Kombis on the coast
The Old Bar Beach Festival rolls in on the October long weekend: a Saturday Kombi parade, a Sunday attempt at the Australian record for the most Kombis in one place, and a whole town of markets, music and fish and chips to explore while you're here.
- 03Old Bar Beach Festival (Kombi Fest)
- 04Market Crawl · every market this October
- 05Eat, drink, stay and play
- 06My Spring Socials · Kombi Bingo & #HashQuest
- 07Sky & sea notes
- 08Puzzles & colouring
- 09Activities by Dionisius · Kombi colouring pages
- 10Coast safe · Surf clubs & fire season
- 11Mid North Coast Stories & Playlist
- 12From our shelf
- 13Get the next edition
- 14For hosts & local businesses
Old Bar Beach Festival (Kombi Fest)
Three days at Old Bar Sporting Fields on the October long weekend. Expect VW Kombi displays, classic cars and bikes, live music, market stalls, street food, kids' activities, carnival rides and fireworks. On-site camping is available, and one $10 ticket covers the two main days.
- Festival opens: stalls, food, music and campers rolling in.
- Kombi Parade. Vans assemble 2:00–3:45pm, then the parade.
- Australian record attempt for the most Kombis in one place. Kombi check-in 7am–12pm.
- Labour Day public holiday. Harrington Market runs on the long weekend (8am–1pm).
Bringing a Kombi? Check the Kombi Fest page for entry details before Sunday's 7am check-in.
Every market this October
Dates for October 2026 from the Market Crawl directory. Tap a market for its page, times and updates.
- Kendall Meeting Place & Market BazaarKendall · Kendall Meeting Place
- 7:30am – 12pmTaree Thursday Produce MarketTaree · Taree Park (27 Macquarie Street)
- Old Bar Beach Festival (Kombi Fest)Old Bar · Old Bar Sporting Fields
- 8am – 1pmKempsey Riverside MarketsKempsey · Riverside Park
- Old Bar Beach Festival (Kombi Fest)Old Bar · Old Bar Sporting Fields
- Port Macquarie Uniting Church MarketPort Macquarie · 1 Sherwood Road
- Wauchope Community Markets & Arts BazaarWauchope · 93A High Street
- 8am – 12pmWingham Farmers MarketWingham · Wingham Showground
- 8am – 1pmBlackhead BazaarHallidays Point · Wyllie Breckenridge Park
- Hallidays Point Car Boot SaleHallidays Point
- 8am – 12pmKendall Showground MarketsKendall · Kendall Showground
- Old Bar Beach Festival (Kombi Fest)Old Bar · Old Bar Sporting Fields
- 8am – 1pmThe Mid North Coast MarketPort Macquarie · 10 Winery Drive
- 8am – 1pmHarrington MarketHarrington · Oxley Reserve
- 12pm – 5:30pmReal Food Local Produce MarketsPort Macquarie · Port Central Hay Street Forecourt
- Kendall Meeting Place & Market BazaarKendall · Kendall Meeting Place
- 7:30am – 12pmTaree Thursday Produce MarketTaree · Taree Park (27 Macquarie Street)
- 9am – 1:30pmJohns River Country MarketsJohns River · Johns River Community Hall & Recreation Reserve
- Taree ShowTaree · Taree Showground
- 9am – 2pmThe Foreshore MarketPort Macquarie · Town Green
- Burrell Creek Hall MarketsBurrell Creek · Burrell Creek Hall
- Comboyne MarketComboyne · Comboyne Museum
- 8am – 1pmCrescent Head Community MarketsCrescent Head · Crescent Head Foreshore
- Elands Community Hall MarketsElands · Elands Community Hall
- Forster Town MarketsForster · Head Street
- Pacific Palms Junkyard MarketElizabeth Beach · Elizabeth Beach
- Taree ShowTaree · Taree Showground
- 12pm – 5:30pmReal Food Local Produce MarketsPort Macquarie · Port Central Hay Street Forecourt
- Kendall Meeting Place & Market BazaarKendall · Kendall Meeting Place
- 7:30am – 12pmTaree Thursday Produce MarketTaree · Taree Park (27 Macquarie Street)
- Byabarra Cafe and MarketsByabarra
- Clyde Street Hall MarketKempsey · 24 Clyde Street
- 8am – 12pmForster Farmers MarketForster · Forster NSW 2428
- 8am – 1:30pmThe Hub MarketTaree · Taree Showgrounds
- Clyde Street Hall MarketKempsey · 24 Clyde Street
- Gladstone Quality Meat MarketGladstone · 22 Kinchela Street
- 8am – 12pmKrambach Farmers MarketKrambach · The Bucketts Way
- 8am – 1pmLaurieton Riverwalk MarketsLaurieton · Bruce Porter Reserve
- Telegraph Point MarketsTelegraph Point
- 8am – 1pmThe Mid North Coast MarketPort Macquarie · 10 Winery Drive
- 12pm – 5:30pmReal Food Local Produce MarketsPort Macquarie · Port Central Hay Street Forecourt
- Kendall Meeting Place & Market BazaarKendall · Kendall Meeting Place
- 7:30am – 12pmTaree Thursday Produce MarketTaree · Taree Park (27 Macquarie Street)
