OCUPER
OCUPER
Guest Experience Magazine
Autumn 2026 · Mid North Coast NSW

Food and beats on the riverbank

On the first Saturday in May, Taree's riverbank hosts TasteFest's ninth year and Djarii Bila, a new teen-led music festival, side by side.

How did we do… ratings that matter. Rate your stay
Inside
  1. 03TasteFest and Djarii Bila
  2. 04What's on
  3. 05Market Crawl · Autumn markets
  4. 06Eat, drink, stay and play
  5. 07My Autumn Socials · Autumn Seaside Bingo & #HashQuest
  6. 08Sky & sea notes
  7. 09Puzzles & colouring
  8. 10Coast safe · Rocks, rivers & the end of patrol season
  9. 11Mid North Coast Stories & Playlist
  10. 12From our shelf
  11. 13Get the next edition
  12. 14For hosts & local businesses
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Cover story

TasteFest and Djarii Bila

TasteFest on the Manning fills Queen Elizabeth Park with 60-plus food vendors and camel rides, and next door at Fotheringham Park, Djarii Bila: Beats on the Bank brings a full day of music, led by Taree High student Patrick Hayes, with Jack Botts, Jake Davey and Tom Harrington.

Sat 2 MayOne big riverbank day
Queen Elizabeth ParkTasteFest
Fotheringham ParkDjarii Bila, from 10am
  1. 139th Wingham Show.
  2. Taree Easter Powerboat Classic.
  3. Anzac Day services across the valley.
  4. TasteFest and Djarii Bila.
  5. 39th Wingham Beef Week.
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What's on

On around the coast

Festivals, shows and nights out from Forster–Tuncurry to Harrington and Wingham. Tap one for details from the organisers.

Times and programs come from the organisers and can change. Check the event page before you head out.

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Market Crawl

Autumn markets, town by town

The coast's regular markets, town by town. Most run on a set weekend each month, so there's one on somewhere almost every Saturday and Sunday.

Markets can change at short notice. Check the market's page on the day. All Mid North Coast markets · Market Crawl MNC on Facebook

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Around town

Eat, drink, stay and play

Places around Taree and the Manning River, each with a map link. After your visit, rate it on R8rly for the next guest.

Coffee & breakfast

Lunch, dinner & a cold one

Get outside

Places to stay

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My Autumn Socials

Autumn Seaside Bingo

Tick a square each time you spot it during your stay. Four in a row earns bragging rights.

0 of 16 spotted

#HashQuest

How many can you tag during your stay? Visit, snap, tag, post.

#ManningValley#BarringtonCoast#TareeNSW#WinghamNSW#OldBarBeach#HarringtonNSW#ForsterTuncurry#WallisLake#CapeHawke#AutumnOnTheCoast#Ocuper
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Sky & sea

Look up, look out

Tonight's sky

In autumn evenings the Southern Cross and the Pointers stand high in the south, and Scorpius starts to lift out of the east before midnight.

Open the Chronometer on The Undivided Sky

On the water

Autumn is peak oyster eating on the Mid-Coast estuaries, the river mornings turn misty, and the first humpbacks start heading north in May.

Explore The Undivided Sky
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Activities

Puzzles & colouring

A word search, crossword and maze made for this edition, plus a seaside scene to colour in on your phone. Print the pack for the kids, or play on screen.

Made with PixelWrap Studios. Make your own patterns, mandalas and tartans to colour in.

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Coast safe

Rocks, rivers & the end of patrol season

Volunteer surf patrols finish around Anzac Day. Late in the season, choose a patrolled beach and swim between the flags.

Rock fishing and boating

Wear a lifejacket on the rocks, check the swell before you go, and log your trip with Marine Rescue when you head out on the water.

Marine Rescue NSW

In an emergency, call 000.

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Watch our Stories

Mid North Coast Stories & Playlist

Stories

Watch our Stories

Short films from around the Mid North Coast.

Open the Stories playlist
Playlist

Share your clips

See what others see, and add your own clips.

Open the Playlist
Your story

Share your story

Got a photo, a memory or a local tip for the next edition? Send it in.

stories@ocuper.com
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From our shelf

Something to read on the deck

Colouring

Cozy Country Cottage

Architectural colouring pages of country cottages, verandas and gardens.

See the pages
Colouring

Cutezy on Amazon

Cute, bold colouring books for kids and grown-ups.

Find it on Amazon
Patterns

PixelWrap Studios

Make your own patterns: tartans, mandalas, ginghams and more, free to try in your browser.

Open PixelWrap Studios
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Stay in touch

Never miss an edition

Each new Ocuper lands in your inbox: what's on, market weekends, puzzles and colouring for the kids, and offers from local businesses.

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For hosts & local businesses

Put your place in the next Ocuper

Advertise

Edition ads, featured listings and QR host pages.

See the options

R8rly

Ratings that matter. Claim your listing before the summer rush.

Claim your listing

Strive for a Five

Host toolkits for five-star stays, editable in Canva.

striveforafive.com

Market Crawl

Running a market or stall? List it free so guests can find you.

List your market
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