The Perfect Weekend in Evans Head: A 2-Day Itinerary
You don’t need a two-week holiday to feel like you’ve escaped.
Sometimes, all it takes is a couple of days by the coast — somewhere you can wake to the sound of birds, wander down for coffee and spend the afternoon deciding between the beach and the river.
And that’s exactly what we love about Evans Head. There’s plenty to see, eat and explore, but there’s never any pressure to rush.
If you’ve got a free weekend coming up, here’s how we’d spend a beautifully relaxed 48 hours in Evans Head, with a few of our local favourites along the way.
Friday: Arrive, Settle In & Slow Down
Arrive in Evans Head, settle into your Drift + Stay holiday home and resist the temptation to fill your first evening with plans.
Unpack, pop something cold in the fridge and take a moment to appreciate the fact that the weekend has officially started.
If there’s still some daylight left, stretch your legs with one of our favourite local walks. Start near the Evans Head Surf Life Saving Club and follow the river past the training wall before making your way into the town centre at Cribb Reserve. It’s an easy introduction to Evans Head and a lovely way to get your bearings.
When dinner calls, keep things simple. For a relaxed sit-down meal in town, try the Sandbar Restaurant or the Illawong Hotel. If you don’t mind a short drive, head to nearby Woodburn for a pub meal at the Rod N Reel Hotel.
Prefer a quiet first night at your holiday home? Pick up takeaway from Japxican, or grab some classic fish and chips from Chippa in the centre of town.
Saturday Morning: Coffee, Breakfast & the Beach
Start Saturday the way we think all coastal weekends should begin: with good coffee, breakfast and nowhere you need to be afterwards.
Our local pick for breakfast is Tel Aviv, a local favourite for a relaxed sit-down brekky. If you’re after a quick takeaway coffee before hitting the beach, Sunnyboy Cafe is an easy stop.
For breakfast with a view, head to the Sandpit Cafe at the bottom of the surf club, where you can enjoy your morning coffee close to the water.
Travelling with kids? The Shack on the riverfront is another great option. It sits beside the park, making it particularly handy when little ones would rather be playing than sitting at a café table.
Once everyone is fuelled, it’s time for the beach.
Main Beach is always a favourite, but we also love Sharkies when we feel like exploring another part of the coastline. Take a swim if conditions are suitable, walk along the south wall or simply find a spot to sit and watch Evans Head wake up around you.
Saturday Lunch: Keep It Local
After a morning by the water, head back into town for an easy lunch.
If you didn’t make it to Tel Aviv for breakfast, lunch is a good opportunity to see why it’s one of our local favourites.
Alternatively, settle in at the Sandbar Restaurant. With beautiful views, good food and a licensed bar, it’s a lovely spot to linger over lunch with a wine or cocktail while embracing the fact that you’re officially on weekend time.
One of the best parts of visiting a small coastal town is slowing down enough to enjoy the cafés, restaurants and independent businesses that give it its character.
Saturday Afternoon: Take in the View
After lunch, it’s time to see Evans Head from a different perspective.
Make your way up to Razorback Lookout, where you’ll be rewarded with sweeping views across Evans Head, the river, coastline and surrounding landscape.
If the weather is beautiful, pack a few snacks or something sweet and spend some time enjoying the view rather than treating the lookout as a quick photo stop.
Saturday Evening: Stay In & Live Like a Local
After a full day outdoors, Saturday night is a great opportunity to make the most of having your own holiday home.
Stop by Metcalf’s Quality Meats before midday, an absolute favourite among locals and regular holidaymakers. Have a chat with Wade and the team about what’s good for the barbecue, then pick up your remaining supplies from the local IGA or SPAR.
Head home, put something on the barbecue and settle in for an easy evening.
This is one of our favourite things about staying in a holiday home rather than a hotel. Dinner doesn’t always have to mean a reservation. Sometimes comfortable clothes, good food, a cold drink and nowhere else to go is exactly what a coastal weekend calls for.
And if cooking isn’t part of your holiday plans, that’s completely understandable too. Evans Head has plenty of local options for an easy night out.
Sunday Morning: Slow Down by the Evans River
Ease into your second day beside the Evans River.
Take a morning walk, throw in a fishing line or, if you’re feeling more adventurous, get out on the water with a kayak or paddleboard.
For an easy waterfront spot, we love the area around Cribb Reserve. If you’re looking for somewhere a little quieter, try the riverfront behind the RSL near the bridge, where the trees provide plenty of shade and the atmosphere tends to feel a little more tucked away.
Bring a coffee, find a shady spot and watch the river go by.
The river offers a completely different experience from the ocean and is one of the things that makes Evans Head such an easy place to spend a weekend.
Sunday: Walk the Dirrawong & Explore the Headland
Before heading home, save a little time for one of the most beautiful parts of the weekend.
Near Razorback Lookout, at the end of Ocean Drive, you’ll find access to the Dirrawong Reserve walking tracks.
The reserve feels wonderfully secluded considering how close it is to town. Wander through the coastal landscape, take in the ocean views and give yourself time to appreciate just how much natural beauty surrounds Evans Head. It’s the kind of place that makes you want to put your phone away for a while and simply enjoy where you are.
Depending on how much time you have, continue exploring the headland or make your way towards Chinamans Beach for one last dose of the coast before heading home.
Check current track and weather conditions before setting out, bring water and choose a walk that suits your available time and ability.
One Last Stop Before Home
No good weekend away should end in a rush, and definitely not without one final treat.
Before leaving Evans Head, stop at Muzza’s Milk Bar for one of their famous thickshakes, an ice cream or something from their huge selection of lollies.
It’s a suitably nostalgic way to finish a classic coastal weekend.
Then there’s only one thing left to do: Start deciding when you’re coming back.
Make Your Weekend Feel a Little Longer
The beauty of Evans Head is that you don’t need an elaborate itinerary to enjoy it.
A morning swim. Coffee from a local café. A walk beside the river. Lunch with a view. A barbecue at your holiday home. A secluded coastal trail. And perhaps a thickshake for the road.
Sometimes 48 hours really is enough to switch off and reset.
At Drift + Stay, our collection of holiday homes gives you a comfortable home base for experiencing Evans Head at your own pace, whether you’re escaping for a quick weekend, bringing the family or deciding that two nights simply aren’t enough.
And if you feel like adding an extra night? We certainly won’t talk you out of it.
Discover Drift + Stay’s Evans Head holiday homes and start planning your next coastal weekend.