Riverside Park

Right on the Macleay River, this is one of those parks where you can actually make a full day of it without feeling cramped. Pack the esky, fire up the BBQ, and claim one of the shaded picnic tables — there’s enough room that you won’t be elbow-to-elbow with strangers. The open grass field gives kids (and dogs, let’s be honest) space to run, and the shade trees do a decent job of keeping things bearable in the warmer months. Parking is easy, toilets are on-site, and the riverside setting makes it genuinely one of the better spots in Kempsey for a family get-together.