Harrington Beach NSW – Visitor’s Guide

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 stunning beaches which lie at the mouth of the Manning River.

Harrington Beach NSW 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 everything Harrington 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.

 

WHERE IS HARRINGTON NSW?

Harrington is located approximately a 45-minute drive south of Port Macquarie and a 45-minute drive north of Forster.

Click here to see the exact location on Google Maps.

 

HOW TO GET HERE

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

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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 Autobarn.

Aerial shot of Harrington Beach

 

3 BEST THINGS TO DO IN HARRINGTON NSW

Please see below for an overview of the 3 best things to do that you will find in this post:

1. Explore Harrington Beach & sandbar
2. Visit Crowdy Head Beach & lighthouse
3. 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 NSW 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 here is EPIC and if you have a drone camera, I highly recommend sending it up 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 NSW 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 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. 

Crowdy Head Beach

Crowdy Head lighthouse

Crowdy Head cliffs

 

#3 SUNSET AT MANNING RIVER

Last but not least on this list of things to do 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.

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

Manning River

 

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 in 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 NSW 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 NSW 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 is between December and February which sees hot temperatures and rainfall.