To reach the sheltered tide pools of pretty Shelly Beach, head down the road from Captain Cook Lookout.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Captain Cook Lookout

0.06 MILES

Of the area's numerous viewpoints, Captain Cook Lookout, set on a high bluff, is the best to ponder the array of beaches, and to look for whales during…

2. Beilbys Beach

0.35 MILES

The secluded northern extension of Shelly Beach is wide and sandy, and good for surfing.

3. V-Wall

0.46 MILES

For decades residents and holidaymakers have decorated the rocks of Nambucca's breakwater with vivacious multicoloured artwork, and with notes to lovers,…

4. Headland Historical Museum

0.5 MILES

Above Main Beach, this little museum has local-history exhibits, including a collection of more than 1000 photos.

5. Main Beach

0.57 MILES

Nambucca Heads' only patrolled beach has life guards on duty during the summer holidays, and on weekends from October to April. Dolphins can sometimes be…

6. Yarriabini National Park

10.74 MILES

The highlight of this lush, rainforest-filled park is the dramatic coastal view from the lookout on the summit of Mt Yarriabini, which is accessible via a…

7. Bellingen Museum

15.05 MILES

Enthusiastic volunteers run this odd collection of local ephemera: old photos, cameras, clothes, tools etc.

8. Bellingen Island

15.44 MILES

This little semi-attached island on the Bellinger River (it's only completely cut off when the river is in flood) is home to a huge colony of grey-headed…