Get distracted in Gladstone. A vibrant little community on the Macleay River
Coming in from the north it's 5 - 10 minutes off the highway via Smithtown Road and about the same from the South via South West Rocks Road. Gladstone is quite small but has lots to offer. There's several options to eat and drink in some relaxing riverside settings, some very cool specialty shops, an art gallery and lovely little parks along the rivers edge, and it's all within a couple of blocks. A great place to stop if you just need a quick break and want small bites of things to do without having to venture too far. There's not much in the way of services but you can get fuel in Barnard Street, pick up some groceries at the local store in Ashton Street, send some postcards and find public amenities in the riverside parks. If you are there on the 3rd Sunday of the month you might catch the Gladstone Quality Markets.
USEFUL LOCAL LINKS
Queensland Border to South Ballina (Approx: 110 kms), South Ballina to Woolgoolga (Approx: 185 Kms), Woolgoolga to Kempsey (Approx: 135 Kms), Kempsey to Taree (Approx: 120 Kms), Taree to Raymond Terrace (Approx: 145 Kms), Raymond Terrace to Sydney (Approx: 165 Kms), Sydney to Nowra (Approx: 160 Kms), Nowra to Bodalla (Approx: 168 Kms), Bodalla to the Victorian Border (Approx: 197 Kms)