destination – Mid North Coast

MID NORTH COAST
Best of both worlds on the

Following the Great Divide north from Sydney, temptations beckon both on the coast and in the hinterland with beautiful rainforest scenery on one side and lakes and welcoming seaside towns on the other..

Just north of Newcastle, Port Stephens is a very special area with inviting sandy beaches surrounded by headlands and inlets. A designated marine park this is a place for, surfing, sailing and all kinds of marine activities including cruises to observe the bottlenose dolphins and great diving around Fly Point and Halifax Park.

>> Destination Mid North Coast, Weekends For Two

Nelson Bay is Port Stephens’ fishing port and the place to be for cafes, restaurants and shopping for arts and crafts, giftware, books, resort wear and specialist items such as sports and golf equipment. Out and about, visit Holberts Oyster Farm in Salamander Bay which has lovely views as well as delicious, freshly shucked oysters.

North of Port Stephens is the Great Lakes area which includes the Wallis, Myall and Smiths lakes offering the best of both worlds with the tranquil lakes for fishing, boating and kayaking and the ocean for surfing and sailing. Myall River is famous for its prawns and Wallis Lake for its oysters so expect to dine in style when you visit the local cafes and restaurants, or pick up your own fresh from the seafood co-ops and outlets in the area.

Inland from the Great Lakes the rainforested national parks and wilderness areas begin with Barrington Tops and stretch all the way to Mt Warning in the NSW Far North. These are the protected Gondwana Rainforests and, while the coast is an understandable magnet, it is exciting to experience the natural attractions and activities of the lush valleys and mountains.

Barrington Tops feels like being on another planet, yet it is only a two and a half hour drive from Sydney. This 25 kilometre plateau with ancient beech trees, subtropical rainforest and subalpine woodlands resonates with the sounds of birdsong and is alive with native Australian animals including many rare species. The wide rivers are just made for kayaking and the historic villages for discovering more about the area and tasting local produce including cheese and wine.

Further north, inland from Coffs Harbour, is one of the world’s most scenic drives, the Waterfall Way, between the coast and historic Armidale.

The drive winds up through the beautiful Dorrigo National Park which has one of Australia’s most accessible areas of rainforest.

The Dorrigo Rainforest Centre is an interpretative centre with interactive displays to show how the rainforest evolved and boardwalks both on the forest floor and at treetop level to help you to appreciate just how different this forest system really is with its massive, buttressed trees, vines and wildlife.

Back on the coast, the bays, beaches and seaside towns of the north coast offer all kinds of activities from gourmet experiences to discovering the wide range of local produce to festivals and galleries showcasing the works of local artists and craftspeople who are drawn to the area by its scenery and balmy sub-tropical climate.

Alison Plummer