Mid North Coast

TAREE is a large market town set on the banks of the Manning River in the scenic Manning Valley. Further inland is the timber town of Wingham with tiny Tinonee nearby, a well preserved pioneering hamlet.  On the coast a bit further north is the rapidly expanding Harrington and close by is pretty Crowdy Head in the Crowdy Bay National Park www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/(Crowdy Bay). The latter is a perfect horseshoe of pale sand makes a great lunch picnic and swimming spot and is well worth the diversion. There is some new residential development en route but the bay itself remains unspoiled.
Returning to the Pacific Highway and continuing north, a short inland diversion to the pioneering timber town of Wauchope with its open air museum is worthwhile. Back to the coast is Port Macquarie, founded as a penal colony is 1821 but now a largish, lively, modern resort town with lots of facilities for visitors.   Continuing north and before getting to the market town of Kempsey, there is a sealed road off the highway to Crescent Head set on a beautiful beach. Further on there are also great beaches at Hat Head and South West Rocks (pictured).  Inland from Macksville is the famous ‘Pub with no beer’ at Taylors Arm whilst nearby is the well preserved village of Bowraville. Do visit the pub there to see the superb pressed tin ceilings and opposite the pub is the local theatre which has been lovingly restored by residents.
Further on there are good beaches near Nambucca Heads and also onwards to pretty Urunga, where the Kalang and Bellinger Rivers converge. Don't be put off by somewhat indifferent development on the highway here but continue down into Urunga itself, a charming, small holiday town with a boardwalk (pictured) out along the river mouth and around the mangroves. The town has a traditional Aussie holiday feel to it with a useful shopping centre and a classic Aussie pub overlooking the foreshore serving well priced bar food.  There are excellent surf beaches close bay at Hungry Head and Wenonah Head.

Coffs Harbour and Nearby 

North of Bellingen and the scenic Bellinger Valley is Coffs Harbour, the largest commercial and holiday centre on the Mid North Coast, with an attractive and busy little airport.
Set in a sensationally pretty position, ‘Coffs’ is hemmed in between the mountains and the sea. Having to cope with the Pacific Highway and the rail line running through it has created problems for the planners resulting in a real pot pourri of light industry, retail outlets, motels and domestic housing. There is a proliferation of accommodation in and around Coffs as well as a number of local operators offering attractions, tours and activities.
South of the town is the sprawling commuter village of Sawtell, again with a wonderfully scenic beach configuration.  There is also an international standard golf course nearby at Bonville.
Immediately north of Coffs Harbour are some pretty bays with excellent beaches, most of which are backed by towns and villages which have rapidly expanded in recent years. These include Moonee Beach, Emerald Beach, Woolgoolga, Mullaway Beach and Coorindi Beach.  One exception to the relentless expansion of the coastal towns near Coffs Harbour is lovely Red Rock (the estuary at Red Rock is pictured).  It has escaped the worst excesses of the developers, mainly because the immediate vicinity is a sacred site to the local Gunawarri tribe.  Red Rock sits at the southern end of the Yuraygir National Park www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/(Yuraygir).