Terania Creek, Nightcap National ParkCredit: Destination NSW
Scenic drive through the World-Heritage listed rainforest inside Nightcap National Park.
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New South Wales is home to the most extensive areas of subtropical rainforest in the world, and one of the best ways to experience these verdant green spaces is to check into a hotel or guesthouse nestled in nature. Here are five lush rainforest retreats to add to your wish list.
Loggers Cabin, Dorroughby
On the edge of Nightcap National Park, part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Gondwana Rainforests of Australia, Loggers Cabin is the ultimate off-grid rainforest escape. Just 45 minutes’ drive west of Byron Bay, the cosy solar-powered studio cabin in the small hinterland community of Dorroughby makes the perfect base for exploring the national park, with the 100m-high Minyon Falls just 5km down the road. Bring your own food to cook or pre-order a hearty meal to heat over the fire pit. Travelling in a group? There’s also a two-bedroom Queenslander-style cottage on the property.
Mavis’s Cabins, Uki
Located at the gateway to Wollumbin National Park, between Murwillumbah and Uki in the Tweed hinterland, Mavis’s is a former dairy farm surrounded by rainforest, a stunning base for their eco-friendly B&B cabin accommodation. Whether you choose the tastefully furnished Farmhouse, Log Cabin, Old Dairy or Studio 34, you’re in for a treat if a getaway.
Crystal Creek Rainforest Retreat, Upper Crystal Creek
Surrounded by the Numinbah Nature Reserve, just a kilometre from NSW’s northern border and a 70-minute drive west of Tweed Heads, Crystal Creek Rainforest Retreat is a real find. This luxurious couples-only retreat offers a range of accommodation options, including gorgeous studio lodges with fireplaces and private plunge pools. Spend your day exploring the 8km of walking trails on the property before a cosy night in by the fireplace with a gourmet meal delivered to your bungalow (or you can cook your own). After nightfall, follow the creek to the glow worm site and marvel at this dazzling natural wonder.
Nightcap National Park, Nightcap Credit: Lismore City Council
Couple enjoying a walk through the rainforest in Nightcap National Park, Nightcap.
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Nightcap National Park, Nightcap Credit: Lismore City Council
Couple enjoying a walk through the rainforest in Nightcap National Park, Nightcap.
Mavis's Kitchen, Mount Warning Credit: Destination NSW
Kitchen garden at Mavis's Kitchen restaurant and accommodation, Mount Warning.
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Mavis's Kitchen, Mount Warning Credit: Destination NSW
Kitchen garden at Mavis's Kitchen restaurant and accommodation, Mount Warning.
NRMA Angourie Resort, Yamba
Nestled between Yamba and Angourie in a lush rainforest setting, NRMA Angourie Resort offers a peaceful escape with spacious, self-contained villas and resort-style amenities. Guests can unwind in heated pools and a jacuzzi, enjoy drinks at the pool bar, or indulge in treatments at the day spa. With an on-site restaurant, café and easy access to nearby beaches and bushwalks, this serene retreat caters to both relaxation and adventure in one of the North Coast’s most picturesque pockets.
Arajilla Retreat, Lord Howe Island
Renowned for its warm service and laid back ambience, Arajilla Retreat encapsulates the very essence of Lord Howe Island, offering guests a haven of tranquility, peace and luxury. For a peaceful escape, check in to their spacious two-bedroom Arajilla Suite, complete with private timber decks and sunbeds for soaking up the serenity and privacy of the surrounding rainforest, making it a place to unwind, reconnect and experience the island’s beauty at your own pace.
Crystalbrook Byron, Byron Bay Credit: Destination NSW
Accommodation set in a sub-tropical forest at Crystalbrook Byron, Byron Bay.
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Crystalbrook Byron, Byron Bay Credit: Destination NSW
Accommodation set in a sub-tropical forest at Crystalbrook Byron, Byron Bay.
Arajilla Retreat, Lord Howe Island Credit: Destination NSW
Couple dining at the luxurious Arajilla Retreat, Lord Howe Island.
Arajilla Retreat, Lord Howe Island Credit: Destination NSW
Couple dining at the luxurious Arajilla Retreat, Lord Howe Island.
More Inspirational Stories
Sunrise, Fingal HeadCredit: David Kirkland
Scenic coastal views from Fingal Head at sunrise.
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Get away from it all in the beautiful Tweed region, which stretches from the border town of Tweed Heads to Byron Bay on the New South Wales far North Coast. Here are five great ways to enjoy this beautiful stretch of the coast, from savouring paddock-to-plate feasts to cruising the river winding its way through the verdant Tweed valley.
Feast on fine produce
When you see the riot of tropical fruits and delectable vegetables springing from the Tweed’s volcanic soil and the incredible seafood plucked from the Pacific Ocean, you’ll understand why the area is home to one of regional NSW’s most exciting culinary scenes.
