Driving intoTaree from the airport, one of the first things that will catch your eye is the Big Oyster, this riverside town’s contribution to Australia’s famed collection of Big Things.
It’s certainly justified. Oyster production is worth $1m annually to Taree, a town of 26,000 people on the Manning River. This historic community is a handsome base for anyone visiting the area in search of delicious oysters, deserted beaches and lazy days on the river.
There’s a thriving local arts and cultural scene, too, with several galleries, live music and the Manning Entertainment Centre providing an impressive programme of events. And don’t miss the festivals if you’re in town: there’s the Easter Powerboat Spectacular and the Wingham Akoostic Music Festival for starters.
Getting to Taree is straightforward. Taree Airport is located just outside town and has regular flights to Sydney and Newcastle. By train you can get to Taree from Sydney in six hours. The railway line also goes north to Grafton and Casino. Taree is on the Pacific Motorway, which connects it to Sydney (3.5 hours’ drive) and Brisbane (seven hours).
