Visiting Byron Bay is just as much about exploring the breathtaking Bundjalung Country hinterland towns as it is about lying on the beach.
The Byron Bay hinterland has an incredible amount to offer by way of lush green rolling hills, incredible nature and character-filled towns full of interesting, dynamic locals and a thriving foodie scene. Here we list some of our favourite places to visit on a drive into the hills. (Remember to always check for road closures before setting out on your journey, especially after recent flood events).
Soak up the beauty of rolling green hills in the Byron Bay hinterland. (Image: Destination NSW)
1. Bangalow
Where: 10-minute drive from Byron
What: A very charming and chic historical village full of heritage buildings and friendly locals. Wander the charming main street, where there are so many lovely places to eat and explore. For shopping, we recommend Our Corner Store, The Flower Bar Co., Island Luxe, and Abracadabra, just to name a few.
Browse the adorable knick knacks at Our Corner Store. (Image: Destination NSW)
For the best coffee in town head to the little coffee window at Sparrow for a delicious Allpress coffee and very happy vibes. For food, don’t miss Woods for a delicious healthy brekkie, Mangosteen for an authentic Japanese lunch and Ciao, Mate! for dinner. Also, the Bangalow Bowling Club is always fun for a drink, some good food and a game of bowls with mates.
End your evening at cosy Ciao, Mate! (Image: Kenny Smith)
What not to miss
The weekly Saturday morning farmers market that is held behind the Bangalow Hotel. Also the regional Bangalow Market, held on the fourth Sunday of the month at the Bangalow Showgrounds, features more than 300 stalls of art, crafts, clothing, food and produce.
Find plenty of fresh market haul. (Image: Destination NSW)
If you feel like getting creative, book in for a pottery class at nearby The Clay Barn, or explore the painting classes on offer with highly acclaimed local painter Dominique Sutton at her Bangalow studio. Or see what shows are playing at Bangalow’s A&I Hall with the Bangalow Theatre Company.
2. Newrybar
Where: 15-minute drive from Byron, seven-minute drive from Bangalow
What: A very pretty and idyllic one-street town that’s always bustling with locals and visitors alike
Wander the very charming old street of Newrybar with its gorgeous shops and century-old buildings. Housed in one of those ancient farmhouses is the award-winning Harvest Newrybar, one of the best restaurants in and around Byron. Dine at either the more formal restaurant or just grab something to go from the Harvest Deli – the menu champions the diversity of the region and its local farmers, growers and producers.
Don’t miss a meal at the award-winning Harvest Newrybar. (Image: Jess Kearney)
Check out Newrybar Merchants, a unique retail collective that features local artisans and makers. Or pop into the lovely antique store, Luther & Co., as well as Drift Lab and The Lost & Found Department. If you need any supplies (or fuel), head to The Little General Newrybar.
Pop into Luther & Co. to hunt for antiques. (Image: Destination NSW)
What not to miss
Don’t miss the weekly and monthly events hosted by Harvest Newrybar and Newrybar Merchants. Or head out to the Byron Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, just five minutes out of town, to see Australia’s beautiful flora and fauna. Also, Killen Falls is just a short eight-minute drive away if you feel like some nature time; it’s one of the best waterfalls in the region.
Go for a dip at the stunning Killen Falls. (Image: Destination NSW)
3. Fernleigh
Where: 20-minute drive from Byron
What: A lovely rolling-green-hills kind of vibe
Visit ceramic artist Brooke Clunie at her Red Door Studio and Gallery, open daily to the public from 10 am to 4 pm (closed Tuesdays). Book in for one of her Two Pot Sessions, where you individually make two vessels each on her wheel… with a bit of help, of course! As well as that, you can see (and shop) some of Brooke’s beautiful work on display. Red Door Studio is just five minutes down the road from Newrybar.
Shop (or make) ceramics at Red Door Studio and Gallery.
