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Local
Excursions
The following listing is far from exhaustive. Nevertheless it should
amply demonstrate the wonderful scope for scenic drives, picnics,
bushwalking and tourist activities around Sylvan Grove Naturist Bed and
Breakfast in the Nambucca Valley of NSW Australia.
Important note
All road directions given below assume that you commenced your excursion
from Nambucca Heads. Make appropriate adjustments if you are setting out
from somewhere else.
Picnics
and excursions
Outstanding scenic drive on the Darkwood road to Upper Thora
(about 20 km) - Take Dorrigo road out of Bellingen then turn left onto
Darkwood Road at Thora just before the Thora Store
Secluded Snapper Beach for swimming
& picnics near Urunga - Turn right off highway onto bush track about
1 km before the turnoff to Hungry Head
Lovely picnic spot with tables (some
with roof) and barbeques beside river at Stuarts Point. Travel south
along the highway from Macksville for perhaps 8 kilometres or so then
turn left at the signpost to Stuarts Point (close to the signpost for
Eungai Rail). Follow road all the way to Stuarts Point, then continue
through a passageway as if you were going into the caravan park. Park in
area just before the boom gate into the caravan park.Picnic spot is
beside the pedestrian bridge which crosses the river. Lots of scope for
walks along the river or cross over the bridge to follow a short track
out to the ocean and surfing beach.
Picnic in forest at "The Pines
Picnic Area" in Yarahappini National Park - Travel south on highway
through Macksville then turn left to Mount Yarrahappini near the hamlet
of Warrell Creek
Have a barbeque breakfast at Hungry
Head. There's a lovely grassy picnic spot with barbeques and picnic
tables at the top of the hill overlooking the ocean just as you enter
the beach reserve. Turn right off the Pacific Highway towards Hungry
Head about three kilometres before Urunga. Follow road until it makes a
90 degree left turn but go straight ahead instead of taking the turn.
Picnic area is on left opposite the Caretaker's cottage.
Coffs Harbour Botanic Gardens for a
very pleasant stroll down shady tracks and along a picturesque creek.
Well maintained and nice place for a picnic. Afternoon tea or lunches
available from kiosk and tearooms. Travel east along High Street Coffs
Harbour and look for signpost on your left close to the TAFE college
Visit Bakers Creek Station for horse
riding in rainforest, canoeing and lakeside picnic facilities - Located
at Greenhills Road, Taylors Arm.
Take dinghy for scenic cruise along
Nambucca River to Macksville then tie up at timber jetty on the left
hand bank, just before Macksville Bridge. Enjoy a simple counter lunch
with river views from the verandah of the Star Hotel situated just
across the road from the jetty.
Coffs Harbour Charter Boat Services
for deep sea fishing excursions on the "Laura E". Phone for
bookings on (02) 6651 1434
Visit Mount Yarahappini Lookout, the
highest point in the Nambucca Valley - Travel south on highway through
Macksville then turn left to Mount Yarrahappini near the hamlet of
Warrell Creek
Butterfly Farm on left side of
Pacific Highway about 700 metres before turnoff to Sawtell
Raleigh International Raceway for
go-cart hire and racing. Turn left off Pacific Highway at signpost about
1 km north of the Raleigh Bridge.
Nice picnic spot beside river in
Welsh Park at Talarm - Take Taylors Arm Road from Macksville then look
for turnoff to Talarm
Good picnic area and surf beach at
Grassy Head - Travel south through Macksville, then take Scotts Head
turnoff, followed by turnoff to Grassy Head and Stuarts Point on Grassy
Point Road. Look on left side for lane to Grassy Head Caravan Park,
picnic area and beach
Lido swimming area & picnic area
at Urunga - Turn right from Pacific Highway at Urunga, decend into town
proper. Find park and Lido area opposite hotel and facing the river
Picnic area & Country Club
beside sea at Crecent Head - Turn left to Crescent Head about one
kilometre south of the Kempsey Bridge
Picnic area and swimming beach near
Caravan Park in Woolgoolga - Turn left from retail area in main street
of Woolgoolga and follow this road to conclusion at lagoon and picnic
area
Picnic spots and swimming holes
along river in the Promised Land area - Take road to Glennifer from main
street of Bellingen, travel 8 -10 km to Glennifer, pass cute little
church, continue over bridge for 500 metres then turn right onto a loop
road which does the Promised Land circuit.
