Mid North Coast, NSW
About the Mid North Coast region
This region of NSW is centrally located between the major cities of Sydney and Brisbane, bordered by the Great Dividing Range to its west and the Pacific Ocean to its east. It comprises an area of just over 17,000 km² and is home to the regional centres of Coffs Harbour and Port Macquarie, both of which have large populations and are serviced by their own airports. The Mid North Coast is full of stunning natural landscapes, from winding rives to pristine coastline and lush green hinterland.
The region is the traditional home of the people of the Gumbaynggirr, Dunghutti and Birpai nations.
Local councils
NSW’s Mid North Coast region includes 6 municipalities: Coffs Harbour City Council, Bellingen Shire Council, Nambucca Valley Council, Kempsey Shire Council, Port Macquarie-Hastings Council, and MidCoast Council.
Climate information
Climate conditions vary across the region. The coast receives significant amounts of rainfall, while it is drier inland, and although the region is generally quite warm, the Great Dividing Range and its foothills are cooler. Average summer temperatures range from 24-26 °C further north and closer to the coast to 16-18 °C along the mountains, while in winter they range from 14-16 °C on the north coast and 4-6 °C in more mountainous areas.
Rainfall varies across the Mid North Coast, from approximately 1600 mm annually in the northernmost coastal reaches of the region to 800–1200 mm along much of the Great Dividing Range.
Population
The estimated population of the Mid North Coast region is reported as 275,423 as of 2019.
Education
The Mid North Coast is home to a huge range of primary schools, secondary schools and universities.
Those planning to undertake tertiary studies can do so at Charles Sturt University, Universty of New England, Southern Cross University or the University of Newcastle, all of which have campuses in the region. There are also a number of TAFE campuses scattered across the Mid North Coast.
Employment and local businesses
The Mid North Coast region has a Gross Regional Product of $15.8 billion and supports nearly 100,000 local jobs. The region's top five industries by number of people employed are healthcare & social assistance, retail, construction, accommodation & food services, and education & training.
Housing
Median house prices vary across the Mid North Coast region. Coffs Harbour has a median of $527,000, Port Macquarie's sits at $595,000, and Bellingen's at $605,000. All have values above the state median of $485,000.
The region had a median weekly house rental (for a 3-bedroom home) of $470 in Coffs Harbour, $450 in Port Macquarie and $455 in Bellingen, all well above the NSW median of $395.
Events
Where: Wingham, NSW
When: Annually, in May
What: Held annually during the last week of May, the Bonnie Wingham Scottish Festival is a celebration of all things Scottish. From bagpipe concerts to highland games, there’s an endless variety of stalls to browse and events to watch. Amidst the historical tours, street parades, and dances, what lies at the heart of the festival is the commemoration of the town’s original Scottish settlers and their origins.
Where: Varying locations across the Mid North Coast region
When: Annually, in January
What: First held in 2010, the Saltwater Freshwater Festival aims to amplify Aboriginal voices and share Goori culture to all those on the Mid North Coast. The showcase of arts and culture allows attendees to view art exhibitions, meet local Elders, enjoy musical performances, and more. With all-day workshops and food stalls available, this festival is not to be missed!
Where: Old Bar, NSW
When: Annually, in October
What: The sleepy town of Old Bar is transformed every fall for this annual community festival. While its stalls are wide-ranging – offering everything from Chinese food and liquorice sweets to embroidered towels and printed T-shirts – the main highlight is the Kombi parade hosted during the festival. There’s something for everyone in this cosy, coastal town.
Additional Information
Mid North Coast has 6 subregions. Use the list below or the map above to learn more about individual subregions.
