The harbour is located where the Camden Haven River empties into the Tasman Sea.

Laurieton, located on the harbour's western shore, is the largest town and the commercial centre for the Camden Haven district.

Lakewood is a new residential area west of Laurieton, while further inland are the villages of Kew on the Pacific Highway and Kendall on the North Coast railway line.

The district consists of fertile, well-watered valleys punctuated by several large ingenious mountain formations (once thought to be volcanoes), notably the Three Brothers.

The region's economy is based on tourism, fisheries, forestry and oyster farming.