Racecourse campground

Goolawah National Park

Open, check current alerts 

Overview

Fishing, birdwatching, surfing and whale watching are just some of the things to do at Racecourse campground, a great beach camping site near Crescent Head and Kempsey.

Accommodation Details
Number of campsites 20
Camping type Tent, Camper trailer site, Camping beside my vehicle
Facilities Toilets, outside shower
What to bring Drinking water, cooking water, fuel stove
Group bookings Book up to 20 people or 5 sites online. For larger groups, make a group booking enquiry.
Please note
  • Check in after 2pm, check out before 10am.
  • There are no marked sites and sites are not powered.
  • This is a remote campground, please arrive well prepared.
  • Fires are only permitted in off-ground braziers. You can hire a brazier from the campground manager.
  • Noise restrictions apply at this campground after 10pm.

Positioned right on Goolawah Beach, Racecourse campground puts you in pole position for exquisite scenic views and marine wildlife-spotting. Surrounded by paperbarks and coastal banksia, protected from those gusting southerlies by Racecourse Headland, this beach camping spot is a secluded gem.

Set up your tent or trailer and revel in the feeling of freedom. With few facilities and no distractions, your time is all your own. Try the renowned surf break, go snorkelling or fishing, or see if you can spy a dolphin or two.

Depending when you visit, you’ll find this beachside campground either relatively empty or awash with surfers and small groups. Summer boasts a lively vibe, while other seasons offer more opportunity for quiet.

In this picturesque part of the world, it’s just as much fun to watch as it is to do. Go birdwatching or whale watching. Sit by the water and gauge the ever-changing mood of the ocean, get up early to see the sun rise.

For directions, safety and practical information, see visitor info

Also see

  • Delicate campground, Goolawah Regional Park. Photo: John Spencer/DPIE

    Delicate campground

    Delicate campground, in Goolawah Regional Park near Crescent Head, offers beach camping and caravan camping and welcomes those camping with dogs. It’s the ideal Kempsey region camping spot.

  • Limeburners Creek National Park sign. Photo: David Finnegan/DPIE

    Melaleuca campground

    Melaleuca campground is Limeburners Creek’s best-kept secret. It provides a peaceful sanctuary for walking, surfing, swimming, and relaxing coastal camping.

Map


Map legend

Map legend

Current alerts in this area

There are no current alerts in this area.

Local alerts

For the latest updates on fires, closures and other alerts in this area, see https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/camping-and-accommodation/campgrounds/racecourse-campground/local-alerts

Bookings

Operated by

Park info

See more visitor info

Visitor info

All the practical information you need to know about Racecourse campground.

Getting there and parking

Racecourse campground is in the southern precinct of Goolawah National Park. To get there from Kempsey:

  • Take Crescent Head Road from South Kempsey
  • Just after entering Crescent Head village, take the prominent right turn to Point Plomer Road and into Goolawah National Park.
  • You’ll find the turn-off to Racecourse campground a further 6km south along Point Plomer Road

Road quality

Check the weather before you set out as the road to this campground can become boggy when it rains.

  • Sealed roads

Vehicle access

  • 2WD vehicles

Weather restrictions

  • All weather

Parking

Parking is available in gravel carparks at Racecourse campground.

Best times to visit

There are lots of great things waiting for you in Goolawah National Park. Here are some of the highlights.

Autumn

This is a great time to go beachcombing, feel the sand between your toes on a beach walk, and breathe in the salty sea air. The water is still quite warm in autumn, too, so a swim is certainly not out of the question.

Spring

Roam through the park in spring to go birdwatching and see the coastal heathlands bursting with wildflowers. The colourful banksias and bottlebrush will catch your eye instantly.

Summer

Bring your towel and bathers and hit the Crescent Head beaches. You'll find Goolawah Beach a great spot for swimming, surfing and snorkeling.

Winter

Winter is the time for whale watching. Climb to the headland to spot whales on their annual migration. Plan a winter trip if you prefer a quieter camping experience. Campgrounds are less crowded at this time of year.

Facilities

  • Drinking water is not available at this campground. Non-potable bore water is available.
  • Firewood for your brazier can be purchased from the campground manager
  • Rubbish bins are provided during peak periods – at other times, please take rubbish with you when you leave.

Toilets

  • Non-flush toilets

Outside shower

Cold water beach showers are available but there is no private shower block.

Step-free access

Racecourse campground is step-free. The campground is tiered, with flat ground in some parts but also some sloping areas between campsites.

There are hard-packed gravel pathways around the toilet block and shelter. To get around the rest of the campground, you'll need to cross flat grass or slightly sloped and hard-packed ground.

The beach access tracks are step-free, but are natural and uneven.

