LOCATIONS AND MAPS
There are 26 seaside and hinterland villages in the Manning Valley: here is just a taste of what you can see and experience.Area maps and business/service details: Taree | Wingham | Harrington | Manning Point | Old Bar | Hallidays Point
Grouped maps: Beaches | Boatramps | Emergency Services | Fishing Licences | Fuel | Parks, Reserves & Picnic Areas | Public Toilets | Rest Areas
Croki
Croki is well worth a deviation from the highway, to visit a historic Manning River village. Today, Croki is a sleepy little rural village on the river surrounded by lush dairy farms with spectacular scenery over Oxley and Mitchell Islands to the South and the Brother Mountains to the North. A great place to picnic under the shade of the Moreton Bay figs.Cundletown
The village of Cundletown sits on the banks of the Manning River and is a peaceful village with boat ramp access and picnic facilities at Kendall Reserve.Those seeking to explore their family history of the lower Manning Valley should visit the Cundletown Lower Manning Historical Society Inc at the Melvie Chick Historical Centre located on the corner of High and Victoria Streets in Cundletown.
The Centre offers extensive written and photographic records of the area's past, curatorial and education services and group bookings. The archival records are primarily photographs and written materials relating to Cundletown, Dumaresq Island, Cundle Plains and Ghinni Ghinni.
Related document: Cundletown Self Guided Heritage Walk
Hallidays Point
Hallidays Point encompasses the areas of Tallwoods, Black Head, Red Head and Diamond Beach. There are excellent beaches to explore and a great walk in a littoral rainforest established by the Lands Department along the coast. There are also nearby fun parks for the kids to enjoy at the Big Buzz Fun Park and Ton O Fun.
Accommodation is available at Australis Resort
, Seashells Beachfront Resort, Tallwoods Verve Resort, Beachfront Holiday Resort and Ocean Dreaming.Krambach/Dyers Crossing/Failford/Nabiac/Possum Brush
Travel west from Taree along the Bucketts Way towards Gloucester and you will find Krambach, a hillside village in a picturesque rural setting offering a variety of country experiences in and around the village including working farms. A wonderful attraction of this area is the true country golf course, known affectionately by the locals as Royal Krambach, which is fenced off around the greens from cattle and kangaroos.Travel from Krambach along country roads through the village of Dyers Crossing. Located along the Wallanbah Road near Dyers Crossing is Villa d’Esta Vineyard offering cellar door sales and tastings feature wines hand made in a traditional Hungarian style.
Back on the Pacific Highway at Nabiac, there are country stores and a number of art and craft establishments within the town. The award winning Honeycomb Valley, hosted accommodation and farmstay, is located near Nabiac and is worth a visit to see their sustainable property and state of the art solar ovens.
Between Taree and Forster located on the corner of Failford Road and the Lakes Way you will find attractions such as The Big Buzz Fun Park, Ton O Fun and Little Darlings Doll Museum and Coffee Shop where there are over 400 dolls on display. At nearby Possum Brush, you will find horse riding trips available at Clarendon Forest Retreat
and fabulous accommodation in their luxury cottages set on 1000 acres.
Harrington
Get off the Highway to another World ..
Harrington is known as a fishing paradise with the bountiful coastline plus 150kms of the mighty Manning River starting here and ready to explore.Whether you are a fanatical boat fisher, an adventurous rock or surfcaster, or simply a family with kids who enjoys relaxing with a line dangling from a jetty or breakwater, Harrington will satisfy your needs. The fishing is fantastic for jewfish, snapper, perch, bream, blackfish and whiting. Deep sea fishing is an option with charters from Crowdy Bay Charters at Crowdy Head.
A great way to enjoy Harrington is to take one of our many walking trails where you can admire our natural wonders at your own pace. No one should return home without walking the Harrington breakwater while a walk along the riverside may often be rewarded with dolphins at play in the peaceful Manning River. The recently completed Riverside walk is also wheelchair friendly and stretches for several kilometers and is a flat track suitable for everyone.
Pick up some oysters from Stones Oysters to add to your picnic and explore Harrington. Activities are endless with a blend of tranquil hideaway and vibrant village, famed for beautiful sunrises and just as dramatic sunsets and positioned amongst pristine national parks and beautiful beaches, Harrington has loads of activities for the family.
