Cabarita Beach In Northern NSW – Visitor’s Guide

Cabarita Beach is a must-see location on the Northern Rivers coastline in New South Wales.

Cabarita (or Caba as the locals like to call it) is almost completely encircled by a nature reserve. Its stretch of white sand beach and turquoise waters is hard to beat among others along the Tweed Coast.

I have visited this little pocket of paradise over 100 times and it never fails to disappoint which is why I have put together this complete guide to Cabarita Beach including how to get there, where to stay and what to expect when you’re there!

WHERE IS CABARITA BEACH NSW?

Cabarita is located in the Northern Rivers region which is bounded by the Pacific Ocean and on the edge of remnant coastal rainforests.

Click here to see the location on Google maps.

It’s a 45-minute drive south from the iconic Gold Coast and from Byron Bay, it’s a 30-minute drive to the north.

Exploring the beaches between Coolangatta on the Gold Coast and as far south as Byron Bay is best done in a car.

Search All → Car Rentals in Gold Coast

Cabarita Beach NSW

 

BEST TIME TO VISIT CABARITA NSW

The best time to visit is in the summer months which are December to February. However, this is also peak season nationwide for most locations like this so do take this into account when booking accommodation.

If you want to avoid the crowd, you can visit after the summer anywhere between March to June and you will be surprised how much sunshine this region of Australia receives, almost year-round in fact.

Idyllic scenes at Caba

 

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CABARITA BEACH THINGS TO DO

Cabarita Beach is one of the most popular surf spots on the east coast of Australia. In a big swell, the waves wrap in around Norries Headland and line up for a long right-hand point break through the cove and in towards the beach.

There is a lot of localism at this particular surf break so respect the local surfers and don’t drop in on a wave if someone is on the inside of you otherwise you will know about it.

For nature enthusiasts, you can explore the cliffs and grassy headland at the southern end of the beach. There is a wooden boardwalk that leads you right to the top of Norries Headland and offers uninterrupted panoramic views of the amazing coastline right the way down to Byron Bay.

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Exploring the headland

 

BEACH AMENITIES

Like most beaches in the area, there are toilets, freshwater showers, and cooking amenities such as electric BBQs for public use.

I can’t stress enough to take only photos and leave only footprints when visiting this beach. Please dispose of your rubbish in the bins provided or take it home with you if you can’t find any rubbish bins.

 

 

CAMPING AT CABARITA BEACH

Camping in tents on the beach is not permitted and can be dangerous with the changing tides. The best option for camping is to book a night or two at Cabarita Beach Caravan Park which has powered and unpowered sites available.

A park ranger frequently does the rounds of the nature reserves and car parks looking for people illegally camping, so do take note of this or you will be fined.

If you are traveling in a small campervan like most backpackers do when visiting Australia, read the signs carefully in the car parks if you plan to park your van for the night. Some signs will read ‘no overnight camping in vehicles’ or a sign that shows an ‘S’ with a red line through it which means no standing/parking.

When you come across these signs I recommend you obey them or you may be slapped with a hefty fine from the park ranger which can be up to $100 AUD or more.

I myself have camped in a van at many beaches along the east coast of Australia but I make sure to leave my spot cleaner than when I arrived. Respect the land and the locals.

Exploring Norries headland

 

CABARITA BEACH MAP

 

OTHER POINTS OF INTEREST

Exploring the many beaches and points of interest around the Northern Rivers New South Wales region is a must.

The township of Cabarita has many cafes, a local pub, and a shopping center, all of which are located on the main street throughout the town.

Check out my other related posts on the surrounding region:

• Dreamtime Beach – Fingal Heads
• Killen Falls – Byron Bay
• Wategos Beach
• Broken Head Beach

Wategos Beach in Byron

 

WHAT TO PACK FOR NSW

When visiting NSW, here is a list of items I highly recommend bringing with you:

• Sunscreen – the sun in Australia is very strong, so make sure to pack some high-quality sunscreen.
• Quick-dry travel towel – a must for drying off after a dip in the ocean or lying out on the sand.
• Reusable water bottle – stay hydrated by bringing along a reusable water bottle.
• Dry bag – protect your gadgets from any water damage while you’re at the beach.

If you’re interested in taking awesome photos and videos on your travels, this is the camera gear that I use and recommend:

• GoPro HERO10 – the most popular camera on the planet for action-packed adventures.
• Canon EOS R – perfect for traveling, this is the most affordable, compact camera on the market.
• DJI Mini 3 Pro – take your photos and videos to new heights with this user-friendly drone camera.

 

MORE AUSTRALIA TRAVEL GUIDES

The coastline and hinterland areas along the east coast of Australia boast countless beaches, lakes, waterfalls, hikes, and many more fun-fuelled adventures waiting to be had!

Click on the links below to see more related posts:

• Hamilton Island: 10 Things To Do In Hamilton Island
• Agnes Water: 17 Things To Do In Agnes Water
• Brisbane: Things To Do In Brisbane
• Gold Coast: 3 Day Gold Coast Itinerary
• Fraser Island: Fraser Island Day Trip
• Springbrook: Springbrook Waterfalls
• Byron Bay: Things To Do In Byron Bay
• Crescent Head: 9 Things To Do In Crescent Head
• Forster: 7 Things To Do In Forster
• Port Macquarie: 7 Best Beaches In Port Macquarie
• Sydney: Things To Do In Sydney
• Kiama NSW: 3 Awesome Things To Do In Kiama
• Melbourne: Things To Do In Melbourne

 

TRAVEL RESOURCES FOR YOUR NEXT TRIP

Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or it’s your first trip overseas, here are some useful travel resources to help you kick-start your next adventure!

• BOOKING.COM – search and book accommodation worldwide
• SKYSCANNER – compare and book cheap flights to anywhere
• VIATOR – find tickets, tours, and experiences around the world
• BOOKAWAY – book buses, trains, and transfers online in advance
• RENTAL CARS – search all rental cars in your next destination
• GROUP TRIPS – join one of my epic small group trips
• TRAVEL INSURANCE – purchase World Nomads travel insurance
• TRAVEL MONEY CARD – get a Wise card today for free

Looking for more? Check out my Travel Resources page for further help with your trip planning!

 

FINAL THOUGHTS

I hope you find this guide useful and if you have any questions please leave a comment below this post and I will get back to you as soon as I can. For a quicker response, be sure to join Jonny Melon’s Travel Tribe on Facebook and post your questions or recommendations to our awesome community.

THANKS FOR READING

Hey friend, thanks for reading this guide!

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