This NSW beach town looks like the Philippines and you can stay there from $2 a night
Who needs the Philippines? This Aussie beach town has balmy water, squeaky sand and Jurassic Park-esque scenery, with accommodation starting from $2 a night.
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We all want to be living our best life in the Philippines. Lounging on all the sun loungers. Diving all the wrecks. Selfie-ing all the tarsiers. Mopping up all the flight deals. Demurely swatting our way through all the jungle. Surfing all the perfect waves.
There's a reason it's been heralded as the new Bali, after all.
However, as cheap as the budget carriers of the world make their voyages, we can't always afford to swan off to south-east Asia at the drop of a hat.
Speaking of hats... what if I told you there was a town in Australia that has Philippines aura? A place you don't have to splurge $1000 on flights to get to? A place where you can find accommodation for $2 per night?
Where is this pleasure dome? Hat Head. A town on the NSW mid north coast about 5 hours drive north of Sydney with a caravan park and a couple of campsites. If you're after a cheap, Philippines-feeling escape this summer it's a vibe.
If you stay at Hungry Gate campground (a basic campsite of 20 sites, where you will need to bring your own tent or trailer) to the south of Hat Head, a short walk from Killick Beach, you can book accommodation from $12 per night for a site. Given each site has a capacity of 6 people, that's $2 each per night if you bring six people.
See also: Aussies rave about secret beach that 'feels like Fiji'
Hat Head Holiday Park is another option. Closer to Hat Head's famous estuary, here you can book a site for a tent from $40 a night or a cabin from $140 a night.
Then there are a bunch of beach houses, which range from $200 a night to $2,000 a night.
See also: Sorry Byron, this chill Aussie town is way better
Social media users are falling hard for Hat Head's broad brim, with some likening it to the Philippines. Instagram user Lucy Ivers (@the_secret_o_life) said of the place: "We stayed here an extra night. Obviously. You should visit this place. Bring your snorkel."
Underneath her post, another traveller, @thetravelquandry wrote: "What the hell?! This place looks like the Philippines!!"
Others claimed Hat Head has the clearest water in NSW. Though Hyams Beach on the NSW South Coast might have something to say about that, Hat Head's shimmering water (when an outgoing tide doesn't turn it a tea-tree stained brown) is a sight to behold.
See also: This secret Aussie beachtown is the new Byron Bay
Though numbers swell during holidays and long weekends, Hat Head is normally very quiet, with the 2021 census putting its population at 365 people (to put that in perspective, Crescent Head, Hat Head's big brother, is home to some 1,633 people).
Other Hat Head attractions include hiking, visiting the lighthouse and - at certain times of year - whale watching. VisitNSW says it's a great place to get back to nature, as one of its biggest selling points is its 12km of uninterrupted beachfront and the crystal clear Korogoro Creek.
There are not many shops, though there is a general store and a bowling club bistro with mixed reviews (some have said it has the best chicken schnitzel ever, others have complained of "disastrous" meals). If you're after something more substantial head to Gladstone or Crescent Head.
See also: I got accosted by an army of nudists in Port Stephens, and lived to tell the tale
Hat Head Holiday park allows dogs during mid and low season, and part of the beach is dog friendly. Dogs are not allowed in the National Park, however.
See also: Eight essential items for car camping in style
The rise in popularity of places like Hat Head is part of a growing back-to-nature trend among NSW travellers.
Visitors are increasingly seeking interactive experiences that allow them to connect with the local culture and natural landscapes of NSW, and Hat Head is a reflection of that, a Destination NSW spokesperson told Escape.
"Nature-based activities are fast becoming a key drawcard, offering unique ways to explore the diverse environments NSW has to offer."
See also: Best secret swimming holes near Sydney to cool off this summer
“One of NSW’s standout destinations on the mid North Coast is Hat Head Holiday Park, just over an hour’s drive from Port Macquarie and overlooking 12 kilometres of uninterrupted beach."
Though there are no rice terraces, volcanic atolls or crumbling Spanish relics a la the Philippines, it's not bad at all for NSW. The tropical island vibes are real, and it's the perfect place to disconnect and get back to basics.
Now all you need to do is brush up on your camping skills, and you'll be good to go. Island life could be closer than you think. Now go: you can tip your hat to us later.
Originally published as This NSW beach town looks like the Philippines and you can stay there from $2 a night
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