See The Clarence Region – Visit North Coast NSW

Wooli

wpadmin — Fri, 27 Nov 2015 05:20:49 +0000

Wooli is a beautiful seaside village located on a narrow peninsula with the pristine Wooli Wooli River on one side and the Pacific Ocean to the other. Being surrounded by Yuraygir National Park and the marine environment protected by a marine park makes Wooli the perfect place for anyone wanting to explore nature and the underwater beauty by deep sea diving or snorkelling.

Ulmarra

wpadmin — Fri, 27 Nov 2015 04:56:35 +0000

Ulmarra’s past as a busy 19th century riverport is easily imagined as many significant buildings from the era have been retained and renovated. With the highways replacing the river trade in the 20th century, the historic buildings were also bypassed for radical redevelopment, and now heritage tourism is an important part of the town’s economy.

In keeping with the colonial elegance of the buildings, the emphasis is on antiques and arts and crafts and tearooms, and the historic hotel is also adjacent a park with picnic and BBQ facilities. The pioneer cemetery is also fascinating, and a vehicular ferry ride goes from Ulmarra to Southgate.

INFORMATION

Population – 593
Transport Services – Bus
Council – Pristine Waters Shire

Nymboida

wpadmin — Fri, 27 Nov 2015 04:53:21 +0000

If you’ve ever fancied your canoeing or white-water rafting skills, Nymboida is the place to put them to the test. The waters pumped by the hydro-electric power station from the Nymboida River into the Goolang Creek creates one of Australia’s most exciting canoe coursees. The site of many state, national and international competitions, spectators can see how it’s done seriously, and can camp or rent modern cabins in the adjacent grounds. Novice canoeists will enjoy the learner’s pond, and the creek has rapids up to and including Grade III standard for serious splashers. Other outdoor alternatives include bushwalks, abseiling, trail rides and platypus viewing.

The Nymboida area was opened up in the 1830’s by Richard Craig, who blazed a trail between Armidale and the Clarence district, and today the four-star Nymboida Coaching Inn maintains the charm (with updated facilities!) from when it served as a staging post for the Cobb and Co era.

INFORMATION

Population -317
Transport Services – Bus
Council – Pristine Waters Shire

Glenreagh

wpadmin — Fri, 27 Nov 2015 04:48:02 +0000

“Glen Reigh” station was settled in 1858 as a sheep and cattle run, but it was the discovery of gold in 1881in the nearby Tallawudjah Creek which brought enough people to the area to have Glenreagh gazetted as a village in 1883. Rural settlers moved in after the miners left and the dairying industry was the major industry. A museum built on to the historic School of Arts features relics of the goldmining days, the timber industry and other historic items.

Today the town has a range of services including a hotel, service station, public swimming pool, tennis courts and a riverside park.

INFORMATION

Population – 276
Transport Services – Bus
Council – Pristine Waters Shire

Yamba

wpadmin — Fri, 27 Nov 2015 04:40:19 +0000

With a little lighthouse, a big river, a marina, a fishing fleet, great beaches with Norfolk pines and some groovy restaurants and cafes, Yamba somehow combines just about everything people enjoy in coastal towns. To top it all off, the CSIRO and Stanford University described the area has have the ‘world’s best climate’, an enviable combination of sunny summers and mild winters which the locals love and visitors enjoy.

Fish are what Yamba is often about, starting with the fishing industry which goes back to the early days of settlement and still plays a major role in the town. The view of the fleet setting out down the river and across the bar at sunset is best enjoyed from Lighthouse hill, and at night the lights of the fleet can often be seen twinkling on the horizon. Amateur anglers also enjoy the range of opportunities Yamba offers, with rock, beach, estuary or deep sea fishing spots. Boats can be hired or chartered and houseboats and cruisers are another holiday possibility. Even just a ferry trip across the Clarence to Iluka is a great way of enjoying the water, sightseeing, and discovering new fishing spots. Seafood fanciers will also enjoy the oysters farmed in this prime setting.

With new housing, accommodation and retail developments making the most of this scenic spot, Yamba looks poised to move into a more sophisticated future, with tourism playing an important role alongside the traditional industries. An emphasis on good regional cuisine, particularly seafood, has seen several local restaurants develop regional followings.

INFORMATION

Population – 5000
Transport Services – Bus
Council – Maclean Shire Council

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Woombah

wpadmin — Fri, 27 Nov 2015 04:31:58 +0000

If you’re feeling in need of a coffee whilst in the Maclean region, take a 4km detour from the Pacific Highway to Woombah and you can taste coffee grown on the world’s southern-most coffee plantation, which offers regular tours. Woombah Coffee, established in 1982, led to the growth of the coffee industry on the north coast.

The pretty village of Woombah includes caravan parks in bushland and river settings and the Clarence River is popular for fishing holidays. The area includes a number of artist’s studio galleries.

