Local Info

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.

There is great shopping, award-winning restaurants and smorgasbord of entertainment from the many pubs and clubs.

The Clarence River

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, a well as 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.

Major Events

Jacaranda City Motorcycle Rally - March
April Fools Sailing Regatta - March/April
Fay Boyd's Fine Art School - Apirl www.fayboydsfineartschool.com
Maclean Highland Gathering - April
Grafton Eisteddfod - Dance section - April
Grafton Hill Climb – April
Grafton Agricultural Show - May www.graftonshow.com.au
Big River Camp draft - May
Grafton Eisteddfod (Music) - May
Grafton Eisteddfod (Primary Schools Day) - May
Junior Boys Hockey Under 15's - NSW State Championships - June
Battle of the Bands - June
North Coast Open Tennis Championship - June
Week-End of Trucking – June Long Weekend
The NSW Squash Open - June Long Weekend
International Philosophy, Science and Theology Festival - June
July Greyhound Racing Carnival - July www.graftongreyhounds.com
July Racing Carnival - (Horseracing) - July www.crjc.com.au
Sunshine State Navex Air Race (South Grafton to Maroochy) - August
Wattle Day Celebrations - September
Clarence Schools Head of the River Regatta - September www.graftonrowing.asn.au
Bridge to Bridge Ski Race – October Long Weekend www.bridge2bridge.com.au/
Jacaranda Festival – Last Weekend of October and finishes First weekend of November
Grafton's Jacaranda Sports Aviation Air Muster - October
Bridge to Bridge Sailing Classic to Grafton – October Long Weekend
Grafton to Inverell Cycle Race
Jacaranda Dragon Boats - End October/Start November www.graftondragonboatclub.com.au/
Jacaranda Thursday - November www.jacarandafestival.org.au/
Jacaranda Venetian Carnival and Fireworks Display - November
Jacaranda Float Procession - November
Grafton Cycle Club www.graftoncycleclub.com.au