There is also a variety of great places to eat in Harrington, check out our dining guide for suggestions.
The European history of the area has a strong maritime flavour as captured by the creative totem characters dotted through the town. At Pilots Hill a monument guards the graves of ships' pilots lost on the dangerous sandbars standing just off the river mouth.
Our Ways to Have FunStart the year with a bang at our New Year’s Fireworks, now the largest in the region, one highlight of a 2 days festival of markets, sporting events and entertainment. At other times of the year we are home to popular fishing and lawn bowls competitions.
Every Spring it seems everyone is at the annual Mullet Boat Race Day on the river. There are large turnouts for the Harrington Markets held in all major holiday periods. For more cerebral pursuits Harrington is host each summer to Poets by The Sea.
All year entertainment is available and look no further than the quality entertainment you will find at our hotels and clubs. You might be surprised at who escapes the city to play with our homegrown talent.
Accommodation at Harrington provides diversity from Harrigans All Seasons
, the Oxley Anchorage, Colonial Leisure Village, the Big 4 Holiday Park.
Both Pilots Hill and Crowdy Headland will reward you with stunning views and for whale spotting during their annual migrations. For more information about whale watching visit;
For more information on the State Parks at Harrington go to;
For more information on Harrington visit www.harringtoncrowdyhead.com
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Crowdy Head
Crowdy Head is a quaint fishing village located just 9kms from Harrington. This unique location retains evidence of it's European settlement and history around the area with a strong maritime flavour.
A must do for all is a visit to Crowdy Head Lighthouse. The lighthouse perched high on the headland provides exceptional views and is easily accessible on a sealed road.
History and literary buffs should also visit the hut near Diamond Head of celebrated Australian novelist Kylie Tennant. This “retreat in nature” was the inspiration for her novel, The Man on the Headland.
Boat, beach and rock fishing are great options at Crowdy Head. Deep sea fishing is a favourite activity of visitors with charter boat hire if you don’t have your own from Crowdy Bay Charters located at Crowdy Head harbour.
Crowdy Beach sweeps in a long arc through to Diamond Head Beach in the National Park. Accommodation is available at Hansens on the Headland.
For more information on Crowdy Head visit www.harringtoncrowdyhead.com
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Manning Point
The sea and the south arm of the Manning River meet at this idyllic spot on the coastline of the Manning Valley. Manning Point has long provided a place to get away from it all and throw in a line.
A picturesque village located almost at the mouth of the Manning River it sits on a narrow spit between the river and the sea. It is part of a landscape of islands and the many tributaries that form the Manning River delta, the largest in Australia.
Today with a population of nearly 300 it offers holiday accommodation, a general store, a bowling club, two caravan parks, several cafes, a gallery and a bait shop and jetty.
The ocean provides sandy beaches for swimming, whilst the river provides excellent fishing facilities. There are oyster farmers, a general store and several cafes.
Accommodation at Manning Point includes Shoesmiths Holiday Rental, East Ocean Shores Holiday Park, Weeroona Holiday Park and Melaleuca Retreat on Mitchells Island.
Knorrit Flat and Cundle Flat
A 45 minute drive west of Wingham is the location for these riverside camping areas which are becoming more and more popular for families and couples who want to experience the rivers and the hinterland regions. Past Mt George, there are spectacular mountains and nestled on the riverbank you will find accommodation at Knorrit Flat Riverside Retreat and Cundle Flat Farm.Taree
Taree is the heart of the Manning Valley on the banks of the Manning River. The beautiful riverside parks include Fotheringham, Queen Elizabeth Park and Kendall Reserve. Enjoy a picnic, feed the birds or simply sit and enjoy the peaceful river.
Taree offers an excellent shopping centre with all the variety of larger centres. Taree City Centre and Manning Mall will provide you with all you require. There are also some great cafes and restaurants in town such as Bowers Cafe, Sailos at the Aquatic Club, Ironbark Restaurant at Club Taree, Raw Sugar, The Bean Bar and Fish Fish Fish.