Mid North Coast Schools
- Government Schools
- Independent Schools
Combined
- Bowraville Central School BOWRAVILLE NSW 2449
Primary
- Aldavilla Public School YARRAVEL NSW 2440
- Beechwood Public School WAUCHOPE NSW 2446
- Bellbrook Public School BELLBROOK NSW 2440
- Bellingen Public School BELLINGEN NSW 2454
- Boambee Public School BOAMBEE NSW 2450
- Bobin Public School BOBIN NSW 2429
- Bonville Public School BONVILLE NSW 2450
- Chatham Public School TAREE NSW 2430
- Coffs Harbour Public School COFFS HARBOUR NSW 2450
- Comboyne Public School COMBOYNE NSW 2429
- Coopernook Public School COOPERNOOK NSW 2426
- Coramba Public School CORAMBA NSW 2450
- Corindi Public School CORINDI BEACH NSW 2456
- Crescent Head Public School CRESCENT HEAD NSW 2440
- Crossmaglen Public School CROSSMAGLEN NSW 2441
- Cundletown Public School CUNDLETOWN NSW 2430
- Dorrigo Public School DORRIGO NSW 2453
- Elands Public School ELANDS NSW 2429
- Eungai Public School EUNGAI CREEK NSW 2441
- Frank Partridge VC Public School NAMBUCCA HEADS NSW 2448
- Frederickton Public School FREDERICKTON NSW 2440
- Gladstone Public School GLADSTONE NSW 2440
- Green Hill Public School WEST KEMPSEY NSW 2440
- Hallidays Point Public School DIAMOND BEACH NSW 2430
- Hannam Vale Public School HANNAM VALE NSW 2443
- Harrington Public School HARRINGTON NSW 2427
- Hastings Public School PORT MACQUARIE NSW 2444
- Herons Creek Public School HERONS CREEK NSW 2443
- Huntingdon Public School WAUCHOPE NSW 2446
- Johns River Public School JOHNS RIVER NSW 2443
- Karangi Public School KARANGI NSW 2450
- Kempsey East Public School KEMPSEY NSW 2440
- Kempsey South Public School KEMPSEY NSW 2440
- Kempsey West Public School WEST KEMPSEY NSW 2440
- Kendall Public School KENDALL NSW 2439
- Kinchela Public School KINCHELA NSW 2440
- Kororo Public School KORORA NSW 2450
- Krambach Public School KRAMBACH NSW 2429
- Lake Cathie Public School LAKE CATHIE NSW 2445
- Lansdowne Public School LANSDOWNE NSW 2430
- Laurieton Public School LAURIETON NSW 2443
- Long Flat Public School LONG FLAT NSW 2446
- Lowanna Public School LOWANNA NSW 2450
- Macksville Public School MACKSVILLE NSW 2447
- Manning Gardens Public School TAREE NSW 2430
- Medlow Public School MEDLOW NSW 2447
- Mitchells Island Public School MITCHELLS ISLAND NSW 2430
- Moorland Public School MOORLAND NSW 2443
- Mount George Public School MOUNT GEORGE NSW 2424
- Mullaway Public School MULLAWAY NSW 2456
- Nabiac Public School NABIAC NSW 2312
- Nambucca Heads Public School NAMBUCCA HEADS NSW 2448
- Nana Glen Public School NANA GLEN NSW 2450
- Narranga Public School COFFS HARBOUR NSW 2450
- North East Public School of Distance Education PORT MACQUARIE NSW 2444
- North Haven Public School NORTH HAVEN NSW 2443
- Old Bar Public School OLD BAR NSW 2430
- Orama Public School THORA NSW 2454
- Orara Upper Public School UPPER ORARA NSW 2450
- Oxley Island Public School OXLEY ISLAND NSW 2430
- Port Macquarie Public School PORT MACQUARIE NSW 2444
- Raleigh Public School RALEIGH NSW 2454
- Repton Public School REPTON NSW 2454
- Rollands Plains Upper Public School ROLLANDS PLAINS NSW 2441
- Sandy Beach Public School SANDY BEACH NSW 2456
- Sawtell Public School SAWTELL NSW 2452
- Scotts Head Public School SCOTTS HEAD NSW 2447
- Smithtown Public School SMITHTOWN NSW 2440
- South West Rocks Public School SOUTH WEST ROCKS NSW 2431
- Stuarts Point Public School STUARTS POINT NSW 2441
- Tacking Point Public School PORT MACQUARIE NSW 2444
- Taree Public School TAREE NSW 2430
- Taree West Public School TAREE NSW 2430
- Telegraph Point Public School TELEGRAPH POINT NSW 2441
- Tinonee Public School TINONEE NSW 2430
- Toormina Public School TOORMINA NSW 2452
- Tyalla Public School COFFS HARBOUR NSW 2450
- Ulong Public School ULONG NSW 2450
- Upper Lansdowne Public School UPPER LANSDOWNE NSW 2430
- Urunga Public School URUNGA NSW 2455
- Wauchope Public School WAUCHOPE NSW 2446
- Westport Public School PORT MACQUARIE NSW 2444
- Willawarrin Public School WILLAWARRIN NSW 2440
- William Bayldon Public School SAWTELL NSW 2452
- Wingham Brush Public School WINGHAM NSW 2429
- Wingham Public School WINGHAM NSW 2429
- Woolgoolga Public School WOOLGOOLGA NSW 2456
Secondary
- Bellingen High School BELLINGEN NSW 2454
- Camden Haven High School LAURIETON NSW 2443
- Chatham High School TAREE NSW 2430
- Coffs Harbour High School COFFS HARBOUR NSW 2450
- Coffs Harbour Senior College COFFS HARBOUR NSW 2450
- Dorrigo High School DORRIGO NSW 2453
- Hastings Secondary College, Port Macquarie Campus PORT MACQUARIE NSW 2444
- Hastings Secondary College, Westport Campus PORT MACQUARIE NSW 2444
