Harrington and Crowdy Bay
 

I've got a few days off and heading up to Harrington. I hope to get up to Crowdy Head and Kylies Beach.

Any local knowledge would be welcome, especially for beach driving in the area and best places to visit.

Thanks in advance.

You can drive on Crowdy beach (very easy driving) and Harrington main beach (softer and tougher)

Crowdy beach gets tougher as you head further along it, check the tides as it disappears further up at high tide, in fact after the storms you may not be able to drive all the way along it at the moment, I haven't been on it for a few months.

The main beach at Harrington is softer and more chopped up, easy to get bogged if you run near the surf so you'll need to air down (you don't need to on Crowdy). Also less likely to see others on the main beach so if you do get stuck you'll be digging etc.

Make sure you get a permit, at the fishing shop in Harrington across from the pub, the ranger does check vehicles on the beach occasionally.

Cheers
Steve

Permits have just gone up to $60 a year as well. I just got my renewal in the post yesterday. I'm not happy about.

Thanks for the info.

Yes - I just got my Mid Coast Council renewal (ex Great Lakes Council) that covers Taree as well, and it has gone up to $60 as well. I guess all the Councils charge the same.

That's the permit I'm talking about. I think this is going to happen alot with all these councils having to merge.

It all adds up when you have passes for Great Lakes, Stockton, Blacksmiths as well as a NNWS NP pass.

However I'm happy to pay for Blacksmiths Beach, it was really becoming feral with all the unregistered bikes and ATVs. Just like Stockton was many years ago when you didn't need a pass so I guess we just have to pay.

I haven't been to Blacksmiths in a while but had heard that they were having trouble with idiots there. Who issues the Permits for Blacksmiths - Lake Maq Council?

Belmont Wetlands State Park Trust look after the place. Their website tells you where you can by a pass from but at the moment there is only about 3-4 places that sell them.

http://www.belmontwetlands.com.au/4wds-on-beach.html

It was getting really bad there for a while. You couldn't walk down to the water without nearly being hit by an idiot in a Hilux or on a quad bike. I'm surprised no kids were ever run over.