Frommer's Australia from $50 a Day 13th Edition - To Parent Directory

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CHAPTER 4 . NEW SOUTH WALES
are several walks leaving either the Rainforest Centre, the Glade Picnic Area
(about 1km/ 1 ⁄2 mile away), and the Never-Never Picnic Area (a 10km/6 1 ⁄4-mile
drive along Dome Rd.). Most tracks are suitable for wheelchairs. Bring a raincoat
or an umbrella—it is a rainforest after all! The Dorrigo Tourist Information
office (& 02/6657 2486) is in the center of Dorrigo township.
One of the best tour operators in the area is the award-winning Mountain
Trails 4WD Tours (& 02/6658 3333; fax 02/6658 3299). Full-day tours that
include visits to two rainforest areas and a good lunch cost A$80 (US$52) for
adults and A$60 (US$39) for children under 16. Half-day tours of one rainforest
cost A$56 (US$36) for adults and A$40 (US$26) for children.
For a bit more personal action, try horseback riding through the rainforest
23km (14 miles) southwest of Coffs Harbour with Valery Trails (& 02/6653
4301). Two-hour rides leave at 10am and 2pm daily and cost A$35 (US$23) per
person; bookings are essential.
More hectic are white-water rafting trips through the wilderness on the
furious Nymboida River with Wow Rafting, 1448 Coramba Rd., Coramba via
Coffs Harbour, NSW 2450 (& 1800/640 330 in Australia, or 02/6654 4066;
www.wowrafting.com.au). Full-day trips, including morning tea, a high-energy
snack, and a barbecue meal, cost A$153 (US$99). These adventurous trips operate
year-around, depending on water levels. A 2-day trip costs A$325 (US$211),
including all meals and overnight camping. If the water level in the Nymboida
is low, then you raft on the Goolang Creek, a shorter but still exciting run. Most
of the rapids are grade 3; some of them can be pretty hairy. The rafting guides
are real characters; although they’re safety-conscious, you’re sure to be dunked a
few times.
Rapid Rafting (& 1800/629 797 in Australia, or 02/6652 1741) also runs
rafting trips on the Goolang River, costing A$77 (US$50) for a half-day trip,
and A$120 (US$78) for a full day.
Looking for yet another adrenaline rush? Then head to the Raleigh International
Raceway (& 02/6655 4017), where you can zip around the track behind
the wheel of your very own . . . go-kart. It’s 23km (14 miles) south of Coffs Harbour
and 3km (2 miles) along Valery Road off the Pacific Highway north of
Nambucca Heads. Six high-speed laps cost A$16 (US$10), 11 cost A$23
(US$15), and 16 cost A$32 (US$21). It’s open daily from 9am to 5pm (6pm in
summer).
The Pacific Explorer catamaran (& 0418/663 815 mobile phone, or 02/
6652 7225 after working hours) operates whale-watching trips between June
and October; the 2 1 ⁄2-hour cruises cost A$44 (US$29). Between November and
May, they run half-day dolphin-watching cruises for the same price.
ACCOMMODATIONS YOU CAN AFFORD
Coffs Harbour is a popular beachside holiday spot with plenty of motels along
the Pacific Highway offering standard roadside rooms from A$35 to A$49
(US$23–US$32) per night. Vacancy signs are common except during Australian
school holiday periods and the Christmas and Easter periods (when Coffs really
fills up). A few to try are the Caribbean Motel, 353 High St., Coffs Harbour,
NSW 2450 (& 02/6652 1500; fax 02/6651 4158), with doubles ranging from
A$55 to A$120 (US$36–US$78) depending on the season and the view; and
the Coffs Harbour Motor Inn, 22 Elizabeth St., Coffs Harbour, NSW 2450
(& 02/6652 6388; fax 02/6652 6493), with doubles ranging from A$72 to
A$108 (US$47–US$70) depending on the season.