Crescent Head
Crescent Head
Crescent Head is one of the best kept secrets on the northern New South Wales coast. It is a bit of a Mecca for surfers and Kempsey offers Aboriginal cultural experiences and owns the factory that makes Akubra hats. It is a well-respected surfing destination which offers good fishing both from the beach and the rocks. The tiny township is well-protected environmentally with the Goolawah Reserve and Limeburners Creek Nature Reserve edging it to the north and the south. The peacefulness of the town is largely a result of its unusual location. Travellers have to make a conscious decision at Kempsey to depart from the main Pacific Highway and head in a southerly direction. As most travellers are heading north they are unwilling to go backwards down the coast. This circumstance seems designed to ensure that Crescent Head will never be inundated by large numbers of tourists. (more…)

Wauchope

Wauchope
Wauchope is just another country town but for nearby Timbertown, a re-creation of a typical 1880s, well, timber town. Once a convict settlement, Port Macquarie is now the major holiday resort on the coast. There are excellent beaches, resorts, nightlife, golf, fishing and coastal walks. You will need to book ahead in peak periods. Wauchope is surrounded by forest, the pretty little village of WAUCHOPE (pronounced War-hope), 22km west of Port Macquarie, makes an enjoyable contrast to the coast. (more…)

Bulahdelah

Bulahdelah
Bulahdelah has a name that says it must be interesting but water lovers should keep on going. It is, however, an excellent base for bushwalkers wanting to explore the Myall Lakes or State forests. Bulahdelah is situated at about 120 kilometres north of Newcastle on the mid-north coast of NSW. Bulahdelah means “meeting of the watersâ€? in the regions Aboriginal language. Near to the western gateway to the magical Myall Lakes National Park which conserves 10,500 hectares and is one of the state’s largest coastal lake systems. The area is protected by a mix of eucalyptus, palms and littoral rainforest, the lakes attract hordes of boaties, sailors, campers and bushwalkers throughout the year. (more…)

Forster-Tuncurry

Forster-Tuncurry
The twin towns of Forster and Tuncurry lie at the entrance to Wallis Lake, on either side of the Wallamba River. These coastal towns are located 312 km north of Sydney, these town are now nearly one conglomerate urban mass separated by a very large concrete bridge. Forster-Tuncurry is a very typical holiday resort with all the strengths (lots of accommodation, plenty of places to eat takeaway food and local seafood, good fishing, surfing and swimming areas, a casual atmosphere) and weaknesses (it looks as though it was built three weeks ago, there are plenty of three-storey apartment blocks and little intimacy) that such resorts have. (more…)

Bulahdelah

Bulahdelah
Bulahdelah has a name that says it must be interesting but water lovers should keep on going. It is, however, an excellent base for bushwalkers wanting to explore the Myall Lakes or State forests. Bulahdelah is situated at about 120 kilometres north of Newcastle on the mid-north coast of NSW. Bulahdelah means “meeting of the watersâ€? in the regions Aboriginal language. Near to the western gateway to the magical Myall Lakes National Park which conserves 10,500 hectares and is one of the state’s largest coastal lake systems. The area is protected by a mix of eucalyptus, palms and littoral rainforest, the lakes attract hordes of boaties, sailors, campers and bushwalkers throughout the year. (more…)