Feel Renewed in the Northern Rivers

River walk, Bellingen. Credit: Destination NSW

Fire up your endorphins with a feelgood trip to the New South Wales Northern Rivers, where a hitlist of outdoor adventures, flavour trails and wellness experiences invites you to relax, indulge and refresh your perspective. Spanning Ballina, Byron Bay and its hinterland, The Tweed, Lismore and surrounds, and the lush Clarence Valley, this spectacular region offers everything from life-affirming bike rides to First Nations excursions and distillery visits that awaken every sense. Here, just a few reasons to plan your next escape to the Far North Coast.

Recharge your body and soul

Rejuvenation comes naturally in the Northern Rivers, where wellness experiences range from rainforest sanctuaries to decadent bathhouses. In the Byron Bay hinterland, Crystal Castle & Shambhala Gardens invites you to centre yourself amid the world’s largest crystals, where you can sit inside a 120-million-year-old amethyst cave and join a crystal meditation or labyrinth walk before a nourishing vegetarian meal. Nearby, Soma Byron offers a health-boosting retreat experience in a striking rainforest setting, complete with a yoga dome, infrared sauna and forest treatment rooms. 

Also in the hinterland, The Brooklet, Amaroo Bangalow and Blackbird Byron deliver deeply relaxing escapes with a side of luxury, while BlueGreen Sanctuary draws global practitioners and curious travellers alike with its immersive retreats and creative, soul-nourishing workshops. 

On the coast near Ballina, Sugar Beach Ranch blends equine therapy with ocean views and wildlife encounters, offering a mix of short stays and immersive programs. 

Prefer to soak your way to bliss? Treat yourself to a hydro-healing session at The Byron Bathhouse or The Banya in Mullumbimby – where hot and cold pools, steam rooms, saunas and post-treatment cocktails add up to a wellness experience that’s both grounded and indulgent.

Reclaim your calm on scenic cycling and hiking trails 

Explore the Tweed Valley by bike on the Northern Rivers Rail Trail, a former rail corridor transformed into a serene shared-use path through some of Australia’s most spectacular countryside. Breathe it all in on your choice of three trails: Murwillumbah to Crabbes Creek (24km), Casino to Bentley (13km), or Lismore to Bentley (16.3km). Head to Better By Bike for e-bike hire from Murwillumbah Station, shuttle services and guided tours – and make sure you factor in time to explore the many attractions along the way, among them the Tweed Regional Gallery and Margaret Olley Art Centre, and the Tweed Regional Museum.

And whether you’re up for a multi-day 65km hike or just a few hours’ stroll, the Yuraygir Coastal Walk follows in the footsteps of the endangered coastal emu through the traditional lands of the Yaegl and Gumbaynggirr people. For the full experience, arrange your walk with Connect Adventures – they’ll not only sort your accommodation along the route, they’ll transport your gear so you can walk pack-free. 

You can also discover the region’s First Nations living cultural heritage on a Vision Walks tour, through Explore Byron Bay’s guided Aboriginal experiences, or along the Gidjuum Gulganyi Walk – a 42km Gondwana rainforest trek in the homelands of the Bundjalung Nation.

Prefer a gentler meander with a few friendly, furry faces along the way? Spend a few hours exploring the Byron Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, where daily keeper talks and close encounters with owls, koalas and reptiles make the experience extra rewarding.

Hit refresh on the water

From wet and wild to laidback and mild, the rivers, estuaries and surf beaches of the Northern Rivers region have the good times on tap.
Start in The Tweed, where Watersports Guru leads guided snorkelling trips to the Cook Island turtle hotspot, along with relaxed SUP and kayak tours. Tweed Eco Cruises offers river and rainforest cruises that unveil the area’s rich ecology and Indigenous heritage.

In Ballina, Out of the Blue Adventures runs marine cruises and whale-watching safaris with a sustainable focus, with marine biologists on board to deepen your understanding. If you’re keen to catch a wave, Let’s Go Surfing offers surf and SUP lessons in Ballina and Byron Bay, while Cape Byron Kayaks and Go Sea Kayak Byron Bay run guided paddles around Cape Byron – with regular sightings of dolphins, turtles and seabirds.

Inland, the Clarence Valley Canoe and Kayak Trail maps out more than 195km of water routes – perfect for a few relaxing hours or a multi-day paddling adventure through sugarcane country and bird-filled wetlands.

