Old Bar and Saltwater NSW
Updated: Jul 11, 2018
For a fantastic beach holiday put Old Bar and Saltwater on your radar. About four hours drive north of Sydney Old Bar is one of the coastal towns on the Mid North Coast NSW.
The village offers a range of cafe's, restaurants, post office, bottle shop, newsagent and a supermarket.
Compared to some of the more major tourist attractions on the Mid North Coast, Old Bar has uncrowded beaches, barbecue and picnic facilities by the water including Saltwater picnic area.
If you don't feel like packing a picnic then I recommend grabbing a bite to eat at Blowfish at Old Bar Beach (next to the picnic area and carpark). These Fish Taco Burgers and Chips were delicious and for $12 a good price. The service is friendly and very good.
One thing you will notice are the colourful picnic tables, lampposts and seats in Old Bar.
Another favourite place of mine is Flow Bar - great bacon & egg roll and coffee. It's also a bar with live music and has accommodation. There is a short rainforest walk across the road from Flow Bar to Old Bar Beach.
Beachside accommodation at Old Bar includes self-contained apartments, beach houses and caravan and camping sites.
Things to do in Old Bar:
Swimming
Surfing
Boating
Fishing
Birdwatching
Riverside walks
Visit the National Parks
Take a drive to the Cattai Wetlands
Bush Walking
Canoeing
The Old Bar Beach Festival (October long weekend)
Nearby is one of Saltwater National Park. This is a beautiful spot with a lovely beach, picnic area, and Khappinghat Creek. The beach is quite spectacular because the sand is in the middle of the ocean and Khappinghat Creek and surrounded by National Park. It's a popular seasonal camping spot for local Aboriginal people who are permitted to camp here. Saltwater National Park contains Aboriginal sites, which relate to Dreamtime beliefs.
The Five Islands walking track is tranquil and a place to unwind in nature.
Old Bar is not too far from Taree which is a big town with plenty of shopping, restaurants and a beautiful river. In November, Taree is abundant with Jacaranda trees in full bloom.
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