North Coast New South Wales Travel

The North Coast of the Australian state of New South Wales stretches for some x km along the Pacific Ocean shoreline from Port Stephens (north of Newcastle) in the south to Coffs Harbour in the north and inland to Dorrigo and neighbouring towns.

It is bordered by the Hunter Valley region to the south, by the Northern Rivers region to the north and New England to the west.

Coffs Harbour is a town on the north coast of the Australian state of New South Wales, approximately two thirds of the way from Sydney to Brisbane. Coffs is largely a family destination, but also attracts some backpackers travelling between Sydney and Brisbane.

Byron Bay is a coastal town on the far North Coast of the Australian state of New South Wales, located just off the Pacific Highway, approximately 800 km north of Sydney and 175 km south of Brisbane. Nearby Cape Byron is the easternmost point on the Australian mainland.

Byron Bay is famed worldwide for its surfing beaches, scuba diving, whale watching, rural beauty and a laid back lifestyle. Byron Bay and its surrounding area have a population of about 30,000, the area mainly deriving its income from tourism (1.7 million+ visitors per annum) and farming. A new focus are the many thriving home-based businesses focus on alternative, cultural and knowledge industries, with a growing population of artists, writers and filmmakers.

Things to See at the North Coast

• Pet Porpoise Pool -  Visitors to the pet porpoise pool can touch and interact with dolphins and seals; if you book in advance you may be able to swim with them.
• The Big Banana, Pacific Highway, north of Coffs Harbour, . Australia's original "Big Thing", over 40 years old, marking the approximate half way point between Sydney and Brisbane - includes fun rides, ice skating, a real snow slope, recreational activities, a variety of food experiences and retail outlets.
• Shearwater nesting on Muttonbird Island. Muttonbird Island is a penisula extending out from the marina area. It is completely treeless, but is a nesting site for the migratory birds call wedge-tailed shearwaters, or muttonbirds. .
• Scuba dive in the Solitary Islands marine park off the coast of Coffs.
• Go on a dolphin or whale watching cruise. Whale season is June to November each year, and dolphins are seen in the area year round.
• Explore the 'Rainbow Region' - rural towns and sleepy villages, set in lush and particularly scenic countryside. The area is famed as a haven for alternative culture. Nimbin and the Channon are the favourite towns to visit in this region. There is a popular market in the Channon once a month.

• Mid North Coast Martime Museum, is run by a dedicated group of volunteers, and has a small collection of artifacts, documents & displays showcasing Port Macquarie's maritime history.

• Port Macquarie Historic Grave Yard, This grave site was the major burial ground for early settlers. It is quite shaded by Lilli Pilli trees and is a pleasant place to wander around for an hour or so.

• See Acres Rainforest Centre Located at Shelly Beach, this National Park is home to a native fly fox colony, scrub turkeys, wallabies, kangaroos etc. The rainforest is criss-crossed with several Km's of elevated boradwalks, and forest floor trails, and rangers often give guided tours.

• Town Green Central Port Macquarie's showpiece. A large park located right on the river in the CBD.

• Whalewatching Whales migrate past Port Macquarie during early winter and summer, and there a lots of headlands which overlook the sea to spot them from. The Lighthouse, which is located at the end of Lighthouse Road in the south, is an excellent place to spot them (and generally a great place to see views down the southern coast to Laurieton).