Northern Rivers Tropical New South Wales

A Guide to The Tweed-Coolangatta Region of Northern NSW including Accommodation

The Northern Rivers region of Australia is located on the far North coast of NSW and runs from Grafton, Lismore and Ballina in the South, to the Tweed Shire in the North. Whilst other shires in the Northern Rivers region claim to be the gateway to the rainforests and World Heritage Listed National Parks of NSW, in the Tweed Shire you have finally arrived.

Nestled right up against the NSW/Queensland Border at Tweed Heads in the North and stretching down the coast and hinterland to just before Byron Bay in the South, the Tweed Shire is not only famous for its unsurpassed beauty, but for its geographical and cultural diversity and terrific climate – with a summer mean temperature range of 18 to 30 Celsius (64 to 86F), and winter being a marvellous experience with mean temperatures ranging from 7 to 22 C (45 to 72F), which means log fires at night and t-shirts and shorts during the day.

With pristine beaches (with the added  advantage of no stinging jellyfish in summer like the Queensland beaches),  rivers and creeks meandering through lush green valleys and towering rainforests, the Tweed Shire is not only spectacularly beautiful, but home to 3 of Australia’s World Heritage listed National Parks, with another 2 just over the border in Queensland.

Tweed Heads shares a main high street with Coolangatta, the southernmost tip of the famous Queensland Gold Coast. Due to their close proximity, Tweed Heads and Coolangatta are often referred to as the Twin Towns and are considered a major regional centre, with Gold Coast a hub for domestic carriers.

Located at the mouth of the Tweed River, Tweed-Coolangatta is probably most famous for it’s surf beaches. All manner of ocean and estuary activities are easily accessible from here. You can rent a small boat to go fishing in the Tweed estuary and Cobaki Lakes, take an offshore deep sea fishing charter, learn to scuba dive or relax with a fully catered river cruise.

The Tweed coast is a 35 km-long chain of pristine beaches with grassy headlands and quiet villages stretching from the mouth of the Tweed River at Fingal, to Wooyung in the south, with the main hub of the area being Murwillumbah - a 30 minute drive south from Tweed Heads.

At Fingal you can see the original Point Danger Lighthouse, Giant's Causeway and a long stretch of beach that’s rarely crowded - even in the middle of summer. Next stop is the quiet village of Chinderah, well known for water sports. Further south we arrive at Kingscliff, famous for it’s myriad of beachfront cafés and restaurants; with South Kingscliff  boasting a patrolled beach in summer, good boat ramps, offshore reefs, and an estuary providing sheltered swimming and fishing.

Cabarita Beach has one of the best surf beaches in the area, sheltered by Norries Headland. Cudgen has it’s lake, a sanctuary for flora and fauna as well as all forms of aquatic sports. Hastings Point has picnic and barbecue areas, a beach and Cudgera Creek. Pottsville is a long established holiday spot boasting the Bicentennial Leisure Gardens, several walking tracks, picnic areas and a multitude of wildlife. The southernmost beach is Wooyung, where believe it or not, you can enjoy a beach camel ride.

Slightly inland of the coastal strip, as you travel down the Pacific Highway from the Twin Towns, you can’t help but notice Mt Warning towering over the canefields that line the highway. Mt Warning, where the dawn sun first touches mainland Australia, is the last remnant of the extinct volcano’s central core.

Named Wollumbin, meaning "Cloud Catcher" by the Bundjalung people who were the inhabitants of the area before European settlement, it stands like a huge reminder that you’re nearing the hub of the Tweed Shire ~ Murwillumbah.

Just off the Highway, nestled in a small park by the Tweed River is the Murwillumbah Rainforest and Information Centre. It’s here you learn that Murwillumbah means "place of many possums", that the volcano is the largest of its kind (above water) in the world, find a fascinating display of how the erupting volcano formed the area’s unique topography, as well as stock up on brochures and pamphlets on things to do and see during your stay.

A short drive across the bridge and you’re in the centre of Murwillumbah, a picturesque town that spreads along the western bank of the Tweed River and up into the hills of the McPherson Ranges. Surrounded, as it is, by the rim of the volcano and bordering the Tweed River, almost every street has magnificent mountain, river and valley views.

