tourist drive 8 taree

Cudgerie Little House

430 Glenwarrin Rd Elands NSW 2429 Australia

Find peace and quiet in the rolling mountains

A luxurious, one bedroom self-contained cottage on a working Limousin cattle farm, just 5 minutes from Ellenborough Falls.

Experience the quietness and natural beauty of the Bulga Plateau. Just upstream from one of Australia's most spectacular waterfalls cascading straight down a 200 metre drop at Ellenborough Falls.

Take a detour from the Pacific Highway between Taree and Port Macquarie for a legendary adventure: follow Tourist Drive 8 through ancient forests, rolling hills and patchworks of farmland. You will arrive at the Bulga Plateau set 600 meters above the coastal plains. Enter a world of majestic forests, unforgettable views, clean mountain creeks, wondrous waterfalls, rapids & pools.

What did others have to say?

Jessica aitken-andrews.

2 years ago

What an amazing experience! I didn't want to leave, the beautiful deck, the romantic fireplace and one of the most comfortable beds I have ever slept on. I can't wait to come back and make more memories.

Warren Sterling

3 years ago

A lovely 2 nights after a hectic bluesfest weekend in byron. Very relaxing and beautifully decorated cottage.

Great hosts, unbeatable location.

Greg terrassa2k5

Lovely, friendly cabin for a weekend holiday in the hills.

Sebastian Hu

4 years ago

The Little House

Bed & Breakfast, Elands NSW, Australia

The Little House Bed & Breakfast

Experience the quietness and natural beauty of the Bulga Plateau. Just upstream from one of Australia's most spectacular waterfalls cascading straight down a 200 metre drop at Ellenborough Falls.

Take a detour from the Pacific Highway between Taree and Port Macquarie for a legendary adventure. Follow the Tourist Drive 8 through ancient forests, rolling hills and patch works of farmland. You will arrive at the Bulga Plateau set 600 meters above the coastal planes. Enter a world of majestic forests, unforgettable views, clean mountain creeks, wondrous waterfalls, rapids & pools.

The distance is 360 km from Sydney, 620 km from Brisbane, 50 km from Taree via Wingham and 85 km from Port Macquarie via Wauchope and Comboyne.

The Little House is located at: 430 Glenwarrin Road Elands NSW 2429 Australia

$200 per night for the Little House. We offer 10% discount for seniors and for bookings of more than 3 nights. Rates for longer stays are available on request.

Bookings & Payments

For further information, availability and bookings, contact your hosts Belinda and Tony Somers.

02 6550 4404 [email protected]

After you’ve booked you may pay by direct bank deposit, cheque or cash upon arrival or departure. Payment information will be provided upon booking.

All you need

All your needs are provided including a queen sized bed, fully equipped kitchen,Tea and coffee, milk supplied, gas cook top, electric oven, fridge/freezer, TV, DVD, wood fire, BBQ, electric heater, heated bathroom floor, sheets, towels.

Your breakfast

On request breakfast supplied with local ingredients: bacon, eggs, bread, tomatoes, local yoghourt and more. You can cook and enjoy at your own leisure.

Luxurious one bedroom cottage

The luxurious one bedroom, completely self contained cottage is set on a picturesque property. It offers a perfect location to explore the abundant natural beauty of the region. An ideal place to stay when exploring Tourist Drive 8 along the Mid-North Coast of NSW.

Nestled on a bend of the Ellenborough River, it is home to platypus, goannas, water dragons, lace monitors, wallabies and wild deer. You can relax, enjoy the views from the veranda or explore the surrounding forests and National Parks.

The remoteness from light pollution provides vivid night sky's with spectacular star gazing. During the cooler months, guests can relax in front of the wood fire. A perfect get away to unwind.

Ellenborough Falls Reserve

Ellenborough Falls is one of the longest single drop waterfalls in the Southern Hemisphere. The Ellenborough River cascades down a 200 metre vertical rock face. The reserve is a great place to explore the diversity of flora and enjoy the natural beauty of the falls country. Walk to the bottom of the falls along a timber stairway through cool temperate rainforest.

The Ellenborough Falls Kiosk is open on weekends and School Holidays. The kiosk kitchen creates fresh delicious food. Taste the local produce of the Bulga surrounded by nature and bird life.

Our Happy Visitors

“Really enjoyed our stay! Loved the 2 bedroom apartment, kids were in the pool every day for hours. Staff were lovely and helpful. Such a peaceful place. We left happy. Would stay here again definitely.”

TripAdvisor Review

Set in the scenic Manning Great Lakes on the Barrington Coast of New South Wales, Serenity Diamond Beach provides well-appointed beachfront accommodation in proximity to national parks, pristine beaches, estuaries and littoral rainforest.

Seaside amongst a variety of nature

The waterways, national parks, forests and beaches of the Manning Great Lakes area provides holidaymakers with numerous options in which to relax and enjoy.

Resort Temptations

Serenity Diamond Beach is set just metres behind Diamond Beach, a six kilometre stretch of white sand that offers superb walking, fishing, surfing and even dolphin watching. Within the resort itself, there are two pools, a tennis court and a volleyball court. Offering beachfront seclusion just 25 minutes drive from the townships of Taree and 20 minutes to Forster, Serenity Diamond Beach is the perfect getaway for both couples and families.

Tallwoods Golf Course

Approximately 5 minutes drive from the resort is Tallwoods Golf Course, which was designed by one of the world’s leading environmental golf course designers, Dr Michael Hurdzan. Tom Ramsey, renown golf writer and judge on US Golf Magazine’s Top 100 courses in the World, called the course “a collection of holes that are challenging and stimulating, all difficult but not impossible, always exciting and always individual”.

