{"ok":true,"data":{"id":130,"slug":"brooms-head-beach-brooms-head","name":"Brooms Head Beach","country":"Australia","state":"New South Wales","city":"Brooms Head","coords":{"lat":-29.6085,"lng":153.3348},"beachType":null,"tags":["famous","family","scenic"],"article":{"hero":"The drive into Brooms Head drops you past sugarcane fields and grazing cattle before the ocean suddenly fills your windscreen. This is the Clarence Coast stripped to essentials: a sweeping crescent of golden sand bookended by weathered rock platforms, backed by Norfolk pines that lean slightly inland from decades of salt wind. The southern end unfurls wide and forgiving, perfect for children who chase foam in ankle-deep water while their parents doze under beach umbrellas that haven't changed style since 1987.\n\nYou'll find surfers clustered near the northern headland at dawn, where a reliable right-hander peels across the reef when the swell cooperates. By mid-morning the beach recalibrates to holiday mode—boogie boards, inflatable crocodiles, someone's uncle sleeping upright in a camp chair. The rock shelf at low tide becomes a natural aquarium: you'll spot luderick darting between kelp fronds, and if you're patient, the occasional wobbegong resting in a sandy pocket.\n\nWhat keeps Brooms Head from tipping into resort territory is its resolute ordinariness. The general store still sells bait and sunscreen in equal measure. The caravan park fills with the same families every Christmas, their annex setups so practiced they could do it blindfolded. You won't find day spas or cocktail menus—just reliable waves, clean amenities, and the kind of coastal calm that reminds you why you started chasing beaches in the first place.","teaser":"You'll smell the banksia before you see the sand at Brooms Head Beach, where the Pacific curves into a gentle bay shielded by a rocky northern headland. Families spread picnic blankets on kikuyu grass above the shore, and the only decision you face is whether to swim before or after fish and chips.","uniqueAngle":"One of the few Clarence Coast beaches where reef breaks and family-friendly shallows coexist within a single protected bay.","accessType":"Drive-up","thingsToDo":[{"icon":"surf","title":"Ride the Headland","subtitle":"Right-hander peels across northern reef"},{"icon":"swim","title":"Wade the Southern","subtitle":"Shallow bay perfect for children"},{"icon":"snorkel","title":"Explore Rock Platforms","subtitle":"Low tide reveals kelp gardens"},{"icon":"food","title":"Lunch Alfresco","subtitle":"Picnic tables under Norfolk pines"}],"audience":{"surfer":"The northern headland delivers a clean right-hander on east to northeast swells, best on the push tide with offshore westerlies. The reef setup handles two-to-four-foot faces without crowding—locals paddle out at first light and you'll earn respect by waiting your turn in the rotation. Bring reef booties for the paddle-out and wax for water hovering around 19°C in winter, 24°C summer. The southern beach break offers mushier reforms if the headland gets too competitive, though you'll sacrifice shape for space.","couples":"Stake your sunset claim on the grassy headland reserve where Norfolk pines frame the horizon in silhouette—bring a bottle from Yamba's cellar doors twenty minutes south. The Brooms Head Bowlo overlooks the beach for no-fuss counter meals; order the garlic prawns and eat on the outdoor deck as kookaburras call from the paperbarks. Accommodation tilts toward functional rather than boutique: the caravan park offers cabins with ocean glimpses, or book a weatherboard cottage through local rentals where morning coffee tastes better on a veranda facing the swell.","backpacker":"The Brooms Head Caravan Park lets you pitch a tent for under twenty dollars and the amenities block stays clean year-round. Beach access is free and the southern shallows deliver safe swimming without stinger nets or entry fees. The general store sells day-old bakery bread and sandwich fixings under eight dollars; pair it with a swim and you've covered lunch. Hitchhiking from Yamba works if you time the morning traffic, or split petrol with other travelers—there's no public transport, so charm someone with a Kombi at the hostel in Angourie, fifteen minutes north.","local":"Skip weekends December through February when the caravan park overflows; instead, visit midweek autumn when the water still holds summer warmth and the beach empties by 9 a.m. The rock platform on the southern headland—past where most visitors turn back—hides tidal pools thick with cunjevoi and the occasional blue groper. Locals know to check the headland break on a dropping high tide during nor'east groundswell: it's fickle but occasionally serves up the best waves on the Clarence Coast, and you'll surf it with maybe three others who've been reading this beach for decades.","family":null,"party":null,"diver":null,"explorer":null},"faqs":[{"a":"Brooms Head Beach is generally considered safe for swimming, particularly in the sheltered southern end near the headland. The beach features relatively calm waters compared to more exposed coastal beaches, making it suitable for families. However, conditions can vary with tides and weather. There are no patrolled areas with lifeguards, so swimmers should exercise caution, check conditions before entering the water, and swim between the flags if patrol services are operating during peak holiday periods. Always supervise children closely.","q":"Is Brooms Head Beach safe for swimming?"