Walking on a misty day, when the low hanging cloud drifted into the forest turned out to be one of the greatest days we've had in Australia. The low cloud swirls around the mountain tops and you catch glimpses of the falls between the mist. Its a large area so if you happen to visit on a busy day there is plenty of room to spread out and enjoy the serenity. If you're running short on time, you can also just drive to the other side where you will find another car park. The superior suite looks the pick of the bunch with a huge free standing bath tub. Directly on route between Bellingen and Coffs Harbour, but slightly off the Waterfall Way, you'll . The track takes you through a boulder strewn forest before you arrive at the summit junction. Roughly 25 minutes beyond Ebor youll find the incredible Wollomombi Falls which cascades into a dramatic gorge, we detail which lookouts are worth the walk in this guide. This quaint historic settlement at the convergence of the Macquarie River and the South Esk River is known for its convict-built houses and English country landscape. Our go to Bellingen accommodation is easily The Belfry Guesthouse located just a stones throw from the Bellingen Brewery. The sounds are different and you will likely see different wildlife, as well as the glow worms, we saw giant snails (as big as your fist) and possums. Restaurant. People come from far to the Bellingen Community Markets. Note that Google Maps/GPS is not very accurate in directing you to the Promised Land, its located near the Angel Gabriel Capararo Reserve. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. Its hard to turn on this long windy road and the pull off is not obvious so be ready for it! You then need to immediately pull over just after the falls, beside the picnic benches, to get a proper look. The Waterfall Way is one of New South Wales premier road trips, taking you from New England to the coast via incredible waterfalls, ancient rainforest and beautiful hiking trails. Bellingen is also just a 15 minute drive from the beach town of Urunga which offers a stunning beach for those balmy days. Bellingen, New South Wales, Australia Length: 1.3 mi Est. It will take you about 60 to 65 minutes. Further along the path is a shelter and a fire ring the site of logging protests perhaps? Bellingen has this effect on a lot of Sydneysiders we met whove since relocated to this part of the world. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); , Join 2,097 others in the Coffs Trails community. The walking track we took is the Bundagaree Rainforest Walk, a 6km circuit. The drive from Bellingen spirals upwards to the rich red soil of Dorrigo plateau through towering rainforest, past gushing waterfalls and the Bellinger River. Still damp from our swim, we make a pot of tea to enjoy on the shady veranda. Qudo is only open from Wednesday Saturday. Cottonwood Farm is a charming, self-catering B&B with 400 metres of Never Never River frontage, priced from $600 for two nights. Also a must visit is Brunos Mediterranean Kitchen which serves up excellent food. Then, he dropped it all and embarked . A sense of adventure as you motor across red plains. This out and back route begins and ends from the end of Hill Street, where the Hill Street Trail trailhead is located. With dense trees ferns, hanging vines, strangler figs, colourful fungi and so many birds, its a really immersive experience. Enjoy the beautiful country views across 400 acres in this beautiful activity. Wonga Walk - for a mysterious forest of wonder Distance: 6.1km loop Elevation: 210m Difficulty: Moderate One night we find ourselves on the veranda of a century old weatherboard cottage, Oak Street Food and Wine. A superb kayak down Bellingen River. We recommend taking the slightly longer route so that you can also visit the exquisite turquoise pools along the way. Towards the end of our walk, we stop at Lardner Lookout to admire the view across the Bellinger valley, before descending to Hill Street and a cafe in Bellingen. Make sure you check out the local pub called The Federal Hotel which is next door to The Bellingen Brewery. Weve watched this kind of bat exodus in a few different places and the great thing about Bellingen is that they fly high above you and you dont need to bring a poncho if you know what I mean.. You will need a car shuffle or a taxi ride as this is a one way walk, although it can be walked in either direction. Start at the intersection of Crown St and Nobles Lane. To get to the centre from the Bellingen exit on the Pacific Motorway, you travel along the scenic route of Waterfall Way for around half an hour until you see the signed turn-off for Dome Road & the Rainforest Centre. From this point, Wrights Lookout is just 700m away and the Cascades Trail is a 2.8km circuit. This is a short and sweet stroll behind the beautiful town of Bellingen leaving from Garrett Park and following an undulating trail through an open green space before heading back via Short Street Lane. Your email address will not be published. This is a short and sweet stroll behind the beautiful town of Bellingen leaving from Garrett Park and following an undulating trail through an open green space before heading back via Short Street Lane. See promisedlandretreat.com.au. Walking Bellingen Shire Forest, Lookout, Cafe Grade 3 One way 8.7 km 3 hours 300m 310 m Tarkeeth State Forest Start location: 74 Mount St, Fernmount NSW 2454, Australia Before you go - tips to stay safe Fernmount to Bellingen You will need a car shuffle or a taxi ride as this is a one way walk, although it can be walked in either direction. In normal conditions, the view will be good, but its less about the falls than it is about the mountains and forest. 