Lake Cruises

Take a full-day cruise from Forster into the Great Lakes Region, where you’ll see stunning scenery and the chance of spying playful dolphins. Dolphin cruises also run every day at 10:00am (weather permitting), from December through to May. Cruises take roughly two hours and include morning tea. Whale watching cruises run from June 1st to the end of November each year. Cruises depart every day at 10 am (weather permitting), run between 2 and a half hours and provide morning tea.

Gloucester and Barrington Tops

Take a day trip to Gloucester and Barrington Tops and enjoy splendid scenery, rainforest walks, horse riding, vineyards, river cruises and restaurants.

Stroud Heritage Walk

Follow historic Thunderbolt Way through gorgeous hinterland to the township of Stroud. Founded in 1826, Stroud has a walk which takes you to 36 heritage sites.

Ellenborough Falls

Ellenborough Falls, the second highest falls in the southern hemisphere, is located approximately 100 kilometres from the Resort. You can access the falls by travelling on the Tourist Drive 8 to Elands from Taree.

Cassegrain Wines is located approximately 50 minutes drive from Serenity Diamond Beach, just south of Port Macquarie. Owner John Cassegrain uses French heritage wine making techniques dating from 1643, coupled with Australian technology, to produce a range of superb premium, reserve and limited release wines.

• Water Sports
• Scuba diving

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Taree Visitor Information Centre

Photos of taree visitor information centre.

Taree Visitor Information Centre On the Web

Taree visitor information centre | nsw nationals.

Taree Visitor Information Centre . 3 Jul, 2018. Loading Map.... Address 21 Manning River Drive Taree NSW. 2430 Australia. Upcoming Events.

Manning Valley Visitor Information Centre, Taree, NSW, Australia...

Contact the Taree Visitor Information Centre on 1800 801 522. Website: (visit link). Hours of Operation: Monday to Friday: 9am till 4.30pm (all year) Public Holidays: 9am-4pm Saturday and Sunday: 9am till 4:30pm (September to May) Saturday and Sunday: 9am-4pm (June to August)...

PDF Cessnock | Dungog | Maitland | MidCoast | Port Stephens

p 1800 808 900 w portstephens.org.au MidCoast Tourism Manning Region: Taree Visitor Information Centre 21 Manning River Drive, Taree North NSW 2430 p 1800 182 733 | w visitmanningvalley.com.au Great Lakes Region: Forster Visitor Information Centre Little Street, Forster NSW 2428 p 1800 802 692 | w greatlakes.org.au

Questions & Answers

What is the phone number for taree visitor information centre.

The phone number for Taree Visitor Information Centre is 1800 182 733.

Where is Taree Visitor Information Centre located?

Taree Visitor Information Centre is located at 21 Manning River Dr, Taree NSW 2430, Australia

What is the internet address for Taree Visitor Information Centre?

The website (URL) for Taree Visitor Information Centre is: https://barringtoncoast.com.au/

What days are Taree Visitor Information Centre open?

Taree Visitor Information Centre is open: Monday:9:00 AM – 4:30 PM Tuesday:9:00 AM – 4:30 PM Wednesday:9:00 AM – 4:30 PM Thursday:9:00 AM – 4:30 PM Friday:9:00 AM – 4:30 PM Saturday:9:00 AM – 4:30 PM Sunday:9:00 AM – 4:30 PM

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PACIFIC HIGHWAY Section: Taree

This 9km section of the Pacific Highway includes the Taree Bypass as well as the former route of the Pacific Highway through Purfleet, Taree, Chatham and Cundletown.

Since its proclamation as a State Highway in 1928 the Pacific Highway has always passed through Taree. A ferry was used to carry highway traffic across the Manning River at Tionee until 1937 when the two-lane steel truss Martin Bridge was constructed by the Department of Main Roads as unemployment relief. Opening of the bridge relocated the highway from Tionee via Purfleet and across the Manning River floodplain to Commerce Street at Taree.

Also during the 1930s the Department of Main Roads relocated the highway through Taree as part of its ongoing improvements to the highway. The 1935 Annual Report of the DMR describes the work: “The work was commenced at Taree and, to avoid the existing level crossing on the North Coast Railway at the northern end of High Street, Taree, the route of the Highway has now been diverted from High Street to pass along Victoria Street using the existing timber bridges over Browns Creek and crossing a branch railway line leading to the deep water wharf. The original route of the Highway is rejoined at a point 1.5 miles from Taree Post Office.” The original route of the highway was from the Bucketts Way at Tionee, via Claxton St, Ctton St and Edinburgh Drive to High St, thence via High St , High St North , Kanangra Dr and Copwer Street to Chatham .

Further north, at Cundletown, a timber bridge across the Dawson River was constructed in 1879. This bridge weathered some severe floods until it was replaced by a steel truss bridge in 1933.

For many years the Pacific Highway at Taree was a major bottleneck and the narrow Martin Bridge over the Manning River was the scene of several accidents. As part of a five-year programme for upgrading the Pacific Highway , construction of the state-funded Taree Bypass was commenced in July 1993. Traversing the Manning River floodplain to the east of town, almost 3km of bridges were required for the bypass which, since opening, has shortened the Pacific Highway by 5km and cut 10min off travel times. Costing $119 million to build, the bypass was opened in two stages - the first of which was a two-way single carriageway in December 1997. The second carriageway, which upon opening became the southbound carriageway, was opened to traffic in April 2000.

The route of the old highway has now been renamed Manning River Drive, although the local street names of Victoria Street, Crescent Ave, Oxley St, Chatham Rd and Cowper Street through Taree and Main Street and Princess Street through Cundletown are preferred on signs. A large section (~2km) of the abandoned highway remains, southwards from Purfleet. North of the Cundletown interchange, a 1.2km section of the old highway remains on the eastern side of the new alignment, as Oxley Bend Rd.

