Places, like people, tend to get “type cast.” When someone mentions Byron Bay, we think of alternative lifestylers, surfers and backpackers and overlook the fact that it is also a great family destination. When Port Macquarie is mentioned, most Australians immediately think of family holidays. While it is true that Port MacQuarie, just about equidistant [...]

Blueys Beach and Boomerang Beach are neighbouring communities in the Great Lakes region of the lower mid-north coast of New South Wales. While many Sydneysiders drive much further north to Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour or Byron Bay for their beachside holidays, those in the know make it easy on themselves and spend their holidays at [...]

Located on the northern end of the Great Lakes district on the mid-north coast of New South Wales, Taree makes an ideal vacation spot for those who are looking for something a little different. Unlike Forster and Port Macquarie, its neighbours to the south and north, Taree has never been developed into a primarily tourist [...]

The little town of Bellingen, near Coffs Harbour on the New South Wales mid-north coast, is quickly replacing Byron Bay as the arts, crafts and entertainment capital of Australia. A small town with a total population of under 3000, Bellingen is located on Highway 78, the stunningly beautiful "Waterfall Way" that links the coastal Pacific [...]

The Coffs Harbour region of New South Wales has become such a popular tourist region, it is often referred to as the "Holiday Coast." There may be a bit of advertising hype in that slogan, but there is truth in it as well. Formerly called the "banana belt," the region is where the weather on [...]

Where the North Coast of New South Wales begins is a subject of controversy, but everyone agrees that when you have reached Coffs Harbour, you are well and truly into the North Coast. Coffs Harbour is where the banana plantations are located, so there is no disputing the fact that you have left the temperate [...]

City life can be stressful, and sometimes you just need to get away. Whether you live in Sydney or are just visiting, you should take a few days for a family vacation and some fresh air in one of the great weekend destinations that neighbor the city. The Blue Mountains Just outside of Sydney you [...]

Everybody knows that Australia is synonymous with surfing—that’s just common sense. In keeping with that notion, a couple of active locals in Port Macquarie (situated in the mid section of the New South Wales coastline, halfway between Sydney and Brisbane) have set up one of the most effective and entertaining surf school establishments out there. [...]