ABOUT THE LOCAL AREA

CLIMATE

The climate is sub-tropical characterised by warm, wet summers and cool dry winters. This means visitors can enjoy, all year round, recreational activities such as bird watching, beach walking, bush walking, pushbike riding, fishing, surfing, picnicking, snorkelling, swimming and photography.

Maximum temperatures - December to February at 28.3 - 28.9 degrees Celsius Minimum temperatures - June to August at 7.8 - 8.9 degrees Celsius.

The average yearly rainfall is 1474 mm with the average monthly peak of 182 mm in March and the minimum of 57mm in September.

Occasionally, tropical cyclones affect the region from January to April. For more weather details, including local weather forecasts, see the Bureau of Meteorology.

TRANSPORT

Visitors need their own vehicle, as there is no public transport. The cottage is located about three kilometres east of Broadwater (on the Pacific Highway), about 12 kilometres north of Evans Head and about 25 kilometres south of Ballina.

AIR

Hazelton Airlines fly daily to Ballina from Sydney. QANTAS and Hazelton fly daily to Ballina from Brisbane and Harvey Bay. There is a small aerodrome at Evans Head. The closest international airport is at Coolangatta, on the NSW-Queensland border.

ROAD

To drive from Sydney, it will take about 9 hours; from Brisbane about 3 hours; and from Coolangatta about 2 hours.

HIRE CARS

Cars can be hired at Coolangatta, Ballina and Lismore through hire companies including Budget, Hertz and Thrifty.

TRAINS

Trains go several times a day to Lismore from Sydney and Brisbane.