The Pass, Byron BayCredit: Destination NSW
The Pass, Byron Bay
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Rejuvenate on a coastal escape, wake to the soothing sound of crashing ocean waves, and spend your days chasing the surf on a memorable road trip uncovering the North Coast – from Seal Rocks to Byron Bay.
Catch a wave at an iconic surfing beach
If you only paddle out at one spot in the far North Coast beach town of Byron Bay, make it The Pass. This renowned point break is a right-hander perfect for longboarding — when conditions are optimal, you can enjoy a half-kilometre-long ride. If you’re new to surfing, sign up for a lesson with the likes of Lets Go Surfing Byron Bay, Mojosurf, or Black Dog Surfing. If the line-up at The Pass is a little busy for you, try Angourie Beach, 90 minutes’ drive south of Byron, which also has an excellent right-hand point break.
Unwind on a relaxing beach walk
When only a long, peaceful beach walk will do, the unspoiled, uncrowded beaches of the Tweed Coast at the northern tip of NSW have you covered. Bliss out to the soundtrack of waves lapping at the shoreline as you stroll the 11km stretch of sand connecting Kingscliff Beach to Cabarita Beach to the south. At the southern end of Cabarita Beach lies Norries Head, where you can enjoy views back along the beach before heading down to pretty Norries Cove for a refreshing swim.
Soak up incredible scenery
The small town of Red Rock, 30 minutes’ drive north of Coffs Harbour, was named for the 300 million-year-old hunk of jasper — a form of red quartz — that forms a dramatic headland bookending two lovely beaches. Head to tiny Little Beach on the northern side to splash in rockpool at the mouth of the Corindi River, or enjoy the long, wild stretch of sand known as Red Rock Beach to the south, marvelling at the beautifully coloured rock formation is between.
Refuel with a beach picnic
Pretty Shelly Beach in Port Macquarie is surrounded by rainforest, with shady spots, picnic tables and barbecues making it a perfect spot for a leisurely beach picnic. Just be sure to keep your lunch out of reach of the brush turkeys and goannas that are regularly spotted here while you have a splash in the beach’s natural tidal lagoon.
Surfing, Cabarita Beach Credit: Destination NSW
Women heading out for a morning surf at Cabarita Beach.
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Surfing, Cabarita Beach Credit: Destination NSW
Women heading out for a morning surf at Cabarita Beach.
Red Rock, Coffs Coast Credit: Destination NSW
Red Rock Headland and the coastal holiday town of Red Rock.
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Red Rock, Coffs Coast Credit: Destination NSW
Red Rock Headland and the coastal holiday town of Red Rock.
Make life-affirming memories with the family
One Mile Beach at Forster, halfway between Newcastle and Port Macquarie, has long been a popular holiday destination for families. The calm, lifeguard-patrolled waters make it a great place to take the kids for a paddle, and little ones will love the playground in the park that borders the beach. If you’re feeling adventurous, take a walk up to Bennett’s Head, at the northern end of the beach, where a lookout offers 360-degree views of the area. You can also make use of the park’s barbecue and picnic facilities.
Discover an iconic point break
The relaxed mid-North Coast town of Crescent Head is best known among surfers for its epic point break, but you don’t need to be a pro to hit the waves in this National Surfing Reserve, one of 24 declared around the country. The calm waters in the bay here are great for beginners, and if you want a hand catching your first wave, book a lesson with On Point Surf School.
Get off the beaten track
The tiny fishing town of Seal Rocks, 90 minutes’ drive north of Newcastle, is surrounded by Myall Lakes National Park, giving it a glorious sense of isolation. Named for the Australian fur seals that can sometimes be seen hanging out on the rocks offshore (particularly during the summer months), Seal Rocks is home to a clutch of idyllic beaches (try Number One Beach for swimming, and Blueys Beach for surfing), and several notable dive spots.
Bring your pooch
Four-legged beachgoers are welcome to run free at Seven Mile Beach at Lennox Head, a low-key coastal town just 20 minutes’ drive south of Byron Bay. The dog-friendly section of the beach runs north from Lake Ainsworth and is clearly signposted, so you’ll know when your pooch needs to go back on the leash. At the southern end of the beach, surfers will find a right-hand point break.
Seal Rocks Lighthouse Cottages, Seal Rocks Credit: Destination NSW
The Seal Rocks Lighthouse Cottages overlooking Lighthouse Beach, Seal Rocks.
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Seal Rocks Lighthouse Cottages, Seal Rocks Credit: Destination NSW
The Seal Rocks Lighthouse Cottages overlooking Lighthouse Beach, Seal Rocks.
One Mile Beach, Forster Credit: Destination NSW
Scenic views across One Mile Beach through to Cape Hawke, Forster.
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One Mile Beach, Forster Credit: Destination NSW
Scenic views across One Mile Beach through to Cape Hawke, Forster.
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Surfing, Cabarita BeachCredit: Destination NSW
Surfers catching a morning wave at Cabarita Beach.
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Bliss-inducing beaches and dreamy hinterland vistas are just the entrée in the Tweed. You’ll be glad you packed your appetite for this easy-to-navigate destination at the tip of the New South Wales North Coast, where a memorable meal is always within easy reach. Be inspired to create your own itinerary with these highlights.
Uncover foodie delights galore
Get acquainted with the vibrancy and quality of the Tweed’s culinary scene, which includes everything from fine-dining restaurants to farmgate cafés and everything in between.
