Tourist Information
The town's information centre is located at Ferry Park on the Pacific Highway, at the southern turnoff to Maclean. There is an arts-and-crafts gallery and a restaurant with a balcony overlooking the river. They can furnish a list of art-and-craft galleries in the area and information about houseboat hire, river cruises and horseriding. There is also a pamphlet outlining some of the town's attractions and their whereabouts. The park has picnic facilities and toilets, tel: (02) 6645 4121.
Lower Clarence Aboriginal Tourist Site Drive
The information centre can also furnish a self-drive pamphlet outlining 13 significant Aboriginal sites in the area.
Two Churches
At the southern end of River St, near the Church St intersection, is the former Methodist (now Uniting) Church (1890). Continue along River St. As it bends to the left, turn right into Wharf St. To the immediate right is the Free Presbyterian Church which has been in continuous use since its construction in 1867 by the early Scottish settlers.
Bicentennial Museum
Continue along Wharf St for 500 m. At the intersection of Wharf St and Grafton St is the excellent Bicentennial Museum which is open from 1.00 p.m. to 4.00 p.m. on Wednesdays and Saturdays, from 10.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. on Fridays or by arrangement, tel: (02) 6645 3416.
The cottage was built in 1879 from local sandstone and it has been set up as a Maclean house of the 1880s with contemporary artefacts. The large adjacent folk museum display includes some particularly fine examples of sulkies and carriages.
The Lookout and The Pinnacle
Continue up Wharf St for another 1.5 km to The Lookout which offers fine views over the town and the district's cane fields, east along the Clarence River to Yamba and Iluka at the river's mouth, and along the coast. 200 metres from The Lookout is The Pinnacle, a balancing rock formation and cave network.
Bicentennial Scottish Cairn
Return along Wharf St. Halfway down the hill turn left into Bent St for a view of the Scottish Cairn which is a neatly cemented pile of rocks from all over Australia and from Scotland. It is located in the Herb Stanford Memorial Park at the intersection of Bent St, Taloumbi St and Harwood St which also affords fine views of the town and river.
Heritage Buildings
Head west along Taloumbi St for two blocks, turn right into Woodford St and proceed north for two blocks to Stanley St. Turn left. To the right is the former brewery (1870) which has been converted into two houses but still retains the archway into the courtyard and the charm of the original building.
Return along Stanley St and turn left, back into Woodford St. To the right, on elevated land, is St Mary's Catholic Church (1894), a beautiful stone Gothic building with a tower capped by battlements. The grounds offer attractive views over the valley.
Adjacent in Woodford St is the Maclean Primary School (1902), a red-brick, two-storey structure with fine detailing.
Continue to the end of Woodford St and turn right into Union St. To the left, adjacent the hospital, is the former operating theatre (1886), a building with a name that belies its charm. It is a free-standing timber construction now located in front of the retirement village.
Head west along Union St, past the hospital, and take the first right into McLachlan St then take the first left into Howard St. At 2B is Gables Bed-and-Breakfast, located in the town's oldest-surviving building (1864).
At the end of Howard St turn left into River St and proceed south along the waterfront and shopping strip, past McLachlan Park and Bicentennial Wharf. To the right, just before you pass the RSL Club, is a bank building which dates back to 1878 when it was built for the Australian Joint Stock Bank. The present facade was added in 1893.
Civic Buildings
Continue down River St, taking the next right at the post office into MacNaughton Place (named after early settler Samuel MacNaughton who once owned most of the land in the CBD).
The post office, designed by W.L. Vernon, dates from 1893. Further along MacNaughton Place is the police station (1895-96). At its end and off to the left, beside the river, is Maclean's very handsome courthouse which was designed by James Barnet and built in 1891. It must surely have the most attractive location in the town, although it is very vulnerable to flooding. Its physical orientation harks back to a day when the river was the town's focal point in terms of business, transport and communication.
Fishing and Boat Ramps - Chatsworth Island, Ashby, Cowper, Woodford Island and Lawrence
Maclean's information centre can furnish several items of use to anglers. One is the 'Clarence River Fishing Guide'. It includes a tide chart and up-to-date information concerning which species are about in which seasons, a list of fishing spots within the estuary and along the coastline and which fish you might find at which specific locations. There is also information relating to beach access, boat ramps, recommended bait types, where to obtain fresh bait, size limits, bag limits, current fishing rules and a list of protected species. For further information ring (02) 6688 4356 or email North Coast Maps on grayncm@linknet.com.au
Anglers in non-tidal waterways must purchase a licence at a cost of $10 for one month, $25 for one year or $70 for three years. If you have a credit card you can pay for a licence by ringing the NSW Fisheries on 1300 369 365. They publish a pamphlet entitled 'Marine Recreational Fishing in New South Wales'. It looks at official bag and size limits, protected species, permitted gear, spearfishing regulations, penalties and the location of its offices. There is a fisheries office at 18A River St, tel: (02) 6645 2147. The fisheries website is http://www.fisheries.nsw.gov.au
Bait and a limited amount of tackle are available from the Fishing Co-op at the end of MacNaughton Place in Maclean where you will also find a wharf and boat ramp. There are also two boat ramps north of Maclean at the Harwood Bridge, where the Pacific Highway crosses the Clarence River. One is situated on the southern shore while there is another ramp and a wharf on the northern shore. Both are on the western side of the bridge. This is a good spot for dangling a line.
