ACTIVITIES EATONSVILLE

Copmanhurst is a small, pretty town overlooking the Clarence River. It has a friendly country community and its hotel and parks are a great resting place from travel. The Copmanhurst District is home to art studios and galleries displaying the unique works of local artists. Explore the surrounding hinterland on a loop drive that takes you along the Gwydir Highway past Jackadgery, the Mann River, Cangai or Broadwater Bridge, across the Clarence River and along the Clarence Way back to Copmanhurst. ...

Seelands is a picturesque rural town popular with water-skiers and visitors looking for unspoilt river destinations. Visit the studio art gallery of the local artisan or take a local four-wheel drive safari tour of the unique countryside. Hire boats and canoes or enjoy fishing by the riverside. Stay at one of its holiday parks, riverside campgrounds or Bed and Breakfasts. ...

It is the Southernmost of the Clarence Valley’s beaches, Station Creek feels like a remote outpost. It’s certainly a mission to get to, though a 4WD isn’t required. The Station Creek campground is a small, quiet and peaceful campground next to the estuary that’s perfect for fishing, canoeing and swimming. It’s a 600 metre stroll to the beach, following a walking track lined with scribbly gum and corkwood trees. The beach is open, wild, desolate, expansive and beautiful. To the north, you’ll see across the estuary towards the Pebbly Beach campground. Areas of beach around the river mouth are routinely roped off in spring and summer to protect the nesting and breeding habitat of Oystercatchers, Terns and Curlews, so always be mindful where you clomp around. And to the south, down that long misty beach, somewhere the Coffs Coast begins, and the Clarence Valley comes to an end....

Copmanhurst’s more than a place to stop for lunch, it’s a fulfilling destination in itself, as evidenced by its growing popularity with campers. Located upriver from Grafton, Copmanhurst is a historic riverside village. The close-knit family community boasts a skate park, sensory garden, pub, war memorial hall and saddlery museum. If you’re a fan of “bare basics” camping, Copmanhurst has you covered! The Recreation Reserve has sites available that are cheap as chips, and the Primitive Camping Reserve just up from the river is free for self-contained campers. For adventure seekers and explorers, there are plenty of canoeing and kayaking options up this way. It's also the last stop on the famous Clarence Valley Canoe and Kayak Trail! (Seek local advice to avoid paddling in sections of the river unsuitable for your skill level.) Bring the fishing rods and throw in a line –Copmanhurst is a great spot for keen anglers! Bass are a popular find in the area in the warmer months, with a catch and release program in place....

Guy Fawkes River National Park is a wilderness paradise popular for bushwalking and birdwatching. You can also enjoy fishing, swimming and canoeing along the Boyd River. Halfway between Armidale, Grafton and Dorrigo, Guy Fawkes River National Park is a rugged wilderness paradise that’s perfect for peaceful camping and hiking away from the crowds. The park is popular with experienced bushwalkers who want to explore the Guy Fawkes River Valley, but there are lots of great activities to enjoy among the peaceful gorges and slow-flowing rivers. Enjoy a picnic among the spring wildflowers alongside Ebor Falls, where you can watch the river tumbling from the plateau in two dramatic waterfalls. Be sure to pack your binoculars if you’re a birdwatcher, as among the many species you might spot are wedge-tailed eagles and glossy black cockatoos. From Chaelundi campground, Escarpment walk will take you to Chaelundi Falls, with its great lookout down over the valley. From here, you can see Lucifers Thumb, a large rock that offers all those who sit on it incredible 180-degree views out over the gorge and Guy Fawkes River. ...

Discover one of the Clarence Coast’s best-kept secrets on the Freshwater track. Starting at the northern end of Pebbly Beach campground, this short track leads you to a beautiful and remote beach. Positioned on the park’s southern coastline, the Freshwater track forms part of the Yuraygir coastal walk’s Wooli to Red Rock section. You’ll wander through coastal heathland and pass craggy rocks before arriving at the exquisitely isolated Freshwater Beach. Have you ever seen a wilder, more magnificent beach in your life? Walk along the beach and dip your toes in along the way, it’s also a good spot for a picnic lunch. Stay as long as you like before heading back to the track for the return walk. Remember to take your binoculars if you want to whale watch....

