Harrington Beach is a small but beautiful ocean-side village in New South Wales, located approximately halfway between Port Macquarie and Forster. Harrington NSW is known for its unique sandbar and beach which lies at the mouth of the Manning River.
Harrington Beach is not as popular as some of the other beach towns along the east coast of Australia which makes it a bit of an untouched gem and definitely worth checking out. I recommend spending at least one or two nights in the area to explore the beauty of all that Harrington NSW has to offer.
I have put together this easy guide of Harrington Beach NSW including how to get there, the best things to do, where to stay and the best time to visit.
Have you got travel insurance for Australia? I know that nobody likes to talk about this stuff but accidents can happen and having World Nomads Insurance can save you thousands of dollars if something goes wrong.
WHERE IS HARRINGTON NSW & HOW TO GET THERE
Harrington Beach is approximately a 45-minute drive south of Port Macquarie and 45-minutes drive north of Forster.
Click here to see the exact location on Google Maps.
It’s best to have your own vehicle to visit Harrington Beach NSW as public transportation options are scarce.
Search All → Car Rentals in Port Macquarie
Search All → Car Rentals in Sydney
Another great option for traveling along the east coast of Australia is to rent a campervan that comes fully equipped with a double bed, fridge, gas cooker, kitchen utensils, lots of storage and many more great features. It’s a recipe for a good time and from my own personal experience, I highly recommend renting a campervan with Travellers Auto Barn, one of the most reputable and top-rated campervan rental companies in Australia!
Click Here to check availability and rates with Travellers Auto Barn.
Aerial shot of Harrington NSW
3 BEST THINGS TO DO IN HARRINGTON NSW
Please see below for an overview of the 3 best things to do in Harrington NSW that you will find in this post:
- Explore Harrington Beach & sandbar
- Visit Crowdy Head Beach & lighthouse
- Watch the sunset at Manning River
#1 HARRINGTON BEACH & SANDBAR
First up on this list of best things to do in Harrington NSW is exploring the iconic Harrington Beach and sandbar!
It’s quite easy to access Harrington Beach by simply strolling along the break wall which is located in front of the Marine Rescue building on Beach Street.
The sandbar that you’ll find at Harrington Beach is EPIC and if you have a drone camera, I highly recommend sending it up here to capture some shots of this unique landscape from above.
It takes around 15 minutes to walk to the very tip of the sandbar on Harrington Beach and it’s the perfect spot to lay down a rug, have a picnic and take a dip in the ocean to cool off.
Harrington Beach NSW
Harrington Beach sandbar
Harrington Beach NSW
#2 CROWDY HEAD BEACH & LIGHTHOUSE
Crowdy Head Beach and lighthouse is a short 5-minute drive north of Harrington NSW and well worth checking out during your visit.
I recommend spending around two or three hours here which is more than enough time to visit the beautiful white sand beach and the lighthouse which is situated on top of the cliffs at Crowdy Head.
Nomatic Travel Bag: Best travel bag in the world! The Nomatic 40L Travel Bag is a game changer and perfect for all adventures. With an incredible organization system that enables you to pack more in less space, this carry-on size bag will change the way you travel!
Crowdy Head Beach near Harrington NSW
Crowdy Head lighthouse
Crowdy Head cliffs
#3 SUNSET AT MANNING RIVER
Last but not least on this list of things to do in Harrington Beach is watching the sunset at Manning River.
Before the day is out, be sure to hang around town to catch an unforgettable sunset at Manning River. There are plenty of grassy areas and park benches around the river’s edge to hang out for the afternoon and enjoy the peaceful serenity that Harrington NSW has to offer.
Another option is to make your way up to Pilot Hill Reserve which boasts extensive views of Harrington Beach, Manning River and the village.
Sunset at Manning River Harrington NSW
Harrington NSW
WHERE TO STAY IN HARRINGTON NSW
I personally stayed at Discovery Parks Harrington Beach and can’t recommend this holiday park enough!