Back to Pacific Hwy

Dawson River Tourist Park

With The River Right At Your Doorstep

With the river at your doorstep, the dawson river tourist park is located on 8 acres of waterfront land, conveniently located 5 minutes north of taree's cbd and 3 minutes from the freeway. we are also close by to the taree airport., beautiful environment, caravan and motorhome sites are close to the dawson river, in shaded grassy sites close to amenities. we have powered sites available, with a camp kitchen available including barbeques, fridge, sink, table and chairs., how to get there.

The Dawson River Tourist Park is located on the beautiful Dawson River and only 3km off the Pacific Highway

- 6km north of Taree

- 330km north of Sydney

- 800km South of Brisbane

- 3 hours from Sydney

- 8 Hours from Brisbane

- Taree airport is 3 minutes away

- Rex provide numerous daily flights

- Approximately 1 hour from Sydney.

Ideal spot for Family members to get together

"This is the ideal park for our families to come together for quality weekends by the river. Just perfect!"

D & S Germany. 2021

Great value and very comfortable

"Stayed in this hidden gem for almost a month. Super friendly staff,. comfortable cabins, everything you need in the kitchen, beautiful river"

Craig. 2020

Beautiful Surrounds

"We found an oasis here. Lovely clean cabins, many overlooking the river, and we were given a wonderful warm welcome. We will whenever possible,  plan our trips with a stop over here. Thank you!" 

Helen D. 2020

1 Manning River Dr, Cundletown, NSW, Australia [email protected] (02) 6553 9237. 

© Dawson River Tourist Park, 2022. All rights reserved.

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Tourist Drive 2 - The Bucketts Way

The Bucketts Way (Official Tourist Drive 2) is the second oldest tourist drive in New South Wales, and for good reason: this scenic loop off the Pacific Highway takes you through pretty towns and villages to dramatic mountain ranges, breathtaking views, beautiful valleys and platypus-filled rivers.

This scenic route is popular with motorcycle riders as it provides one of the best road touring experiences in NSW. Motorists will discover the historic town of Stroud, the beautifully located regional town of Gloucester, the hillside village of Krambach and the riverside village of Tinonee.

Named after the Bucketts Mountains overlooking Gloucester, The Bucketts Way is a section of the previous State Highway 10 (changed in 1931 to the Pacific Highway), between Raymond Terrace and Taree between August 1928 and 1952.

The Bucketts Way provides a vital link to Barrington Tops via Gloucester and access to the New England region via Thunderbolts Way.

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Newcastle to Taree drive: Distance, time & road trip stops

• David Whitley
• Practicalities

The Newcastle to Taree drive covers a 172km distance in a driving time of around two hours. Possible road trip stops include Karuah National Park, Bulahdelah Mountain and the National Motorcycle Museum.

The drive from Newcastle to Taree takes you from the second largest city in New South Wales to one of the Mid North Coast’s great staging posts. Most tourists driving the route will be doing so as part of a wider road trip itinerary – perhaps Sydney to Port Macquarie or Newcastle to Coffs Harbour .

Newcastle offers plenty of activities, including adventure boat cruises along the coastline, architecture and street art walking tours and whale watching cruises . For a big menu of Newcastle tours and experiences, explore here . To fix up one of Newcastle’s best accommodation options, book here .

Newcastle to Taree distance and driving time

By car, the distance from Newcastle to Taree is 172km . This makes for a driving time of around two hours.

These timing assume you stick to the Pacific Highway rather than diverting to the coast, although going the longer coastal route allows you to add the hugely appealing Seal Rocks , Myall Lake, Boomerang Beach, Booti Booti National Park and Forster to the itinerary.

Click through to the next section: Hunter Wetlands and Hawks Nest.

• 1 Understand
• 2.2 By plane
• 2.3 By train
• 8.1 Further afield

Taree is a city on the Mid-North Coast of New South Wales .

Taree is a large service town on the Manning River, around 20km from the coast. The Pacific Highway used to pass straight through the town, and cross the narrow Manning River bridge, but now a freeway section bypasses the town, which no longer has the volume of trucks and traffic passing through it.

There are attractions and tourist facilities in Taree, but it is not developed as a major tourist destination in itself. It is certainly a reasonable place to stop on the drive along the Pacific Highway.

Taree can be accessed by car when going along the Pacific Highway

Taree Airport ( TRO  IATA ) is just around 5.8 km north east to Taree City Centre. There are Regional Express Direct Flights to and from Sydney three times a day.

Taree Train Station is around 10 minutes walk from the city centre. The New South Wales TrainLink runs between Sydney as far north as Brisbane. Taree Station is one of the major stopping stations on the line.

• The Big Oyster is one of the Big things in Australia , just north of the town. You can lookout through the opening in the oyster shell. Breathtakingly tacky.
• -31.910821 152.462927 1 Manning Regional Art Gallery , 12 Macquarie St , ☏ +61 2 6592 5455 . Tu-Sa 10AM–4PM . ( updated Nov 2021 )

It is a little drive from Taree, but if you head over to Old Bar Beach:

• During the January summer holiday period there's a sand modelling competition which has become a traditional and popular family fun activity.
• The path from Old Bar Beach to Wallabi Point, 2.5 km, is an ideal distance for light exercise and scenic views.
• A unique aspect of this beach is that it's alongside a heritage-listed airstrip so that flying enthusiasts can fly into the airstrip and then go to the beach.
• -31.912233 152.46317 1 Kowin Restaurant , Shop 14/102 Victoria St , ☏ +61 2 6552 3482 . Tu-Su 11AM–2:30PM, 4:30–9PM . Australian - Chinese cuisine. ( updated Nov 2021 )
• -31.912986 152.461606 2 Cafe Giardino , 139 Victoria St , ☏ +61 2 6557 8689 . 7:45AM–8:30PM . ( updated Nov 2021 )
• Cundle Motel , 7 Princes Street, Cundletown , ☏ +61 2 6553 9709 , [email protected] . $75-$125 .  
• Taree Highway Motor Inn , 40-42 Crescent Avenue ( old Pacific Highway, near Beeton Parade ), ☏ +61 2 6552 5444 . The Taree Highway Motor Inn is a clean and quiet 3½ star motel consisting of 17 ground floor rooms and 5 deluxe 2 room suites. Situated 1km north of Taree's town centre, the Motor Inn is close to restaurants, cinema, racecourse, sporting fields and the Manning River.  