INFORMATION

Population – 300
Transport services – Bus
Council – Maclean Shire

Maclean

wpadmin — Fri, 27 Nov 2015 04:24:28 +0000

The tartan connection is hard to miss in Maclean (“The Scottish Town in Australia”) with many street signs carrying a Gaelic translation and promotion of its heritage through the annual Easter Highland gathering. Australia’s oldest Free Presbyterian Church still carries on the services to the descendents of the early settlers, and there is a large Scottish cairn constructed from rocks from around Australia and Scotland in the Herb Stanford Memorial Park, overlooking the river in Taloumbi Street.

But the more tropical crop of sugar cane is another important part of Maclean’s heritage and economy, being the southern gateway to the industry which grows as far north as Cairns. The broad Clarence river also maintains the prawn trawling fleet which works from the river mouth to the Ulmarra ferry, with fish netted over the 90km tidal length of the river. Amateur anglers also enjoy the many river stretches to chose from ,a nd boats can be launched near the Police Station and at the Harwood Bridge. Houseboats are a great way to enjoy the river and take in the scenery, and there is also a wide range of other types of accommodation, from caravan parks to motels, hotels and upmarket bed and breakfast establishments in this historic riverside town. Being close to national parks, beaches and Grafton, Maclean is a good holiday base.

The tourist information centre at the southern turn-off to Maclean showcases the entire area and includes a restaurant and a gallery of arts and crafts.

INFORMATION

Population – 3157
Transport Services – Bus
Council – Maclean Shire Council

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Iluka

wpadmin — Fri, 27 Nov 2015 04:20:27 +0000

Just a scenic ferry-ride across the Clarence from Yamba, or a short drive off the highway,Iluka is quieter and more laid-back than its trendier cousin. With a winning combination of superb fishing locations, uncrowded beaches and one of Australia’s rarest, but most accessible rainforest remnants, Iluka draws residents and visitors wanting relaxed, outdoors and nature-based living.

The World Heritage-listed Iluka Nature Reserve contains the largest remnant of littoral rainforest in NSW, and supports a rich vegetation and abundant bird and animal life. Conservationists, bird-watchers and anyone who wants to experience the coast as it was just over a century ago should not miss this experience. Additionally, the Bundjalung National Park, which commemorates the Aboriginal tribe who occupied this area, stretches from the northern edge of Iluka to Evans Head.

There is a wide range of holiday accommodation, with excellent camping and caravanning facilities plus cabins also available, and the town centre has a good range of facilities for locals and visitors. Tennis courts and playing fields are available to enthusiasts, and golfers enjoy all-weather play thanks to the well-drained sand-based fairways, even if natural hazards include emus and wallabies!

There are many beautiful picnic areas, including Shark Bay, Frazers Reef, Iluka Bluff and Back Beach, and the Woody Head National Park camping area is popular for its great facilities and superb location.

The ferry trip to and from Yamba also is just one sight-seeing option, with river cruises also available. The local hotel overlooks Iluka Bay and the boatharbour.

INFORMATION

Population – 1900
Transport Services – Bus
Council – Maclean Shire Council

Booking.com

Brooms Head

wpadmin — Thu, 26 Nov 2015 07:11:03 +0000

“The Broom” is a great spot for anyone who would like to enjoy the beach close to the way the whole coastline was just a century ago. Because Brooms Head village is surrounded by the Yuraygir National Park, there are often sightings of wallabies and emus as well as smaller native birds and animals.

Norfolk Island pines, which mark so many beaches large and small, also line the main beach at Broom’s, with plenty of space and shade for picnics. A large lagoon is ideal for children, along with fascinating rockpools and crevices.

Fishermen love both Broom’s and the nearby Sandon River, and boats can also be launched from both locations. Lake Cakora provides another playground for water enthusiasts.

Camping areas are available in the national park by Lake Arragan and at the Sandon, and a well-known coastal walk follows the beaches to Shelley Beach and Mara Creek. The caravan park has 1.5km of absolute beach frontage.

INFORMATION

Population – 200
Transport Services – Bus
(Rail and air connections)
Council – Maclean Council

Angourie

wpadmin — Thu, 26 Nov 2015 06:55:21 +0000

Way back in the seventies when the surf at Byron Bay was just starting to feel a little bit overcrowded to those who’d been accustomed to lots of space, surfing legend and former world champion Nat Young decided that it was time to look for a new slice of paradise. He found it at Angourie, just south of Yamba.

Then just a fantastic surfing location with a holiday cottage or three, it is now a delightfully small-scale village complete with holiday accommodation, a general store and even a restaurant. Although Mr Young’s involvement and investment has recently ceased, the area thrives on the great surf and spectacular ocean views from many houses.

On the northern tip of the Yuragir National Park, Angourie is surrounded by stunning beaches, picnic areas and walking tracks. The famous “Blue Pool” located in a bush setting right near the beach was originally a rock quarry which filled with fresh water when an underground spring was disturbed. It has long been a popular swimming hole, but is sometimes closed to swimming due to algae growth, so check the notices first. The beaches are superb, anyway!

INFORMATION

Population – 300
Transport services – Bus
Council – Maclean Shire