Fifty kilometres north of Grafton on the banks of the mighty ClarenceRiver, is the pleasant river port of Maclean. Settled byScottish immigrants, the town celebrates it's heritage with a HighlandGathering every Easter.
Only twelve kilometres off the main highway from the turn-off at Maclean is the prawning and fishing town of Yamba. At the mouth of the big river, Yamba has swelled over the past couple of decades to becomethe largestresort in the Clarence Valley. There are some fine beaches and it's locationallows easy access to Iluka and theBundjalung National Park in the north, and Angourie and the Yuraygir National Park tothe south.
Angourie is one of the top spots on the coast for experienced surfersand is at the tip of the northern stretch of the Yuraygir National Park.The park, dominated by sand ridges, banksia heath, and secluded beacheshas some good bushwalks and is great for fishing and swimming. It's alsohome to the Blue Pool, a freshwater lake of unknown origin and depth, only fifty metres from the ocean.
On the other side of the river mouth, Iluka is accessible by a ferry whichruns several times a day from Yamba. It's worth the trip because in thearea there's a World Heritage listed Nature Reserve which contains thelargest coastal rainforest in New South Wales. Also, the town itself liesat the southern end ofBundjalung National Park. The park's extensive middens and old Aboriginalcampsites show what a favoured part of the country this must have been to the local Bundjalung people. There's some more good surfing beachesplus loads of wildlife.
Bundjalung National Park stretches between the main highway andcoast as far north as Evans Head. This holiday and fishing hamletis also close to Broadwater National Park which contains similarwilderness, but a larger variety of birdlife. The town itself has somebroad surf beaches and sandy river flats which encourage a range of watersports including windsurfing, fishing, and boating.
