Explore The Beaches And Town On The Nsw North Coast Of Australia

Where the North Coast of New South Wales starts is a topic of controversy, but everybody 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 isn't any disputing the fact that you have left the mild regions of NSW behind and are now in the balmier subtropical area of the state. Coffs Harbour, the biggest regional center north of Newcastle, is well-recognized to travelers, but if you are looking to experience some smaller known coastal towns on the North Coast, follow a car with surfboards packed on the roof. The surfers' haunts on the North Coast will show you a side of the magical North Coast you might not otherwise see.

You won't need to go far from Coffs Harbour to discover a favorite surfer's stopover. Woolgoolga is only about 20 minutes' drive north, but is like a different world. The main reason why you'll see so many Indian restaurants as well as a striking Sikh temple in Woolgoolga is because this pleasant coastal town has a big concentration of Indian restaurants. While the town has great beaches and good waves, most surfers know it as the spot where they can eat some of the finest and most authentic Indian food this side of Calcutta to give them fuel for their adventures further north.

You have to leave the Pacific Highway and drive for about half an hour past lovely farming country before you arrive in Yamba. Yamba is a popular spot for the many Australians who journey with their "caravans" (trailers) in tow. It is even more popular as a surfing spot, due to the world renowned Angourie Point surfing break. Surfer or non-surfer, Angourie is a spot you'll be wanting to visit whenever you're in the North Coast. The view from the cliff above the waves is breathtaking along with a walk down the steep wooden steps to the beach takes you past magnificent Australian indigenous flora. Another established trail takes you down to a long, wild stretch of empty beach backed by nothing but untrammeled Australian bush.

Virtually every surfer who takes the Pacific Highway to the Far North Coast stops to try the waves at Lennox Head. From the parking lot located on the plateau at the top of the cliffs, you get a bird's eye view of both the surf and the surrounding scenery. Getting to the waves at Lennox Head is as difficult as riding them, since the only approach is over a wide "beach" of slippery rounded boulders. A more family friendly beach is located just a couple of miles up the road opposite the shops in town. A lot of traveling surfers choose to stay at a backpackers lodge or campground in Lennox Head rather than in nearby Byron Bay. Even in the peak of the holiday season, Lennox retains a quiet, laidback atmosphere and is just a stone's throw away from numerous great surfing places.

No one goes to the North Coast without seeing Byron Bay. Back in the sixties, "The Pass" was an almost secret spot for surfers. Today, on a good day, there are so many surfers out there vying for the waves, you almost can't see the water. That's okay. If you want to catch a couple of uncrowded waves or spend some time on a quieter stretch of beach, there are miles and miles of beaches located on the North Coast to explore. You can even choose a North Coast accommodation option in a protected National Park and claim the wide open spaces and long wide beaches as your own.