18 minute read
ART ON THE MNEU
Known as the ‘Jewel of the Tweed’, Hastings Point is surrounded by ocean, a national park and reserve, a beautiful estuary and a large stretch of native vegetation. Little wonder this haven is where you’ll find local families swimming, sunbathing, stand-up paddleboarding and bridge jumping just about every single day of the year! The calm and often crystal clear waters of Cudgera Creek make it a hugely popular holiday destination for families with young children. There’s also the fantastic Tweed Coast Surf School in residence at the old surf shack by the river’s edge. As a result, Hastings tends to get pretty crowded on some days, especially during school holidays, but regardless, you can’t help but fall in love with any day spent enjoying this charming corner of the Tweed Coast.
CABARITA BEACH
Driving south over the rise on Tweed Coast Road once you hit Cabarita Beach, you can’t help but look to the left — with a pumping break known for consistent and long, powerful rides and a pristine golden beach, this truly is a surfer’s paradise! Known for its natural beauty and laidback beach vibe, Cabarita Beach is a favourite with locals and holidaymakers (as the often packed car park with vans laden with surfboards will attest!).
Walk along the boardwalk to the top of nearby Norries Head to be rewarded with sweeping, uninterrupted views of the coastline both north to Casuarina and Tweed and south from Maggies Beach and Pottsville to Byron Bay that will take your breath away. The lookout is a popular spot for picnics or afternoons lounging on the grassy headland and is a great place to watch the annual whale migration between June and October — you’re almost guaranteed to spot Humpbacks or Southern Right Whales.
SALT BEACH
As one of the closest beaches to the border, located just a 20-minute drive south from Coolangatta Airport, Salt Beach is one of the Northern Rivers most accessible and best-kept secrets and a much-loved destination for holidaymakers and locals alike.
There are kilometres of well-maintained boardwalks and pathways to walk and cycle on that stretch right along the coastline here, so you can cycle or stroll to the beach and back through heath and grasslands. The beach is ideal for surfing, but not so much for swimming — there’s a constant rip that tends to sweep northwards, and the majority of the beach isn’t patrolled, so proceed with caution. The Salt Boat House also offers a simple access point to Cudgen Creek, where you can hire canoes and kayaks and make the most of the calmer waters.
But the real allure lies in its close proximity to the luxury hotels and restaurants of the nearby resort community of Salt Beach, which is perfectly set up for holidays and caters well for families with children.
KINGSCLIFF
Located at the southern end of Wommin Bay and cradled by Cudgen Headland, Kingscliff Beach and the entire area has a relaxed vibe and a plethora of options for a perfect day in or by the water. There’s excellent surfing, an ocean-side lagoon, and grassy parklands with amenities to keep you lingering a little longer. For the ultimate day of aquatic pleasures, head to the picturesque river and estuary system that spills out into the Pacific Ocean at the southern end of the beach. It’s an ideal swimming spot (great for small kids, fishing, and watersports). And as the current is generally slow-flowing, so you can settle in and simply let the river carry you away on an inflatable or bodyboard. Bliss!
CABARITA BEACH
POTTSVILLE
The peaceful coastal enclave of Pottsville beckons families and nature lovers with one of the most picturesque creeks and estuaries on the Tweed Coast.
Mooball Creek is a mecca for local families and tourists who flock to the shores for picnics, lounging, swimming and meandering in the cool, calm waters. It’s also great for canoeing and fishing.
The surrounding natural beauty of Pottsville is spectacular, too, with long, uninterrupted and windswept beaches — easily some of the best beaches and surf breaks in Northern NSW — all backed by coastal bushland. Wooyung is the wildest of the bunch, with a near-deserted golden beach fringed by littoral rainforest and coastal wetlands. And best of all, you’ll probably have it all to yourself. It’s not a patrolled beach, so we don’t recommend swimming, but if you’re after quiet relaxation, this is the place! Follow the sound of the ocean from Tweed Coast Road, and head straight to the sand via one of the beach tracks.
WATERFALLS
AMONG THE forests forests
WRITTEN BY RICHARD BRADBURY
Head into the hinterland to discover a water world like no other — a paradise where rainforests and cool cascades meet.
