This historic port town, located on the Fleurieu Peninsula, is where the Murray River meets the sea. 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. The view from the main lookout, (just a 200m walk from the carpark) is the sort of vista that just makes you stop and stare. If you only want to take a quick look at the falls, you can get to a great viewpoint within minutes, its just 100m from the car park. Our favourite spot however is No. Whether you're getting ready to hike, bike, trail run, or explore other outdoor activities, AllTrails has 3 scenic trails in the Bellingen area. The hotel is just an 11-minute walk of Bellingen Court House Courthouse. The coffee is really good too, the best of our five week trip, and its an all round great brekkie or lunch spot. For full functionality of this site it is necessary to enable JavaScript. Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of 39 min to complete. Whatever you do, do not miss out on this walking track in Dorrigo National Park. Make sure you bring clothes for all seasons when visiting Bellingen and Dorrigo. But the beauty of this incredible canyon is the pure silence. Thanks for your support! Its a lot bigger than we were expecting as its also a university town where the University of New England is located. Expect to see a loads of awesome stalls including home grown fresh produce, food stands and live music. It is located in the Stone Oak neighborhood of San Antonio. As we sit on the deck, the cool sounds of jazz float across from Lodge 241 opposite and we muse that this is surely as good as it gets. Heres What It Looks Like! It's obvious, given the name the early pioneers gave the Promised Land, a scenic 10 minute-drive from Bellingen's township itself. Its big, its deep and its very easy to access. Theres a lot to love about the cute little bohemian town of Bellingen: the laid back atmosphere, the incredible food, and the spectacular nature that surrounds it. Its really spectacular. The setting is truly awe-inspiring as it tumbles down a huge cliff deep in the ancient rainforest. A visit to the Skywalk Lookout is via gold coin donation. and There arent any signposts to get you there, but we put the directions in this post. Be prepared, youll want a full day to spend taking in the swimming holes, and national parks here. There is so much good food and beautiful places to discover in this little town so stick around and have some fun. Make sure you check out the local pub called The Federal Hotel which is next door to The Bellingen Brewery. This trail is estimated to be 4.7 mi long. Free, no car required and good for you. We recommend walking along the path from the upper falls because at the moment the best views are located there, rather than beside the old viewing platform. Once you walk in, youll be greeted by a hip, rustic restaurant. You could spend a good couple of days here as a base for exploring the area and the sights along Waterfall Way. Youll be given a wine menu and allowed to choose any six that take your fancy, or you can do what I did and say the kind of wine you normally drink and then theyll bring you various options they think you might like. If youre in need of a caffeine fix wed highly recommend Heartfire Bakery and for dinner or drinks, the eclectic Bellingen Brewery. You then need to immediately pull over just after the falls, beside the picnic benches, to get a proper look. 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. Were going to share with you the places we stopped by at and some of the ones we would have done so if we had more time. All in all a great choice for those looking to explore the area from the water. Its absolutely beautiful, electric blue yet crystal clear all at once. Here the land is so abundantly verdant and fruitful; it literally drips with milk and honey. When youre in the mood for a relaxed mooch around the shops, the Old Butter Factory is the place to head. To be honest, Qudo offers up some of the best Japanese food weve ever had, even more so than when we went to Japan recently. For me, Bellingen has always had that consecrated feeling. Now global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) and continuously operating reference station (CORS) networks have largely replaced trig stations over the last couple of decades. Unfortunately the viewing platform for the lower falls burnt down in the fires of 2020 so you cant get a completely unobstructed look at the whole waterfall. From there its a bit of an obstacle course as you make your way over, under and in-between huge boulder piles. By ELKW. Afterwards we stroll the "Walk with the Birds" and from the lookout see two eagles soaring on the thermals high above the Bellinger Valley with the Pacific Ocean sparkling invitingly in the distance. We began in Fernmount, leaving the view towards the Promised Land from the Bellingen lookout, and the cafes in town, as the end reward for our physical efforts. It has a wonderful swimming hole at the base and the area feels wild and remote. It was a bit busier when we visited so wed rank it below the other choices, but its still a very pretty beach. There is so much good food and beautiful places to discover in this little town so stick . Bellingen is such a creative town full of hidden gems, that theres so many festivals happening throughout the year. 37.9 km. Directly on route between Bellingen and Coffs Harbour, but slightly off the Waterfall Way, you'll . Dont let that put