Kingscliff Travel Guide: Sights, Weather and Getting There

Kingscliff sits 13 kilometres south of Tweed Heads in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, with a beach on one side and a creek on the other. This Kingscliff travel guide covers what the town is known for, what to see, when to visit and how to get there.

It is a beach community with a good spread of holiday accommodation. Together with the villages of Chinderah and Fingal, it gives visitors beach and estuary access for swimming, surfing, fishing and water sports.

What Kingscliff is known for

Surf, sand and an easy main street. Marine Parade is the town's main street, and it holds cafes, shops and accommodation directly across from Kingscliff beach and creek. Alfresco dining is a big part of the appeal here.

The town had 7,464 people at the 2016 census. It also has two primary schools and a state high school, so it feels like a living town rather than a resort strip.

There is a little pop culture too. Peter and Jeremy Oxley, who formed the 1980s band the Sunnyboys, called Kingscliff home, and a scene from the film Aquamarine was filmed on Marine Parade in late 2007.

A short history

James Cook named the area Sutherland Point in 1770. It later became Cudgen Headland, and in 1926 the name changed to Kingscliff, after a nearby estate, to end confusion with the nearby Cudgen. Carl Hans Gaenshirt bought much of the land around the 1870s, set up a vineyard and built a cottage. Extensive subdivision began from 1915.

The Ngandowal and Minyungbal-speaking people of the Bundjalung Nation are recognised as the traditional owners of the Tweed region, including Kingscliff.

Main sights and things to do

Start with the beach and the foreshore. The Casuarina Sculpture Walk runs along the foreshore, and Lake Cudgen is a good pick for a family picnic. Our Kingscliff attractions page lists more, and the Kingscliff activities page covers the active side.

On the water, you can join a charter for deep sea or game fishing, or head up the Tweed River for estuary fishing and crabbing. Cruises on the Tweed River include lunch and dinner options as well as fishing and crabbing trips.

Inland, Mt Warning and the World Heritage National Parks are within easy reach, with rainforest walks and plenty of bird and plant life.

Getting around on two wheels

An oceanway lets pedestrians and cyclists travel from the historic centre of town out to the newer communities along the Tweed Coast. Bike paths also run through the parks along the beaches, and a path connects to Salt, part of the small town of Casuarina.

Sport and local events

Local sport has a long pedigree. The Cudgen Hornets rugby league club play home games at Ned Byrne Field. Kingscliff Wolves Soccer Club was founded in 1968, plays at Walter Peate Oval and competes in the Gold Coast Premier League. In September 2009 the town hosted a stage of the World Rally Championship.

The Kingscliff Main Street Festival, held in October, is a street party of events, markets and entertainment for all ages, with the catchphrase “Art, Food and all that Jazz”. Check our Kingscliff events page for what is on, and confirm dates before you plan around it.

The foreshore and beach erosion

One honest note: the main beach has been badly affected by erosion, with parts of the caravan park and beachside carparks threatened or reclaimed by the sea. In December 2014 the state environment ministry announced it would split with Tweed Shire the $300,000 cost of an environmental impact study for a 500-metre seawall and sand fill.

The Kingscliff Foreshore Revitalisation Project began in March 2016 in three stages. Stage 1 is a new seawall to protect the Cudgen Headland Surf Life Saving Club, Kingscliff Beach Holiday Park and Kingscliff Beach Bowls Club. Stage 2 refurbishes the holiday park, with camping facilities rolled back in favour of cabins. Stage 3 creates Kingscliff Central Park, expected to become a new social hub and link Marine Parade to the beach more easily. It should also give businesses on Marine Parade far better beach views.

When to go: Kingscliff weather

Figures below are averages for the Byron Bay area, about 43 km from Kingscliff, for 1991 to 2020. Treat them as a close guide rather than exact Kingscliff readings.

Summer is warm and humid, with highs around 26 to 27 degrees and the wettest stretch running from January to March. We reckon September is the pick: it is the driest month at 39.6 mm with 6.8 rain days, and highs reach 22 degrees. August and October are also fairly dry. Winter days stay mild at around 18 to 19 degrees, though nights drop to about 12.

How to get there and where to stay

Kingscliff is about half an hour's drive south of Coolangatta airport, and the Gold Coast Airport is the nearest for most visitors. Coach services have run daily from Brisbane and Sydney, and trains run between Sydney and Brisbane. Services change, so check timetables before you travel.

If you are driving up the coast, these distances are measured from the Byron Bay area, which is about 43 km from Kingscliff.

Byron Bay makes a natural add-on; see our Byron Bay destination guide. For wider trip ideas across the state, the official site Visit NSW is useful.

Browse Kingscliff accommodation for the full picture. For a caravan park base, BIG4 Tweed Billabong Holiday Park in Tweed Heads South offers powered sites and cabins; the BIG4 Tweed Billabong Holiday Park page has details, and you should contact the park for current rates and availability.

For background reading, there is a Wikipedia entry on Kingscliff.

Frequently asked questions

What is Kingscliff best known for?

Its beach, creek and estuary, a main street of cafes and shops on Marine Parade, and easy access to fishing, surfing and water sports.

When is the best time to visit Kingscliff?

September is the driest month in the nearby Byron Bay area figures, at 39.6 mm of rain, with highs of 22 degrees. Summer is warmer but wetter.

How far is Kingscliff from Tweed Heads?

Kingscliff is 13 kilometres south of Tweed Heads.