Things to do in Grafton and the surrounding area
Grafton sits proudly along the banks of the mighty Clarence Valley River on the NSW North Coast. Using the Fitzroy Motor Inn as a base, there are plenty of sites and attractions within comfortable walking distance or short drive of the motel.
These include:
The Grafton Bridge
A heritage listed bascule truss bridge that is wonderful to look at and to walk over.
The new Grafton Bridge runs parallel and gives a great vantage point for admiring it’s old beauty.
The old bridge is heritage listed, carrying both the North Coast Railway and the Summerland Way road. It was added to the NSW State Heritage Register in 1999.
The new bridge carries the Pacific Highway (M1) and sits 70 metres to the east. It was opened in 2019.
Prince Street Shopping
A short walk from the bridges will see you in Prince Street, the main street in Grafton.
A short walk from the bridges will see you in Prince Street, the main street in Grafton.
Prince Street has ample cafes, restaurants and retail shops for you to explore, ranging from Aldi (for restocking!) to boutique local shops and cafes and everything in between.
And, of course, at the Northern end we have The Grafton Showground which hosts the annual Grafton Show which brings the Clarence Valley community together, showcasing the region’s rural activities and interests.
Grafton Regional Gallery
Located at the beautiful Prentice House which was built in 1880.
You can see works from famous Aussie and contemporary indigenous artists.
It is also home to the Clarence Valley Visitor Information Centre.
Address
GRAFTON REGIONAL GALLERY
158 Fitzroy Street
Grafton, NSW, 2460
Hours (COVID 19)
Gallery Hours: 10am – 2pm Monday to Friday.
Closed Saturday & Sunday
Public Holiday Hours: subject to change
Jacaranda Trees
One of the best highlights of Grafton is it’s abundance of Jacaranda trees – over 2,000 of them! When they are out in blossom every spring it turns the whole town a lovely shade of purple.
A lot of the trees date back to 1879, and they attract thousands of people every year.
The Jacaranda Festival is a must if you want to make the most of this wonderful time in October/November.
For a full list of what is going on in Grafton, please check out…
…this lists all the festivals, markets, shows and sporting events like…
The Grafton Bridge to Bridge Ski Classic
The Grafton to Inverell Cycle Classic
Other sites and attractions to note in and around Grafton include:
Grafton Heritage Trail
Nymboida National Park
Wooli & Minnie Waters