Further afield

• Namaste Beach House , 31 David St, Old Bar , ☏ +61 6557 4224 . Laid-back friendly accommodation in a sprawling beach house. Pool room, verandahs, kitchen, yoga room, lounge area. Close to the beach, 5 min walk to shops. Double/twin $65, single $40, dorm $30 (weekly rates available) .  
• Visit the beachside village of Old Bar , directly on the coast from Taree.

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Navigation menu

Tourist Drive 33

When visiting the hunter valley take the scenic route.

Originally linking Sydney to the fertile soils of the Hunter Valley, the  Great North Road was convict built in the 1800’s, traversing stunning sandstone gorges, razorback ridges and towering passes all featured along Tourist Drive 33. Already a popular route for motorbike riders and day trippers, Tourist Drive 33 showcases some of the most stunning countryside in NSW and steps back in time as you meander through the convict stone walls, bridges and culverts still in use today.

Stop in one of the many vibrant townships of Peats Ridge, Kulnura, Laguna, historic Wollombi and the wine regions of Broke Fordwich, Lovedale and Branxton that have loads on offer! Everything from horseriding, farmgate sales of seasonal fruits and vegetables , quirky retail outlets, cafes and restaurants , country pubs , art galleries , boutique cellar doors , walking and cycling to a myriad of festivals and events on throughout the year.

For those looking to stay and explore, an  abundance of accommodation choices are available for couples , families and groups from self-contained, farmstay, B&B to luxury guesthouses . Come and discover what’s on offer on Tourist Drive 33!

Nearby tourist drive 33

Saint Michael’s Church

Welcoming all denominations and civil ceremonies while still remaining a Catholic place of worship, this historic…

Historical Wollombi Village Walk

An easy 1km walk that takes in the historic buildings and surrounds of Wollombi. A map…

Wollombi General Store

The Wollombi General Store was built in the 1850’s and retains its heritage and character. The…

Wollombi Tavern

The Wollombi Tavern is Hunter Valley’s best-kept secret- a historic pub that will capture your heart…

Great Northern Trading Post

General Store, Bar, Café and Live Music Venue. Great Northern Trading Post is truly an eclectic,…

Laguna Village Providore

Soak up the relaxed Laguna Village atmosphere while you get to choose from a wide range…

Mulla Villa

Tucked away in the mystical Wollombi Valley, Mulla Villa offers you the best of both worlds….

Old Byora Vineyard

Old Byora Vineyard is a stunning luxury homestead set on a large private verdelho vineyard just…

Grays Inn Wollombi

Grays Inn Wollombi is a historic building located in the town center, just 100m from the…

Wollombi Valley Weather

Best Northern NSW Road Trip Via Coast and Country in 2024

One of the best ways to see Northern NSW is with the flexibility of an NSW road trip. Whether you are travelling as a family, as a couple or with a group of friends a road trip is the way to go. There is something really special about exploring areas that you haven’t visited before, finding hidden gems and creating memorable adventures along the way.

Where do you start? How do you plan an NSW road trip itinerary where you want to fit in as much as possible?

We planned this road trip NSW itinerary for a duration of two weeks travelling from Sydney up to the North Coast of NSW to Byron Bay and returning inland so that we could see as much as we could in our two weeks. You could easily extend this itinerary to 3 weeks or even 4 and even shorten it if you only have one week.

We cover some of the best beaches, great places to stay, visiting towns on the coast and inland, breweries, wineries, gin distillery, famous pubs and some of the best restaurants and local produce that rivals anywhere else in Australia.

Would we change anything on our NSW road trip? Yes, some extra time would have been a bonus on the return part of the journey. Most of our time was spent on the coast and not in the New England region of NSW. I put this down to the fact that I lived in the region around Tamworth for around 2 years when I was in my late teens and travelled around. The other reason was that the hotel we wanted to stay in Scone was fully booked so we chose instead to stay in Uralla and Wingham.

Another road trip is heading 1.5 hours from Sydney to visit the Blue Mountains Attractions.

Table of Contents

Our NSW Road Trip Itinerary

In this itinerary, we cover visiting:

Sydney to Port Stephens visiting Bennetts Beach (Hawks Nest), Tea Gardens, Salamander Bay, Nelson Bay

Port Macquarie

Beechwood, Nambucca Heads, Bellingen, Raleigh, Urunga, Sawtell, Yamba and Angourie

Lennox Head, Byron Bay, Newrybar,

Tenterfield, Glen Innes, Uralla, Wingham, Gloucester and return back to Sydney.

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Best NSW Road Trip Details – NSW Coast Road Trip Sydney Byron Bay

Sydney to port stephens.

Our first port of call was to visit Hawks Nest and Tea Gardens and in particular Bennetts Beach before heading to Salamander Bay for 2 nights. The journey on average takes around 2 hours and 50 minutes to travel 220 km via the M1 and Pacific Highway/A1.

Bennetts Beach is also known as Hawks Nest Beach and it is 14.3 km long of silvery-white sand running from Seal Rocks to the north to Yacaaba to the south. It is popular with surfers and swimmers. There is parking available at the Tea Gardens Hawks Nest Surf Lifesaving Club. The beach is patrolled from October to April.

Hawks Nest is a popular summer destination where visitors enjoy swimming, surfing, windsurfing, boating, canoeing, fishing, bushwalking and diving.

