Located on the northern end of the Great Lakes district on the mid-north coast of New South Wales, Taree makes an ideal vacation spot for those who are looking for something a little different. Unlike Forster and Port Macquarie, its neighbours to the south and north, Taree has never been developed into a primarily tourist destination. While there is no shortage of Taree accommodations, this city of 20,000 has been built around its bountiful natural resources.
It's no surprise that the Big Oyster is Taree's most famous landmark. After all, two and a half million oysters come out of the Manning River every year, making it a "big oyster" town indeed. In Taree, oysters are a big part of the local economy, as are the many crops that grow in the fertile Manning Valley.
Taree's history dates back tgo 1854, when local Henry Flett allocated 100 acres of his private land to develop into a private town. Originally, nearby Wingham was intended to be the Manning Valley regional center. However, when the Northern rail line was created in 1913, it passed through Taree instead of Wingham. Finally, the Martin Bridge was built across the Manning River, making access by road to Taree easy. After that, the town grew exponentially and became the most important in the valley.
The town of Taree is not located on the coast, but like all Australians, the locals love the beach. One of their favorite's is Old Bar, just 10 miles (17kms) west of the city center. There is plenty of beach for them to enjoy in Old Bar. In fact, there is probably more beach than town. Old Bar is not just Taree's favorite beach, either. Surfers from all over New South Wales know it as having some of the best beach breaks on the Mid-North Coast and they can always find a good wave there.
You could walk up the beach a few miles to Saltwater Point, but most surfers drive in and park in the big parking lot and check out the waves from the top of the point. On its day, Saltwater can be one of the best breaks in the region. Although it's not exactly a "secret spot," it's a little out of the way and the local population is small, so it is rarely crowded. Just behind the parking lot is a fantastic campground that is very popular with locals and surfers who know about it.
The campground at Saltwater Point is not unusual in the Taree region. There are many such little places tucked away in the area, both near the beach and in and around the many reserves and National Forests that make up so much of the landscape there.
Similarly, there are many villages and small towns around Taree that are wonderful to visit, but cannot be found in the tourist guidebooks. They have a genuine quality about them that is sometimes missing in other historical towns in Australia.
Because it is such an important regional center, you can reach Taree by any mode of transportation. However, the best way to get there is by car. This gives you the opportunity to explore the Manning Valley and the rest of the Taree region on your own. Don't just stop off in Taree and take a snapshot of the Big Oyster. Stay a few days and find out why the locals wouldn't want to live anywhere else.
Need a break away, find Taree accommodation, things to do and other travel related information about the area on 'Book it Now'.
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