It Takes a Village

VISIT THE TWEED’S SWEET VALLEY TOWNS, FROM TUMBULGUM AND TYALGUM TO MURWILLUMBAH AND UKI, AND EVERYWHERE ELSE IN BETWEEN, AND YOU’LL FIND A FRESH COUNTRY VIBE THAT IS BOTH SOOTHING AND RESTORATIVE.

Our inland villages are home to local pubs and historic homesteads, gorgeous rainforest retreats and national parks, shoulder to shoulder, creating endless tracks to explore. Map out your Tweed village trail to take a cruise, grab a paddle and lace up your hiking boots or simply be still and breathe it all in. Be inspired by artists and makers at galleries or savour our local provenance with farm visits and produce markets, must-sip coffee and high teas to distilled gin and brewed beer.

CAROOL

With a tucked-away, timeless ambience that’s instantly calming, you’ll find Tumbulgum, said to come from a local indigenous word for ‘meeting of the waters’, right where the Tweed and Rous Rivers intersect. Unwind with riverview cafe fare or get amongst a pub vibe at the historic tavern. Take a boat cruise with Mount Warning Tours to see Wollumbin from a new perspective and spot myriad birdlife or hire a SUP or kayak to navigate the ancient waters. Pack a picnic, cast a line or take a gin

Up high as it is, Carool enjoys sweeping coast and valley views and also harnesses its cooler climes to grow some must-sample tastes and sips. Rest overnight at a vast working coffee plantation and be sure to book a table at Potagers – A Kitchen Garden for sweet views and home-grown food that will feed both soul and appetite.

Take to the streets of Murwillumbah to unearth original Art Deco facades and features and you’ll also find a fresh, new wave of organic food-stores, farmers’ markets, hip lunch spots, local boutiques and esteemed galleries invigorating this bustling valley hub. Discover history at the Tweed Regional Museum, meet creative makers at M|Arts Precinct and browse Gallery DownTown. Head to the Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre for national touring shows, local artist showcases and the breathtaking Margaret Olley Art Centre, a must-see homage to one of Australia’s most-loved artists.

It’s a calm country drive to Tyalgum, passing paddocks of dairy cows and curving alongside the Oxley River. In town, browse well-stocked gift and vintage stores, packed bookshelves and jewellery hand-made from fossicked stones. Head to Flutterbies Cafe for lunch or high tea in an elegant heritage building or fresh flavours under dappled light in the gardens. There’s also a gin bar, coffee roaster, bakery, beer brews and Friday night artisan pizzas served with a side of live music, along with an inspired calendar of events from Indie folk music and sustainability to opera and classical music..

Along the winding Rous River, Chillingham and nearby Crystal Creek are set in dense, verdant rainforest, creating a perfect backdrop for luxurious lodgings and restorative escapes. Call in to the historic Chillingham Store, the go-to for supplies from fresh grown veggies to pantry items, as well as coffee, cakes, lunch and a chilled sit in the gardens. Also in town is a bush tucker farm with countless native foods and exotic fruits, available to enjoy fresh or as take-home products.

Nestled at the foothills of Wollumbin Mount Warning, Uki is a small village with a big focus on creativity, wellness and good food. Visit local markets in the old Buttery and see resident artists’ work at the School of Arts. Exhale at healing retreats and luxury accommodation in lush rainforest spaces. Uki is where lunch comes with a mountain view and both art and coffee, along with postal services, are on offer in an historic post office. There are also famous pies, relaxed cafes and the much-loved local hotel with a sprawling verandah and friendly publican.

In small and beautiful Burringbar you’ll find quintessential country life – tall, green trees and hand-crafted cheese from local dairy farms, laden roadside fruit stalls, a cute cafe on the main street, Broadway, serving fresh brewed coffee and irresistible cakes, a tasty taqueria, the biggest vintage store for miles and the kind of stand-still serenity you still feel when you’re back home.