North Coast NSW

Where your holiday adventure takes you from the ranges to the beaches, providing everything you could want from a classic summer holiday all year around. Stretching from Port Stephens to Coffs Harbour and inland to Dorrigo, North Coast NSW offers a unique taste of New South Wales. Whether you head to one of the popular coastal meccas, such as Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour and Port Stephens, or explore one of the region's stunning national parks - you are bound to find a perfect holiday escape. For sheer beauty it is difficult to surpass the golden beaches which dot the coastline. Shoal Bay, Forster, Old Bar, Harrington, Laurieton, Crescent Head, South West Rocks and Nambucca Heads are some of the best known, but there are many more remote coves and inlets scattered along the coast. The choice is simply dazzling. Enjoy spectacular coastal walks or join an off-road adventure over towering sand dunes to Stockton Beach, or follow the dolphins to Port Stephens and its famous Pearl White Beaches.

The North Coast NSW offers accommodation types to suit all styles and tastes.

Coffs Harbour

Most famous for the giant man-made banana at the northern end of town, Coffs Harbour is one of the largest regional cities in New South Wales. Sprawling for miles up and down the coast, the area's many beaches make for perfect holidaying territory ­ with surfing, fishing and sand-side picnics and barbecues amongst the favourite pastimes of visitors and locals alike. The banana plantations that fill the hills around the area make the landscape richly green and unusual. The town centre is great for city-standard shopping and is home to many recreational clubs and nightspots.

Port Macquarie

With the mouth of the wide, lazy Hastings River on one side and the sparkling blue Pacific Ocean on the other, Port Macquarie is a water lover's paradise where surfing, water skiing, sailing, deep-sea fishing, dolphin and whale watching, scuba diving and great fishing are all available. Away from the beach, there are plenty of activities for all interests and ages. Action and adventure in a high speed boat, 4WD tours, scenic river cruises and family attractions, or explore the galleries, arts and crafts centres and museums. Combine this with great shopping, good food and wine and for your ideal holiday or short break, you have just what you need. To ensure a great stay, take a stroll along the riverside break-wall, watch the pelicans drift by and chat to the anglers; pack a picnic or grab some local fish and chips and find yourself a shady spot beside the river; climb up to historic Tacking Point Lighthouse and sip champagne at sunset.

Port Stephens

Port Stephens is an idyllic coastal Paradise where the emphasis is on pleasure. From the fabulous scenery typified by volcanic peaks along the coastline to crystal clear bays fringed by golden sand, Port Stephens offers the latest in modern comforts & a wealth of attractions to keep you occupied during your stay whether you're here for a day or a month. Cruise out onto the Bay to enjoy a Dolphin Watch with the resident bottlenose dolphins, or even go Whale Watching (in season). Hire a Jet Ski or learn to Scuba Dive. Take in a little history enjoying morning tea at the Inner Lighthouse, fly down hill on the fabulous toboggan run, quad biking on the sand dunes, or even down Giant 40 metre Sand Dunes on a sand board, then just sit back & relax enjoying fresh local seafood at one of our waterfront restaurants.

South Kempsey

South Kempsey is where the Kempsey Visitor Information Centre is based, in South Kempsey Park. The park also has a local history museum, barbeques, a picnic area, amenities block and playground equipment.

Taree

It's the combination of beaches, river, national parks, hinterland and the close proximity to major city hubs such as Newcastle and Sydney that makes the Manning Valley the ultimate getaway. Taree and its surrounding Manning Valley is a river and rainforest coast located just over a three hour drive north of Sydney on the New South Wales Mid North Coast. The Manning Valley offers a breathtaking combination of rivers, mountains, forests and beaches, taking in more than 26 seaside and hinterland towns and villages that are a haven for nature activities such as fishing, boating, bushwalking and surfing or just pure indulgent relaxation. Major towns include Taree, Wingham, Old Bar Beach, Manning Point, Harrington and Hallidays Point. One hour's drive north-west of Taree is Ellenborough Falls which, at 200 metres, is one of the longest single drop waterfalls in the southern hemisphere. Wingham Brush is a rare sub-tropical floodplain rainforest remnant in the heart of the heritage town of Wingham.

Tea Gardens

Tea Gardens/Hawks Nest is situated in the southern end of the Great Lakes area, it is approximately 2.5 hours drive north of Sydney, off the Pacific Highway The twin towns of Tea Gardens/Hawks Nest are separated by the Myall River that feeds the majestic Myall Lakes system. The towns are connected by the "Singing" bridge, aptly named from the sound of the wind as it passes through the rails. The area is a haven for the nature lover with fishing, bushwalking, camping and dolphin watching all popular pursuits. House boating on the Myall Lakes is a relaxing and scenic way to pass your time away; there are plenty of secluded areas in this vast expanse of water so you can always find your own little piece of paradise.