Savour every flavour of Byron Bay  

Tuck into a smorgasbord of locally produced paddock-to-plate highlights in buzzy Byron Bay, where beautiful beaches fringe an ever-changing array of tempting dining options. Follow your tastebuds to the Jonson Lane precinct at the southern end of Byron’s main street, where Bar Heather serves tasty small plates and natural wines in an effortlessly cool setting. Nearby, Pixie Italian delivers modern-Mediterranean flair with a coastal twist, while Light Years keeps things bright and breezy with punchy pan-Asian favourites.

In the heart of town, Eclair At The Bay tempts with French-inspired sweets, while Moonlight draws a loyal crowd for its counter-side views of the hibachi grill and refined Japanese flavours. And just up the road, Byron Bay Oyster Bar & Seafood Restaurant serves an ocean-fresh spread inside the chic surrounds of Hotel Marvell.

The yummy discoveries continue in the hinterland too, where Zentveld’s Coffee Farm & Roastery serves its brews with charming plantation views, and at You Beauty Bangalow – named Regional Restaurant of the Year in the 2025 Good Food Guide Awards.

Bond over share plates in Ballina & beyond 

Drink in the stirring views during the 30-minute coastal drive south from Byron Bay to riverside Ballina, where holiday memory-making opportunities go beyond scoring a selfie with the famous Big Prawn. Get a taste of Ballina’s emerging culinary scene over Japanese share plates and signature cocktails at casual-cool diner Hey Lady on River Street, at lively café Bertie's Ballina, or at the seafood restaurant, Kelp. Craving tapas? Head to Jekyll & Hyde at Lennox Head for light dishes made with local ingredients and a standout cocktail list.

Just 30 minutes inland, Lismore’s diverse dining scene features La Baracca Espresso Bar & Trattoria, known for its local wines and coffee; Mama Moi, celebrated for its vibrant flavours and inventive menus; and Uncle Lim Asian Fusion, a local favourite offering finger food, vegetarian options and lantern-lit charm.

Further south, the Clarence Valley plates up plenty of highlights, from Grafton favourites like Heart & Soul Wholefood Café and Vines at 139, to Iluka’s waterside gem Chez Basho Boatshed Café, known for standout Japanese cuisine right beside where the ferry from Yamba pulls in. 

Feast throughout The Tweed 

From riverside villages to award-winning kitchens, the Tweed region serves a diverse array of foodie experiences. Treat yourself to a tastebud tour with Kiff & Culture; nibble your way through artisan bites at Kat Harvey Cheese; stock up on seasonal treats at Kingscliff’s Tropical Fruit World – home to more than 500 exotic fruits and a 200-acre working farm – and let the local experts show you how to catch your own crab for dinner.

Prefer a more structured dining option? Farm & Co’s ever-changing menu stars organic produce grown just metres from your table, complemented by ingredients from local and sustainable producers.

In nearby Pottsville, multi-award-winning, Two-Hatted fine diner Pipit delivers flavourful dishes with a coastal spin, and also hosts gyotaku art classes in its acclaimed kitchen. Meanwhile in Murwillumbah, Bistro Livi brings its own Two-Hatted flair to the table with elevated share plates and a focus on regional produce.

And at Potager – which also received a Chef Hat in this year’s Good Food Guide Awards – the farm-to-table ethos shines through in seasonal dishes, served with sweeping views of the sparkling sea from its scenic 10-acre property.

Clink glasses with stellar local tipples

Spirited creativity flows as freely as the pours in this part of the world. In Lismore, Bunker Distillery pairs small-batch craftsmanship with a passion for botanicals, its stills yielding aromatic gins and liqueurs infused with local citrus and spice. Just across town, Two Mates Brewing turns out a full-bodied range of beverages, from crisp lagers to hazy pale ales, in a laidback taproom that often hosts sports broadcasts, bingo tournaments and trivia events.

Further south in the Clarence Valley, Yamba Distilling Co transforms local sugarcane into clean, crisp spirits with a coastal edge, while Sanctus Brewing Co’s dog-friendly garden bar is a go-to for innovative blends and woodfired pizzas. Close by, Wobbly Chook Brewing Co channels a farm-to-pint philosophy, crafting stellar beers such as its popular pale Yamba Ale and East Coast Lager.

In Byron Bay, lush rainforest surrounds and a commitment to sustainability drive the vision at Cape Byron Distillery, where you can sip gin and liqueurs on a deck overlooking the macadamia orchard where it all began. And to the north in the Tweed, Husk Distillers delivers the world’s first ink-blue gin, bold rums and breezy seasonal cocktails, best enjoyed with sweeping views across the cane fields to sacred Wollumbin.