What not to miss
Five minutes out of town is Bhavana Organic Farm + Cooking School. Situated on 125 acres of magnificent farmland, Bhavana offers a holistic cooking classes that connect you with food and focuses on fresh produce and gut-health. Sit down to enjoy the fruits of your labour afterwards.
4. Nashua
Where: 20-minute drive from Byron Bay, a seven-minute drive from Bangalow
What: A lush, green, pastoral patch of paradise
Don’t miss Frida’s Field! We love Frida’s Field for both its beautiful setting – on a 50-hectare regenerative farm – and its delicious farm-to-table menu by award-winning chef Alastair Waddell. The menu, which changes every six weeks, celebrates the seasons, ecological farming practices and the abundant produce of the Northern Rivers region.
Frida’s Field is located on a 50-hectare regenerative farm. (Image: Mia Forrest)
What not to miss
Book in for a stay at The Cottage, a renovated 1890s coach house at Frida’s Field. The perfect combination of rustic charm and modern amenities, it’s the perfect hinterland escape for couples or families. We recommend a coffee by the two metre-square northeast-facing window in the morning for views worth writing home about.
5. Wilsons Creek
Where: 35-minute drive from Byron Bay, a 20-minute drive from Mullumbimby
What: A super lush and green, hidden, mystical, magical rainforest
Hidden in the hills outside Mullumbimby, Wilsons Creek is home to Lilium Love – a truly magical place. The drive to get there is beyond spectacular. Lilium Love is a general store and cafe offering organic food, organic coffee and plant-based options with live music and a side of witchcraft. All of its food and products are 100 per cent organic, seasonal, medicinal and consciously created.
You can find 100 per cent organic and locally handcrafted products in the apothecary, and there is a licensed tonic bar as well. There is also an outpost in the seaside town of Brunswick Heads.
What not to miss
You won’t find it on the menu, but you might be able to make a special request at Lilium Love for one of their ‘blue pea flower-infused damiana medicinal G&Ts’. Dogs are allowed, they just ask that they be kept on a leash.
6. Mullumbimby
Where: 20-minute drive from Byron Bay
What: The “biggest little town in Australia” with a vibrant and distinctively laidback community
Wander this picturesque town with its wide palm-lined streets, lovely weatherboard houses and very friendly, laidback locals, as well as plenty of shops and cafes. You absolutely cannot miss the Friday morning weekly Farmer’s Market held at the Showgrounds, just a little outside of town. You will find all the very best in local produce, delicious food stalls and amazing buskers – it’s really the best of everything.
Get a wholesome feed at Baker & Daughters.
Also, you simply must stop in at Baker & Daughters for the very best of all things bread and baked goods (they are so super friendly and do great coffee as well). If you didn’t eat too much at the market and you’re still hungry, Punch and Daisy is great for breakfast or lunch.
What not to miss
The Banya is an incredible European bathhouse that celebrates the wonderful social bathing culture of Northern Europe. It features a lap pool, wood-fired sauna, steam room, two hot mineral pools and a cold plunge – plus a bar and dining facilities – and some treatment rooms as well. It is the sister bathhouse to Mullumbimby’s iconic Kiva Spa.
Take full advantage of the lap pool, two mineral pools and cold plunge. (Image: Francesca Owen)
7. Clunes
Where: 25-minute drive from Byron Bay
What: A “lovely location” (Clunes is the Gaelic term for “lovely location”, named after engineer Robert Clunes)
Hang at The Clunes Store. It’s your one-stop shop for everything you could possibly need and so much more than just a general store. You will find a cafe serving Allpress coffee, a great little grocery store, a post office and a bottle shop. We recommend trying the handcrafted wines by Jarad Dixon of Clunes-based small batch wine label, Jilly Wines – cellar door coming soon!
Grab something to go and take it over to the Clunes Heritage Park across the road for views of the valley. A nice place to rest if you’ve been driving for a while. There’s also a cosy second-hand book store and a plant shop!
