Hastings Point, Northern New South Wales
Wayne Kampe.

IN this series of feature articles I strive to present interesting destinations for ordinary folk, like you and I, who might seek to combine a peaceful stay in a quiet spot with some fishing opportunities - if possible. Venues are not so hard to designate as interesting (the right mix of liveability and location being present) but, fish being the cantankerous critters that they are, I'm the first to acknowledge that they can sometimes fail to show. Fish behaviour is like the weather: we just don’t have control and, what’s more, we never will.

That said, the locations I select are usually a mixed bag, varying from the ultra quiet to the popular and much sought after. In this issue we will take a look at Hastings Point, a very small northern New South Wales locality which many consider to be the ideal holiday destination (if the number of holiday makers present over the Easter and Christmas periods is any indication). The place is small, but its potential large in that there is access to beach, rock and (with good management) even some boat fishing.

Hastings Point is situated south of the Queensland/New South Wales border and is accessed via the road servicing the Tweed Coast, as this area of northern New South Wales has come to be known. When heading north from Brunswick Heads on the Pacific Highway, the turn-off to Wooyong will take the traveller to Hastings Point via Pottsville, another popular stopover for travelling anglers. Pottsville is only a few kilometres south of Hastings Point and with the gradual but inexorable growth, moving in every direction bar one (out to sea) in this area, I have no doubt that the two localities will eventually be one. That's then, this is now. At the present, Hastings Point remains a neat little holiday village, while Pottsville is a somewhat larger centre with a fair amount of permanent housing.

Approaching Hastings Point from the northern side involves a turn off from the Pacific Highway at a point just south of the Tweed River Bridge, where a prominent sign is marked with the Tweed Coast access. The coastal road, in essence, bypasses the town of Murwillumbah and carries a lot of traffic.

Hastings Point offers a good range of accommodation options. There is very basic beach camping on the north side of the main headland, where first in is best dressed. Amenities consist of the toilet block as well as open air showers of the cold variety. Nontheless, it's a popular venue. Camping here is allowed during long weekends and holiday periods only and no bookings are taken. For the less adventurous, three well-appointed and well-patronised camping areas are in close proximity.

Without doubt, the longest standing camping area is the Hastings Point Holiday Park situated on the southern side of Cudgera Creek. Although very compact, the camping grounds are very popular and have a lot of ‘regulars’ who take advantage of the powered and non-powered sites. But be warned: this camping area is well and truly filled throughout most holidays and during a lot of prime fishing (winter) weekends as well. Bookings are essential.

Visitors will note that there are grassed and level tent sites as well as slab caravan sites available, and about the only drawback is the busy Tweed Coast road traffic right out front. On the plus side (and this is a big plus) is the quick access to Cudgera Creek and the headland nearby, a walking distance of less than a minute. The contact number for bookings is (02) 6676 1049.

On the north side of Cudgera Creek is North Star holiday resort. This very well set out caravan park enjoys a five-star rating, and the facilities and features are available to all. Whether one is enjoying a tent site, camper or caravan with en suite, a two-bed room or self-contained, air conditioned holiday home, or perhaps one of the deluxe cabins or chalets, the on site camp kitchen and entertainment area are available to all. As an added bonus, there are bathrooms for the babies and disabled available as well. For motor home travellers, the waste dump point is much appreciated. All are welcome to use the pool or cook a feed on the barby. On top of these features is free cable TV connection to powered van sites. Bookings can be made on (02) 6676 1234.

About a kilometre south of Cudgera Creek is the spacious Hastings Point Holiday Village. Holiday units, cabins, caravan sites and good old fashioned camping sites for tents are all available throughout the year, with some pre-booking essential at holiday times. With a service station on site, petrol, gas, ice and other essentials are right there. The restaurant is handy as well.

Guests at the Holiday Village can make use of the guest kitchen, swimming pool, BBQ, games room and tennis court, plus dining room. Directly opposite the camping grounds is the popular surf beach, while Cudgera Creek is at the western side of the grounds. A canoe would be a very handy asset while staying at the Holiday Village. I could see a lot of trolled flathead coming aboard. Their contact number is (02) 6676 1396.

Bear in mind that Hastings Point is about a twenty minutes drive from the southern Gold Coast area and, as such, is very close to just about any service or facility one requires. Medical facilities, motor and outboard mechanics, many retail outlets of all kinds - all are available along with numerous sporting and outdoor facilities such as bowls, golf clubs and gyms. Closer to home, at Hastings Point, is the handy general store and post office right next to the Holiday Park. At Pottsville (five minutes’ drive away) there are several stores with a wide range of goods available.

What about the fishing? I fished at Hastings Point as a kid in short pants and we always caught heaps. Nothing's changed. Today the fishing at Hastings Point is just as good as ever. For example, on the day that Denise and I travelled to the area to research material for this article, a fairly stiff northerly was blowing and, yes, right at the headland two young fellows were pulling tailor out of a bit of suds on the south-east corner. This, mind you, in December.

The headland is small but in the right conditions it will produce tailor, bream and blackfish. The beaches adjoining can fire up with likely gutters on any given day, depending on conditions.

Two renowned fishing locations are the hole, generally present on the northern side of the outlet of Cudgera Creek, and Black Rock, south of Pottsville. The hole that forms at Cudgera Creek is accessed via a good track on the north side of the creek bank, which leads to the main beach. Whiting, bream and tailor on dark or daylight, plus dart on demand, are features of this spot. Like all beach formations, the hole moves and deepens somewhat from time to time. It's a famous full tide-at-ten-after-dark jew hole as well. One of the things that really amazes me about this possie is the fact that, while swimmers and surfers are enjoying the water, any number of anglers may be seen pulling in whiting from behind the break.

Black Rock, between Pottsville and Wooyong, can be deadly for tailor and bream, and a hole is nearly always present where the half hectare-sized lump of stone sticks out of the water, just a little further out than a long cast with a spinner. At times more than one rock is present and the whole location just reeks of fish. In recognition of angler usage, there is a sealed section of parking area on the side of the road. Don't overlook the sea wall at Pottsville, either, as some good tailor and bream come flapping in during winter, depending on the seas and depth of the channel.

No mention of Hastings Point can be made without reference to the terrific fishing in Cudgera Creek. Renowned for the excellent blackfish catches during winter (the fish school in the hole at the bridge and fire up as the incoming tide starts to clear the water), it's quite common to see anglers standing shoulder to shoulder, pulling in these scrappy battlers one after the other. Weed seems to be the best bait, and the finer the better.

Luderick are not the entire story. I can remember catching some very good flathead and whiting on the floodtide from time to time. A small flood is good for Cudgera Creek. It brings down a lot of tea tree-stained water, sure, but as it clears on the floodtide, the fish really fire up. This is one location where it's possible to take flathead on the fly with relative ease. Wading is easy and the fish lie along the weed beds within easy reach. Yabbies can be pumped in the creek, on the sandbeds, and are an easy bait source.

Last but not least are the mangrove jacks that inhabit this creek. The snags can be probed with live bait, lure or fly with relative ease in search of these great fighting fish. Don't expect a mangrove jack per cast as, like all jacks, these fish are under a fair bit of pressure but, if one makes the effort, rewards are likely.

In all, Hastings Point has a lot to offer the travelling angler: peaceful accommodation, a wide range of activities (from scenic tours of the hinterland to sporting activities), plus fishing. And let's not forget the fishing. This location is about as reliable an angling destination as one can find today. All it takes is a bit of good weather!