- 9am – 2pmMade and Grown MarketsKempsey · 19 Sea Street
- 8am – 1pmTuncurry MarketTuncurry · John Wright Park
- 8am – 12pmWauchope Farmers’ MarketWauchope · Wauchope Showground
- 8am – 1pmOld Bar Community MarketsOld Bar · Old Bar Skatepark
- 8am – 1pmPacific Palms MarketPacific Palms · Pacific Palms Community Centre
- 8am – 12pmStroud Heritage Growers and Artisans MarketStroud · Stroud Showground
- 8am – 1pmThe Local - Town Beach MarketsPort Macquarie · William Street
- 12pm – 5:30pmReal Food Local Produce MarketsPort Macquarie · Port Central Hay Street Forecourt
- Kendall Meeting Place & Market BazaarKendall · Kendall Meeting Place
- 7:30am – 12pmTaree Thursday Produce MarketTaree · Taree Park (27 Macquarie Street)
- 8am – 12pmNabiac Farmers MarketNabiac · Nabiac Showground
Markets can change at short notice. Check the market's page on the day. All Mid North Coast markets · Market Crawl MNC on Facebook
Eat, drink, stay and play
Places within a short drive of the festival grounds. Each one has a map link, and once you've been, tell the next guest how it went on R8rly.
Coffee & breakfast
- Cafe Azzurro Café · Old Bar MapRate
- buyi Espresso Bar Café · Old Bar MapRate
- Old Bar Bakery Café · Old Bar · bakery MapRate
- Wallabi Point Coastal Cafe Café · Wallabi Point MapRate
- The Natural Waffle Ice Cream Parlour Old Bar Café · Old Bar MapRate
Lunch, dinner & a cold one
- Old Bar Tavern Restaurant · Old Bar · pub MapRate
- Club Old Bar Events & Venues · Old Bar · club MapRate
- Flow Bar Events & Venues · Old Bar · bar MapRate
- The Naga Thai Restaurant · Old Bar MapRate
- Blowfish Street Food Restaurant · Old Bar · takeaway MapRate
- Old Bar Beach Takeaway Restaurant · Old Bar · takeaway MapRate
- Waterbird Restaurant Restaurant · Manning Point MapRate
Get outside
- Old Bar Beach Activity · Old Bar · outdoors MapRate
- Saltwater Point Lookout Activity · Saltwater · outdoors MapRate
- The Big Buzz Fun Park Accommodation · Rainbow Flat MapRate
- The Big Oyster Activity · Taree MapRate
Still need a bed?
- Meridian Resort Beachside Accommodation · Old Bar MapRate
- Club Old Bar Motel Accommodation · Old Bar · motel MapRate
- Ingenia Holidays Old Bar Beach Accommodation · Old Bar MapRate
- BIG4 Manning Point Holiday Park Accommodation · Manning Point · holiday park MapRate
Look up, look out
Tonight's sky
After dark, Orion climbs out of the east late in the season, and the Pleiades (the Seven Sisters) rise in the north-east in November evenings. Away from town lights at Saltwater or Crowdy Head the Milky Way still arcs high after sunset.
Open the Chronometer on The Undivided SkyOn the water
Humpback whales head south past the headlands with their calves, and resident dolphins work the surf at Old Bar and the Wallis Lake entrance.
Explore The Undivided SkyPuzzles & 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.
Kombi colouring pages
Rainy afternoon, or kids who need a quiet hour after the parade? Imagine by Dionisius has Kombi colouring pages made for this coast: vans by the sea, open roads and family beach days.
Kombi freebies
Download and print the free Kombi pages from the Dionisius freebies page.
Get the free pagesKombi Adventure Coloring Pages
The complete Kombi Adventure set to print at home.
See the packMore from Dionisius: Cutezy on Amazon · Facebook · Instagram · YouTube
Surf clubs & fire season
Swim between the flags. These surf life saving clubs patrol the beaches closest to the festival.
Spring is bush fire season
Check fires near you before a drive or a bushwalk, and follow any total fire ban.
NSW RFS Fires Near MeIn an emergency, call 000.
Mid North Coast Stories & Playlist
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stories@ocuper.comSomething to read on the deck
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A guide to how the universe works, inspired in part by Nikola Tesla. From French Kissing Nicola Tesla.
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Each new Ocuper lands in your inbox: what's on, market weekends, puzzles and colouring for the kids, and offers from local businesses.
Kombi Bingo
Tick a square each time you spot it this weekend. Four in a row earns bragging rights at the waffle shop.
0 of 16 spotted
#HashQuest
How many can you tag during your stay? Visit, snap, tag, post.
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