Barrington Coast: 5 Things to Do in Australia’s Hidden Gem

Barrington Coast is Australia’s best-kept secret for foreigners, but already a favorite destination in New South Wales for locals. As Australia is a huge country and most foreigners visit Brisbane, Canberra, Sydney, and other major cities, it is easy to miss this stunning place on the Australian coast. Getting to the coast is quite easy from Sydney – it’s just a 2-hour drive. You can get here by plane, but if you prefer more eco-friendly modes of transportation – train is also available.

Trains in Australia have good wifi and on your way here, you can stay connected to your social network throughout – or why not read an e-book, or even consider diving into an online casino for real money? Online casinos are quite popular in Australia due to the fast internet connection, low taxes, and sparse availability of alternative gambling options. The market is constantly expanding and by 2029, it’s projected to reach 5 million users. As new gambling providers are reaching Australia, gambling from mobile phones becomes more accessible, making it a great option for train or bus rides

A fun fact is that Australians have more gamblers per capita than many other countries, and in part, this is explained by an open culture and availability of online gambling solutions via the internet from mobile devices. Gambling here is not prohibited, rather, many online platforms encourage responsible gambling and there are several private and state-funded initiatives to promote not full prohibition, but rather responsible use of gambling.

 Online gambling aside, this Australian cost is not just an ideal summer destination but also an area full of events. Some of the examples include Sydney Comedy Festival  2024, Into the Wild – Songbirds, and Barrington Coast Airshow.

 Barrington Coast is renowned for its wine culture, national parks, whale and dolphin watching, secluded retreats, and more. This article introduces you to some of the most relaxing and fun things to do in this breathtaking part of Australia.

 Barrington Tops National Park

This stunning national park features some of the world’s ancient rainforests, rivers, and bushwalks. Barrington Tops National Park is also a perfect spot for those who like to hike or simply gaze at nature’s beauty. The park was shaped by volcanic eruptions millions of years ago and is now part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area.

 The park is easily accessible to the public as it is only a few hour’s drive from Sydney, but you can also fly from Newcastle Airport for a quick journey. If you like hiking, you should check out Gloucester Tops Circuit and Aeroplane Hill Walking Track. And if you prefer to spend a night camping, Polblue Campground is a popular camping spot with all basic facilities included.

 This national park is also great for picnics, with Devil’s Hole Lookout being one of the favorite spots for travelers. After a picnic, head to Gloucester Falls and Rocky Crossing to see scenic waterfalls and some wildlife watching. If you are lucky enough, you can see lyrebirds and kangaroos.

 Visit the Beaches

The two main beaches in the area are Forster Main Beach and Blueys Beach. Foster Main Beach is ideal for families as it is patrolled. It’s also great for surfing – Forster Surf Club is located right next to the main beach.

 Blueys Beach is great for surfing as well, and it offers stunning views across the Steal Rocks. In fact, this beach derives its name from a cow that happened to have a misadventure here. Cows are always near the coast, and if you are lucky you can spot them on the southern headland.

Whale Watching

Whale watching is a recreational activity that is quite popular along the Barrington coast. The best time to see whales is May to September because this is when the whales travel from warmer waters.

Tours depart from Forster and Port Stephens and the sizes of boats range depending on your budget. The boat tours come with a guide who is knowledgeable about not just the whales but the entire marine landscape of New South Wales, making this both an educational and recreational activity.

 Visit Gloucester

If you are tired of the outdoor activities and beaches, you should visit Gloucester (not to be confused with a historical area in the UK). This charming town is nestled right next to the Bucketts Mountains and is a great sight to combine with your trip to Barrington Tops National Park due to its proximity.

 Lovers of art can visit the Gloucester Museum, where visitors can see works of local artists, as well as learn about the town’s culture and history. Right across the Gloucester Museum, you can walk to the Gloucester Tops circuit, which features scenic views of the area.

Wine Tasting

Recently, Australian wines have been making noise globally. Australia has more than 2,460 wineries in 65 wine regions across the country, with one of them being near Gloucester. Australia is famous for its chardonnay, pinot noir, semillon, and even the local version of prosecco.

 Great Lakes Paddocks is one of the main wineries in the region that is popular among tourists. You can easily combine the visit to this winery with some of the local beaches – Forster Tuncurry, Seal Rocks, and Pacific Palms. The winery, similarly to other places in the region, is mostly producing semillon, pinot grigio, cabernet shiraz, tawny, and even sparkling shiraz wines.

 Tawny is a particularly interesting wine variety for lovers of sweet wine. It has often been described as ‘liquid caramel’ for its caramel-like taste and lack of heaviness typical to other ports. Sparkling Shiraz could be interesting for fans of red bubbly wine – it has soft hints of cherry and medium heaviness.