Emma Pritchard

After Grafton was included as number seven on the list of top 10 country towns to visit in NSW at www.mynrma.com.au, the Clarence Valley Independent decided to hit the streets and ask people to share their insights into what makes Grafton such a great place to visit, and if they agreed with its ranking alongside other locations including Bellingen, Armidale, and Mudgee.

Michael Newton: My partner and I travel through Grafton at least a dozen times a year in our Winnebago, and it’s one of our favourite places to visit. We love spending time walking up and down the streets admiring all of the old, historical buildings, and there are also four or five local cafes and eateries we regularly head to while we’re here. It doesn’t surprise me that Grafton is considered one of the top 10 country towns to visit in the state, because we can certainly attest to that.

Mandy Sadler: It was really great to see Grafton receiving the recognition it deserves as a tourist destination. Since the introduction of the Rediscover Grafton project earlier this year, I’ve seen more and more tourists come into the town, and that’s fantastic. Grafton has a rich heritage and a proud cultural identity too with the Yaegl, Bundjalung, and Gumbaynggirr communities, and I think more people, especially tourists, are wanting to learn more about what Grafton has to offer. It definitely deserves its place on the list.

Catherine Fischer: While the website lists Grafton at number seven, it also states tourists should time their visit to coincide with the jacaranda season in October and November. I feel that’s a bit misleading, because while Grafton does look amazing when all the jacaranda trees are in bloom, it has a lot to offer and share with tourists throughout the year. As a proud local, I think Grafton deserves a top five ranking at least, but it is still nice to see that it has been nationally recognised as a tourist destination.