AUSTRALIA , OCEANIA , SYDNEY LIFE , TRAVEL

EXPLORING THE MID NORTH COAST OF NSW

Apr 22, 2021

In early December 2020, after many months of COVID-related travel restrictions, things started to feel somewhat “normal” again in my home state. Knowing that overseas travel would remain off the menu for some time, JJ and I decided to take a summer road trip up the north coast of New South Wales. These are all the lovely places that we stopped to explore between Sydney and Yamba.

RAYMOND TERRACE

Roughly 2 hours north of Sydney, Raymond Terrace in the Hunter Region is a convenient pit stop when travelling the Pacific Highway. Raymond Terrace town centre is adjacent to the Hunter River so I can recommend a relaxed lunch at The Riverhouse Café to take in a pretty view and stretch your legs. JJ and I stopped both on our way up the coast and on our way back down to Sydney, it was so peaceful.

OLD BAR

The coastal town of Old Bar is about 315km north of Sydney and a couple of hours drive from Raymond Terrace or Newcastle. Old Bar Beach is a well-known surf location and the conditions are often excellent for kiteboarding too.

Beachside accommodation options at Old Bar include a range of self-contained apartments, cottages and campsites. JJ and I spent 2 nights at the brand new Club Old Bar Motel which is much more like a 4-star hotel than a motel. It’s close to everything, quiet, spotlessly clean and even has a small gym – perfect!

Butterfly + dragonfly, Old Bar — Kookaburra, butterfly and dragonfly

Behind our motel was a track that leads through the bush and past a heritage-listed airfield. We spotted loads of wildlife on our walks around the area.

For dinner, JJ and I ate at Flow Bar (tapas) on our first night and Club Old Bar (pub/club fare) on our second. We also had a huge and mouth-watering brunch at Old Bar Village Cafe. No regrets about any of our venue choices 🙂

KENDALL

Middle Brother National Park, Mid North Coast of New South Wales — Bird Tree and Benaroon, Middle Brother NP

Situated on the banks of the Camden Haven River, Kendall is nicknamed “The Poet’s Village” in honour of Australian bush poet Henry Kendall. It’s a 4-hour drive from Sydney and just 45 mins drive from Old Bar. The nearest airport is Port Macquarie.

Kendall makes a great base to explore the surrounding beautiful beaches and national parks. Middle Brother National Park was established to protect two of the largest coastal blackbutt trees in NSW – Bird Tree and Benaroon. Scientists estimate these massive trees to be 300+ years old.

Crowdy Bay National Park, Mid North Coast of New South Wales

If you’re in this area, Crowdy Bay National Park is not to be missed. Stunning ocean and mountain vistas, an abundance of wildlife and, despite its name, crowd-free beaches. I could have spent all day watching the sea eagles soaring over Diamond Head. Amazing.

There are a few B&B options as well as campsites around the Camden Haven River Valley. JJ and I stayed 2 nights at Safari Lodge Retreat in Kendall. This secluded cabin overlooking the river had everything we needed for a comfortable self-catered stay. Plenty of kangaroo and bird watching to be done from the deck too. Bonus points for the heated outdoor shower which I loved.

VALLA BEACH

We only spent a couple of hours in Valla Beach, but it’s definitely somewhere we’d like to revisit. This small coastal community lies just north of Nambucca Heads and is a further 1 ½ hour drive from Kendall. The nearest airport is Coffs Harbour. North and South Valla Beaches are brilliant surf spots, JJ caught some decent waves there.

Nourish Cafe & Grocer, Valla Beach — Nourish Cafe & Grocer

My recommendation for food if you’re ever in Valla Beach is Nourish Cafe & Grocer. Lots of healthy, tasty options and good coffee. Leave room for one of their homemade cakes, they’re seriously YUM.

URUNGA

Only a 10 mins drive from Valla Beach is the seaside town of Urunga which is also famous for its surf. The town can be a base for exploring the Waterfall Way – an impressively scenic route to World Heritage-listed Dorrigo National Park.

JJ and I visited for lunch and a walk along the Urunga Boardwalk. The 1km boardwalk passes along the banks of the Kalang River, to the junction with the Bellinger River, then out to the ocean. It’s worth checking out and is fully wheelchair accessible. We ate at the delicious and highly rated Pomegranate Cafe.

This wasn’t our first or likely last trip up the Mid North Coast of New South Wales. There are just so many awesome places to discover in this region! In my next post, I detail all the fun things that we got up to in wonderful Yamba.