Nambucca Valley Things To Do

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 OUTSIDE 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
  • 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”. Adults $65 and children $45. Phone for bookings on (02) 6651 1434
  • Visit Mount Yarahappinni 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
  • Coffs Harbour Butterfly House on left side of Pacific Highway about 700 metres before turnoff to Sawtell
  • Raleigh International Raceway & Waterpark 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
  • 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 Dutton 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • Take dinghy to 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

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