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Draft data. Times, fares and step counts are desk estimates awaiting field checks. Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify

Major city · Australia

Coolongolook

Do not book a night here: Coolongolook has no beds. Treat it as a 20–30 min highway coffee and fuel stop on the A1 between Bulahdelah and Nabiac.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
AUD
Best months
Sep–Nov, Mar–May
avoid Dec–Jan (school holidays, highway traffic and heat)
Airports
SYD · NTL · PQQ
Nights
0
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 7
  • Oceania ↗Oceania's island states guard their farms and reefs at the border: tick 'yes' on the arrival card for any food, plant, animal product, soil or used outdoor gear, and let the officer decide.
  • Oceania ↗Across the tropical South Pacific, cyclones are possible from November to April: choose insurance that covers weather delays and keep one spare night before a long-haul departure.
  • Australia and New Zealand ↗Both countries drive on the left, with long distances between fuel stops in the outback and on New Zealand's back roads; fatigue causes more visitor crashes than speed.
  • Australia ↗Almost every visitor needs a visa or an electronic authorisation (ETA or eVisitor, depending on passport) before boarding: apply only through the official Department of Home Affairs site or the official AustralianETA app, and check the rules for your passport.
  • Australia ↗Declare all food, plant material, seeds, wood and animal products on your arrival declaration; undeclared items can bring on-the-spot fines or visa cancellation. When unsure, declare it.
  • Australia ↗Drive on the left. An overseas licence in English (or with an official translation or International Driving Permit) is accepted for visitors; check the state rules and your rental contract.
  • Australia ↗Swim between the red and yellow flags on patrolled beaches; rip currents cause most beach drownings.

Coolongolook is a highway village of about 380 people on the Pacific Highway (A1) in the Mid-North Coast of New South Wales. The highway runs straight through town as Bengal Street, so you slow to 80 km/h rather than exiting. There is fuel, food and a bus stop, and no accommodation. Plan it as a break in a drive, not a destination.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Coolongolook, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeCoffee at a highway service stationA$4–6 (≈ US$3–4)
  • Street or quick mealMeat pie or bakery snackA$5–8 (≈ US$4–6)
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a weekA$10–30 (≈ US$7–20)
  • Budget bedCaravan park cabin or powered site nearby, a night, per roomA$60 (≈ US$40)
  • Mid-range bedMotel double room nearby (Bulahdelah or Nabiac), a night, per roomA$180 (≈ US$120)
  • High-end bedMotel double room nearby (Bulahdelah or Nabiac), a night, per roomA$280 (≈ US$190)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget A$80 (≈ US$55) · Mid A$160 (≈ US$110) · High A$300 (≈ US$200)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Pacific Highway service stopBengal Street (the highway through town)19th-century gold mining historyGateway to Myall Lakes and Wallis Lake
Airports
SYD Sydney Kingsford Smith (About 3.5–4 h drive north via the M1/A1; the usual international gateway.) · NTL Newcastle (Williamtown) (About 1.5–2 h drive north; smaller, fewer flights.) · PQQ Port Macquarie (About 1.5 h drive south; regional flights from Sydney.)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Coolongolook: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

28°C

18°C

11 rd

Feb

28°C

18°C

12 rd

Mar

26°C

16°C

13 rd

Apr

24°C

13°C

11 rd

May

21°C

10°C

10 rd

Jun

18°C

8°C

10 rd

Jul

17°C

6°C

8 rd

Aug

19°C

7°C

8 rd

Sep

22°C

10°C

8 rd

Oct

24°C

13°C

10 rd

Nov

26°C

15°C

11 rd

Dec

27°C

17°C

11 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

By car or on foot. The town is a strip along Bengal Street (the Pacific Highway), so everything is a short walk from the roadside. The 154 bus route stops in both directions, but there is little reason to use it here.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time
Bulahdelah and Myall Lakes National Parkgo

Door to door: About 30 min

Drive south on the A1, about 20 min

Bulahdelah has the beds and shops; Myall Lakes has lakeside walks and camping.