2.6 mi. cottonwoodfarm.com.au. Show all {#thumbnail.source . Start location: 1433 Point Lookout Rd, Ebor NSW 2453, Australia. If you get a completely clear sky you will be able to see all the way to the coast. They are currently open every day but Sunday. As you pass over the Never Never Creek not far from the historic Glennifer Hall, you cross NSW's cleanest tributary, the Bellinger River. Although there are more amazing falls like Dangars and Apsley beyond Armidale, it would be too far on a day trip from Bellingen. Our first swim always feels baptismal as the lethargy of our journey is washed away downstream, marking the start of a holiday that never fails to reset the body clock. 171. Local stories about the environment, heritage and culture of the region. Depending on the flow of the falls you can even take a little dip in the small pool at the base of the waterfall. I am pretty sure the Urunga Boardwalk is the longest boardwalk weve ever been on and its definitely a Bellingen must do. Wollomombi Falls is just jaw-dropping. With its abundance of leafy trees and parks, Grafton is one of Australia's most beautiful provincial cities, renowned for its jacaranda trees, graceful old buildings, and its location on the banks of the majestic Clarence River. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. We used to talk about travelling the world together, and in 2012 we finally made that happen. Its a spectacular waterfall and wild swimming spot in Dorrigo. There are some beautiful options when looking for Bellingen accommodation. After buying a one way ticket to Istanbul we spent a year making our way through Asia before arriving in Australia, where we have been living ever since. But first, the path climbs to a small communications tower, servicing the insatiable need for mobile connectivity, and then to a disused trig point with healthy tree cover blocking out a view. Another morning we breakfast at the Hearth Fire Bakery, have coffee and a squiz through the interesting Hyde and then have a browse of the Hammond and Wheatley Emporium, an iconic building on Bello's main street. Every time we come to Bellingen, we have to visit both Cargo Lane and Hammond & Wheatley Emporium for sure. Wander the narrow streets of Goolwa's early commercial core known as "Little Scotland", have a flavoursome beer at the microbrewery, The Steam Exchange, and have a mosey around the Goolwa Markets. Dangar Falls is one of the most popular waterfalls in Dorrigo, if not all of NSW. Its one of our favourite beaches in all of NSW, and we all know how many amazing beaches there are here! The walking track isnt easy and takes 2 hours to walk nearly 6km loop. The community market also comes really highly recommended by locals but it is only on once a month so you have to time it right to visit. Black . Free, no car required and good for you. Rooms are comfy and cosy and after reading the reviews I wanted to go for the brekkie alone. The bohemian town of Bellingen and the Promised Land is part of the mid north coast, which includes the rainforest escarpments of Dorrigo, the series of golden beaches from Urunga to Woolgoolga, stretching to the blue waters of the Solitary Islands Marine Park just off Coffs Harbour. Were Cat & Joe, two Brits, now living in Australia, with a passion for the outdoors and adventure travel. 6. ), were here to show you all of the amazing things to do in Bellingen and neighbouring town of Dorrigo. 2010 Peter Mitchell, Other regional tourist portals: Coffs Harbour | Valla Beach | Scotts Head | Auckland. Here the countryside opens up to lush green farmland, where cows graze, and a dirt road completes a circular loop of Glennifer Valley, overlooked by the brooding escarpment of the Great Dividing Range, which is often shrouded in mist. If youre keen to see more of the lookouts, wed recommend reading our post on which lookouts are worth the walk. The Bellingen Growers Markets are held every 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month from 8am-1pm to promote the local organic and chemical free produce to the community. All the insider news, tips and inspiration you need to plan your next trip, delivered straight to your inbox. You will have a pretty big hill to climb up afterwards, but trust us, its worth it! It's a place so special the fortunate locals that call it home, including its most famous residents George Negus and David Helfgott would much rather keep all to themselves. Bellingen is 520 kilometres north of Sydney, just inland from the mid-north coast. If you only want to take a quick look you can view the falls from the lookout right beside the car park, but heading down the quick and easy walking trail will give you better views. Long-haired children run through town barefoot or leap boldly from Lavender's bridge into the river, looking like Peter Pan's Lost Boys. The interior has a fantastic eclectic vibe that suits the town perfectly. Tastings are free, a rarity in NSW nowadays, although I do always buy a bottle! You can also visit the nearby Aboriginal rock art site, which was very well preserved, as well as an excellent regional art gallery. It is so worth it for the chance to visit such a special area though. Does not cater for people with access needs. Bellingen On-line links you to local businesses, restaurants, accommodation, events, activities, maps, as well as art, craft and produce markets, and tourist information. This is an iconic boardwalk you really have to see for yourself. 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