Kempsey

Kempsey is a town on the Mid-North Coast of New South Wales.

Understand

Kempsey is a service town on the Macleay River. It is a significant station on the railway line between Sydney and Brisbane.

Get in

By train, three trains run to and from Sydney each day.

By bus, the coaches plying the Pacific Highway between Sydney and Brisbane stop here.

By car, along the Pacific Highway around 400km north from Sydney. The longest road bridge in Australia bypasses the town.

By plane, Port Macquarie Airport is around 45 minutes drive south, and has regular flights to Sydney and car hire. Kempsey has its own airport available for charter flights and general aviation.

See

• 1 Hat Head National Park. Camping. Fantastic beaches, bushwalking. (updated Jun 2023)
• 2 Kempsey Museum (Macleay River Historical Society), 62 Lachlan St, South Kempsey, ☏ +61 2 6562 7572. 10AM-4PM daily. Closed on Christmas Day and Good Friday. A local history museum spanning from Aboriginal times to the modern. (updated Oct 2020)
• 3 Dunghutti-Ngaku Aboriginal Art Gallery (next to museum), ☏ +61 2 6562 1432. 10AM–4PM. Aboriginal art gallery. (updated Oct 2021)

Eat

• 1 Tumblegum Bakehouse, 54 Elbow St, West Kempsey, ☏ +61 2 6562 1099. M-F 6AM-4PM, Sa 6AM-3PM. Sells pies, cakes, bread products, salad bar, coffee and fresh bar products. (updated Oct 2021)
• 2 Zannies Pizzas, 56A Elbow St, West Kempsey, ☏ 1300 926 643 (local rate). Su-Tu 6-8PM, W 11AM–2PM, 5–8:30PM, Th 11AM–2PM, 4–8:30PM, Fr 11AM–2PM, 4–9PM. Much of any Aussie pizza classic can be found here, along with some other Australian-Italian cuisine. (updated Oct 2021)

Drink

• The Macleay, 61 Smith Street. Bistro. The Flaming Steer. Surprisingly diverse menu for a country pub. 

Sleep

• 1 Great Northern Hotel, 40 Elbow St, West Kempsey, ☏ +61 2 6562 4323. (updated Sep 2021)
• 2 Motel Kempsey, 13 Lachlan St, ☏ +61 2 6562 4294. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 10AM. from $109. (updated Oct 2021)

Respect

The talk of the Kempsey bus crash in 1989 should be avoided at all costs. While it was the reason why over 95 per cent of the Pacific Highway is now a freeway/dual carriageway, many people from older generations are still traumatized to this day, and avoid bringing it up, unless a local or staff brings it up.

Go next

• Head south to Port Macquarie or north to Coffs Harbour

Routes via Kempsey

Newcastle ← Port Macquarie ←

S M1 N

→ Coffs Harbour → Grafton