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| Myall Lakes at the southern end of N.S.W.'s North Coast, transition between lake country and river country.
Is this God's Country or what? | ||||
The Rivers and Their Highway Towns.Heading North from Sydney you encounter: Brooklyn on the Hawkesbury.Newcastle on the Hunter. Bulahdelah on the Myall. Taree on the Manning. CamdenHaven : Kendall, Laurieton Port Macquarie on the Hastings. Macleay River: Kempsey, South West Rocks Macksville and Nambucca Heads on the Nambucca. Grafton, Maclean and Yamba on the Clarence. Lismore and Ballina on the Richmond Brunswick Heads Murwillumbah and Tweed Heads on the Tweed. 
We are in danger of becoming a nation that goes from home to destination by little else but the fastest expressway and we risk missing all the intermediate points. When I was a teenager I made my first trip up the coast by car and most of the northern rivers were crossed by ferry, making for a slowish trip, but a more educational one. Nowadays one needs to stop and smell the flowers and a good way of doing this is by renting (or taking) a boat.
From the Hawkesbury to the Tweed, most of the lakes and larger rivers have houseboats for hire, rates ranging from almost reasonable to pretty well over the top. (After all, it isn't as if that they were paying for a valuable piece of real estate on which the boat is standing.) Unfortunately, riverside pubs are few and far between, unlike along the U.K.'s rivers and canals, but there are many scenic wonders to compensate.
Over the border in Queensland we find Moreton Bay and a great network of islands and waterways, plus the Brisbane River. Maps and charts are available from booksellers, newsagents and the appropriate motoring organisations such as the N.R.M.A. and R.A.C.Q. |
Off The Highway Routes.Diversions from the Pacific Highway that one can take are:Through Wiseman's Ferry and St. Albans to Cessnock. Through Woy Woy, Terrigal and Swansea to Newcastle. The Lakes Route from Bulahdelah to Forster/Tuncurry. The inland route from Wingham to Port Macquarie via Elands and Ellenborough Falls. The coastal route from Kew to Port Macquarie. The coastal route from Kempsey to South West Rocks. The inland route from Coffs Harbour to Grafton via Nana Glen. The cross-country route from Coffs Harbour to Maclean via Tucabia. The rural route from Grafton to Maclean via Lawrence and the ferry. Summerland Way (inland) from Grafton to Casino. Woodburn to Byron via Lismore and Federal. Broadwater to Ballina via south side of the river + ferry. Ballina to Byron via the coast. Byron to Tweed via Wooyung coastal road or via Mooball to Pottsville.. | |||
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| Some Motel Accomodation: ********************* Coffs Harbour: Golden Glow. 6652 2644 Broadwater: Commercial Hotel. 6682 8266 Maclean: Maclean Motel. 6645 2473 |
Youth Hostels. ************** Coffs Harbour Murwillumbah Coolangatta Various Byron Backpacker. Contact YHA in Sydney or other capital city for a list of youth hostels. | |||
| links Back to Page 1. Or check our Regional Roundup >1. Coffs | ||||