Accommodation available in Taree ranges from Alabaster Lodge Motor Inn, All Seasons Country Lodge, Best Western Caravilla Motor Inn, Chatham Motel, Comfort Inn Country Plaza
, Comfort Inn Marco Polo, Crescent Motel, Hereford Lodge, Taree Highway Motor Inn, Inn Town Motor Inn, Midlands Motel, Pacific Motel, Riverview Motor Inn, Scothedge Retreat, NunDoo-bah Retreat, Twilight Caravan Park and Dawson River Tourist Park.Related document: Taree Self Guided Heritage Walk
Old Bar
Old Bar is the perfect place to relax and unwind. Blessed with long hot summers and mild sunny winters it is your ideal holiday destination 365 days of the year. Old Bar offers an intimate “village" experience and is a nature lover’s paradise with sun swept golden beaches, secluded still waterways and magnificent nature reserves.
Old Bar is Taree's closest surfing beach and is home to the award winning Old Bar Beach Festival, held each year on the long weekend in October. It also has the mouth of the Manning to the north and a reserve known as Mudbishops Reserve. Old Bar is also known for the heritage listed airstrip.
Old Bar has a diversity of local shops, a pub, a major supermarket and a number of popular cafes and restaurants. Old Bar Markets are held on the fourth Sunday of the month near the local tennis courts.
Accommodation on the way to Old Bar is available at Kiwarrak Country Retreat and at Mescals at Pampoolah
. In the Old Bar area accommodation includes Chiltern Lodge, the Meridian Resort Beachside, Surfside Retreat, Seachange Cottages and Villa, Riverside Pet and Farmstay, Azalea Cottage, Namaste Beach House and Lanis on the Beach.
If you require other holiday accommodation, there is Lauders Real Estate who can assist. Muddies Kiteboarding and other adventure activites are available in Old Bar.
Things to Do
- Enjoy watching migrating whales from scenic headlands and beaches
- Take in the perfect backdrop of nature as you go kayaking at Khappinghat Inlet
- Go kitesurfing and take in the panoramic views from above
- Get close up with nature on one of our many walking or cycling trails
- Tap into our laidback coastal lifestyle, the focus of the annual Old Bar Beach Festival
- Each September when the whole town is one giant garage sale or catch our monthly market
Our Beaches
The main beach at Old Bar seems to stretch for miles so it’s easy to find your own spot on the white sands to swim, bodyboard, surf, walk or just laze. It is patrolled in summer, always a plus with families. Rushby Park located right on the beachfront has a skate park, surf club, a takeaway, a community pool, covered picnic tables, BBQ’s, children’s playground and toilet and shower facilities Mudbishops Reserve at the very northern end is ideal to launch small boats onto the Manning River and has picnic tables and amenities. This part of the beach is also a favourite spot for kitesurfers and a local kitesurfing school means nearly everyone gets the chance to fly high. In the area you also have a choice of other beaches by visiting Manning Point or Saltwater.
Our Surf
When travelling north from Sydney Old Bar Beach is the closest beach from the Pacific Highway so it’s the perfect place for surfers or bodyboarders to stop. There is always a wave on offer as it faces nearly due east and picks up any available swell or wind. The beach offers some excellent sand bottom breaks while offshore the Old Bar reef is capable of shaping larger swells. The neighbouring beach, Saltwater, is also very popular.Our Heritage
At Old Bar Beach you will find one of the best remaining examples in NSW of a grassed airstrip with its own rich history. Created in the late 1920’s the Old Bar Airstrip hosted its first major air pageant in 1930 and has an association with many aviation pioneers such as Charles Kingsford-Smith and Nancy Bird Walton. Today it still comes alive with air pageants and events.Old Bar Beach Festival
Held every October long weekend this award winning Festival celebrates kombis, our coastal culture and laidback lifestyle. Indeed all that is special and unique about Aussie beach culture. Centre stage is Kombi Fest, the largest gathering in Australia of this iconic vehicle so linked with summer and the beach.As well the Old Bar Classic, this event sees veteran and vintage cars on display while a range of aircraft take to the skies above our historic Old Bar Airfield. The Festival also includes flipper running races, a surf expression session, beach runs, over 250 stalls at the Mega Markets, amusement rides, all day entertainment, art exhibitions, skateboarding and kite surfing. All this and more in just two days with free admission.
