 Whether you are a city slicker or country bumpkin at heart the Clarence Valley will make you feel right at home. If you like the sound of a holiday in a region with all the conveniences of a modern thriving city at your finger tips that still manages to retain the unique character and charm of a country town then steer your car hire vehicle to the north east coastal region of New South Wales and follow the signs to the Clarence Valley.
You will find the Clarence Valley at the southern end of the Northern Rivers region on New South Wales' north east coast. While the entire region is ideally suited to a driving tour holiday in one of our car rentals you will find the Clarence Valley is one of the few areas which can offer the best of both worlds. The major city centre of Grafton is the economic and professional hub which has all the hallmarks of a civilized modern city. With a major hospital and airport, range of schools, numerous sporting grounds and clubs, public buildings and parks, and a thriving arts and crafts community it is no wonder that Grafton is used by many visitors as a base camp for exploring the Clarence Valley.
Despite the presence of this big city the Clarence Valley is also home to a number of satellite towns which have managed to retain their country town charm and unique character. From Yamba and Iluka in the north to Wooli in the south and west to Grafton the heart of the Clarence Valley is the mighty Clarence River. The Clarence River was used as a trade route during the early days of the timber industry and still remains a vital part of the area's identity today. At over 400km from source to sea, the river provides ample opportunity for recreation and enjoyment, some of these activities include white water rafting, canoeing, and kayaking. Many people also enjoy a slower pace, choosing instead to take a river cruise which affords a more relaxing pace with better views of the scenery.
The area also offers visitors a wide range of fun holiday activities including horse-riding, surfing lessons, water-skiing, abseiling, rock climbing, bush walking and bird watching just to name a few. Sports fans and health nuts will also appreciate the wide range of sporting facilities and clubs in the area including basketball, cricket, tennis, hockey, squash, football, horse racing, rodeos, car rallies and speedway. All of this can be found within a 100km square which means any type of activity you enjoy is less than an hour's drive away in your car hire vehicle.
Grafton
Grafton, also called the 'Jacaranda City', is a beautiful city with tree lined avenues and boulevards that gives the feel of a genteel old fashion English town. The town boomed with the growth of the timber industry and evidence abounds of the wealth which this brought to the city. There are magnificent examples of 19th century architecture throughout the city, with many of them designated as public buildings which you can visit and tour. There are also 24 public parks with over 6500 trees, many of them over 100 years old.
Grafton is a lovely, relaxed place to visit and makes an ideal base camp for exploration of the greater Clarence Valley area. 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 rental vehicle by following the major east coast highway, the Pacific Highway.
Yamba & Iluka
Located approximately 50km drive north east of Grafton are the twin towns of Yamba & Iluka. They sit on opposite sides of the mouth of the Clarence River and have become popular holiday destinations in recent years. In 2009 a survey Yamba was voted Australia's best town by the readers of Australian Traveller magazine.
The coastline of the Clarence Valley, or the Clarence coast, stretches from the mouth of the Clarence River at Yamba in the north to the resort town of Wooli to the south. In between lies an 80km stretch of coast dominated by the Yuraygir National Park which contains extremely rare littoral rainforest remnants. The park is criss-crossed by a network of waterways which has led to native wildlife flourishing in the area. There are a number of paved roads leading into the park which terminate at campgrounds and small little holiday hamlets. Why not give your car rental a rest and immerse yourself in the rainforest?
Wooli
Wooli is a resort village bounded by the Wooli River to the west and Pacific Ocean to the east. The river and beach are highlights of the town and provide ideal swimming and fishing spots. The pristine waters of the Wooli River are reputed to be the most unpolluted in Australia. It flows entirely through National Park.
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