Evans Head: River, Coast and History

Evans Head offers several sides to a coastal town: the Evans River draws visitors with water activities, the beaches range from sheltered coves to open stretches of coast, and two museums tell stories of local and aviation history. When planning your trip, it’s worth organising these attractions around what you’d most like to focus on, rather than centring your stay solely on beach time.

River and beach: different ways to enjoy the water

The Evans River is ideal for canoeing, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding and boating. If you’d rather stay on shore, there’s a walking path along the river. At the southern end, you’ll find two boat ramps, fish-cleaning facilities and pontoon berths. These give you different ways to experience the river, whether out on the water or walking along the shore.

The beaches also offer different experiences. Evans Head Main Beach is sheltered from large south-easterly swells, making it suitable for inexperienced surfers. The river estuary at the beach attracts plenty of marine wildlife; you can also fish from the beach there. Shark Bay is a small, sheltered beach south of the mouth of the Evans River and below Razorback Lookout. You can swim, explore the rocky shoreline, or have a riverside picnic and barbecue.

Coast and views

Airforce Beach is a 4.6-kilometre stretch of coastline north of Evans Head Main Beach, in the Richmond Valley. Approved four-wheel-drive vehicles can access it via the designated entrance on Terrace Street. As vehicle rules can change, check the current requirements before you drive there.

Razorback Lookout offers views over the New South Wales coast and the town of Evans Head. Binoculars provide opportunities for whale watching and views of the rolling hills of the hinterland. If you’re hoping to use this equipment, it’s a good idea to check in advance that it’s available.

A short drive from town, Chinamans Beach is bordered by the native bushland of Bundjalung National Park and Dirawong Reserve. A walking track leads down to the beach from the car park. More walking tracks lead from Chinamans Beach to Goanna Headland, where information panels explain its significance to Indigenous people. This detour combines coastal scenery with a cultural insight.

Local and aviation history

Evans Head Living Museum is located in Clarrie Kirkland Reserve on the banks of the Evans River. Its collection includes historical photographs, newspaper articles, Second World War memorabilia and other objects documenting the history of Evans Head. Evans Head Heritage Aviation Museum is located at Evans Head Aerodrome. Its collection includes aircraft, training equipment and historical artefacts. The two museums offer different perspectives: one on the town’s history, the other on aviation.

Consider whether river activities, coastal scenery, or local and aviation history will shape your stay. Travelling with people who have different interests? The water-based activities and museums can offer different starting points for planning together.

Discover more destinations: Toronto, Rydal, Lake Innes, Monkerai, Moss Vale, Morisset, Caves Beach, Nyrang Creek.

For the broader travel overview: New South Wales.