Murwillumbah is a place where the lifestyle is relaxed and informal, the people friendly and welcoming and a perfect place to stop for lunch. You can choose from one of the many al fresco cafés and restaurants in town, or maybe you’d prefer to dine at one of the several pubs and clubs. Whichever you choose, your meal is bound to include fresh, local produce as well as a friendly chat on the best places to visit during your stay.

Time to find somewhere to base yourself whilst enjoying the many features of the area. There are several motels in Murwillumbah itself, but why not immerse yourself in the area by choosing one of the bed and breakfasts just outside of town?

Only 12 minutes from the centre of Murwillumbah you’ll find multi Tourism Award winning Hillcrest Mountain View Retreat ~ which offers affordable luxury accommodation to couples of all ages with a choice of 2 air-conditioned B&B Suites, one with double spa, in a private guest wing of the main house, or a completely separate Self Contained Cottage in its own secret garden.

Perched atop a hill on 5 landscaped acres, surrounded by a the rolling green hills of a 200 acre farm, with spectacular views from Mt. Warning in one direction and the rainforests of Springbrook Border Range in the other; Hillcrest is an oasis of peace, privacy and jolly good food.

You can relax by the solar-heated, 12 metre, salt-water swimming pool, sip on a cool drink and be sight-seeing all at the same time! To take a closer look at Hillcrest go to http://hillcrestbb.com/

After a comfortable nights sleep in your queen size bed it’s time to enjoy a country style breakfast before taking a closer look at the 5 world-heritage listed National Parks in the area. Clive and Tracy have extensive tourist information on-site and will gladly help you plan the best things to see and do whilst you're in the beautiful Northern Rivers region.

OutNBack Tours run one day, 4WD Adventure Tours for a maximum of 4 people which incorporate all the very best the area has to offer; including a traditional "Aussie" barbeque lunch. Be taken off the beaten trail, away from the tourist crowds for your own personalised rainforest experience of a lifetime.

Horse riding more your thing? Then take a 20 minute drive to Numinbah Trail Rides to meet your horse for a 3 hour tour of a private 2,500 acre farm. Stop half way for Billy tea and damper before remounting for the return trip.

Enjoy a round of Golf at Murwillumbah Golf Club, visit the miniature animals at Palmdale Stud, the Bush Tucker Gardens at Chillingham Banana Cabana, or just relax and unwind by the solar heated pool at Hillcrest.

Why not book a massage back at Hillcrest in the afternoon to recover from the morning’s exertions? No problem, a fully qualified masseuse can come any time by appointment, or ask Tracy to mix you one of her famous aromatherapy baths.

How about a 40 minute flight across the ranges and around the tip of Mt Warning in a replica Super Waco bi-plane?  Whatever your taste runs to, you're bound to find what you're looking for somewhere in the beautiful Tweed Shire.

As well as pristine rainforests, impressive mountains and beautiful countryside, the Tweed area is a haven for local craftspeople and you’ll enjoy discovering the many galleries and craft shops which display their wares. Later on, you can enjoy a round of golf, laze on pristine beaches, dine at a myriad of international restaurants, enjoy one-day river and rainforest cruises, visit the art gallery in Murwillumbah which hosts the richest portrait prize in Australia (the Doug Moran prize), browse the various regular local markets or take a trip to the Gold Coast shopping malls to relieve yourself of some of that hard-earned cash!

Whatever you choose to do, you’re bound to agree that the Tweed is the undiscovered jewel in the crown of the beautiful Northern Rivers area, and not to be missed on your trip ‘Downunder".

Getting There

Although the Tweed Valley is in NSW and Sydney is that state's capital city, the Tweed is more than ten hours drive North, so international travellers disembarking at Sydney would be better advised to take a connecting flight Coolangatta/Gold Coast airport which is literally 5 minutes over the border to Tweed Heads; or fly directly to Brisbane International airport (approx 1½ hour drive). 

Hire cars are readily available from both airports. Alternatively, coach and train connections go from both Brisbane and Sydney straight through to Murwillumbah, where hire cars and taxis are readily available.  MAPS.

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Tweed Shire Festivals

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Clive and Tracy Parker
Hillcrest Mountain View Retreat Bed & Breakfast & Self Catering Cottage

Email: info@hillcrestbb.com

Phone: (02) 6679 1023
International: +61 2 6679 1023

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