Whether you’re traveling in a campervan or looking for a cabin to stay for a night or two, Discovery Parks has got you covered with plenty of affordable accommodation options to suit all types of visitors.
The park features a swimming pool, activity room, laundry amenities, hot showers and toilets, camp kitchen and BBQs, mini-golf, beach access, free WiFi and more!
Located right on the shores of Harrington Beach and a stone’s throw from the center of town, the location is simply perfect.
Click here to search availability and rates at Discovery Parks Harrington Beach.
Discovery Parks Harrington Beach
BEST TIME TO VISIT HARRINGTON BEACH
Harrington Beach sees glorious sunshine almost all year round.
If you want the best of the best conditions weatherwise, I recommend visiting between May and October (Autumn, Winter, Spring) which is most ideal for beach bumming, nature walks and water sports.
Summer in Harrington NSW is between December and February which sees hot temperatures and rainfall.
MAP OF HARRINGTON NSW
MORE AUSTRALIA TRAVEL GUIDES
The coastline and hinterland areas along the east coast of Australia boast countless beaches, lakes, waterfalls, hikes and many more fun-fuelled adventures waiting to be had!
This is what Australia is all about and what I love to share with you in my detailed destination guides.
Click on the links below to see more related posts:
- Crescent Head: 9 Things To Do In Crescent Head
- Port Macquarie: 7 Best Beaches In Port Macquarie
- Byron Bay: Things To Do In Byron Bay
- Gold Coast: 3 Day Gold Coast Itinerary
- Springbrook: Springbrook Waterfalls
- Brisbane: Things To Do In Brisbane
- Fraser Island: Fraser Island Day Trip
- Sydney: Things To Do In Sydney
- Melbourne: Things To Do In Melbourne
LONELY PLANET – AUSTRALIA
One of the best books to take on your trip is the Lonely Planet Australia Travel Guide!
BUY NOW ON AMAZON → LONELY PLANET AUSTRALIA
AIRBNB HARRINGTON BEACH
Another option for accommodation in Harrington NSW is to stay in an Airbnb, which generally has some great deals in the area!
WANT TO SAVE $$$ ON AIRBNB? GET MY AIRBNB MONEY SAVING GUIDE
JOIN MY FACEBOOK TRAVEL TRIBE
Do you have any questions about Harrington Beach?
Join my Facebook Travel Tribe and send a message at any time for a quick response!
WHAT TO PACK FOR HARRINGTON NSW
Everyday Backpack: One of the best backpacks on the market! The Nomatic 20L Backpack is perfect for on the go adventures. Featuring multiple storage spaces for valuables, drink bottles, chargers, notebooks and more. This sleek backpack was designed for you.
Universal Power Adapter: Don’t leave home without one! I highly recommend getting this Universal Power Adapter so that you are able to charge all of your electronics when you’re on the road. Compatible in Asia, UK, Europe, Africa, USA, SA and Australia.
Hidden Money Belt: I never go on a trip without one! The best thing is they are always out of sight, hidden beneath your clothing. With RFID blocking, they are perfectly designed to keep your credit cards, cash and other valuables safe when you’re out adventuring!
Waterproof Phone Case: A waterproof phone case is a must-have item! This universal case will keep your phone safe from water damage, sand and scratches during your adventures. Suitable for all smartphone models.
Portable Charger: One of the best portable chargers on the market! The Anker Power Bank keeps your phone and accessories charged on those longer adventures. Featuring 2 USB charging ports, rechargeable battery, works with iPhone, iPad, Samsung, Oppo and Android.
Microfibre Travel Towel: To pack a towel or not to pack a towel? A standard bathroom towel can take up a lot of space in your travel bag. Get your hands on a quick-dry Microfibre Travel Towel which is perfect for the beach, backpacking, camping and general traveling.
Rain Jacket: A light-weight rain jacket is an absolute must when traveling! North Face waterproof rain jackets come in both men and women sizes, featuring a breathable mesh lining and adjustable hood that can be tucked away inside the collar.
