Jada Stanley is the stylist, collector and creator of iconic surf brand Nusa Indah Surfboards. She grew up on the Manning River and as a young girl spent every available minute surfing the local breaks. After a brief period interstate and overseas, she now calls Wallabi Point home. This is Jada’s guide to the Barrington Coast.
I love to support our community events on the Barrington Coast, including music, indigenous, arts and food festivals.
Pacific Palms and Seal Rocks
My treasured places to visit are Pacific Palms and Seal Rocks for their geographical beauty; I love the picturesque beaches with white sands and aqua waters. They provide a wonderful contrast to the rugged coastline and ocean blues of my local beaches. I also love Wallis Lake, it’s serene and spectacularly beautiful. It’s a kid’s paradise for swimming and water sports.
Black Head Market and Pacific Palms Market
My favourite thing is to explore our local region and show my children the diversity on offer. There are many berry farms scattered across the Manning Valley, when in season they provide a delicious, wholesome and entertaining afternoon with the kids. We also love to frequent our local markets: full of fresh produce and creative pursuits with a really laid-back and charming atmosphere. Pacific Palms and Black Head are favourites but you’ll discover a number of markets on each week across the region.
Great Lakes Paddocks
I love to support our community events on the Barrington Coast, including music, indigenous, arts and food festivals. Great Lakes Paddocks Winery is actually a great outdoor venue for families. They hold free music events plus an annual one-day festival that draws some excellent musicians from across Australia. The venue is located in a beautiful rural farm setting with old barns, shady gum trees and open pastures. The wine, the location, the entertainment and the fact that the kids can have the freedom to enjoy themselves at a party in a paddock makes it an ideal afternoon out.
Forster and Wallis Lake
Having lived interstate and overseas, I developed a real appreciation for what we have here in the Barrington Coast. Although I now live in Wallabi Point (a quaint little coastal village with a beautiful community spirit) I spent a good few years living in Forster and falling in love with its beaches and spectacular lake systems.
There is nothing quite like the turquoise waters of Wallis Lake. Paddling the kids across the lake on surfboards to enjoy a day on the sand islands, followed by a sunset margarita at Spice Monkey, taking in the spectacular lake views is a memory I will cherish forever. But there are many great places in Forster for food, coffee or cocktails. In fact, delicious local oysters and a cocktail on sunset at any one of our great local restaurants keeps me a very happy woman.
Wallabi Point
My preferred surf beach is Tarrents at Wallabi Point because I can surf out the back with all of my children. There’s nothing quite like it! The sandbar and soft rolling waves make them all feel safe and comfortable to head out further than they usually would and the vocal cheers of encouragement from family and friends is so heartwarming. I personally love the bigger swells and am really enjoying trying new and uncharted waves like Diamond Beach with my partner and brothers.
I have so many memorable experiences enjoying our region! From surfing heavy beach breaks and snapping my partner’s board first wave (oops!), to driving the kids solo out to see Barrington Tops snow and navigating through rising waters for the first time. There are endless opportunities for adventure here, I love calling this place home.
There are endless opportunities for adventure here, I love calling this place home.