Picnic beside creek near Glenifer
crossroads - Take road to Glennifer from main street of Bellingen,
travel 8 -10 km to Glennifer, pass cute little church, continue over
bridge for 30 metres then turn right into a lovely small picnic reserve
beside the creek
Heaps of trails in Pine Creek State
Forest just south of Bonville - Turn right off the highway at Bonville
then follow your nose or use a Lands Dept map to explore the various
trails
Take North Arm Road from Raleigh
Bridge for an attractive alternate route to Bellingen. Follow highway
over Raleigh bridge at Raleigh, continue on for 200 metres then turn
left to Bellingen on North Arm Road
Visit "Georges Gold Mine"
in Orara National Park for very interesting guided tour and spectactular
scenery - Take road to Coramba from centre of Coffs Harbour, continue
past Coramba for about 700 metres and turn left at signs to Dorrigo,
Ulong and George's Gold Mine. Follow signs thereafter for the 22 km
journey to George's property
Take South Arm Road from Bellingen
to Urunga for a little known alternate route home from Bellingen - Turn
left off main street of Bellingen, head up the hill and then pick up
sign posts for South Arm Road
Lovely picnic spot at Cedar Park in
State Forest west of Eungai Rail - Drive south on highway through
Macksville for maybe 8 km then right hand turnoff at sign to Eungai
Rail. Now use local map to travel west on dirt roads to Cedar Park
Reserve (about 25 minutes from Eungai Rail)
Visit Ebor Trout Hatchery at Ebor
for movie and guided tour of hatchery - Take Armidale road from Dorrigo
for about 35 km, past Ebor village then turn right at signpost for Ebor
Trout Hatchery
Spectacular panoramic views from
Point Lookout near Ebor Trout Hatchery Take Armidale road from Dorrigo
for about 35 km, past Ebor village then turn right at signpost for Ebor
Trout Hatchery. Continue on past hatchery for another 15 minutes to
reach outstanding lookout over valleys and mountains
Visit Steam Railway Museum at
Dorrigo - Travel to Dorrigo then obtain directions from local residents
or Tourist Information Office
Many swimming and picnic spots along
Warrell Creek, reached by boat only - Head south across river mouth from
Nambucca Heads, then enter Warrell Creek for exploration voyage (only
practical at high tide)
10km walk on Wild Cattle Creek Trail
- commences at the end of Slingsby's Road, reached from Dorrigo - Travel
to Dorrigo then seek directions from local residents. Really excellent,
well marked, easy walk
Long drive to Tamworth, then home
via Dunrowan, Nowendoc, Elands and Wauchope (1-2 days and beautiful
scenery along really remote but decent dirt roads) - Drive through
Dorrigo and on to New England Highway at Armidale. Head south to
Tamworth, then turn left to Nowendoc when about 16 km south of Tamworth.
Pass through afore mentioned hamlets before joining Pacific Highway near
Wauchope and Port Macquarie
Picnic area on hilltop near Bilby's
Beach - Follow Liston Street towards Main Beach and take last street on
the right. Drive another 100 - 200 metres then turn sharply left into
picnic reserve on top of hill overlooking beaches
Lunch from Albatross Kiosk, then
Vee-wall picnic reserve - Lovely walk to end of Wellington Drive and out
to Wellington Point. Lunch available from kiosk in Vee Wall Tavern
Visit "Yellow Shed" craft
shop at Bellingen - Take main road to Bellingen and look for large
yellow shed on left after the park at the approaches to Bellingen
shopping centre
Visit Southern Cross Pottery 14
Cabra Close, Boambee
Visit "The Olde Butter
Factory" at Bellingen for selection of craft shops, cafe and
riverside picnic reserve at Bellingen - Take the main Bellingen road
from Pacific Highway then look for sign on right about one kilometre
before Bellingen proper
Visit superior art gallery on top
floor of Hammond & Wheatley Building in Bellingen - Hammond &
Wheatley building is about halfway along the main street of Bellingen
and next to the Carriageway Cafe
Picnic at Dorigo National Park, plus
various bush walking trails and lookouts - Take main road from Bellingen
to Dorrigo, ascend road to top of mountain the travel about 1 km more
and turn right into National Park. Another 2 km to large Park
Information Office, lookout, kiosk and cafe
Picnic (also very good swimming) at
Trial Bay near South West Rocks, plus Gaol Tour. Travel south on highway
towards Kempsey for about 35 km look for signs on left for South West
Rocks, thence from South West Rocks a few kilometres more to Trial Bay
Goal.
Rent a tinny from below bridge at
Urunga for extensive cruising on Bellinger & Kalang Rivers
Spectacular views from lighthouse in
Hat Head National Park close to Sth West Rocks - Travel south on highway
towards Kempsey for about 35 km then left at signs for South West Rocks.
When nearing South West Rocks, look for signs on right for road to the
lighthouse.
Bush trail horse rides through
rainforest at "Vallery Trails" - Follow highway north to
Raleigh Bridge, proceed about one kilometre further then turn left at
signpost to Vallery Trails and Go-Cart track
Fishermans Co-op at Coffs Harbour
Jetty then fish & chips in park - Follow High Street Coffs Harbour
to railway line, cross railway line and proceed through picnic reserves
to the Fish Co-op Shop.
