Apex - Travel Destinations
The Clarence Valley
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 The Clarence Valley is an area at the southern end of the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales which stretches from Iluka and Yamba in the north to Wooli in the south and west to Grafton. It is a 130km drive south along the Pacific Highway in a car hire Australia from the seaside holiday town of Ballina, to the city of Grafton, which is the heart of the Clarence Valley area. The area is ideally suited to a driving holiday in a car rental Australia holiday as it has a number of quaint towns, historic buildings, friendly locals, a diverse cultural heritage as well as astonishingly beautiful natural surrounds. Whether you plan on staying awhile or are simply passing through there are many activities to enjoy and attractions to visit.
At the heart of the Clarence Valley is the mighty Clarence River. Over 400km from source to sea, the Clarence is one of Australia's largest waterways. The river was once the area's main trading route and is still vitally important to the locals as a place of sport and recreation. The combination of nearby beaches, the pristine waterways of the Clarence and the all round temperate weather means the lifestyle in the Clarence Valley is among the best anywhere in the world.
Grafton
The city of Grafton on the western side of the Clarence Valley area is the major service centre. It is located approximately 630 kilometres north of Sydney and 340km south of the scenic and sunny state capital Brisbane. It can be found easily in a car hire vehicle by following the major east coast highway, the Pacific Highway.
It offers all the essential services and infrastructure that one expects from a modern, vibrant city. It is one of New South Wales' fastest growing regions and is the heart of the Clarence creative community. And the artists of this region are not shy about showing off their works. There are literally dozens of art galleries, studios, stores and supply stores many of which encourage visitors on car hire holidays to stop in for a meet and greet with the artists.
Grafton is an extremely beautiful city thanks to the success of the timber industry. From as early as 1838 the timber industry flourished in and around Grafton, with the dense subtropical rainforest blanketing the region, many timber cutters made their fortune exploiting this once bountiful resource. The broad tree lined avenues and boulevards feature magnificent 19th Century colonial architecture. The city is also home to 24 meticulously maintained public parks, with many trees well over 100 years old.
Throughout the year Grafton hosts several sporting and cultural events which draw a range of local and international travellers to the city. The Grafton Cup Carnival and Bridge to Bridge Ski Race attract nationwide media coverage, while the Jacaranda Festival in spring is a must-see for nature lovers, gardeners or green thumbs.
Remarkably Grafton manages to deliver the best of both worlds; it delivers all the conveniences of a big city while still retaining the charm and character of a country town. All of this is nestled within a 100km radius which means you won't have far to travel in your car rental before finding something to see and do.
Yamba & Iluka
Yamba is the largest coastal centre on the Clarence Coast. It has a modern marina, shopping and restaurant precincts, cinemas, hotels, clubs and reports and of course its own stunning, unspoilt beaches. The town continues to grow in size and popularity. In a 2009 survey it was voted the best town in Australia by Australian Traveller magazine readers.
The coastline of the Clarence Valley stretches from the twin towns of Yamba & Iluka to the north and the resort town of Wooli to the south. In between lies an 80km stretch of coast where you will find the Yuraygir National Park, which contains extremely rare littoral rainforest remnants. The park is criss-crossed by a network of pristine waterways which leads to an abundance of native wild life.
Several paved roads lead into the park and terminate at the small townships of Mini Water, Diggers Camp and Wooli. These are picture perfect holiday destinations which provide easy access to the park's facilities and are easily accessible in one of our car rentals. Within the park you will find picnic and barbeque facilities, camping and holiday accommodation and almost limitless opportunities for recreation. The pristine waterways of the Clarence Coast are ideal for fishing, snorkelling, surfing, sailing, canoeing, hang gliding, bushwalking, bird watching and of course, relaxing.
West of Grafton
Driving west from Grafton in your car hire vehicle to the small inland township of Glenn Innes takes you through some of the most pristine, undisturbed strands of rainforest anywhere in Australia. Washpool National Park is a rugged, densely forested section of the Gibraltar Range that sits on a plateau high above sea level. With towering granite outcrops and deep plunging gorges the park is filled with breathtaking scenery that cannot be seen anywhere else. The park provides the usual visitor attractions such as waling tracks, lookout points and waterfalls.
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