From the Harwood Bridge the Pacific Highway proceeds north across Harwood Island, over the Serpentine Channel and onto Chatsworth Island. 7 km from the Harwood Bridge you will come to the Morroro Bridge which is another good fishing spot. On the southern side of the bridge is a side road which heads east off the highway. There is a recommended fishing location on the eastern edge of Chatsworth Island which is noted in the Clarence River Fishing Guide.
On the northern side of the Morroro Bridge is a road which heads south-west off the highway to Ashby which is the location of another boat ramp on the opposite side of the river to Maclean.
There is also a boat ramp at Cowper - a small settlement located south-west of Maclean on the southern shore of the Clarence River, just off the Pacific Highway.
At the southern end of Maclean (via Woodford St) is the McFarlane Bridge which leads across South Arm. Adjacent the bridge is a rocky area good for fishing. The bridge will take you across to Woodford Island. The main road leads past the golf course and on through Illarwill. The Illarwill Quarry is another recommended fishing area and there is a free 24-hour vehicular ferry which will transport you, and your car, across the river to Lawrence (note that the ferry is closed on Tuesdays from 9.30 a.m. to 11.00 a.m.). Lawrence is a pretty town at the confluence of the river and Sportsmans Creek. The creek is a good spot for bass fishing, canoeing and birdwatching. The sand spits adjacent town are also good for anglers. There are a couple of boat ramps.
Yuraygir National Park
Turn off Cameron St at the southern end of Maclean into Jubilee St. This road then heads south-east out to Brooms Head. After about 19 km there is a turnoff on the left which leads, after 2 km, to the Lake Arragan Rest Area. A loop road will take you off this access road to Red Cliff Rest Area where there is a lookout. The beaches off both rest areas offer fine surfing conditions. Swimming and fishing can also be enjoyed.
The 10-km Angourie Walking Track starts at Lake Arragan Rest Area. It heads north past Plumbago Beach (which has walk-in camping facilities), Plumbago Head, Caves Beach, Shelley Headland, Shelley Beach (the latter two also have walk-in camping facilities), Dirrangan Lookout and Woody Bluff to Mara Creek Picnic Area (see entry on Yamba). Considered one of the finest coastal walks in the country, it is best in spring and early summer when the wildflowers are in bloom, drawing the maximum of birdlife.
If you continue along the Brooms Head Rd to the outskirts of Brooms Head, there is an unsealed 10-km road on the right which leads to a shady camping area at the mouth of the Sandon River. This is a good spot for fishing.
Brooms Head
'The Broom', as its known, is a small village surrounded by the national park. The village's main beach is lined with shady Norfolk Pines. Deep-sea anglers launch their boats from this beach. The lagoon and Lake Cakora offer safe swimming for children. There is a caravan park and other holiday accommodation.
Houseboats
Houseboats can be hired from Clarence River Boats, in Clarence St at Brushgrove, tel: (02) 6647 6232. To get there cross over the McFarlane Bridge and take the immediate left onto South Arm Road which leads straight to Brushgrove.
Bundjalung National Park
National Parks and Wildlife publish a single sheet brochure on Bundjalung National Park which provides a detailed map of the roads, fire trails ad access points to this particularly beautiful and extensive coastal park. The park covers 17,000 hectares, 38 km of beaches and ranges from rainforest through heathland, coastal cypress stands, lagoons and wetlands to coastal plains. The park is home to 205 bird, 30 mammal, 38 reptile and 13 amphibian species. It also has a large number of Aboriginal middens indicating that it was a popular place for the local Aboriginal groups because of its rich supplies of food.
Head north along the Pacific Highway for 9 km then turn right onto the Iluka Rd. It is 13 km along this road until you reach the turnoff (on the left) to the Woody Head camping area which is situated adjacent World Heritage rainforest. There are also a number of picnic areas signposted off this same road. Ring (02) 6646 6134 for bookings and further information.
Farm and Industry Tours
Every Friday, there are two free self-drive tours of a cane farm and a dairy farm which can be organised through the Clarence River Tourist Association, tel: (02) 6645 4121.
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