Scenic walk to Wellington Point -
Walk east along Wellington Drive Nambucca Heads, continue straight ahead
onto concrete pathway which leads to Wellington Point at the mouth of
the river
Beach walk from Valla Beach to
Nambucca Heads - Head north on highway for about 10 minutes, turn left
at signpost onto road to Valla Beach. Now turn right at water tower onto
Valla Park Resort. Park car in caravan park and cross over river by
timber bridge to reach the ocean. Turn right at ocean's edge and walk to
Nambucca Heads in 1 - 1.5 hours (use 2 car method)
Beach walk from Hungry Head to Valla
- Travel north on highway for 15 - 20 minutes and turn right at signpost
onto road to Hungry Head. Follow this road to Hungry Head Beach, then
follow ocean's edge south to Valla Beach (use 2 car method)
Beach walk from South Beach to
Scotts Head - have yourself ferried across Nambucca River mouth to South
Beach. Now walk south for about 7 km to Scotts Head and arrange a car to
meet you there
Cliff walk from South West Rocks
along the coast - Drive to South West Rocks, through town and towards
Gaol. About one kilometre before gaol, turn right on road which leads to
tiny little surf beach and pretty picnic reserve. A spectacular scenic
track starts at picnic reserve and follows cliff-face southwards
Visit The Honey Place at Urunga -
Head north on highway for about 15 minutes and look for the Honey Place
building on left as you enter the approaches to Urunga
Visit the Nambucca District
Historical Museum at Nambucca Heads (Wed, Sat & Sun 2pm - 4pm) -
Follow Ridge St, Nambucca Heads for 700 metres from Post Office, vear
left into Liston Street and continue for a further 700 metres. Look for
museum on left as you enter the Headland Parking area
Picnic beside river at Mylstom
Reserve - Drive north on highway for 20 mins, over Raleigh Bridge then
continue on for another kilometre. Turn right at signpost to Mylstom and
follow road along river to its conclusion at river picnic reserves and
ocean beach
Wine tasting at Raleigh Winery -
Proceed north on highway to Raleigh Bridge but instead of taking a hard
left onto bridge, do straight ahead instead. Look for winery about 500
metres ahead
During Summer season take a scenic
flight along the local beaches with the "Spy in the Sky" daily
beach patrol. Phone (02) 6652 2992 for price and other details
Very secluded picnic or camping spot
at Henstock Park on Warrell Creek - Follow highway south and through
Macksville. About 3 km after Macksville turn right at signpost to Scotts
Head. Continue along road for 3 - 5 kilometres then look for small
signpost on left indicating unsealed laneway to Henstock Park. This
signpost occurs about 200 metres before a small roadside nursery.
Rainforest Trek (Bushwhacker
Expeditions) (02) 66581740 or 6653 4469
Scenic drives to Misabotti, Taylors
Arm & cross-country to Bellingen - Drive to Macksville, turn right
into Wallace Street at Macksville then take road to Taylors Arm. Explore
routes to Missabotti or Bellingen which branch off at various places
Interesting rustic drive past
hillbilly-like farms from Bellingen to Kalang - Turn left in Bellingen
main street towards South Arm Road but take right hand option at
signpost to Kalang
Picnic day at Red Rock in pretty
river reserve and surf beach - Take highway north of Woolgoolga for a
few kilometres, then follow signs on right indicating route to Red Rock
Wonderful high lookout with huge
vista over Coffs Harbour and beyond - Travel north from Coffs Harbour,
past the Big Banana for another kilometre then turn left to Bruxnor Park
and follow signs to lookout. If desired, continue along same road and
follow the "Wedding Bell Trail", a very scenic inland route
which finally ends up in Woolgoolga
Long drive (about 3.5 hours of
rainforests etc) on the ``Horseshoe Trail.'' from Bellingen to
Bowraville - Leave Bellingen on road to Dorrigo and look for Horseshoe
Road on left about halfway between Bellingen and the foot of the
mountain
Long, secluded and spectacular drive
through rainforest and mountains from Coramba to Dorrigo - Take road to
Coranda from centre of Coffs Harbour. Now turn left at Coranda onto long
dirt road through mountains which finally ends up in Dorrigo
Visit Bowraville Folk Museum in main
street at Bowraville
Festivals,
markets and shows
Jetty Markets each Sunday morning in
Coffs Harbour
Back to Bowraville Festival (October
long weekend)
Valla Park Hotrod Show (term 3
school holidays)
Nambucca Heads Markets at Nambucca
Plaza every 2nd Sunday
Nambucca Heads Volkswagen Rally
(October long weekend)
Bellingen Folk & Jazz Festival
(term 3 school holidays)
Nambucca Heads Australia Day
Festivities in Gordon Park
Buskers Carnival in Coffs Harbour
Mall (term 3 school holidays)
Bellingen Markets (3rd Saturday each
month)
Jacaranda Festival in Grafton each
October
Other
activities and entertainments
Films at Nambucca Plaza Triple
Cinema
Cabaret nights & big name
concerts at Coffs Harbour Catholic Club
Top acts and entertainment at
Sawtell RSL Club
Golf at either Nambucca Island,
Bowraville, Macksville or Bonville courses
Swimming facilities & picnic
area within Bonville International Golf Club
Quality cabaret artistes
occasionally appear at Nambucca RSL Club
Coffs Harbour Porpoise Pool for
porpoise & seal performances etc
©
Brian Tonkin - Nambucca Graphics
Nambucca
Tourist Association Member
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