The town of Morisset is part of the Southlake area of Lake Macquarie located at the foot of the Watagan Mountains. Morisset has a thriving town centre with many shops, services, restaurants and cafes. Visit the Morisset Mega Markets held every weekend for local produce, arts and crafts.
The Southlake area of Morisset, Dora Creek, Cooranbong, Wyee and Watagan National Park is popular for its calm waterways and quiet rural communities.
Modanville is a town located 20 minutes north of Lismore. It is surrounded by lush rainforest bordering farmland. Dairy and macadamia plantations are farmed in the area, and its neighbouring town of Dunoon is known as the macadamia capital of Australia. The Modanville General Store is located just off the main road, open seven days offering refreshments.
Good things come in small packages and Minnie Water is an absolute gem of a beach village!
One of the best camping spots in NSW, Minnie Water indicates the halfway mark for the Yuraygir Coastal Walk. If you’re not doing the walk but would like a taste, there are easy walks to the north and south available for you to try!
Just north of Minnie Water lies the fabulous Illaroo campground. This campground offers scenic beachside camping sites for caravans, tents and trailers. It’s great for fishing, swimming, canoeing, snorkelling and learning how to surf.
Minnie is one of the older fishing settlements on the coast, due to good anchorage in the shelter of the southern reef. The properties that made it so suitable for fishermen in the days of old are exactly what makes it perfect for today’s holidaymakers.
There’s a reserve towards the north end that contains a hall, toilets, picnic area, the Minnie Water SLSC (the beach is patrolled through the summer holidays) and a vehicle beach access track.
Besides the 65 kilometre coastal trek that is the Yuraygir coastal walk, this area has a handful of other short walk options that may be easier to convince the kids to do – perhaps try the Angophora or Rocky Point walks out for size!
Mayfield is one of Newcastle’s oldest suburbs and is located six kilometres from the central business district. During its development in the 1880s it attracted wealthy Newcastle residents who chose to live in villas on the outskirts of the city. It was also a residential area for workers in the nearby steelworks and other industries. Today it is a thriving cultural hub known for its antique shopping, hipster cafes and private galleries.
Merewether is the most populated suburb of Newcastle and is home to beautiful Merewether Beach. The first ocean baths at Merewether were built in 1926 and the remains of the first small baths are still used today.
Enjoy the local parks with barbecue facilities and playground equipment or visit nearby Glenrock State Recreation Park for walking trails and picnic areas. Merewether is a commercial and shopping district with schools, facilities and a diversity of housing.
Manning Point is located at the end of Manning Point Road, right at the northern entrance of the Manning River. It is bordered by the river on one side and ocean on the other.
On the ocean side, long sandy beaches beckon swimmers and walkers, while the river side is a haven for boaties, oyster lovers, and fishermen.
Manning Point’s main street edges the river and the wooden jetties offer a perfect spot to cast a line. Visit the licensed restaurant, bowling club, or cafe which serves delicious coffee and light meals.
There is four wheel drive access to the beach through Manning Point Reserve, but take care not to disturb the breeding area of the endangered little tern. This is the access point for Farquhar Park Camping ground also. Vehicle on beaches permits are required and are available at the Manning Point General Store.
The Macleay Valley Hinterland is a wild and natural area with a rich indigenous, agricultural and musical history. Exploring this neck of the woods requires a bit of initiative and an adventurous spirit, so don your Akubra (or pick one up from the company’s factory headquarters in Kempsey) and get ready to be surprised.
Make your way to the heritage town of Willawarrin and take the historic walk, stopping to marvel at the interior of the Willawarrin Hotel, which was built in 1893.
Further along, explore the heritage-listed village of Bellbrook, a timeless place that reflects an era when bullocks still pulled logs down the main street. Soak up the olde-world atmosphere at the perfectly restored Bellbrook Hotel, where you can enjoy a pub meal and a chin wag with the locals.
Maclean is Australia’s Scottish town, where you can’t help but notice hundreds of tartan-painted power poles. Can you find your Scottish name and tartan?(No problem if you don’t have any Scottish heritage, just find a tartan and name you like and adopt it as your own for a day. Adopt a Scottish accent for extra cultural immersion.)
Savour delicious locally roasted coffee and fresh local produce in the many cafes in the main street.
For spectacular views of the Clarence Valley, head to the Maclean Lookout. Stroll to the viewing platform for The Pinnacle, a unique rock formation surrounded by subtropical rainforest, and an important Aboriginal cultural heritage site.
Relax with a fishing rod at many superb fishing spots along the river. And you can buy freshly caught seafood – including local prawns – from various locations in the town.
McLachlan Park – on the north-east flank of the town, is a great spot for pulling up on your boat: the pontoon and undercover deck provide shelter and barbecue amenities for all.
Step back in time and discover Maclean’s historic buildings or wander through the quaint local shops and art galleries.
And truth be told, on a clear, still winter’s morning, when river mist cloaks the town in a soft shroud, the Loch Ness monster could pop up next to the pelicans and upriver dolphins, and you wouldn’t be too surprised.
But Maclean’s more than tartan power poles, Scottish souvenir shops, amazing cafés and galleries.
Maclean is a connector: part river village, part coastal town. Close enough to the Pacific to feel the salt on the sea breeze, country enough that your groceries will be carried out to your car if you require.
Maclean serves as a junction: it connects people to the beachside jewels of Red Cliff, Brooms Head and Sandon River, and to the inland valley gems of Ashby, Woodford Island and Lawrence.
Fitting then, that they’re all visible from ‘The Pinnacle’ – Maclean’s commanding 360 degree vantage point.
Lowanna is a village (population 335) in the Coffs Harbour hinterland, officially a suburb of the city of Coffs Harbour. It has a community hall and a primary school. The name Lowanna is an Aboriginal language word meaning “girl”. Lowanna had a station on the now closed Dorrigo railway line.
Lorne is located in the hills west of the Camden Haven region. Meander though the peaceful country side, rolling hills and friendly little towns in the Lorne Valley and beyond to the fabulous scenery of the Comboyne Plateau.
The Greater Port Macquarie Visitor Information Centre and the iKew Community and Visitor Centre can help you make the most of your time in the region.