Nabiac

go

Door to door: About 15 min

Drive north on the A1, about 10 min

Small town with the National Motorcycle Museum and a bakery stop.

Forster and Tuncurry

go

Door to door: About 45 min

Drive east via Nabiac, about 30–40 min

Beaches, Wallis Lake oysters and the nearest real town amenities.

Taree

go

Door to door: About 50 min

Drive north on the A1, about 45 min

Regional centre with supermarkets, hospital and rail.

Seal Rocks

caution

Door to door: About 1.5 h

Drive south then east via Bulahdelah and the Lakes Way, about 1 h 15 min

Worth a day, but the last stretch is slow and unsealed in parts.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

None in Coolongolook

There is no accommodation in town. Sleep in Bulahdelah (about 20 min south), Nabiac (about 10 min north) or Forster/Tuncurry (about 30–40 min east).

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
A$80–140 (≈ US$55–95) excl. bed
Mid
A$140–260 (≈ US$95–180) excl. bed
High
A$260 (≈ US$180)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Motel double room nearby (Bulahdelah or Nabiac)1 × 1 night × A$180A$180
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × A$160A$320
Fuel top-up, 40 L1 × A$70 · checkA$70
Coffee and a snack at the service station2 × A$12A$24
eSIM, about a week of data2 × A$15A$30
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeA$62
Trip total≈ A$343 per person per day, bed includedA$686≈ US$500

2026 estimate in Australian dollars; Coolongolook has no beds, so the bed line is for a nearby town. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee at a highway service stationA$4–6 (≈ US$3–4)
Petrol, per litrecheckA$1.80–2.10 (≈ US$2)
Meat pie or bakery snackA$5–8 (≈ US$4–6)
Takeaway sandwich or burgerA$10–18 (≈ US$7–12)
Motel double room nearbyA$120–280 (≈ US$80–190)
eSIM or data SIM, about a weekA$10–30 (≈ US$7–20)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Very low crime in a village this size; the real risks are highway traffic on Bengal Street, wildlife on the road at dawn and dusk, and summer bushfire or flood closures on the A1. Check Live Traffic NSW before driving.
  • No accommodation in Coolongolook: book a bed in Bulahdelah, Nabiac or Forster before you arrive.
  • The Pacific Highway runs through town: cross Bengal Street with care and expect trucks.
  • Fuel and food are limited to the service stations; southbound services are the main option.
  • Mobile coverage: Telstra and Optus have indoor and outdoor 4G; Vodafone is outdoor only.
  • Kangaroos and wombats on the highway at dawn and dusk.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
000
From mobiles
112
NSW Rural Fire Service bushfire information
1800 679 737

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

CoolongolookCoolongolook

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

Bengal Street (the Pacific Highway through town)Bengal Street, Coolongolook

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance000
  • From mobiles112
  • NSW Rural Fire Service bushfire information1800 679 737

Embassy

No consulates here. The nearest are in Sydney; for emergencies call 000.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Fuel, Coolongolook service station: A$1.80–2.10 (≈ US$2) per litre (check)
  • Drive Coolongolook → Bulahdelah: about 20 min south on the A1
  • Drive Coolongolook → Nabiac: about 10 min north on the A1

Say or show

  • Where's the servo? — Where is the petrol station?
  • Flat white, thanks — A coffee, please
  • How much is that? — How much is it?
  • Card okay? — Can I pay by card?
  • Where's the loo? — Where is the toilet?

No accommodation in town: book a bed in Bulahdelah, Nabiac or Forster.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Coolongolook. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Sep–Nov, Mar–May · avoid Dec–Jan (school holidays, highway traffic and heat) · month by month →
  2. 3 airports and 1 area to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 5 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Highway-stop contract for the A1: verified fuel, food and toilet stops between Bulahdelah and Nabiac, with opening hours.
  2. Walking cluster along Bengal Street with a safe crossing point and a rescue anchor at the service station.
  3. Bushfire and flood closure fixtures for the A1 so the stop can be marked go or skip in real time.
  4. Bus 154 timetable check so a car-free traveller can plan a stop.

Meanwhile

Back to Australia

Sources