lookouts

The main beach at Scotts Head has various lookouts and vantage points to bag a thorough swell check. These can be accessed from the stairs by the car park. We had a wander, watched the waves, and loaded up on Vitamin D.

3PM: Check-in at the Reflections Scotts Head

Every Reflections location we stayed at had prime facilities and all the comforts of home. What was so iconic about Reflections Scotts Head was the location. We nested in a cabin just behind the beach’s dune – the walk to the beach was honestly 30 seconds. For self-proclaimed beach bums, that’s the making of two very happy Vegemites. Darn, I hate falling asleep to the sound of the ocean.

4PM: Watch the Sunset

Up the stairs at the beach car park there’s a mighty hill. It’s the go-to location to spot hardcore surfers. As sunset approached, the swell picked up and we saw them claim wave after wave. I’m one of those people who could watch the surf for hours, a special kind of catharsis, and earnestly, a bit of wonder too.

Plus, it was fascinating to see how the pros entered the water. The process was twofold. Step one: run over the bridge of rocks. Step two: jump off said rocks into the oncoming waves. This is not advised for freshies like me.

Won some gold this arvo

6PM: Tuck Into Some Takeaway

After a day of sand, sea, sun, and surf there’s only one thing I’m after. And that’s a big old feed. We went to J Café, a two-minute walk from our accommodation, wanting a truck stop style burger and chips, and boy did they deliver. P.S. Add chicken salt to your chips for inner peace.

Day 4 – Head Home

And that’s a wrap! Sadly, we headed home the following morning. In fairness, we’d surfed our butts off, and were admittedly dehydrated. It was time. While we call Queensland home, the NSW coastline absolutely has a piece of our hearts. We’ll be back for sure!

Photos thanks to @isobelgrace.jpg