Camden Haven is a real doozy of a spot. 360-odd clicks up the Pacific Highway from Sydney, it’s well within range for a quick weekend blast up the coast for city slickers.

This dreamy little slice of coastal perfection manages to slip under the radar somewhat and it still retains a whole lot of sleepy fishing village charm.

If you’re the type to enjoy the finer things in life – long cruisey beach runs, unreal rock fishing and lightly trafficked campsites – then you’re gonna fall in love with this place.

There’s no reason to ever get bored out here, and the top-notch campsite just down the coast at Diamond Head is our pick to pull up stumps and set up basecamp when exploring this neck of the woods.

STUFF TO DO

4WDING: If you stay at the Diamond Head campsite just out of town, you’ve got one of the finest beach runs on this part of the coast right on your doorstep. Take a left onto the sand directly out front of your campsite and you can cruise all the way up to Camden Head.

FISHING: The beach fishing around here can be unreal pretty much year round. Through winter and spring bream and tailor are often caught in big numbers through in the early mornings, evenings and through the night. Some big jewfish have been landed from this beach over the years, with slabs of fresh caught tailor being the primo bait.

BUSHWALKS: The Diamond Head Loop is a 4.3km track that starts and finishes at the Diamond Head campground. It follows the coastline, taking in a couple of lookouts on the way. Expect to knock it over in an hour and a half to two hours.

IMPORTANT INFO

LOCATION: 360km north of Sydney, access is via the Pacific Highway.

CAMPING: The Diamond Head campground is equipped with toilets, showers, picnic tables, barbeques and a parking lot. Camping fees are $24 per night for two people, and an additional $12 per night per head.

FUEL is available in Camden Haven, Laurieton and Taree.

MORE INFO is available at www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au