What not to miss
The Clunes Store puts on a number of different delicious food nights throughout the week. There are wood-fired pizza nights with Il Carreto Pizza on Thursdays and gyoza nights on Fridays with Shoza Gyoza.
8. Federal
Where: 25-minute drive from Byron Bay along Coolamon Scenic Drive
What: The most beautiful little one-street village that is bursting with charm
Wander this cute little street to soak up all of its goodness: Doma, for the most amazing Japanese food in the most beautiful setting; Moonshine Coffee, for delicious, locally owned and roasted coffee; and Benilato Gelato, for delicious Italian style gelato from a cute ice cream cart.
Doma Cafe in Federal serves up the most incredible Japanese food. (Image: Destination NSW)
Be sure to visit its shops too, for such a tiny one-street town there are quite a few. If you’re into antique tiles, make an appointment to visit the showroom of Jatana Interiors). Also, the general store is great for anything and everything you might need. Another one-stop shop.
Doma Cafe is full of rustic charm. (Image: Destination NSW)
What not to miss
Doma, Doma, Doma. And also, a soundbed healing session with local musician, Benny Holloway. Lay on a bed with 50 artfully strung steel strings, each hand-crafted and finely tuned to create a reverberation throughout the entire body. Incredible!
9. Eltham
Where: 30-minute drive from Byron Bay
What: A very small but lovely hinterland village
Eat, drink, sleep and boogie at Eltham’s very own country pub, The Eltham Hotel. The Eltham is a very authentic, 120-year-old iconic Aussie pub that was recently revamped and is now a major drawcard for the local and surrounding communities (as well as out-of-towners).
For a good time, head to The Eltham. (Image: Matt Rabbidge)
What not to miss
Grab your helmet and hit the epic Northern Rivers Rail Trail, a new cycling track spotlighting some of NSW’s most charming towns and villages. The trail, which made Conde Nast Traveler’s list of The 24 Best Places To Go In 2024, currently begins in Murwillumbah, with the Eltham set to be connected soon via Lismore, Bentley and Crabbes Creek.
10. Bilinudgel
Where: 20 minutes from Byron
What: Another quaint and historic one-street hinterland town
Grab a drink or some food at the Billinudgel Hotel, a traditional old pub from 1898. Full of charm, this is a meeting spot for locals and travellers alike. Proudly family-owned and operated, it is open seven days a week for lunch and dinner. You can expect traditional pub food, as well as a great outdoor beer garden.
You can’t go past a good chicken parmi. (Image: Daniel Paul Marshall)
It’s worth doing a drive by the little roadside stall at the end of the main street (to the left) that belongs to Church Farm General Store. If you’re lucky, you might just find some of their handmade, package-free soaps that can be purchased. It’s an honesty system, so leave your money in the deposit box. Church Farm’s products are well loved and are all made from scratch and by hand (without any fake stuff), supporting their local farmers.
Stock up on homemade soaps at the little roadside stall.
What not to miss
The Nudge Nudge Wink Wink dance party is held once a month at the pub, featuring local live music and an amazing shed dance floor under the stars. It was awarded “Community Event of the Year” at the Byron Shire Australia Day Awards a few years back.
11. The Channon
Where: a 50-minute drive from Byron Bay
What: The gateway to the subtropical rainforest of Nightcap National Park
Eat at The Channon Tavern, for great local vibes and lovely outdoor picnic tables. The kitchen has recently been taken over by The Channon Shokudou (Japanese Kitchen), so you can enjoy delicious Japanese food out in the hills.
It is open from 12 pm every day from Thursday through Sunday, with live music some nights, plus trivia nights on Thursdays and Joker night on Fridays.
Also check out the Channon Gallery, which features award-winning local artists’ exhibitions of contemporary art, housed in a former butter factory on the banks of Terania Creek.
What not to miss
The Channon Market is the longest-running market in the Northern Rivers. Held on the second Sunday of every month, there is live music, fresh artisan food and homemade products.
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