- Kempsey High School KEMPSEY NSW 2440
- Macksville High School MACKSVILLE NSW 2447
- Melville High School KEMPSEY NSW 2440
- Nambucca Heads High School NAMBUCCA HEADS NSW 2448
- Orara High School COFFS HARBOUR NSW 2450
- Taree High School TAREE NSW 2430
- Toormina High School TOORMINA NSW 2452
- Wauchope High School WAUCHOPE NSW 2446
- Wingham High School WINGHAM NSW 2429
- Woolgoolga High School WOOLGOOLGA NSW 2456
Special
- Cascade Environmental Education Centre CASCADE NSW 2453
- Coffs Harbour Learning Centre BOAMBEE NSW 2450
Combined
- Bishop Druitt College COFFS HARBOUR NSW 2450
- Chrysalis School for Rudolf Steiner Education THORA NSW 2454
- Chrysalis School for Rudolf Steiner Education - Bellingen Campus BELLINGEN NSW 2454
- Coffs Harbour Bible Church School TOORMINA NSW 2452
- Coffs Harbour Christian Community School BONVILLE NSW 2450
- Heritage Christian School PORT MACQUARIE NSW 2444
- Kempsey Adventist School KEMPSEY NSW 2440
- Manning Valley Anglican College CUNDLETOWN NSW 2430
- Nambucca Valley Christian Community School NAMBUCCA HEADS NSW 2448
- St Columba Anglican School PORT MACQUARIE NSW 2444
- Taree Christian College TAREE NSW 2430
Primary
- Casuarina Steiner School COFFS HARBOUR NSW 2450
- Coffs Harbour Christian Community School - Junior Campus COFFS HARBOUR NSW 2450
- Macksville Adventist School MACKSVILLE NSW 2447
- Manning Adventist School TINONEE NSW 2430
- Mary Help of Christians Primary School Sawtell TOORMINA NSW 2452
- Mount St John Primary School DORRIGO NSW 2453
- Port Macquarie Adventist School PORT MACQUARIE NSW 2444
- Port Macquarie Steiner School PORT MACQUARIE NSW 2444
- St Agnes' Primary School PORT MACQUARIE NSW 2444
- St Augustine's Primary School COFFS HARBOUR NSW 2450
- St Francis Xavier Primary School WOOLGOOLGA NSW 2456
- St Joseph's Primary School TAREE NSW 2430
- St Joseph's Primary School WINGHAM NSW 2429
- St Joseph's Primary School WEST KEMPSEY NSW 2440
- St Joseph's Primary School LAURIETON NSW 2443
- St Joseph's Primary School PORT MACQUARIE NSW 2444
- St Joseph's Primary School WAUCHOPE NSW 2446
- St Mary's Primary School BELLINGEN NSW 2454
- St Mary's Primary School BOWRAVILLE NSW 2449
- St Patrick's Primary School MACKSVILLE NSW 2447
- St Peter's Primary School PORT MACQUARIE NSW 2444
- Tallowood Steiner School BOWRAVILLE NSW 2449
- The Nature School Primary PORT MACQUARIE NSW 2444
Secondary
- MacKillop College Port Macquarie PORT MACQUARIE NSW 2444
- Newman Senior Technical College PORT MACQUARIE NSW 2444
- St Clare's High School TAREE NSW 2430
- St John Paul College COFFS HARBOUR NSW 2450
- Lismore Diocese Online Education Centre COFFS HARBOUR NSW 2450
- St Joseph's Regional College PORT MACQUARIE NSW 2444
- St Paul's College WEST KEMPSEY NSW 2440
Special
- Aspect Hunter School, Port Macquarie High School Satellite PORT MACQUARIE NSW 2444
- Aspect Hunter School, Port Macquarie Primary Satellite PORT MACQUARIE NSW 2444
- Aspect Macarthur School, Northern Rivers Coffs Harbour COFFS HARBOUR NSW 2450
- Coffs Coast Alesco School COFFS HARBOUR NSW 2450
- Macleay Vocational College SOUTH KEMPSEY NSW 2440
- Nautilus Senior College PORT MACQUARIE NSW 2444
Mid North Coast Housing
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Houses in Mid North Coast
The price of a house in Mid North Coast ranges from around $172,000 to $5,000,000.
A typical house in has 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms & parking for 2 cars.
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Apartments in Mid North Coast
The price of a apartment in Mid North Coast ranges from around $277,000 to $1,875,000.
A typical apartment in has 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom & parking for 1 car.
Mid North Coast Census Information
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Dwelling Type
What types of residential properties are available in Mid North Coast?
Source: ABS 2016 Census GCP -
Tenure Type
Which residential properties in Mid North Coast are owned, mortgaged or rented out?
Source: ABS 2016 Census GCP -
Change in Residence
Did people in Mid North Coast change address in the last year?
Source: ABS 2016 Census GCP -
Working Population
What age groups are most strongly represented in Mid North Coast?
Source: ABS 2016 Census GCP -
Top 5 Industries
What industries do people in Mid North Coast work in?
- Health care and social assistance
- Retail trade
- Construction
- Education and training
- Accommodation and food services
Source: ABS 2016 Census GCP -
Family Size
How many people live in a household in Mid North Coast?
Source: ABS 2016 Census GCP
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