KILLEN FALLS
30 minutes from Byron Bay | Medium grade, 1km return walk with view spots Flowing through the traditional lands of the Widjabul people, Killen Falls is a spectacular waterfall falling 10 metres into a shady, tree-lined pool. You’ll get to the popular swimming hole at the base of the falls via a path that leads you through regenerating rainforest. The track is one for the nimble-footed, as it starts gently before becoming quite steep and rocky, but once you reach the swimming hole, it’s totally worth the hike. As well as the impressive cascade, you’ll also find a large cave area directly behind the falls, naturally eroded over the eons, that is a great place to sit and take in the beautiful scenery, surrounded by subtropical lowland rainforest, with towering native fig trees lining one side of the pool and rich vegetation hanging down next to the falls. It is shaded and cool even on the hottest days, making Killen Falls a local favourite for a cool respite in the summer months, especially as the pool is shallow with lots of submerged rocks, great for splashing or floating around. After exploring the falls, an easy walk downstream reveals another swimming pool-sized section of the creek with shade aplenty. You can easily spend hours here as there are also other shorter and more accessible walks from the car park, one leading to views of the top of the falls and the other to the Emigrant Creek dam. Word to the wise: This is a popular spot, so come early! There’s a small car park and public composting toilet, with less formal parking available further up Killen Falls Road on busy days.
1.25 hrs inland from Byron Bay | Park at Terania Creek picnic area | Easy grade, 20-30 minute return walk Named after the Terania Creek protests that saved the pristine rainforest in the late 1970s, Protestor Falls are just inside the world heritage-listed Nightcap National Park, a remnant of the ‘Big Scrub’, which once covered the entire area. To get to the falls, enjoy a gorgeous rainforest walk along a well-signed path that leads to a raised boardwalk, taking you through sub-tropical Bangalow palms, native tamarind trees, towering rainforest giants and strangler figs. Emerging from the dense forest, you’re greeted with a breathtaking sight of the waterfalls cascading 30 meters down a sheer rock face into the boulderstrewn pool below. There is a rough path around the pool to stand behind the magnificent falls, and there’s no shortage of spots for great shots for the socials! The area is a habitat for the threatened Fleay’s barred frog, so, tempting as it might be, please don’t swim in the pool at the base of the falls.
There’s ample parking, lush green picnic areas and toilet facilities.
MINYON FALLS
45 minutes inland from Byron Bay | Medium grade, 3 hour walk Situated on the other side of Nightcap National Park, the dramatically beautiful Minyon Falls plunges 100 meters from an escarpment into a deep-water pool far (far!) below. For a shorter, less taxing visit, simply enjoy the view from the top and then explore along the creek above the falls. But, if you are drawn down to the valley below and have at least a few hours of daylight available, you can explore further with the 13km Loop Walk. The path leads over Repentance Creek to a steep winding descent into the lush sub-tropical rainforest on the valley floor. On the way, look out for natural wonders, like an extraordinary strangler fig, now standing 40m tall and almost completely hollow, its host tree completely rotted away. It’s an otherworldly sight. To complete the route to the base of the falls, you’ll need to take on a boulder scramble, so make sure you have a pocket or backpack for your phone as you’ll want both hands free! You’ll be rewarded for your efforts by a cool breeze that caresses the wide, deep pool, even on a hot day. Up for a swim? Enjoy, but be warned that the water is cold even at the height of summer. Or just lie back and enjoy the vertigo-inducing view looking back to where you started. Then, gather your energy. It’s time for the climb back to the top! Facilities at Minyon Falls were recently upgraded, with a new wheelchairaccessible viewing platform, picnic shelters, tables, toilets, and an educational amphitheatre.
PROTESTERS FALLS
Image: Zak Franklin - @zak.franklin
ART
on the menu
Inspired by a love of the local region’s produce, Pipit Restaurant takes a creative pivot from fine dining to adding fine art prints to their epicurean offerings.
WRITTEN BY NATALIE BANNISTER
For lovers of relaxed fine dining, Pipit Restaurant is the place to be in Pottsville, set around an open-plan kitchen design where diners can share in the action and take a deep dive into the best of the region, from country to coastline, through a set menu designed by head chef and owner Ben Devlin.
The Pipit ethos is all about gourmet food made with a grassroots style and served up with creativity and thoughtfulness, showcasing sustainable seafood (both wood-fired and raw), local subtropical fruits and vegetables, as well as foraged wild edibles gathered from the surrounding coastline. The set menus proved instantly popular with locals and visitors to the region when Pipit opened its doors in 2019.
