REJUVENATION

BYRON BAY

The welcome sign just outside Byron Bay says it all: ‘Cheer up, slow down and chill out.’ This idyllic coastal town has been the wellness capital of Australia for years.

Make that centuries, actually: Indigenous people have known of it as sacred healing ground, the air here believed to be filled with charged energy that came supposedly from the lava of a volcanic eruption 23 million years ago. Undoubtedly, locals and visitors alike are seduced by its indefinable magical qualities.

And yet, besides New Age backpacking hippies, you’ll also spot the yuppies here in Byron, given it is currently one of the country’s most sought-after holiday destinations. Recharge that weary and urbanised mind, body and soul here, with meditation classes, yoga lessons, Ayurveda treatments and other lifechanging practices.

As a coastal town, the beach scene is breathtaking – snorkel, kayak, dive, walk or ride a horse! Look out for dolphins, turtles and whales offshore, and on the sand, the yoga practitioner, who comes out mostly at sunrise or sunset!

Go find Australia’s easternmost beach, and Instagram the spot where, famously, “the sun comes up first in Australia”.

The art scene is equally inviting – there’s boho fashion, beachy homewares, independent boutiques, and markets every weekend.

Byron is also known as a party town, with pubs, bars and nightclubs galore.

You might catch a celebrity or two: many call this town home, and many do so temporarily as they come here to work at the famous film studios. But follow Byron protocol, and leave them alone!

For those seeking relaxation, indulgence and restoration, Byron Bay is the ultimate choice.

Connect to country, country music and country hospitality.

You’ll pass through a picturesque landscape of gently undulating farmland as you drive (or take a train) to this beautiful country town. With a thriving agricultural industry and some of the country’s finest produce, there’s outstanding farm to plate dining, and over 20 vineyards.

The Tamworth Grower’s Markets offers fresh organic produce. Stock up for your stay, as you make this your base to explore the historic towns in the region.

Gunnedah is a charming country town with wide streets lined with cafes, pubs, craft and antique shops. At Barraba, admire the giant 40-metre high mural of the water diviner painted on silos. Continue to the quaint township of Manilla, past farms with barely another car in sight.

Uralla offers a sculpture trail, cafes, craft and antique shops. Nundle, sited at the base of the Great Dividing Range, is famous for the Nundle Woollen Mill, with spun wool for sale. Nearby at Hanging Rock lookout, take in expansive views of the region.

Lake Keepit State Park, at three quarters the size of Sydney Harbour, provides a habitat for birdlife including cockatoos.

Head to Oxley Scenic Lookout for spectacular sunset views across Tamworth.

Don’t miss Tourist Drive 17, which winds through World Heritage-listed national parks, with spectacular gorges, waterfalls and wildlife to enjoy. The 12-metre high Big Golden Guitar in town, is a must-do photo stop. Tamworth was where country music artists from Keith Urban to Slim Dusty performed, and it’s famous as Australia’s capital of country music, with an annual festival and the Country Music Hall of Fame.

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