Fact Sheets & Video - New South Wales

It's not quite Brazil, but Grafton has its own Carnivale!

Grafton is located about 40 km due west of the coast and 625 km north-east of Sydney at the junction of the Pacific and Gwydir Highways. The city is bisected by the Clarence River which, for many years, proved a barrier to the connection of the city centre (on the northern bank) with Sydney.

Grafton has a beautiful and very gracious city centre characterised by wide streets, elegant Victorian buildings, a superb location on the banks of the Clarence River, a sense of solidity, and a long-standing concern with civic beauty, manifest in the more than 6500 trees and 24 parks which adorn the city. In fact, the first ornamental trees were planted as early as 1874 and the city's famous jacaranda stands in 1907-08.

The annual Jacaranda Festival, Australia's longest running family floral festival in late October, early November is a unique event that you must experience at least once. Beginning with the Jacaranda Queen Crowning and culminating with the Float Procession, the festival includes: maypole dancing at the Jacaranda Avenue Revisited, live performances, big TAFE market day, exceptional art & craft exhibitions, the madcap Jacaranda Thursday, the Venetian Carnival with its massive fireworks display, dragon-boat racing, and much more.

Further Information:

Jacaranda Festival

The world-renowned Jacaranda Festival is held yearly in Grafton, Northern Rivers New South Wales from the last weekend in October to the first weekend in November. In 2009 it will be held 30th October - 8th November 2009.

Website: www.jacarandafestival.org.au

Quality Inn, Grafton

The Quality Inn Grafton is a four star property located in the heart of Grafton, with the main shopping centre across the road and the main street 200 metres away.

Tel: (02) 6640 9100

Email: qualityinngrafton@bigpond.com

Website: www.qualityinngrafton.com.au

DriveAway Holidays

For car hire, get in touch with DriveAway Holidays

1300 723 972