},{"a":"Brooms Head Beach is enjoyable year-round due to the North Coast's mild climate. Summer (December-February) offers warm water and temperatures ideal for swimming, though it's the busiest period. Autumn and spring provide pleasant weather with fewer crowds, perfect for beach walks and fishing. Winter remains mild with temperatures around 17-20°C, suitable for whale watching (June-November). The region experiences most rainfall in summer, so shoulder seasons often provide the best balance of good weather and tranquility.","q":"When is the best time to visit Brooms Head Beach?"},{"a":"Brooms Head Beach is located approximately 35km northeast of Grafton and 70km south of Yamba via the Pacific Highway. From Grafton, take the Summerland Way to Maclean, then follow Brooms Head Road east for about 20km. The village has several parking areas near the beach, including spaces along the beachfront and near the boat ramp. Parking is generally free and uncrowded outside peak holiday periods. The final approach includes unsealed roads in some sections.","q":"How do you get to Brooms Head Beach and where can you park?"},{"a":"Brooms Head is a small coastal village with limited but adequate facilities. The Brooms Head Bowls and Recreation Club offers meals and drinks with ocean views. For self-catering, bring supplies from larger towns like Maclean or Yamba, as there's no supermarket on-site. Accommodation includes holiday parks with cabins and camping sites, plus holiday home rentals. The village maintains a quiet, relaxed atmosphere focused on nature and beach activities rather than commercial tourism.","q":"What food and accommodation options are available at Brooms Head?"},{"a":"Brooms Head is excellent for fishing enthusiasts, offering diverse opportunities from beach, rock, and boat fishing. The beach is popular for catching whiting, bream, and flathead, while the headland rocks attract anglers targeting drummer, trevally, and tailor. The Sandon River mouth nearby provides fantastic estuary fishing. There's a public boat ramp for launching vessels into calm waters. Rock fishing requires caution and appropriate safety gear. Check NSW fishing regulations for size limits, bag limits, and seasonal closures before fishing.","q":"Can you go fishing at Brooms Head Beach?"}]},"seo":{"title":"Brooms Head Beach: Sheltered Swimming & Surf in Northern NSW","description":"Where the Esk River meets the Pacific, Brooms Head offers glassy lagoon swimming, consistent breaks, and golden sands framed by pandanus groves—a North Coast gem.","ogImage":"https://live.staticflickr.com/4200/34778032942_e90e14a3fa_b.jpg"},"images":[{"id":"487341","url":"https://live.staticflickr.com/4200/34778032942_e90e14a3fa_b.jpg","thumbnail":"https://live.staticflickr.com/4200/34778032942_e90e14a3fa.jpg","alt":"Brooms Head"},{"id":"487342","url":"https://live.staticflickr.com/799/41278483191_7c6357e41f_b.jpg","thumbnail":"https://live.staticflickr.com/799/41278483191_7c6357e41f.jpg","alt":"The Summer Isles"},{"id":"487343","url":"https://live.staticflickr.com/5714/23749528601_a4efc3e2c8_b.jpg","thumbnail":"https://live.staticflickr.com/5714/23749528601_a4efc3e2c8.jpg","alt":"20131107 - Dad's Father's Day gift from 2003 - 20131107_111937"},{"id":"487344","url":"https://live.staticflickr.com/7396/26931018933_72915ae0ab_b.jpg","thumbnail":"https://live.staticflickr.com/7396/26931018933_72915ae0ab.jpg","alt":"Stranger #23/100 - Daégki  aka \"Der Schipper\""},{"id":"487345","url":"https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51405434520_9a831b4079_b.jpg","thumbnail":"https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51405434520_9a831b4079.jpg","alt":"427 Stuart AVE, Kalamazoo, MI 49007"},{"id":"487346","url":"https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51405436470_13a9897532_b.jpg","thumbnail":"https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51405436470_13a9897532.jpg","alt":"427 Stuart AVE, Kalamazoo, MI 49007"},{"id":"487347","url":"https://live.staticflickr.com/3255/2517812183_26c4cfcec4_b.jpg","thumbnail":"https://live.staticflickr.com/3255/2517812183_26c4cfcec4.jpg","alt":"Flying over the Australian East coast"},{"id":"487348","url":"https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51405214439_c6b340bac4_b.jpg","thumbnail":"https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51405214439_c6b340bac4.jpg","alt":"435 Stuart AVE, Kalamazoo, MI 49007"},{"id":"487349","url":"https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/47665542862_d1d9749397_b.jpg","thumbnail":"https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/47665542862_d1d9749397.jpg","alt":"Brooms Head beach"},{"id":"487350","url":"https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/32760272347_e2653868f9_b.jpg","thumbnail":"https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/32760272347_e2653868f9.jpg","alt":"Chillin by the beach"}]}}