Look out over a lush valley as a wave of flavours washes over you at the renowned farm-to-table restaurant Potager, a short drive inland from Tweed Heads. A little further south, linger over a lunch of just-picked organic produce at Farm & Co Restaurant, near the beachside town of Kingscliff.
Fill up on gluten-free goodness at the vibrant Lolita’s Mexican Cantina in Casuarina. Delight in the sophisticated simplicity of the dishes at Paper Daisy, the in-house restaurant at Cabarita‘s Halcyon House boutique hotel. Or continue south to taste the best of Northern Rivers produce at the acclaimed contemporary Australian restaurant Pipit in Pottsville.
Soak up the river and mountain views as you dine on a menu showcasing the season’s produce at the grand Tweed River House in Murwillumbah, around 35 minutes south of Tweed Heads.
Stir your spirits (or slow down with an ale)
Time your visit to Earth Beer Company, a five-minute drive west of Kingscliff, to wash down craft ales with comfort food from a visiting food truck. Or book a table at Husk Farm Distillery in Tumbulgum, between Tweed Heads and Murwillumbah, to sip cocktails over lunch at its lovely Planter’s Kitchen. Then head over to Husk’s cellar door to sample the only Agricole rum made in Australia (using local sugar cane instead of molasses) as well as Ink Gin, a floral-infused gin that changes colour from indigo to pink when tonic water is added.
Tweed River House Credit: Gregory Lording
A magnificently restored century-old grand river house on northern rivers, where you can dine enjoying the panoramic views from the river terrace or inside under the elegant, pressed tin ceilings.
Tweed River House Credit: Gregory Lording
A magnificently restored century-old grand river house on northern rivers, where you can dine enjoying the panoramic views from the river terrace or inside under the elegant, pressed tin ceilings.
Husk Distillers, North Tumbulgum Credit: Destination NSW
Pure Cane Gin available for purchase at Husk Distillers, North Tumbulgum.
Husk Distillers, North Tumbulgum Credit: Destination NSW
Pure Cane Gin available for purchase at Husk Distillers, North Tumbulgum.
Cruise the Tweed River
Watch the valley unfold before you as you cruise the Tweed River, one of the state’s most scenic waterways. Graze on a platter of local prawns and charcuterie on a Tweed River and Rainforest Lunch Cruise with Tweed Eco Cruises, a family-run business committed to minimising its environmental impact. Or try your hand at fishing the river on its Bush Tucker and Crab Catching Adventure Cruise.
Feel like a local fisherman as you trap crabs, pump for yabbies and visit an oyster farm on one of Catch a Crab‘s tours departing from Tweed Heads. To really ease into the relaxed local vibe, let days slip blissfully away on a houseboat from Berger Houseboat Holidays.
Swim with resident turtles
Strap on a mask, adjust your snorkel and get ready to meet the sea turtles that hang out at the volcanic outcrop known as Cook Island, around 600 metres off Fingal Headland south of Tweed Heads. You’ll likely meet green, hawksbill and loggerhead turtles amid the coral reefs on a snorkelling tour of Cook Island Aquatic Reserve with Watersports Guru or Cooly Eco Adventures.
Sign up for a scuba dive trip to Cook Island with Tweed Sea Sports to spot turtles as well as marine critters such as subtropical and tropical fish, manta rays, leopard sharks (in summer) and grey nurse sharks (in winter).
You can also see resident dolphins and turtles up close as you head out from Tweed Heads on one of Watersports Tweed‘s stand-up paddle boards, kayaks or paddle boats – free tuition is included in your hire.
Visit an iconic artist’s studio
Enjoy a change of pace by visiting the Tweed Regional Gallery and Margaret Olley Art Centre in Murwillumbah. Immerse in the gallery’s permanent and touring exhibitions showcasing national and regional artists, and learn about the life and legacy of Australia’s most celebrated painter of still life and interiors in the Margaret Olley Art Centre, which recreates parts of Olley’s home studio. Then recharge with a long lunch at the gallery’s Apex Dining, named for its inspiring view of the peak of UNESCO World Heritage-listed Wollumbin (Mount Warning).
Tweed Regional Gallery, Murwillumbah South. Credit: Destination NSW
Friends enjoying a visit to the Tweed Regional Gallery in Murwillumbah South.
Tweed Regional Gallery, Murwillumbah South. Credit: Destination NSW
Friends enjoying a visit to the Tweed Regional Gallery in Murwillumbah South.
Cook Island, Fingal Head Credit: Destination NSW
Scuba diver in waters off Cook Island, Fingal Head.
Cook Island, Fingal Head Credit: Destination NSW
Scuba diver in waters off Cook Island, Fingal Head.