Kindle: The best alternative for books! Kindle e-readers are perfect for long haul flights, reading on the beach or a quiet evening away from the bars. Kindle’s are waterproof with rechargeable batteries and adjustable light settings to suit indoor/outdoor conditions.
Packing Cubes: My favorite item in my backpack! Perfect for organizing your shirts, pants, jackets, socks, underwear and more. This 5 Set Packing Cubes makes packing easier and more efficient, adding extra space in your bag for your next trip.
Activated Charcoal Tablets: Want to avoid food poisoning? Most of us have been a victim of travelers diarrhea from eating street food. Organic Activated Charcoal Tablets are fast-acting and will rid your system of the bad bacteria that causes stomach upset.
MY CAMERA GEAR
Everyday Camera: The most affordable mirrorless camera on the market! I personally use the Sony A7ii Mirrorless Camera on all of my adventures. It’s compact, lightweight and super easy to use for all levels of photography. A 28-70mm Sony lens is also included.
Drone Camera: Take your photography to new heights! The DJI Mavic Pro 2 Drone is at the top of the game when it comes to high-quality images and video, easy to control functions and traveler-friendly capabilities. I guarantee you won’t regret purchasing one.
GoPro Hero 8: One of the most popular cameras on the planet! I love using the GoPro Hero 8 for all of my underwater shots and fast-paced adventures. The GoPro Hero 8 captures the best moments with its wide range of functions that are very simple to use!
Camera Bag: My favorite camera bag I have ever owned! The Lowepro Protactic 450 AW II Camera Bag features a waterproof rain cover, drink bottle holder, padded compartments for cameras, drones, lenses, accessories and it also has a laptop pocket.
Selfie Stick: Everyone loves a good selfie, right!? The Sandmarc Metal Edition Selfie Stick is sleek, stylish and can extend to 1.2m. I find it much easier to take photos and videos with the GoPro when it is mounted to the Sandmarc Selfie Stick!
Camera Tripod: The Joby GorillaPod is suitable for all cameras. This tripod is easy to use and perfect for setting up a time-lapse video or even using it as a selfie stick. The legs are flexible so you can wrap it around a tree or a pole to get creative with your shot.
GoPro Dome: Have you ever wanted to capture those under/over water shots with the GoPro? This epic underwater GoPro dome housing is the best camera accessory to have to create the perfect 50/50 shot. I use mine every time I am in the ocean!
Memory Card: The best thing about SanDisk Extreme Pro is that it delivers maximum speed for images and videos. Having 64GB of storage means that you can store hundreds of files on this SD card for 2-3 days and not have to worry about running out of space.
External Hard Drive: As a photographer, my images and video files take up a lot of space on my MacBook so I use the WD Elements External Hard Drive to store everything. With 4TB worth of storage space, this is more than enough for 1 years worth of content.
ONLINE ENGLISH TEACHING
Do you want to travel full-time and get paid along the way?
Teaching English online is one of the easiest and most flexible jobs out there! Become a Digital Nomad, choose your own hours and work remotely from anywhere in the world by teaching English online. All you need is a laptop, good WiFi connection, a TEFL certificate and you’re good to go!
Click here to obtain your TEFL certificate with MyTefl
MY SHOP
Before you go from this Harrington Beach post, don’t forget to check out My Online Shop!
I’ve got a wide range of digital products for sale and I’m sure you’ll find something that will come in handy during your travels!
SEE MORE → MY SHOP
FINAL THOUGHTS OF HARRINGTON BEACH NSW
I hope you enjoyed reading this article and if you have any questions about Harrington Beach, please leave a comment below and I will get back to you as soon as I can!
Happy Adventuring!
Hey, I’m Jonny – surfer, skater, photographer, and coffee-lover from Australia!
With an ever-growing passion for travel and the outdoors, I launched Jonny Melon Adventure Travel Blog in 2017, and I’ve been exploring the world ever since!
My little corner of the interwebs is a space where I love to share all of my epic adventures, cultural experiences, and captivating photos from around the globe with the ultimate goal to inspire and motivate other like-minded travelers to explore this wonderful earth too!
