Gladstone is 13 kilometres north of Kempsey on the South West Rocks Road, heading towards South West Rocks.
Gladstone has antique stores and galleries, cafe, hotel, and other businesses. The sister town of Smithtown is located across the Macleay River and is joined by traffic bridge. Gladstone is on Tourist Drive 12 from South West Rocks to Crescent Head, with beautiful views of the Macleay River and countryside.