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Northern
Rivers/Tropical New South Wales
by Tracy Parker
Rivers and creeks meander through lush green valleys created by the world’s second largest shield volcano to pristine and uncrowded beaches. Towering rainforests cling to the volcano caldera[1], whilst Mt Warning, the extinct volcano “plug”, soars above the valleys to catch Australia’s first dawn sunshine.
Tweed Heads in the north shares a main high street with Coolangatta, the southernmost tip of the famous Queensland Gold Coast. Due to their close proximity, Tweed Heads and Coolangatta are often referred to as the Twin Towns and are considered a major regional centre, with Coolangatta Airport a hub for domestic carriers.
At Fingal you can see the original Point
Danger Lighthouse, Giant's Causeway and a long stretch of beach that’s rarely
crowded - even in the middle of summer. Next stop is the quiet village of
Chinderah, well known for water sports. Further south we arrive at Kingscliff,
famous for it’s myriad of beachfront cafés and restaurants; with South
Kingscliff boasting a patrolled beach in summer, good boat ramps,
offshore reefs, and an estuary providing sheltered swimming and fishing. Cabarita Beach has one of the best surf
beaches in the area, sheltered by Norries Headland. Cudgen has it’s lake, a
sanctuary for flora and fauna as well as all forms of aquatic sports. Hastings
Point has picnic and barbecue areas, a beach and Cudgera Creek. Pottsville is a
long established holiday spot boasting the Bicentennial Leisure Gardens,
several walking tracks, picnic areas and a multitude of wildlife. The
southernmost beach is Wooyung, where believe it or not, you can enjoy a beach
camel ride. Slightly inland of the coastal strip, as
you travel down the Pacific Highway from the Twin Towns, you can’t help but
notice Mt Warning towering over the canefields that line the
highway. Mt Warning, where the dawn sun first touches mainland Australia, is
the last remnant of the extinct volcano’s central core. Named Wollumbin, meaning "Cloud
Catcher" by the Bundjalung people who were the inhabitants of the area
before European settlement, it stands like a huge reminder that you’re nearing
the hub of the Tweed Shire ~ Murwillumbah. Just off the Highway, nestled in a small park by the Tweed River is the Murwillumbah Rainforest and Information Centre. It’s here you learn that Murwillumbah means "place of many possums", that the volcano is the largest of its kind in the southern hemisphere and the second largest in the world, find a fascinating display of how the erupting volcano formed the area’s unique topography, as well as stock up on brochures and pamphlets on things to do and see during your stay and get the friendly staff to recommend your choice of accommodation. A short drive across the bridge and you’re in the centre of Murwillumbah, a picturesque town that spreads along the western bank of the Tweed River and up into the hills of the McPherson Ranges. Surrounded, as it is, by the rim of the volcano and bordering the Tweed River, almost every street has magnificent mountain, river and valley views. Murwillumbah is a place where the lifestyle is relaxed and informal, the people friendly and welcoming and a perfect place to stop for lunch. You can choose from one of the many al fresco cafés and restaurants in town, or maybe you’d prefer to dine at one of the several pubs and clubs. Whichever you choose, your meal is bound to include fresh, local produce as well as a friendly chat on the best places to visit during your stay.
If you prefer to immerse yourself in the rainforest, then try the award-winning Crystal Creek Rainforest Retreat. Offering seven architect designed self-contained cabins on a 140 hectare sub-tropical rainforest property adjoining the World Heritage listed Numinbah nature reserve, you can awaken to the call of the whipbird, or take an afternoon nap in a hammock over a rockpool. See more at http://www.crystalcreekrainforestretreat.com.au . Families may prefer the “hands-on” farmstay approach at Lodon Lodge ~ specializing in family groups, Lodon Lodge is a working 160 acre cattle farm with a fully stocked dam for the fishing enthusiast. (email: lodon@norex.com.au ) The more budget-conscious may prefer Shiloh Bed and Breakfast ~ also catering for family groups, Shiloh is set on a boutique Coffee plantation in Stokers Siding, just south of Murwillumbah (phone: +61 2 6677 9554) After a comfortable night at your chosen accommodation, it’s time to take a closer look at the best of the five world-heritage listed National Parks in the area. Never Never
Safaris run one day, small group 4WD Adventure Tours which incorporate all
the very best the area has to offer; including a traditional "Aussie"
barbeque lunch. Horse riding more your thing? Then take a 5
minute drive to Chillingham Trail Rides to meet your horse for a 3 hour
tour of Lance and Sandy’s 1000 acre cattle farm. How about a 40 minute flight across the
ranges and around the tip of Mt Warning in a replica Super
Waco bi-plane? Whatever your taste
runs to, you're bound to find what you're looking for somewhere in the
beautiful Tweed Shire. As well as pristine rainforests, impressive mountains and beautiful countryside, the Tweed area is a haven for local craftspeople and you’ll enjoy discovering the many galleries and craftshops which display their wares. Later on, you can enjoy a round of golf at one of the most beautiful golf clubs in the southern hemisphere, laze on pristine beaches, dine at a myriad of international restaurants, enjoy one-day river and rainforest cruises, visit the art gallery in Murwillumbah which hosts the richest portrait prize in Australia (the Doug Moran prize), browse the various regular local markets or take a trip to the Gold Coast shopping malls to relieve yourself of some of that hard-earned cash! Whatever you choose to do, you’re bound to agree that the Tweed is the undiscovered jewel in the crown of the beautiful Northern Rivers area, and not to be missed on your trip ‘Downunder". Although the Tweed Valley is in NSW and Sydney is that state's capital city, the Tweed is more than ten hours drive North, so international travelers disembarking at Sydney would be better advised to take a connecting flight Coolangatta/Goldcoast airport which is literally 5 minutes over the border to Tweed Heads; or fly directly to Brisbane International airport (less than 1½ hours drive to Murwillumbah). Hire cars are readily available from both airports. Alternatively, coach and
train connections go from both Brisbane and Sydney straight through to
Murwillumbah, where hire cars and taxis are readily available. Tweed Shire Festivals
Mid December to Mid January Doug Moran Portrait Prize Exhibition [1] Caldera – outer rim of volcano |
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TM
Nestled right up against the NSW/Queensland Border, stretching from Tweed
Heads in the North down the coast and hinterland to just before Byron Bay in
the South, the Tweed Shire is not only spectacularly beautiful, but home to
three of Australia’s World Heritage listed National Parks, with another two
just over the border in Queensland. 
The Northern Rivers/Tropical New South Wales area is not only famous for its
unsurpassed beauty, but for its geographical and cultural diversity and
terrific climate – with a summer mean temperature range of 18 to 30 Celsius (64
to 86F), and winter enjoying mean temperatures ranging from 7 to 22 C (45 to
72F), which means log fires at night and t-shirts and shorts during the day.
Located at the mouth of the Tweed River, Tweed/Coolangatta is probably most
famous for it’s surf beaches which have the advantage of no 
The Tweed coast is a 35 km-long chain of
pristine beaches with grassy headlands and quiet villages stretching from the
mouth of the Tweed River at Fingal, to Wooyung in the south, with the main hub
of the area being Murwillumbah - a 30 minute drive south from Tweed Heads.
Time to find somewhere to base yourself
whilst enjoying the many features of the area. There are several motels in
Murwillumbah itself, but why not immerse yourself in the area by choosing one
of the bed and breakfast homestays just outside of town? Only 12 minutes from
the centre of Murwillumbah you’ll find