# 1 S U I T U P A T T H E B E A C H

Winter on the Macleay Valley Coast means mild temperatures, offshore winds, crisp

mornings and, often, perfect surf conditions. Don a wetsuit and paddle board in the

calm waters of Trial Bay, surf glassy waves in Crescent Head, or dive off South West

Rocks. Fishing is another great way to get out on the water at this time of year, with

endless options including beach, rock, reef, deep sea, river and estuary fishing.

What is there to do in a coastal region when the weather turns chilly? The answer is, plenty, especially when

winter in the Macleay is mostly blue clear skies and crisp, cooler days. Here are our top nine ways to enjoy

winter on the Macleay Valley Coast. You've been dreaming...now's the time to drop in!

# 2 G E T Y O U R C U L T U R E F I X

Gladstone is one of those villages that keeps going from strength to strength, led by

a devoted community of artists, creative business people and foodies. Winter is a

lovely time to visit any one (or all!) of the riverside cafes, or to spend a Sunday

perusing the various artist’s studios tucked inside heritage buildings.

# 3 D I S C O V E R T O U R I S T D R I V E 1 2

Beginning at Crescent Head, the incredibly scenic Tourist Drive 12 takes you

through lush farmland along the Belmore River, passing through Gladstone on its

way to South West Rocks.

# 4 W A T C H F O R W H A L E S

Winter just happens to be whale season on the Macleay Valley Coast, so don’t miss

the opportunity to spot these gentle giants making their way along our shores. Get

your camera ready and capture the whales breaching and feeding in pods from the

vantage points of Crescent Head, Smoky Cape, or Hat Head.

Surfing at Crescent Head

Grabbing a coffee at Steam & Cedar, Gladstone

A great point to watch the whales from at Smoky Cape

Yarriabini National Park

# 5 W A R M U P O N T H E K A L A T E E N E EM O U N T A I N B I K E T R A I L S

While it might be a bit fresh at the beach, winter is the perfect time to warm up on 

9 WAYS TO EXPLORE THE MACLEAY IN WINTER

Kayaking on the Macleay River

Grazing table at Garden Bar & Kitchen, Frederickton

the Kalateenee Mountain Bike Trails – 25 kilometres of tracks that loop through

stunning bush scenery of towering eucalypts, ironbark and brushbox trees. The

trails are graded and well-maintained, featuring plenty of fun obstacles and

challenges.

# 6 T A K E A W A L K O N T H E W I L D S I D E

Want to experience the outdoors minus the sweat and sunburn? Now is the perfect

time to walk through our pristine national parks. You’ll find the best bushwalks,

along the coast and within the hinterland, from easy to challenging, check them out

here.

# 7 C H I L L A R O U N D A C A M P F I R E

It’s a well-kept secret that winter is the best time to go camping on the Macleay

Valley Coast. Soak up starry nights sipping hot chocolate around the campfire, rug

up and walk along the beach and immerse yourself in quiet bushland (with no

mozzies!). Check out the National Parks website for winter camping with all the

perks!

# 8 E A T A N D D R I N K We know how much you have been waiting to have a laugh and reconnect with

friends and family over some delicious food and drink after being stuck at home for

so long. Lucky because our cafes and restaurants are opening back up and are

looking forward to having you. Please contact businesses directly to check on their

offerings right now.

# 9 E S C A P E T O T H E H I N T E R L A N DGo for a drive West of Kempsey to discover magical views of the mighty Macleay

River meandering through ancient valleys, then stop at the Bellbrook Hotel for a

beer. Experience real old fashioned country hospitality, spectacular mountain

ranges, rocky river gorges, sprawling farmland and peaceful villages.

Walking in Hat Head National Park

Racecourse Beach, Crescent Head

Explore accommodation options in the region.

For more inspiration go to macleayvalleycoast.com.au and at this time please go directly to tourism operators to find out their current

trading times and offerings since COVID restrictions have eased.