Related website: Old Bar Festival website
Our Events
In addition to the Festival we are home to a number of other major events. In September the whole town comes together for our “Giant Garage Sale”, perhaps the largest in New South Wales! Saltwater was not only the inspiration for the iconic Aussie brand Hot Tuna but now hosts the Saltwater Wine Pro and the Saltwater Malibu Surf Classic. Old Bar also hosts a variety of surf and bodyboarding competitions and bowls tournaments.Saltwater Beach and Wallabi Point
South of Old Bar on the coast is Saltwater National Park just a short drive away through the tiny village of Wallabi Point. By National Park standards it is small, only 33 hectares, but it has much to offer the visitor.The park conserves rare coastal rainforest and wetlands but also boasts two swimming beaches, great surfing, a spectacular headland and a saltwater lagoon particularly suitable for small children. There are shady picnic areas with barbeques and amenities while on the western side of the lagoon you can safely explore upstream into the Khappinghat Nature Reserve.
Saltwater Reserve has special significance for the local Aboriginal community (Biripi) and offers barbecue/picnic areas. It contains Aboriginal sites which relate to Dreamtime beliefs and the lagoon nestled against the Reserve provides safe swimming for the family. The reserve is part of the Saltwater National Park.
Accommodation is available at Wallabi Point B&B.
Our Surf
Saltwater is a popular surf spot with a long right and point break on its northern edge and a number of secret reefs and sand breaks between Saltwater Point and “2nd corner”.Our Heritage
Saltwater was for thousands of years an Aboriginal seasonal camp and today remains a place of cultural and spiritual significance to the local Biripi community. Interpretative displays in the park now highlight this significance.Killabakh
The beautiful rural locality, just a 10 minute drive north of Wingham along Comboyne Road is quaint and full of community pride, which is evident with its tidy town status.The focal point of activities in this small village is now, and has been for 100 years, its community hall. The original hall, completed in 1907, was demolished in 1948 and another erected. The war memorial adjacent to the hall was designed by prominent architect JT Chambers and erected in 1921 in memory of Corporal John Wollard to keep green the memory of the local lad who gave his life for Empire, King and Country. The strong sense of community pride at Killabakh is showcased annually with the "A Day in the Country" at Killabakh Hall.
Tinonee
Tinonee was one of the earliest settlements in the Manning and the Tinonee Museum offers a look back in time. The picturesque park overlooks the Manning River and Taree Estate. This stretch of water is the focus of water skiing activities on the Manning River.Just minutes from Tinonee there are breathtaking panoramic views over the surrounding Manning Valley at Brushy Cutting Lookout. This 10 minute panoramic drive from Tinonee to Wingham is picture perfect and where you can find more beauty at Tinonee Orchids. Tourist Drive 8 can be resumed at Wingham.
Accommodation at Tinonee is available at Tinonee Cottages and off Buckett’s Way is Mansfield on the Manning cottages.
Related document: Walk Wingham and Take in Tinonee
Wingham
Wingham offers visitors a step back in time. Its rich heritage is evident in the many splendid National Trust listed Federation buildings which surround the town common modelled on the English square.Manning Valley Historical Society's Museum is located in the town centre, open 7 days.
To be found at Wingham is Wingham Brush, part of the last 10 hectares of sub-tropical floodplain rainforest in NSW. Giant Moreton Bay figs dominate the Brush along with flying foxes, birds and native marsupials. Located adjacent to the Manning River, 500 metres from the shopping centre, a BBQ/picnic area is provided as well as boat launching facilities.
. Accommodation in Wingham is available at the The Bank Guesthouse, Wingham Motel, Golf Club Motor Inn, Tallowood Ridge B&B and in Mondrook at Artisans Retreat B&B accommodation.Related document: Walk Wingham and Take in Tinonee
Road Closure
Wingham Road will be closed for resurfacing between Kolodong Rd (West) and Carpunghat Creek from Monday 20 June 2011 to Friday 26 August 2011 (weather permitting).Related document: Wingham Road Closure: Details of Roadworks and Alternative Routes
