About the Camden Haven

The Camden Haven River flows east from the rugged Comboyne Plateau through state forests and fertile valleys to the dramatic headlands and uncrowded sandy beaches of the Pacific Coast.  It gives its name to the Camden Haven region, an area recognized for its natural beauty and loved by many as a traditional family holiday destination and an outdoor-lovers paradise.  It’s laid-back and relaxed, a haven from the hectic buzz of bigger towns and cities, a place to get your breath back and enjoy all that nature has to offer.

At the mouth of the river lie the three villages of Laurieton, North Haven and Dunbogan.  Between North Haven and Port Macquarie are the coastal residential and holiday towns of Bonny Hills and Lake Cathie.  The Camden Haven Valley is intersected by the Pacific Highway at Kew, while a little further west and upstream is Kendall, named in honour of former resident and poet Henry Kendall.  Comboyne is on the plateau at the head of the Camden Haven River.

Between the coast and the plateau, there are numerous hamlets and localities including Herons Creek, Rossglen and Lorne.  Dominating the Camden Haven Inlet is Dooragan (North Brother Mountain), a mountain that is the focus of Birpai Dreamtime stories and one of three mountains named as the 'three brothers' by Captain James Cook in 1770.

The Camden Haven forms part of the Port Macquarie/Hastings Local Government Area.  Its economy is based on tourism, fishing, oyster farming, timber getting and the provision of retail and other services to its community.  It’s a popular retirement destination with a significant number of the residents who are active over-55's as well as a growing proportion of young families.

History of the Camden Haven

Long before Europeans arrived in the Camden Haven, it was the traditional home of the Birpai Nation.  A Dreamtime legend describes how three brothers from the Birpai tribe met their fate at the hands of the witch Widjirriejuggi, and were buried where each of the Three Brothers Mountains stand.

These three coastal mountains are a prominent feature of the Camden Haven Valley.  They were observed by Captain James Cook, and named in his log in May 1770 along with Perpendicular Point at the mouth of the Camden Haven River.

In 1818 the Camden Haven was explored by John Oxley, named for Lord Camden and settled in the 1820's by lime burners and soldiers employed to prevent convicts escaping south from the Port Macquarie penal settlement.

From the 1870s until the mid twentieth century, timber was the main industry.  The rivers and lakes were used to transport logs to mills at Laurieton and Heron's Creek and the Longworth Tramway operated from 1914 – 1929, carrying timber from the Swans Crossing forests to a terminus at Kendall.  It is now open as a Heritage Walking Track.

Historically fishing has also been an important industry for the Camden Haven, however the focus has now shifted to tourism and service industries.

The Camden Haven's climate

The Camden Haven has some of the best weather in Australia.  Warm ocean currents, offshore breezes and a sub-tropical setting mean average summer days of 25°C and nights that rarely fall below 18°C.  Winter days range from 7°C to 17°C

Getting to the Camden Haven

For a map of how to reach the Camden Haven please click here

Road

North from Sydney (3½ hours) and Newcastle (2 hours) on a highway that is almost all dual carriageway. South from Brisbane (7 hours) on the Pacific Highway is the most direct route. East from Armidale and Tamworth (3 - 4 hours) on the picturesque Oxley Highway over the Great Dividing Range to Wauchope and the coast.

Rail

Kendall Station is a drop off and pick up point for XPT train services between Sydney and Murwillumbah/ Brisbane and Sydney and Grafton. The train stops at Kendall three times a day in both directions.

Coach

Greyhound Coaches and Premier Coaches pass through the Camden Haven on their way to and from Brisbane and Sydney daily, stopping at Kew

Air

The Port Macquarie airport is serviced by Qantas Link (to and from Sydney) and Brindabella Airlines (to and from Brisbane, Coffs Harbour and Newcastle).  Taree is serviced by Rex (to and from Sydney).

Boat

The bar at the mouth of the Camden Haven River is one of the safest crossings on the mid north coast, providing easy access for yachts to the numerous mooring facilities available on the Inlet.

Moored - Kendall	Playing - Googleys	Floodtide - Laurieton