There is a range of accommodation available in Port Stephens from camping grounds to motels, cottages and much more.

Good to know : If you are considering visiting at Xmas time or the Easter school holidays you will need to book in advance.

Tea Gardens

From Hawks Nest travel back over the Singing Bridge to Tea Gardens – yes it does sing, you can hear it when the south-westerly winds are blowing. If you wander under the bridge you may see bottle-nose dolphins in the Myall River and you may even be greeted by a family of pelicans.

There are some great restaurants to choose from in Tea Gardens. Our visit coincided with the running of the Melbourne Cup and our only choice for lunch was the very busy fun Tea Gardens Hotel. The atmosphere was electric and the food was excellent. All in all a good choice!

There are 4 restaurants/cafes that interest us when we return:

Mumms on the Myall – 46 Marine Drive Tea Gardens overlooking the Myall River

Open: Breakfast Saturday and Sunday 08.30 am – 10.30 am

Lunch – 10.30 am – 2.00 pm

Dinner Wednesday and Saturday from 5.30 pm

Tea Gardens Boatshed – 110 Marine Drive Tea Gardens overlooking the Myall River

Open : breakfast 7.30 am – 11.00 am

Lunch: 12.00 – 2.30 pm

Tillermans – 77 Marine Drive Tea Gardens

Open from: Thursday – Sunday from 8.30 am – 2.00 pm Friday & Saturday night by booking only

Hook n Cook – 77 Marine Drive for fish and chips

Open: 10.30 am to 6. 45 pm

Where to Stay in Port Stephens

There are many areas to stay in Port Stephens such as Nelson Bay, Anna Bay, and Shoal Bay but this time we chose to stay in the Oaks Pacific Blue Resort at Salamander Bay

Salamander Bay is centrally located to see all that the Port Stephens region has to offer.

What To Do in Port Stephens and Surrounds

If you have one day in Port Stephens we would recommend:

In the morning visit Tomaree National Park for hikes and walks. Allow 2- 3 hours for a variety of walks. Gan Gan Lookout at Lily Hill Road Nelson Bay is worth a visit. Allow 30 minutes at the lookout.

Lunch : Visit Murrays Craft Brewery at 3443 Nelson Bay Road Nelson Bay for a range of craft beers, Australian wines, great food and a gourmet produce shop.

Opening hours: 10.00 am to 6.00 pm

Afternoon : Visit the Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary at 562 Gan Gan Road One Mile Port Stephens.

Opening hours: 9.00 am to 5.00 pm – in winter they close at 4.00 pm.

You can purchase tickets in advance here

If you have 2 days to spend in Port Stephens :

Visit the Nelson Bay Lighthouse at 5A Lighthouse Road Nelson Bay and enjoy morning tea at the Inner Light Tea Rooms which is open from 8.30 am daily and close at 3.00 pm

Visit Nelson Bay township for shopping, street art, the harbour, restaurants and cafes.

If you are interested in a tour we can recommend the following:

Port Stephens to Port Macquarie

Driving time 2 hours 50 minutes – 250 km journey Pacific Highway/A1

Where to stay in Port Macquarie

In Port Macquarie, we stayed at the Ibis Styles – 4-star accommodation in a great location with an easy walk into town, views, a swimming pool and a very comfortable stay. You can read our review here.

What to do In Port Macquarie

Depending on what you are interested in there is so much to do here you can allow at least 2 days even 3 days.

• Visit Port Macquarie’s historical buildings that date back to the early 1800s
• Wander the Hello Koala Sculpture trail – with over 80 koalas in the area
• Visit the Koala Hospital
• Wander along Port Macquarie’s break wall
• Visit Port Macquarie’s Lighthouse
• Take a 15-minute scenic helicopter flight – check availability here
• Visit the local wineries
• Get lost in the Bago maze
• Take coastal walks
• Enjoy the local beaches

Port Macquarie to Nambucca Heads

We travelled from Port Macquarie to Beechwood to have lunch at the Beechwood Hotel. It is a short journey of 27 km with an average driving time of 26 minutes. The Beechwood Hotel was named the best hotel in the Wotif 2021 Uniquely Aussie  Awards . It is a traditional country pub and on the weekends you may encounter the locals riding their horses to the hotel and tying them up outside on the railings and popping in for a cold beer or two.

Distance from Beechwood to Nambucca Heads

After a great lunch enjoying the antics of the locals we headed off to Nambucca Heads – a distance of 117.3 km with a driving time of 1 hour and 20 minutes.

Where to Stay in Nambucca Heads

We were fortunate to be able to enjoy the delights of the new The Beach Rooms in Nambucca Heads overlooking Gordon Park with stunning views of the river and ocean. The Beach Rooms offer funky accommodation, with a range of accommodation that suits families, couples and singles. There is on-site parking available, wifi and a shared kitchen/lounge area. You can read our review of our stay here

What to do in Nambucca Heads

Nambucca Heads is known for its 23 km of coastline. it is a great family destination where all can enjoy swimming, surfing, boating and visiting the towns of the hinterland.

You can read our article on things to do in Nambucca Heads here

What towns to visit in the Hinterland of Nambucca Heads

Bellingen is 37 km from Nambucca Heads with an average driving time of 30 minutes. Bellingen lies halfway between Sydney and Brisbane. For a small town, it punches a great funky bohemian vibe.

Bellingen is located by the Bellingen River along the Waterfall Way. The Waterfall Way runs from Coffs Harbour to Armidale for 185 km through rainforests, river valleys and waterfalls.

Why visit Bellingen?

• Enjoy the many cafes and restaurants
• Wander the main street and admire the historical buildings
• Attend the local markets on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Saturdays of the month
• Shop the arts and craft galleries at the Old Butter Factory on the outskirts of town
• Enjoy a picnic by the Bellingen River

A highlight of taking time out of the day is to visit the Raleigh Winery at 36 Queen Street. Enjoy a spectacular lunch at the Raleigh Winery Restaurant and you can even spend a night or two at Raleigh House just a few steps from the cellar door and restaurant.

