Kempsey

All things Slim Dusty

The Slim Dusty Centre not only showcases the 50-year music career and family life of country music legend Slim Dusty, it also celebrates the role that Australian country music has played in the culture of the NSW North Coast. Opened in 2015, the complex also features a café, function centre, an art gallery, and a retail shop featuring local products from the region. 

Credit: The Slim Dusty Centre

Arts & culture

For an overview of the history of the region, visit Kempsey Museum, which includes a pioneer cottage furnished with original items. Next door, in the annexe of the Visitor Centre, you’ll find the Dunghutti Ngaku Aboriginal Art Gallery, showcasing the works of established and emerging Aboriginal artists. In the charming nearby town of Gladtone, The Macleay Valley Community Art Gallery is a exhibition space for visual artists in the region; while the Gladstone Hub is a collective of local creative businesses located within a heritage building.

Macleay Valley Community Art Gallery, Gladstone - Credit: Macleay Valley Coast

Foodie delights & vintage finds

Wander along the banks of the Macleay River to dine at one of the riverfront restaurants or cafes. The fantastic Garden Bar and Kitchen is just a 10-minute drive from town and has unbeatable views of the waterfront. Take a guided tour of Bucket Brewery, a microbrewery located in an old bus depot in South Kempsey.  

Seek out vintage treasures in one of the antique stores in town; while in West Kempsey, you’ll find many independent retail outlets including clothing boutiques, homewares and cafes. Meanwhile, the Kempsey Riverside Markets are held monthly on the banks of the river, featuring locally-made products and farm produce, hand-made arts and crafts and vintage wares, as well as live music. 

The Garden Bar and Kitchen, Frederickton - Credit: The Garden Bar & Kitchen

Outdoor adventure

For something more adventurous, tackle the Kalateenee Mountain Bike Trails, a 25km network of trails that winds through the state forest just outside of Kempsey. Hike to the top of Mount Yarrahapinni in the Yarriabini National Park; from the top of this 498m peak you can see all the way to the coast. Twitchers should follow the 2.5km walk to Boyters Lane Bird Hide, through marshland and bush teeming with life. 

Kalateenee Mountain Bike Trails, Kempsey - Kempsey Shire Council 

What’s a weekend break without a round of golf, especially if you’re having a swing alongside a mob of kangaroos? Satisfy your fairway cravings at Kempsey Golf Club, an 18-hole, par-72 course designed by Arthur W. East. The gently undulating course is framed by swathes of pristine bushland, and is home to an abundance of wildlife, including a wide variety of birds.  

Credit: Kempsey Golf Club

Further afield

Known as the ‘cultural heart of the Macleay’, Gladstone is a delightful little village 15min north of Kempsey with 19 preserved historic buildings, a heritage pub and great cafes, shopping and galleries. The Gladstone Quality Markets are held on the banks of the river on the third Sunday of each month. The next village north of Kempsey on the Macleay Valley Way, Frederickton is a must-stop to taste the famous croc pies at Fredo Pies & Cafe, or to tee off at the nine-hole Frederickton Golf Club.

Steam and Cedar - The Gladstone Hub, Gladstone

Getting there

Kempsey is a 4hr 40min drive from Sydney and 5hr 20min from Brisbane. You can also catch the train direct from Sydney and the journey takes just over seven hours. Or fly into Port Macquarie Airport and hire a car for the 40min drive.