Harrington and Crowdy Head
Harrington is ten minutes north of Taree and is a tranquil seaside village at the northern mouth of the Manning River. If it's water you like to look at then there is plenty here.
The breakwall was built in 1894 to protect the entry channel for shipping, which is now a popular fishing spot and scenic walk (about 3km). Some care is needed along the wall if the seas are rough as waves break over it. You may also notice a strong current under the bridge on the breakwall. It's extremely powerful.
On a clear day you can see into the water from the bridge as seen in the photo below.
Pilot Hill Lookout provides fabulous views and the graves on the hill are a memorial to the pilots whose task was to guide the boats over the bar dating back to the 1890's.
Harrington is a quiet little town, the older part of the village has a few shops, pub, a couple of take away/cafes and a surf shop. The newer part of Harrington is more modern with Harrington Waters Shopping Village.
There is also a skate park near the breakwall
Just north of Harrington (about 5km) is the small fishing village of Crowdy Head with Seafood Co-op and surf life saving club. Here part of the beach is patrolled on weekends between September and April.
Check out the Pebbles on Crowdy Head Beach
The wharf by the Seafood co-op are a popular resting place for sea birds.
Driving north of Crowdy Head you can enter Crowdy Bay National Park. There are two camping spots, Crowdy Gap and Diamond Head. The Park provides stunning views, easy walking tracks, abundant wildlife and fauna and good fishing.
Take insect repellent with you in the rainforest during summer as the mosquitoes are fierce.
Take a drive up to the Crowdy Head Lighthouse. The lighthouse sits high on the headland providing 360-degree views of the coast. Between May and August, you have a good chance of spotting passing humpback whales. The lighthouse itself is picturesque with grassed grounds and a picnic table. The area is fully fenced to prevent people falling off the cliff. The Crowdy Head lighthouse was designed and erected between 1878 - 1879 as one of only five small lighthouses built on the NSW coast.
The Crowdy Head Lighthouse is on Elizabeth Street, Crowdy Head.