Distance from Raleigh to Urunga 4 km with an average driving time of 5 minutes.

Urunga is a small town north of Nambucca Heads. It is famous for its surfing, fishing and boating. Take a walk along the waterfront and enjoy the Urunga Boardwalk which is 1 km in length and it is also wheelchair friendly. Urunga is also where two rivers meet – the Bellinger and the Kalang. You may be lucky to see a pod of dolphins when you visit. During May and November you can see the migration of whales.

Nambucca Heads to Yamba

The distance between Nambucca Heads and Yamba is 180 km with an average driving time of 2 hours and 5 minutes.

You can take a break and stay at Coffs Harbour along the way. The distance between Nambucca Heads and Coffs Harbour is 48 km with an average driving time of 40 minutes. Another option is to break the journey in Sawtell just 15 minutes south of Coffs Harbour. Sawtell is a pretty town, the main street is full of cafes and boutique shops and has a lovely landscaped central median strip.

We chose to stop at Sawtell for lunch. Friends of ours live in Sawtell and we met up with them at The Hilltop Store for lunch. We can recommend their tasty seasonal menu for brunch or lunch. They are also licensed.

Address: 114 First Avenue Sawtell

Distance between Nambucca Heads and Sawtell – 44 km average driving time 33 minutes.

Distance between Sawtell and Yamba – 143 km average driving time 1 hour 40 minutes

Where to Stay in Yamba

There are over 177 properties to choose from to stay in Yamba.

We chose to stay at the Angourie Resort in Yamba, 5 minutes away from the beach. The resort has a range of accommodation that suits families and couples. There is a large outdoor pool, children’s pool and play area, day spa, tennis and restaurant.

You can read our review of our stay here

What To Do in Yamba

There is so much to do and see in Yamba , you should allow at least 3 nights here.

The highlights are:

• Angourie Blue and Green Pools – great for swimming and family picnics, a very scenic spot, easy to park
• Swim at Yamba’s 5 beaches
• Do the Yamba historical walk to learn more about its history
• Visit the Yamba Museum
• Visit the Yamba Lighthouse
• Enjoy the local markets
• Visit the Wobbly Chook Craft Brewery

Yamba to lennox Head

The distance between Yamba and Lennox Head is 112 km with an average driving time of 1 hour and 20 minutes.

We chose to stay in Lennox Head rather than the very busy touristy town of Byron Bay. Byron Bay is 20 km away from Lennox Head and depending on traffic it is a 20-minute journey. At school drop off and pick up times the journey can take a little longer. Lennox Head is a quieter place to stay and perfect for families, couples or friends. There are restaurants, a cliffside walk, surfing, 4 WD driving, kayaking and boating on the Tea Tree Lake.

Lennox Head is a good base to visit the hinterland towns.

what To Do in and Around Lennox Head

Highlights of visiting Lennox Head and the Surrounding Hinterland:

• Enjoy a 2 hour group surf lesson in Lennox Head

• Kayak, canoe and stand up paddleboard on Lake Ainsworth (aka Tea Tree Lake)
• Paraglide and hang glide from Lennox Head
• Whale watching from June to October from Byron Bay
• From Byron Bay – Hinterland Magic and Glo Worm experience – Go for a refreshing swim at a secluded waterfall. Walk among ancient trees and visit one of the highest waterfalls of the region. Adventure into the magical forest where glowworms light up the scene.
• From Byron Bay a sea kayak adventure – Enjoy a 2.5-hour sea kayak tour on the pristine waters of Byron Bay. On the tour, lookout for native marine life, such as Pacific bottlenose dolphins and 3 different types of turtles. At the end of the tour, try surfing a wave to shore on your kayak.
• Visit Seven Mile Brewery in Ballina
• Visit Husk Distillery in North Tumbulgum
• Visit the hinterland towns of Newrybar and Bangalow
• Enjoy the region’s cafes and restaurants with their inspirational menus with sourced local produce

Top Adventures Tours Around Byron Bay

Big Day Out Byron Hinterland Tours

• • Bush walk through ancient rainforests in the world heritage listed Nightcap Nationalpark 
• • Discover stunning Minyon Falls with breath taking views
• • Enjoy a delicious BBQ style lunch
• • Visit the famous little town Bangalow with its fascinating mix of local shops, galleries and cafes
• • Weave your way trough beautiful landscape as you return to Byron Bay

Byron & Beyond Tour

• Drive up to the iconic Byron Bay Lighthouse for the best ocean and Byron Hinterland views and to spot migrating whales (between May and October) and local dolphins
• Visit The Farm, a real working local farm with a range of different growers, producers, eateries, shops and kids activities
• Experience magical Crystal Castle and walk through stunning gardens, touch the world peace stupa and enjoy the beauty of crystal from giant formations to exquisite jewellery
• Have a delicious locally sourced BBQ-style lunch
• Stop at the historical little town of Bangalow and tour its fascinating mix of local shops, galleries and cafes
• Weave your way through beautiful landscape as you return to Byron Bay

Half Day Out Byron Bay Tour

• Visit the Byron lighthouse and have your photo taken at Australia’s most easterly point
• Watch whales (June-Oct), dolphins and sea turtles along the coast
• Tour the sustainable-farming and food experience that is The Farm
• Visit the beautiful little hinterland town Bangalow

Where To Stay in Lennox Head

There are 82 properties to choose from to stay in Lennox Head.

We chose to stay in an Airbnb property opposite the beach. The property has a funky style and has been designed by an interior designer. La Luna is suitable for 6 guests, 2 bedrooms, 4 beds and 2.5 baths. There are two outdoor dining areas, a spa and an outdoor shower. Three bikes and 2 kayaks have been provided by the owner.