  • Step-free outdoor pathways

Maps and downloads

Safety messages

Beach safety

Beaches in this park are not patrolled, and can sometimes have strong rips and currents. These beach safety tips will help you and your family stay safe in the water.

Take care in the water and please supervise children at all times.

Camping safety

Whether you're pitching your tent on the coast or up on the mountains, there are many things to consider when camping in NSW national parks. Find out how to stay safe when camping.

Fire safety

During periods of fire weather, the Commissioner of the NSW Rural Fire Service may declare a total fire ban for particular NSW fire areas, or statewide. Learn more about total fire bans and fire safety.

Fishing safety

Fishing from a boat, the beach or by the river is a popular activity for many national park visitors. If you’re planning a day out fishing, check out these fishing safety tips.

Mobile safety

Dial Triple Zero (000) in an emergency. Download the Emergency Plus app before you visit, it helps emergency services locate you using your smartphone's GPS. Please note there is limited mobile phone reception in this park and you’ll need mobile reception to call Triple Zero (000).

Accessibility

Disability access level - medium

Racecourse campground is step-free. It has the following accessible facilities:

  • An accessible toilet
  • A hard-packed gravel path that leads to the toilet and also to the campground shelter

There are some parts of the campground where people with reduced mobility may need assistance:

  • The campground is tiered. so parts of the campground are sloped
  • The beach access tracks are natural and uneven

Permitted

Fishing

A current NSW recreational fishing licence is required when fishing in all waters.

Prohibited

Gathering firewood

Firewood may not be collected from the park. If you have a brazier you can purchase firewood from the campground manager.

Generators

Sites are not powered and generators are not permitted in this campground.

Pets

Pets and domestic animals (other than certified assistance animals) are not permitted. Find out which regional parks allow dog walking and see the pets in parks policy for more information.

Smoking

NSW national parks are no smoking areas.

Learn more

Racecourse campground is in Goolawah National Park. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:

All creatures great and small

Shore birds on the sand, Goolawah National Park. Photo: John Spencer

A visit to Goolawah National Park is like stepping into an amazing nature documentary. Come to see a huge variety of birds and animals, from ospreys and tawny frogmouths, to goannas and bandicoots, to dolphins and turtles. Go whale watching in winter, or head to the park's north to spot koalas in the tall eucalypts. Bird watching enthusiasts can see beach raptors, shore birds, parrots and honeyeaters. Plus, Goolawah is an important area for dingo conservation; so keep your eyes peeled, particularly at the campgrounds.

Fighting to preserve culture

Views along the beach from Racecourse campground, Goolawah National Park. Photo: John Spencer

Goolawah is an Aboriginal word meaning 'yesterday'. Rich in edible resources, the area is highly significant to the local Dunghutti Aboriginal People, who still nurture a close connection with this land, and often camp here to maintain their culture. Locals are passionate about this area, and continue campaigning to limit its development. As you enter the park via Point Plomer Road, an unsealed road once used for sand mining, bear in mind the community's fight to keep this old 'back road' - and its surrounding landscape - natural, rustic and truly reminiscent of yesterday.

Protected plant life

Aerial photo of the beach and Racecourse Headland in Goolawah National Park. Photo: John Spencer/OEH

Native plant life enthusiasts will delight in a visit to Goolawah, home of a range of coastal vegetation communities. See if you can spot endangered Themeda grasslands and littoral rainforest on the windswept headlands, and be sure to keep to the tracks in these fragile environments. In autumn and winter, many trees burst into flower, including broad-leaved paperbarks, coast banksias and swamp mahoganies. Not only are these amazing to behold, they're also vital food sources for wildlife, including the endangered swift parrot.

Surf's up

A surfer with his board walking along the beach into the ocean at Goolawah National Park. Photo: John Spencer/OEH

Head to the relaxed Goolawah beach to stroll on the sand or go bushwalking, bird watching, swimming or try your luck fishing. Plus, be sure to bring your board - many people regard this part of Australia as home to the country's best surfing. Beachcombing is also popular here - take a bag to collect ocean debris and litter as you walk. Not only will you revitalise your connection with nature, you'll be helping keep our beaches and oceans clean and safe for marine life. At the core of your Goolawah experience is the deep sense of discovery, respect and calm that results from spending time in such unspoiled surroundings. Camp for a few days and be the first to add your footprints to the sand in the mornings. Hear nothing but birds and crashing waves, and gather around a campfire, disconnected from duties, demands and devices. You can even share this incredible experience with your best friend in neighbouring Goolawah Regional Park. The Regional Park's 'Delicate campground' is one of the few northern NSW campgrounds you can bring your dog to, but keep in mind some mandatory restrictions do apply.

Education resources (1)