It’s time to take a break and go for a drive to some of the many beautiful spots around the Clarence Valley.
In 2019, over half of the Clarence Valley was ravaged by the bushfires. The rains which followed has helped to regenerate the countryside and bring new life and hope to the small villages and communities that were impacted.
A drive around this area will give you a glimpse into the extent of just how bad and extensive the fires were and the communities which were, and still are, impacted by them. As we come out of the pandemic, we need to get out and support these regional communities by stopping off in these villages; grabbing a counter lunch at a pub, purchasing some fuel, grabbing a coffee or a fresh loaf of bread and letting the locals know they are not forgotten.
Wherever you start your journey, make sure you call into the Grafton Regional Gallery at 158 Fitzroy Street, Grafton and pick up a map of the Clarence Valley from the Clarence Valley Visitor Information Centre. Then put Nymboida, the village, which is around 40 kilometres south of Grafton on your list of things to see. This village was greatly impacted by the Liberation Trail Fire. Travelling from Coutts to Nymboida you will see the new regrowth on charred trees with the hillsides starting to regenerate after being decimated by the inferno.
This region is also the gateway to all manners of wild and wonderful wilderness areas. Whether you’re into kayaking, bushwalking, surfing, an outdoor pursuit for every enthusiast awaits in Northern Rivers. There is nothing like going for a relaxing weekend drive and discovering the great destinations the Clarence Valley offers.
