North Coast
Often called the Holiday Coast by Sydney-siders, this sand-strewn fantasyland of the northern NSW coast caters equally to leisurely backpackers, die-hard surfers, and hordes of families. Newcastle and Port Macquarie, with urban shores only a day from Sydney, draw holiday-makers itching to sunbathe, water-ski, or wet their surfboards At the other end of the spectrum, inland eco-activist centers Lismore and Bellingen thrive on highly productive agricultural land punctuated by scenic national parks and fast-flowing rivers. With virtual cult status, Byron Bay synthesizes these two distinct flavors and seems to have a magnetic pull for all kinds of travelers, luring sunburned and party-ready hordes up the coast and detaining them for a while before they progress toward the Queensland border and the clutch of beaches beyond. For coverage of Tweed Heads, see Tweed Heads and Coolangatta.
Near Newcastle
Fifteen minutes south of Newcastle is Lake Macquarie, Australia’s largest coastal saltwater lake (four times the size of Sydney Harbour) and a holiday hotspot. The shore is popular with surfers and families alike, with great waves, caverns at Caves Beach, and an old mining village at Catherine Hill Bay. Spelunkers must go at low tide so as not to get caught in the caves. Tide tables are at the info center. The district has many caravan parks and motels. It’s also convenient to stay in Belmont or Charlestown, suburbs of Newcastle. The Lake Macquarie information center is at 72 Pacific Hwy in the Blacksmiths (open M-F 9am-5pm, Sa-Su 9am-4pm). The mountainous Watagan State Forests separate Lake Macquarie from the Hunter River. An hour from Newcastle and the Hunter Valley, they’re ideal for hikes, picnics, or camping. There are six campsites, most with firewood, barbecues, toilets, and water. Call the State Forests of NSW for more info.
Related Travel Information
North Coast of Queensland
The northern Queensland coast sits at the junction of the tropical far north, the rugged frontier of the outback, and the civilized cities of the southern coastline. Waving fields and smoking mills represent the region's greatest industry, sugar cane. Towns-ville, Queensland's second largest city, is the economic and residential center of the area. Off its shores, Magnetic Island offers solitude and koalas in the wild. Between here and Mission Beach, white beaches glow next to crystalline water, across which the Great Barrier Reef beckons. The miles inland hide swaths of rainforest populated by birds, bugs, and bouncing
Midlands And Batayia Coast
Renowned as much for the seas of bright color that blanket the region during the autumn wildflower season as for its beautiful coast, this region depends on fishing, agriculture, and tourism to earn its keep. The Branch Hwy marches north from Perth a few dozen kilometers inland from the coastline of the Indian Ocean, while the wheat-growing Midlands extend for hundreds of kilometers to the east. The Batavia Coast stretches from just north of the Pinnacles up as far as the red cliffs of Kalbarri, and takes its name from the most famous of the many shipwrecks
Outback Coast And Gascoyne Region
With its safe swimming, spectacular diving and snorkeling, and lively marine life, the Outback Coast stretches from Shark Bay and its dolphins in the south to the whale sharks and corals of the Ningaloo Marine Park in the north. Though the region sees plenty of visitors year-round, winter is peak season, when caravanning Perthites park themselves along the sunny coast to wait out the cold weather down south.
Of the major coastal destinations between Perth and Exmouth, only Geraldton and Carnarvon are actually along Hwy 1. Kalbarri, Shark Bay, and Exmouth all require sig¬nificant detours. The routes
Beaches in Perth
There are plenty of beaches around Perth, along what has become known as the Sunset Coast. The most famous of them is Scarborough. Scarborough can be reached by taking bus no. 15, 400 or 402 from the Wellington Street Bus Station. One of the nearest ocean beaches to the city is Cottesloe, which is a short walk from Cottesloe Station on the Fremantle Line, or is served directly by bus no. 71. Other beaches stretch north from Cottesloe along the coast, including North Swanbourne Beach, which is Perth’s nudist beach.
Gold Coast
Gorgeous beaches, thumping nightclubs, excellent theme parks, and plenty of accommodations make the Gold Coast Australia's premier holiday destination. The region's permanent population of 390,000 triples to 1.2 million every summer as Australian and foreign tourists flock to the sun, sand, and parties. The term "Gold Coast" has a few possible origins, each of which addresses the its lure. Tourist officials say it's for the stretches of golden sand beaches; cynics point to high rises and tacky tinsel glitter; realists note the high concentration of visitors in their golden years, mainly in the towns north and south of pulsing