Now emerging from the last few years of unexpected pandemic pivots, which saw Devlin and his team stretching their creativity to think beyond the plate through takeaway, pop-ups, closed-loop ceramics, and even online classes, Pipit has pivoted again, just in time for a welcome reopening and the busy summer season ahead. And this time, it’s in an unexpected yet utterly inspired way! During the March 2020 lockdowns, Ben started to learn ‘Gyotaku’ — a Japanese method of direct printmaking on seafood traditionally used by fishermen to record their catches and display the fish they sold. This traditional art form can still be seen in tackle shops across Japan today.
In this same spirit, Gyotaku is being used to create Pipit art using fish, sea creatures and produce as “printing plates” for the ink (some of which is made from charcoal waste from the kitchen grill), allowing the silhouette to be imprinted on rice paper. They make the prints according to the seasonality of produce, so it’s a beautiful connection to the sea and land that inspires their menu. The Pipit art collection includes block prints of Flame Tail Snapper, Mahi Mahi, John Dory, Mud Crab, Swimmer Crab, Eastern Prawn, and Squid, with some land-based love in the way of veggie delights like Morel Mushroom, Turnip, and Romanesco.
“A print shop from a fine-dining restaurant might seem unconventional at first, but the prints remain deeply connected to our dining,” says Pipit co-owner, Yen Trinh. “Each links a local farmer or supplier and a related dish on our menu.” It’s another way for the Pipit team to share their passion for food and local produce and the abundant beauty of the Northern Rivers — and for diners to perhaps take home some really stunning artwork too!
Bookings and art prints are available on the Pipit website. Prints range from $150 (unframed) and $450 (framed).
pipitrestaurant.com
Fine dining set menus 7 course $125 pp
COOKING UP A sea change
Brunswick Heads is blessed with some of the best eateries in the Northern Rivers — and you’ll find one of the finest feasts at Cadeau Bar & Restaurant.
Cadeau is like a little slice of Europe for this charming coastal community, with a sophisticated yet relaxed bistro-style menu of classic French and British dishes and a top-notch wine list focusing on artisan growers and natural varieties to match. This laid-back restaurant and bar has quickly become a favourite for locals and visitors alike, thanks to the warm hospitality of its owners, Chef Giorgio Ravelli and his partner in life and business, Holly Ottignon. The couple combine their considerable fine dining skills, having formerly worked in two of London’s most renowned Michelin starred restaurants — him at The Ledbury, she as front-of-house at The Clove Club. We sat down with Holly to chat about how their dream of Cadeau Bar & Restaurant started, and what they love most about their local lifestyle after relocating to Bruns from London.
First things first, introduce yourself — who are you, where do you live, and what do you do? We are Holly and Giorgio, husband and wife team from Cadeau Bar & Restaurant in Brunswick Heads. Giorgio is the head chef and I manage the floor and wine list.
Fill us in on the Cadeau story — where did it all start, and how has it evolved? Giorgio and I met in London nearly 14 years ago, where we were both working in fine dining restaurants. Our relationship is a timeline of all the countries and restaurants we have worked in throughout Europe. Once we started our own family, we knew it was time to open our own place, and Cadeau amalgamates all those past experiences. What kind of an experience have you tried to create for your diners and your community? At the core, we want to create a warm and friendly atmosphere. We want the staff to laugh and joke with the customers like old friends. It’s that old-world hospitality that we hold so dear. Showcasing local producers and farmers is also very important to us, so Giorgio’s menu will always be made up of what he can source as locally as possible. Eclectic music and art are also a nice point of difference at Cadeau (and something I was brought up appreciating). Tell us, what do you love most about living in Brunswick Heads? We moved back to Australia a few years ago to start a family and be closer to nature. When we were looking for a site, we wanted to find a place that would allow a good work and life balance, which cities often don’t allow.
I would say one of our favourite aspects of living in a small community like Brunswick Heads is the close contact that we have with producers and suppliers. Giorgio loves heading off to the New Brighton market to collect what he needs for the week.
Let us in on your go-to favourite places — when it’s time to unwind, where do you like to eat, play, drink, relax and have fun around the Northern Rivers? Our favourite place is Frida’s Field, a 120-acre farm and restaurant in the Byron Hinterland. The location is to die for, and Ally is cooking such delicious and rustic food. He and his wife Moira are such wonderful people. What’s your weekend ritual? A typical day off for us would be going to Black Drop in Pottsville for brunch before heading to Hastings Point for a swim in the river. The family-run cafe has an excellent chef at the helm and is delivering some of the best breakfast/ brunch food in the Shire.