The original ethos of the builders of the Bom Bom State Forest Mountain Bike Trails was to make a series of trails that could be ridden by riders of all ages and abilities, in any direction or order. There now exists about 16 kilometres of singletrack, much of it of this nature. Since the early phases of building and the success of this plan, some newer tracks have been made more challenging and somewhat directional: notably Uncle Teddy's Wonderland, Harlowe's Howler and Rick's New Track. The gentle terrain of the location and near absence of rocks means that Bom Bom State Forest trails are generally low too, at most, moderate in their technical rating, making it a great spot for beginner and recreational MTBers. In general, the tracks are quite tight, winding through trees and small gulleys. The soil is hardpack with what's known locally as "pea gravel" over the top of much of it. This makes cornering at times "interesting". More advanced riders will find challenges of their own in trying to ride 10/10ths through the tight trails and intriguingly sketchy corners. Bom Bom State Forest is about five kilometres south of Grafton, off the Pacific Highway. To get to the trailhead, turn left off the highway onto Old Lilypool Road. Travel about two kilometres west until you reach the last gate in the forest, on a sharp right-hand bend. There you will see an open gate and cattle grid entering the forest. Follow the dirt road (Boundary Road) for about 200 metres. Follow your nose a bit and you will see trails leading off into the ironbark and spotted gum forest. During daylight saving, the mountain bike club holds weekly races which are open to anyone who wants to ride and not just club members. Everyone is welcome!...

North-west of Dorrigo, Chaelundi National Park has the largest old-growth forest in northern NSW, with fun places to go biking, swimming, picnicking and camping. You’d be forgiven for thinking the ‘great outdoors’ actually meant the rugged landscape of Chaelundi National Park. Bike and walking trails zigzag across spectacular views to the river. Crisp, fresh scents soak the air as you approach sparkling waterfalls and creeks. In the afternoon, a spacious camping area provides the perfect spot for a sausage sizzle by the pretty riverbank. You’re never really alone either - the forest echoes with wildlife curious enough to join your exploration of deep gullies and old forests that scratch their way through the terrain; frogs, rock wallabies, owls and koalas all add to this diverse forest experience. The park includes important uses by past communities; scattered artefacts map the ridgelines as traditional travelling routes of local Aboriginal people. Evidence also remains of the bygones of gold and timber industries....

Corkwood and Scribbly Gum walking track is a short, easy hike that follows Station Creek Estuary upstream through coastal and scribbly gum forest. Whether you’re staying at Station Creek campground and want to explore Yuraygir National Park, or are just looking for a place to stop off and stretch your legs while on a coastal road trip through NSW, this loop track is a great place to divert your attention. As the name suggests, the forest you’ll be walking through supports a high number of corkwood and scribbly gum trees. The bark of both of these is among some of the most fascinating in the Australian bush. Corkwood has thick, corky bark, while scribbly gums appear to have been drawn all over by an excited toddler. In fact, the scribbles, scientists have discovered only this century, are made by a tiny moth. Naturally, the moth has been named the scribbly gum moth....

Remember When Cottage is a one hundred year old cottage, relocated from Grafton and placed at picturesque Waterview Heights, a short ten minute drive from South Grafton. The cottage has been lovingly restored and transformed into a delightful museum to help preserve the rich history of the Clarence Valley. The cottage contains displays of interesting photographs, artworks, documents, tools and agricultural artefacts displaying rich dairy history. A highlight is the collection of artworks and photographs featuring Grafton businesses from past decades. They have a retro room full of crazy items and fashions from the 60's and 70's which often cause much laughter. Light refreshments are available for purchase and can be eaten in the kitchen while guests check out how people cooked and did things without electricity or on verandas, outside or in the main room which features photographs, radios, vintage games and displays of interesting objects. Remember When is a great venue for tourists, schools, people with disabilities and groups and offers good country hospitality. Visitors can take a stroll around the gardens and walkways, feed the friendly goats, play quoits, marbles, horse shoe throw and more. Open by appointment only....