Scenic coastal walking trail at Kings Beach
If you're looking for a tranquil place that's rich in natural beauty and one that's off the beaten path, look no further than Kings Beach in the Northern Rivers region of NSW. Situated in the picturesque Broken Head Nature Reserve, Kings Beach is a popular spot for surfers, bush walkers, holiday makers and even nudists. While not designated an official 'nudist beach', Kings Beach is well known and widely accepted as a clothing optional area, so maybe consider another location if you're looking for a family friendly day at the beach.
Plenty of shady spots under Pandanus Palms
The Broken Head Nature Reserve is a pristine 98 hectare (240 acre) park that comprises an area of around 3km between Broken Head and Jews Point, and has one of the largest remaining segments of littoral rainforest in Australia. The reserve is popular with bushwalkers and those looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of nearby Byron Bay. Broken Head Nature Reserve is home to a wide variety of flora such as the Rusty Rose Walnut, Hoop Pine, Pear Fruited Tamarind, Native Elm, Broad-lead Lilly Pilly, Tuckeroo, Bangalow Palm, Bennett's Ash, as well as the rare Scented Acronychia.
Looking through the trees along the Three Sisters coastal track
The Three Sisters walking track is one of the more popular things to do in the area and this 1.6km return walk (45mins) that takes you along a winding section of coastline that includes dense rainforests, secluded beaches, rocky coves and dramatic coastline views. According to the National Parks and Wildlife Service, the Aboriginal Dreaming of the Three Sisters tells the tale of three sisters who were turned into the rocky outcrops near the headland. Overlooking Kings Beach, the Three Sisters walking track provides the perfect vantage point to take in the picturesque view of the ocean below. Relax and take in the breathtaking views, and if you're lucky you might catch a glimpse of an occasional whale as they migrate between June and October.
Amazing rocky shorelines can be found at Kings Beach
Due to its remote location and awe inspiring coastal views, Kings Beach has a tendency to take you away and make you forget the rest of life troubles. It's a place where you can find yourself (or lose yourself) while taking in the many sights along the beach, or as you sit underneath a tree gazing out towards the ocean for hours. If you want a place where you can just think and make future plans without interruptions, Kings Beach is a great place to visit and reminds you that there's a great big world out there, just waiting to be discovered...
One of the largest remaining littoral rainforests
In winter and spring, the coastal track at Kings Beach is a great place to watch migrating Humpback and Southern Right whales as they move up and down the coast. It is also a great spot to watch a plethora of birds such as the White-Bellied Sea Eagle as they soar over the ocean and cliffs, gracefully diving for their prey below. The headlands burst into colours at this time of year also as the wildflowers bloom into life, and the Three Sisters Lookout is the perfect place to stop and absorb the amazing views of untouched beaches surrounded by unspoiled trees and forests.
Stop for a few minutes and totally immerse yourself
Down on the sand, the crystal clear waters of Kings Beach make it popular with swimmers and surfers. The beach is unpatrolled so take care when entering the water as the shoreline is lined with rocks, boulders and strong rips. If water activities aren't your thing, why not pack up a picnic, grab your fishing rod or just sit under one of the Pandanus Palms and have a lazy day with your favourite book.
Scenic place for a seat by the sea
Due to the remote location of Kings Beach, it's advisable that you take all your valuables with you as the carpark is at least a 10 min walk away in an isolated area (and there have been numerous reports of thefts in recent years). On the flip side of this, as it is such an isolated and beautifully intact environment, take all of your rubbish with you at the end of the day and help keep this slice of paradise clean for future generations.
Beautiful sweeping coastal views at Kings Beach
As previously mentioned, Kings Beach is a well known (and unofficial) clothing-optional area and maybe not the place to bring your kids for a day at the beach. In saying that, most nudists are respectful of others and tend to keep to themselves towards the southern corner, so there are still places along the beach where you an avoid the self-expressive while you enjoy your own patch of sand. In recent years locals have complained that it is becoming a hangout for members of the gay community, but there does seem to be a steady stream of men and women visiting the area.
About as patrolled as Kings Beach gets - life buoy on a stick
One of the Three Sisters rocky outcrops at Broken Head
There's a variety of different accomodation options located around the Broken Head area ranging from 5 star luxury cabins to caravan parks and beach houses on websites such as AirBnB and Stayz. It's a good alternative for those wanting to stay near Byron Bay without having to deal with the large numbers of people.
Rusty coloured shoreline against a backdrop of greenery
Situated about 9km south of Byron Bay near Broken Head, Kings Beach can be found by turning off the Pacific Highway at the Broken Head Caravan Park turnoff near Suffolk Park (look for the narrow dirt road leading into the Broken Head Nature Reserve just before you enter the caravan park). You'll come across a walking track, which descends from the car park to Kings Beach, which is around a 10min walk.
Byron Bay is the next major beach area north from Kings Beach
Lennox Head is the next major beach south from Kings Beach
I hope you enjoyed reading this article as much as I enjoyed writing it. Kings Beach is an amazing place to get away from it all and the pristine scenery of the Broken Head Nature Reserve will keep you coming back time and time again. Don't forget to keep an open mind if you visit this beach as it is a nudist one.
All photos in this article are available for purchase in various sizes as high resolution acrylic glass or canvas prints, and are available for licensing purposes for media and marketing/promotional material. The photos you see here have been compressed for optimal online user experience, which means we've intentionally reduced the file size and quality of each image to ensure the pages you visit load faster.
Any printed reproduction of the photos you see on OZBEACHES would be done using the original 20+ megabyte RAW files, with the additional layer of having a professional graphic designer personally inspect each image and optimise for print. The OZBEACHES watermark would be removed and would not be visible on your print. If you have any questions about this process, please email me (Adam) and let me know which photo you're interested in by quoting the caption beneath it. Alternatively you can check out our featured images in the print gallery.
If you think Kings Beach Beach is a place you'd like to visit with your friends, why not share this article with them via one of the social links below. I want to help people (including you!) find their dream Australian beach, and the more information we share together will ultimately help us all in achieving that goal. I hope you enjoy your search.
Cheers,
Adam