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Grafton Bridge at sunset
 One of Australia's most
beautiful provincial cities, Grafton is renowned for its Jacaranda
trees, graceful old buildings, sporting and cultural facilities, and
its location on the banks of the Clarence River.
As the thriving
commercial hub of the Clarence Valley, Grafton has a range of
quality accommodation including motels, B&Bs, self-contained
apartments, hotels and caravan parks.
There is great
shopping,
award-winning restaurants and smorgasbord of entertainment from the
many pubs and clubs.
Outdoors, every turn
reveals a stunning vista. Manicured gardens glow with seasonal
blossoms and, throughout the year, Grafton's stately streets and
parks host festivals and community celebrations that attract
thousands of visitors.
the clarence river
  
Looking from South Grafton over the mighty
Clarence River to Grafton
One of Australia's most
majestic waterways, the Clarence River is a dominant feature in
Grafton's landscape and lifestyle. Visitors travel from all over the
world to compete in dragon boat, sail, and power boat racing, the
Head of the River rowing regatta in December and one of Australia's
premier water skiing events, the famous Bridge to Bridge Ski Race,
in October. See our events section for more
information.
You can explore the
River at a more sedate pace on a hire boat
or canoe enjoy a bird's eye
view as you use the pedestrian foot-bridge to cross the famous "Bendy
Bridge", an engineering marvel built in 1932.
heritage
  
Heritage streetscape of Prince Street, Grafton
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Celebrate Grafton's
150th Anniversary with the
Sesquicentenary
of Local Government 1859-2009
official booklet.
Available from Clarence
River Tourism for $20 + $2
p&h.
Contact |
Many of Grafton's
buildings have been classified by the National Trust, including the
Christ Church Cathedral, the infamous Grafton Gaol, and some fine
historic homes.
Schaeffer House
Museum
exhibits the treasures of the Clarence River Historical Society in a
glorious century-old homestead and the gracious Prentice House,
built in 1880, is now the
Regional Art Gallery.
Alumny Creek School
Museum set in magnificent grounds has a beautifully restored school
that recreates a slice of 19th century life.
Visit our
heritage trail section
for information on the Grafton Heritage Trail and download
the brochure to explore the rich history of this river city.
festivals & events
  
The tree lined streets in Grafton during the Jacaranda Festival
Grafton hosts a range
of festivals throughout the year.
The Jacaranda Festival, Australia's longest running floral
festival, is held in October when the streets are lined with vibrant
purple blooms.
Grafton has something
for everyone, and annual events include the Bridge to Bridge Ski
Race, the Weekend of Trucking and Artsfest,
a highly acclaimed series of workshops, concerts and exhibitions.
Check out the
events section of our website to get
information on the major events occurring in Grafton and the
Clarence Valley or download our 12-month
Calendar of Events.
sports
  
Rowing
regatta at Grafton every December
Grafton's aquatic
events are complimented by a full calendar of terrestrial
spectaculars including the Grafton to Inverell Cycling Classic and
the July Racing Carnival, which draws many top horses and jockeys.
The feature race of the
Carnival, the famous Grafton Cup, is the richest horse race in rural
Australia.
Sporting facilities
include a basketball stadium, hockey fields, Olympic and heated
swimming pools, gyms,
tennis courts ... and more.
Golfers will love the 18-hole golf course, popular with the
locals (including kangaroos and wallabies) and the golf driving
range. There's also bowls,
squash,
ten-pin bowling,
gliding and
rock climbing; and anglers will delight in the
fresh and salt water fishing opportunities that the Clarence affords. |
