 About the area: Hemmed in by majestic mountains forged from ancient volcanoes on one side, and the Pacific Ocean on the other, the long but relatively narrow coastal strip between the port city of Newcastle north of Sydney and the Gold Coast in South East Queensland has rightly been called the Holiday Coast. For those who want to laze around and unwind under the summer sun. this is the perfect destination. The further north one travels, the more tropical everthing becomes.
The North Coast of NSW has a seemingly endless ribbon of beaches - some busy with holidaymakers, other without another soul in sight - offering surfing, whale-watching, frolicking dolphins and flocks of seabirds. In between the beaches are lakes and chains of ocean lagoons that are ideal for fishing and boating, and coastal hills and mountains with headlands offering panoramic views up and down the coast.
Up in the Great Dividing Range behind the coastal plains there are more than 50 national parks, from Mt. Warning in the north (where the sun first hits the Australian mainland each day) to wildlife-rich Barrington Tops in the south. Walking tracks lead through rainforests to mountain-top lookouts, and to waterfalls fed by crystal clear streams.
Nambucca Heads
Mid North Coast Beaches: this popular holiday region stretches from Port Stephens in the south to Coffs Harbour in the north. Within its boundaries are the coastal resort towns of Nelson Bay (Port Stephens), the twin towns of Forster-Tuncurry, Port Macquarie, South West Rocks, Nambucca Heads and Coffs Harbour. The Northern Rivers (Tweed, Manning, Nambucca, Clarence, Richmond and Macleay) and the Great Lakes are all close at hand, as are some of the state's finest mountainous national parks.
Cape Byron lighthouse, Byron Bay
Byron Bay: With its numerous beaches, unspoilt hinterland and relaxed alternative lifestyle, Byron Bay is home to people from all social levels as well a world class holiday resort, known as much for its alternative lifestyle as its idyllic geographic location. It has a friendly village atmosphere, with over 100 different eateries which suite every taste and budget and reflect the laid back Byron lifestyle. Byron is Australia's most easterly town. As a locality, Byron is famous for its trademark lighthouse as well as its pristine beaches and lush rainforests. The lighthouse is on Cape Byron, Australia's most easterly point.
Volcano Country: The Northern Rivers and Gold Coast Hinterland region of Australia is referred to by vulcanologists as the Tweed Volcano Group. It is a reference to the now extinct volcano and associated inland landscape complex around the NSW/Qld state border. The huge size of the Tweed Valley, the caldera of the Mt Warning shield volcano, gives us an inkling of what a monster it was. The volcano's lava and ash spread covered an area from Byron Bay in the southeast, and Lismore in the southwest, to Mount Tamborine to the north in Qld. The volcano created the magnificent, varied landscape we see today, from towering mountains covered in sub-tropical rainforest, to the gently sloping valleys of the Northern Rivers region.
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Evans Head
Far North Coast Beaches: Closer to Brisbane - the capital of Queensland - that to Sydney, the far north coast is sub tropical, with great weather, coastal and hinterland scenery, beaches, towns and a lifestyle to match. The big drawcards are the beaches, but the fertile hinterlands are very scenic, with many beautiful State and National Parks, and are well worth exploring. Coastal towns of the region include Yamba, Evans Head, Ballina, Brunswick Heads, Lennox Head, Byron Bay and Tweed Heads. Inland towns include Grafton, Maclean, Casino, Lismore and Muwillumbah.
Clarence Valley: the Clarence Valley, at the southern end of the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, is a place of great physical beauty. Over 400kms from source to sea, the Clarence River is one of Australia's largest waterways. It winds through deep ravines and broad plains, ancient forests, lush farmland, sleepy villages and 100 chartered islands, and provides a living link between the rugged highlands of the upper Clarence and the golden beaches that fringe the Pacific. Grafton and Maclean are the major inland settlements, Yamba is the coastal resort town on the mouth of the river. and extraordinary cultural diversity - where teeming marine parks, ancient rainforests and thriving rural communities are nourished by vast winding rivers - the rivers of life.
Barrington Tops: The World Heritage Listed Barrington Tops is a plateau sandwiched between two large peaks in the Mount Royal Range. Fed by mists, melting snow and an annual rainfall exceeding fifteen hundred millimetres, wild rivers flow through ancient beech forests and over waterfalls into fern-lined gorges on their way to the sea. In springtime, its alpine meadows are ablaze with wildflowers. Two-Thirds of the area is declared wilderness; an excellent track network extends from short, easy walks to steep overnight treks, making it accessible to those with limited mobility.
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The Waterfall Way: It is only a short drive inland from Coffs Harbour or Nambucca Heads to lush mountainous rainforests on The Waterfall Way. Here you can visit one or more national parks, nature reserve, flora reserves or state forests. In among these are some excellent walking trails for all levels of fitness. One at the inland town of Dorrigo leads to a skywalk high in the rainforest canopy, not to menton the many waterfalls that have given this tourist drive its name.
The Great Lakes: stretching from Hawks Nest in the south to Forster and Tuncurry in the north and encompassing Wallis, Smiths & Myall Lakes, the Great Lakes are one of the state's largest coastal lake systems. Kayaks are a popular way to explore the lakes, however there are many long and short distance walking paths around the lakes and along the coast. Surfers, divers and fishermen are assured of some 'great spots'. Myall Lakes one of the most visited National Parks in NSW. The Wallis Lake estuary is a complex system of lakes, rivers and interconnecting channels which separate Tuncurry and Forster, coastal towns located north and south of Forster Inlet, respectively.
Port Macquarie: Situated midway between Sydney and Brisbane, Port Macquarie has developed into a desirable retirement location as well as an equally popular tourist destination. Located on the south bank of the entrance of the Hastings River, it boasts extensive pristine beaches and untouched waterways. As well as being blessed with a coastline of beautiful beaches, port Macquarie also has the Hastings River, which broadens the choice of water-based leisure activities considerably.
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| Visiting The Region: The Facts |
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How to Get There: by road north from Sydney via Pacific Highway.
By rail from Sydney via Central Coast rail line.
Climate: The climate of the north coast region of New South Wales, particularly along the coast, is genwral mild to warm, making it a year round destination. Winters can be somewhat cool in places, however, particularly when the south west winds blow off the snow capped Great Dividing Range. A general rule of thumb is that the further north you go, the more sub-tropical the weather will be.
Temperatures in the mountainous areas of the hinterland are generally somewhat cooler and wetter than nearby coastal areas and river valleys. The climate varies from temperate on the lower altitudes to subalpine at highest elevations. remember that wherever there are rainforests these is plenty of rain. It sounds like common sense, but most people forget this.
Remember too that more rain means more water in the streams and rivers to flow over the waterfalls, which isn't a bad thing.
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Regional Centres
Towns and Villages
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