Set yourself up for a day’s exploration with an energising coffee in an unexpected setting at Bastion Lane Espresso, housed in a 1909 post office in the tiny hinterland town of Uki, or follow locals to the likes of Black Drop Cafe in seaside Pottsville. Once you've got your caffeine fix, head further north to Tropical Fruit World - the tourist park, cafe and commercial exotic fruit farm where more than 500 exotic tropical fruit varieties are grown.
Level up to a coastal fine dining treat at the likes of Pipit in Pottsville, where ex-Noma chef Ben Devlin delivers memorable and sustainable dishes, and Fins in Kingscliff, where you can taste Steven Snow’s passion for seafood in every dish. Inland, savour a gourmet contemporary meal with a side-serve of relaxing river views at Murwillumbah’s Tweed River House, or feel like you’ve been invited to an old friend’s house for lunch at Potager, an intimate restaurant on a farm in Carool where freshly picked garden produce joins local wild venison on the menu.
In seaside Casuarina, pair zingy chilli margaritas with crispy cauliflower-filled tacos at Lolita’s Mexican Cantina.
When it’s time for a drink, learn the inspiring paddock-to-bottle story of Husk Distillers in Tumbulgum as you sample its pioneering rum on a cellar door tour, then sip a cocktail in the courtyard as you soak up the inspiring views of Wollumbin (Mount Warning). You can also cosy up in a characterful former avocado shed with a craft brew at Earth Beer Company in Cudgen, and snack on local charcuterie as you work your way through the expertly curated wine list at Bistro Livi in Murwillumbah.
Alternatively, leave the gourmet itinerary planning to Kiff & Culture and enjoy a tantalising taste of the Tweed on its Tweed Hinterland Food & Drink Tour.
Pipit Restaurant, Pottsville Credit: Pipit Restaurant and Sabine Bannard
Pipit Restaurant in coastal Pottsville, north of Byron Bay.
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Pipit Restaurant, Pottsville Credit: Pipit Restaurant and Sabine Bannard
Pipit Restaurant in coastal Pottsville, north of Byron Bay.
Husk Distillers, North Tumbulgum Credit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying a visit to Husk Distillers, North Tumbulgum.
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Husk Distillers, North Tumbulgum Credit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying a visit to Husk Distillers, North Tumbulgum.
Discover your new favourite pastime
Luxuriate in the ever-changing scenery as you glide along the Tweed River, with boat tours including Tweed Escapes’ Blue Ginger Picnics on Water, featuring a menu of 100 per cent seasonal local produce, and Tweed Eco Cruises’ Sunset Cruise, during which you can enjoy drinks and grazing plates as you marvel at the evening lightshow when the sun goes down.
Ready your sense of adventure for whale-watching, snorkelling with turtles around Cook Island and more with Watersports Guru. Tweed Sea Sports can also take you for a thrilling scuba dive with the three species of marine turtle that hang out around the small island just south of Tweed Heads. Or revel in the lack of crowds as you beach-hop along the gorgeous Tweed coast at your own pace.
Have a lightbulb moment as you learn how the Tweed Valley was created over 24 million years with a visit to the Tweed Regional Museum in Tweed Heads. Get a glimpse of how it felt to visit the acclaimed Australian still-life painter Margaret Olley in her home studio at the Tweed Regional Gallery and Margaret Olley Art Centre in Murwillumbah, where a recreation includes more than 20,000 items she collected over the years.
Immerse yourself in Murwillumbah’s vibrant arts community at the M-Arts Precinct, which brings art, coffee and food lovers together in an art deco building and industrial warehouse. Connect with artists in their studios in renovated shipping containers, shop for upcycled clothing and pick up some fresh blooms at Flowerista.
Sign up for a memorable stay
Feel like you’ve stepped into the Australian Hamptons at 21-room boutique hotel Halcyon House in Cabarita, where the chic rooms are just as Instagrammable as its modern Australian restaurant, Paper Daisy. Just up the street, find out how much fun seaside glamping can be at The Hideaway, where spacious bell tents are kitted out with indoor and outdoor furniture, bar fridges, fans and, in some tents, even air-conditioning.
Watching the sun set behind Wollumbin is mesmerising, and at La Rochér Eco Retreat, at Smiths Creek in the Tweed hinterland, you can take in the stirring show from your luxury villa or from the dreamy infinity pool.
Enjoy the ease of simply heading upstairs to bed after a drink at Murwillumbah’s pink ‘Impy’, as the Imperial Hotel is locally known, where recently renovated rooms reference the building’s art deco design. And you really can wake up and smell the coffee at Origin House, a two-bedroom self-catering cottage on the Zeta’s Coffee plantation tucked up in the hills near Potager. You can also holiday in a local heritage home such as the Belle Riverhouse, a century-old luxury house on the Tweed River with a huge wraparound verandah that you can share with 16 of your nearest and dearest.
Halcyon House, Cabarita Beach Credit: Destination NSW
Swimming pool in boutique hotel Halcyon House, Cabarita Beach.
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Halcyon House, Cabarita Beach Credit: Destination NSW
Swimming pool in boutique hotel Halcyon House, Cabarita Beach.
Surfing, Cabarita Beach Credit: Destination NSW
Women heading out for a morning surf at Cabarita Beach.
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Surfing, Cabarita Beach Credit: Destination NSW
Women heading out for a morning surf at Cabarita Beach.