Share the local love! Northern Rivers’ best-kept secret is? It’s not a secret, but you can’t go past the epic omelette making skills of Rob from Nomadic Kitchen. He and his sister run a fantastic breakfast/brunch stall at a few of the local farmers’ markets, including Mullumbimby Farmers Market. It’s a mustdo! Bottle & Hoop in Brunswick Heads is also a super cute deli and bottle shop in one of the side streets of Bruns. Louisa is so passionate about what she does and will happily help you choose all your picnic essentials.
Cadeau Bar & Restaurant is open from Wednesday to Sunday from 5:30pm - 10:00pm. cadeaurestaurant.com
cadeau
BAR & RESTAURANT
Looking for a special night out?
Cadeau offers excellent food & service at affordable prices right in the heart of Brunswick Heads. Run by a couple with years of industry experience, who use local produce & ingredients to bring alive classic European dishes, such as chicken liver parfait & black pudding. There is both an a la carte menu or set menu to choose from, complimented by an ever changing wine, beer & cocktail list.
Looking for somewhere to book your Christmas party or next family gathering?
Cadeau also offers large & small group booking packages to suit every occasion.
2/26 Mullumbimbi Street, Brunswick Heads Opening hours: (Wed),Thu, Fri, Sat & Sun 5:30pm - 10:00pm Gift vouchers available www.cadeaurestaurant.com
Rosé Rosé
ALL DAY
Rosé’s popularity in Australia just continues to grow, and you can always find a vast selection of this enticingly pink-hued tipple at your local bottle shop. Belinda Ryan from Pure Wine Co. breaks down the joy of Rosé to help you pick a style that you will like.
Rosé is a style of wine coming from red wine grapes and can be made up of just about any grape variety — its signature light pink hue is due to how Rosé incorporates some of the colours from the grape skins but not enough to qualify it as red wine. Rosé wines range from pale salmon to copper-gold, strawberry pink and raspberry red. Styles can be crisp and bone dry to sweeter and fruitier. With so many variables, it’s little wonder navigating your Rosé of choice can be a little tricky at times. Rosé is often chosen based on the general thought that the paler in colour, the dryer it is. And sometimes, this is true. But, don’t judge a drop by its colour! Some Rosé wines with a bit more depth of colour can just indicate more complexity and fullness of flavour. The style of Rosé has changed dramatically over the years — we only need to look back to the ’80s and the super pink Mateus Rosé that everyone was downing at the time! Fast forward to now, and the Rosé trend leans much more towards savoury and super dry varieties, like the famous French Rosé from Cote De Provence, which is super fashionable to drink currently. Connoisseurs tend to go for Rosé wines generally made from a mix of Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah and Cinsault, which appear extremely pale in colour and are very dry on the palate. In Australia, we are blessed to have Rosé made from all different varieties, with popular varieties of Pinot Noir, Shiraz, Grenache and Cabernet, to name a few. However, we see a lot more Rosé made from Italian varieties such as Nebbiolo and Sangiovese.
Here are my top three picks for the most refreshing Rosé this Summer:
2021 DOMINIQUE PORTET FONTAINE ROSE,
Yarra Valley, Victoria. RRP $24.99 Long regarded as Australia’s first true Provence style — and arguably most successful — dry Rosé. This gem has been a mainstay of Dominique Portet since the beginning, and its popularity is now stronger than ever, thanks to Rosé’s global success. Made from a blend of 50% Merlot, 40% Shiraz and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, it boasts a pale pink with ripe fruit, creamy mouthfeel and crunchy acidity — it’s everything you’d want from a Rosé.
2021 LONGVIEW VINEYARDS NEBBIOLO ROSATO,
Adelaide Hills, South Australia. RRP $26 The most awarded Rosé in the country! Longview set out to make a dry, European-style Rosé wine back in 2005, and Nebbiolo was the perfect grape to do so. A beguiling rose-water hue with glints of copper immediately draws one in. Out of the glass lifts a remarkable perfume of fresh red berries, pressed flowers, nectarine skin and the trademark Nebbiolo whiff of star anise. In the mouth, it’s a refreshing hit of white stone fruit flesh culminating in a zippy citrus-juice finish that cleanses the palate and sets it up for another sip.
2019 DOMAINE DE CHATILLON ROSE,
Savoie, France. RRP $23 Chatillon is Ed Peter’s (owner of Australia’s Yarra Yering) project in the French Alps. Made from 100% Gamay Noir, there’s a subtle array of pomegranate and rose petals, with savoury red fruit aromas of strawberry and macerated cherry with hints of wildflowers and spice. The palate is lifted with roses, strawberries and glace cherry that frame this structural, floral and dry balanced Rosé.