Country NSW Road Trip from Lennox Head to Sydney

Our inland NSW road trip itinerary:

Lennox Head to Uralla via Tenterfield and Glen Innes

Uralla to Wingham via Gloucester

Wingham to sydney, lennox head to uralla.

What a stunning scenic drive from Lennox Head to Lismore and Casino onto Tenterfield. Driving distance of 197 km and an average driving time of 2 hours and 51 minutes.

Our aim was to visit Tenterfield for lunch and to visit the Tenterfield Saddler made popular by singer Peter Allen. Unfortunately, due to Covid, the Tenterfield Saddler was closed. The store is run by volunteers and contains a lot of historical items. Maybe next time!

Where to have lunch in Tenterfield?

The Courtyard Cafe is located at 203 Rouse Street in the historic Sir Henry Parkes School of Arts Building.

The cafe is open for breakfast, morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea from 9.00 am to 3.00 pm. The cafe has an extensive menu to suit all palates and there is a choice to sit in the courtyard or inside. It is a popular venue for the locals.

Tenterfield to Uralla via Glen Innes

The next stage of the journey was 211 km from Tenterfield to Uralla, with an average driving time of 2 hours and 25 minutes.

We wanted to stop in Glen Innes briefly to view the Australian Standing Stones at Centennial Park. “The Stones celebrate the Celtic nations whose descendants contributed to the Australian way of life and reflect the movement of the Earth around the sun, an important feature of Celtic life.” source Visit NSW

There are many things to do in Glen Innes so plan to spend a few nights.

Good to know: The New England Highway/A15 was a quiet road and road conditions are not the best. We would recommend that you drive carefully and keep an eye out for potholes. I am used to driving on country roads and always ensure that I have a full tank of petrol and bottles of water. Wifi reception was poor in the area as well.

Where to Stay in Uralla

In Uralla, we stayed in an Airbnb 1 bedroom property that belongs to a local horse whisperer. The property was located a few kms out of town in a beautiful countryside setting. Our apartment was attached to the main house with views over the countryside. It is pet-friendly. More details can be found here.

What to do in Uralla

There are plenty of things to do in Uralla to keep you occupied for a day or two:

• Visit the Barking Dog Gallery at 36 Bridge Street
• Visit the Uralla Foundry Museum at the corner of Salisbury and East Streets – established in 1872 the foundry until recently was the oldest foundry still operating in Australia. Ring for appointments on 02 6778 6420
• Collect your free Heritage Walk from the Visitors Centre
• Visit the McCrossin’s Mill Museum , Gallery and Function Centre at 31 Salisbury – the historic 3 storey flour mill houses exhibits, tells the story of Thunderbolt, artefacts from the goldfields and the story of the Chinese Joss House.
• Whyworry Wines (Kingstown Road, Kingstown)and the distillery of Eastview Estate at 298 Kentucky Road, Kentucky.
• Visit Greenhill Orchards at 670 Hawthorne Drive at Arding – a working family orchard producing summer fruits and apples and pears
• Visit Sunhill Dairy Goats at 645 The Gap Road Uralla – meet the goats and taste their cheese – tours are available
• Visit Berry Good Berries at 70 Goodes Road Uralla – pick your own fruit
• Visit Uralla Combined Indoor Market on the 4th Saturday of every month between 9 am and 12 pm in the Memorial Hall in Salisbury Street Uralla
• Visit the Kentucky Seasonal Craft & Produce Market 2nd Sunday of each season in the Memorial Hall Kentucky from 9 am to 1 pm for local produce, arts and crafts
• Visit Dangars Gorge & Falls along Tourist Drive 19, 35 km east of Uralla

Where To Eat in Uralla

The Top Pub in Uralla is the popular place to eat in town. The restaurant was excellent, with a great menu and wine list, you do need to make an advanced reservation. There is an outdoor and indoor eating area as well as the main bar. We would definitely return.

Address : 23 – 27 Bridge Street Uralla

Open: Daily except for Christmas Day. Lunch from 12.00 pm to 2.30 pm. Dinner from 6.00 pm to 9.00 pm

With dishes such as African Spiced Lamb Rack, Fig and Brie Garlic Roasted Chicken to gluten-free and vegetarian options such as Thai Crispy Tofu and homemade spinach pie- no wonder the restaurant is booked out in advance. Did I also mention the mouthwatering desserts on offer too!

New England Brewery

Next to the Top Pub at 19 Bridge Street is the New England Brewery with a range of craft beers and their speciality IPAs. Currently, they open from Wednesday to Saturday. Check their times here .

Other places to eat out in Uralla Shire are:

• Cafe Gusto for Italian Cuisine at 46 Bridge Street Uralla – open Thursday to Sunday for lunch and dinner
• Michael’s Cafe, Deli & Catering at 98 Bridge Street – open Monday to Friday 6.30a am to 4.00 pm (closed Thursdays) for coffee, all-day breakfast, fruit platters and veggie packs
• Thunderbolt Inn Cnr Bridge & Hill Streets Uralla – open for lunch and dinner 7 days a week -for good pub food

Distance : 254 km driving time average 3. 5 hours from Uralla to Wingham on the Thunderbolts Way. The road is named after a local bushranger, Frederick Ward, who roamed around the New England region in the 19th century. The road is steep in parts and is not in good condition.

The town of Gloucester is located in the Barrington Coast Hinterland and it is the closest town to the Barrington Tops National Park. The Gloucester River runs through town and you can wander along the riverbank.

The Gloucester Information Centre is one of the best we have encountered. Not only were they open, but also open on a weekend, with very knowledgeable staff and lots of information on the area.

What to do in Gloucester

• Go hiking – for more information click here
• Visit the historic towns of Nabiac, Stroud, Patterson and Dungog
• Visit Villa d’esta winery at 2884 Wallambah Rd, Dyers Crossing
• Visit Gap Hill Winery at 8 Gap Hill Road Stroud Road Stroud
• Visit Tugwood Winery at 450 Mograni Creek Road, Gloucester NSW
• Visit Gloucester River Wines at 51 Stantons Lane Gloucester
• Grab a juicy meat pie from Hebbys Bakery at 55 Church St Gloucester
• Take a scenic drive through the National Parks – more information here

Where to Stay in Gloucester

There are 11 properties available to stay in Gloucester NSW

Gloucester to Wingham – 68.7 km average driving time 55 minutes

Where To Stay in Wingham

Unfortunately, our beautiful farm stay in Wingham had to close shortly after we stayed there.

There are 5 properties available to stay in Wingham .

The other alternative is to stay in Taree where there are 17 properties available. Taree is 9 km from Wingham with an average driving time of 9 minutes.

What To Do in and Around Wingham

• Wander the streets of Wingham and enjoy the street art
• Dine at Bent on Food
• Admire the historical buildings in town
• Have a beer at The Australian Hotel
• Visit the Manning Museum
• Wander Wingham Central Park
• Take the Wingham Self-Guided Heritage Walk
• Visit the Coorabakh National Park
• Visit Ellenborough Falls , one of Australia’s top ten waterfalls
• Visit Potaroo Falls
• Visit Saltwater National Park
• Visit Crowdy Bay National Park
• Explore the Manning River – a fishing and boating paradise
• Visit Tapin Tops National Park
• Take a self-guided Cattai Wetlands walk
• Enjoy dinner at the Wynter Tavern 1 Bushland Drive Taree not far from Wingham

The final leg of our north coast of NSW road trip.

Distance from Wingham to Sydney 321 km with an average driving time of 3 hours 38 minutes.

We hope you enjoyed our article on our North Coast Road Trip travelling via the coast and returning via the country. Feel free to share our article with family and friends. If you have any questions please contact us or post your question on our private Facebook group here .

Do you need to hire a car for the road trip? Find out more details here

Maybe you are considering hiring a campervan – find out more here

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More reading:

NSW Accommodation

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TD8 Action Group

Tourist Drive 8 is the scenic hinterland route linking Taree to Port Macquarie, through Wingham, Comboyne, and the famous Ellenborough Falls. TD8 Action Group advocates for the upkeep and improvement of this important drive, believing that both the tourists and local residents who use it add immensely to the social and economic viability of the Mid North Coast.

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Petition for classification of bulga & colling roads from local to regional.

•  Greater Taree City Council (GTCC) has no funds to ensure our roads are safe and appropriately maintained.
• GTCC’s backlog of infrastructure works is $200 million (as at Sept 2011) and is expected to increase by $20 million per year.
•  Unless we can secure additional funds for our roads they will continue to deteriorate and become increasingly unsafe for use by our families and friends, the school bus, the business community and local, interstate and international tourists.
• The only solution is to secure financial support from the State and Federal government.
• The State government gives annual funding to local councils to maintain roads classified as “Regional” because of their significance.

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Community meeting - wednesday 7th december 2011 bulga hall.

• Use the engineering and road building knowledge within our community to prepare a document that outlines clearly the work required on the Upper Bulga Road to make it safe and specifies a maintenance program to keep it this way
• This document would look at factors such as the piping for water management and road design
• The aim of this document is to quantify the work required so we have facts and figures to support our request
• Damon, Greg and Kerry to work on this project together and have offered to make any information they put together available to individuals to use for an assessment of their own road
• Marie offered to share the drainage points information provided by GTCC when they built their property
• A petition requesting the reinstatement of Upper Bulga Road and Colling Road as a regional road is currently in circulation
• We would aim to get as many signatures on this petition over the peak holiday time
• Some key points identified to include in the submission for the reclassification:
• Ellenborough Falls will soon be a National Park
• The potential impact of the War Veterans' Remembrance Drive initiative
• The potential negative environmental impact of the road washing away
• Ensuring access for emergency vehicles
• Safety concerns for locals and tourists
• If the School bus could no longer travel down the road, the Dept of Transport would have to pay parents to take their children to school
• It was suggested that we approach GTCC and ask them to put a counter at the Falls to determine the number of cars using the road
•  Seek to get the support from GTCC to lodge a joint submission with Port Macquarie Hastings Council for the reclassification of the road
• Maybe get Councillors to come up and see the road
• Encourage locals to make videos to post to YouTube to generate support for our cause
• Put a draft letter and the key contacts at GTCC on www.elandsonline.info so people can easily lobby GTCC
• Encourage locals to register all accidents that occur on the road - Greg to provide contact details of who to report the accident to and this information will be posted to www.elandsonline.info
• Ask them to sign the petition
• Give them an extra piece of paper that encourages them to also write to the Council or to post comments to our website.

Monday, November 28, 2011

• UPDATE FROM TD8 ACTION GROUP - 28th November 2011

Sunday, November 6, 2011

• TD8 UPDATE AT ELANDS MEETING 27TH NOV 2011

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

• Bridges and Roads Update

Sunday, April 3, 2011

Bulga road rectification works complete - 4th april 2011, friday, january 21, 2011, bulga road remediation works & bridges update - january 2011, about td8actiongroup, previous postings.

• ►  June (2)
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• ►  February (2)
• ►  January (1)
• PETITION FOR CLASSIFICATION OF BULGA & COLLING ROA...
• COMMUNITY MEETING - WEDNESDAY 7TH DECEMBER 2011 BU...
• BULGA ROAD RECTIFICATION WORKS COMPLETE - 4th Apri...
• BULGA ROAD REMEDIATION WORKS & BRIDGES UPDATE - JA...
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