you off its super quiet here and oh my, waking up with the views is just stunning. Visit the old Port of Echuca, see working paddle steamers ply the river, take a ride on a horse and carriage or simply soak up views of the great Murray River. Walk My World provides highly detailed guides for those who love to explore independently and seek out hidden gems. Each year my family make a pilgrimage to this free spirited town in the Coffs Coast hinterland. Kid friendly Hiking Walking Running Forest Views Description But as we already talked about that one we wanted to give a few other recommendations. Having hiked every trail in the park, here are all of Dorrigo National Park walks ranked. Green River Overlook. Start location: 74 Mount St, Fernmount NSW 2454, Australia. It is gigantic and thunders into a dramatic gorge causing a huge amount of spray. Overlook at Stone Oak Park Apartments 22202 Estate Hill Dr is an apartment building with 10 floorplans, and 1-3 bedrooms units available. Turns out it has to rain A LOT to see this. The Robinsons Knob Track is a fire trail which you'll follow for just over 1.5km before you reach the junction with the lookout and the Cascades Track. Goolwa stands at the mouth of the river on Lake Alexandrina and derives its name from an Aboriginal word meaning elbow. We spent a couple of weeks in the area, uncovering all the top spots and hidden gems to help you plan the perfect trip. More information about this trail. Definitely must make the effort to visit. Check out the reviews and prices on: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, that we will earn a small commission if you click through and decide to make a purchase. Help using this website - Accessibility statement, Review: Inside the hotel in London's iconic Shard, 'Massive emergency': The tour operators working to save the reef, Airline review: Australia's new 'bogan' airline is refreshingly modern, This city is chaotic, crowded and dirty. Depending on the flow of the falls you can even take a little dip in the small pool at the base of the waterfall. . Pure joy as you wake to the sunrise. People come from far to the Bellingen Community Markets. 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. Built in 1900 it still has the original brass shop front framings in tact and was restored in 1989. Eat pizza and watch some awesome bands at The Bellingen Brewery, 7. The motel room was a good size, clean and comfortable, so we were happy with our choice. Dynamic Web Solutions Pty Ltd They don't have a big food menu, in fact it's just pizza, but I quite like it when places pick one thing and do it really well. The 6km circuit track is fully paved and though there are some hills, its not a difficult walk. Bellingen Shire Council. It may be the slowest line of moving traffic youve ever seen as everyone tries to grab pics through the car window! Youll see the pretty Mylestom Spit before arriving at a beach which has that wonderful wild and remote feeling. The signpost says its difficult and recommends two hours for the walk, but this was double the time it took us and we stopped many times just to appreciate the scenery, as well as to take photos and videos. If you want a more guilt free treat they also have sorbet. Andrew and i were about 15mins slower than Konrad. Kids tend to congregate around the first swimming spot youll come to, directly from the car park, but walk a little further down the path and youll find several other gorgeous spots. Freedom as you dash into the waves. If you are lucky enough to walk this track on a misty day (dont let rain deter you!) Again you must visit when its been raining A LOT to see the falls in action but the car park is located right next to it so you dont need to do any hiking. 2.45 roundtrip walk from the Treehouse. If in summer, take water, a hat and sun cream. When taking a dip in the water here, please dont wear sunscreen or insect repellant which harms the local wildlife (there are always plenty of shady spots so you dont need to worry about getting burnt). The next highest ascent trail is Bellingen River Paddle via Hammond Street with 262 ft of elevation gain. How that is even possible I will never understand because this beach is utterly beautiful. You'll pass through the grasslands of Killungoondie Plain, which the Gunbaynggirr People once kept clear for hunting and camping by using spot fires. Its easy to spend whole afternoons hopping from one great eatery to another, but if you can tear yourself away youll find some of the best attractions in NSW are all within a short drive of Bellingen. Its a huge jaw dropping 7km long beach that is one of our favourites on the east coast. The city center is close by, about 5 minutes' walk away. Get the latest news and updates emailed straight to your inbox. cream. You will have a pretty big hill to climb up afterwards, but trust us, its worth it! bellingen attractions Waterfall Way Scenic Drive Overview The 185 kilometre Waterfall Way scenic drive links Coffs harbour and Armidale, passing rainforest, river valleys and waterfalls, including New England and Dorrigo National Parks. That ended Allen's day, but the Mariners offense wasn't any kinder to replacement Aaron Pinto in the third inning. If you try to get to the bottom of either of them, please always take care and do your research before attempting it. Again, if it wasnt for our host at The Belfry Guesthouse to tell us about some of the things you can do in Bellingen, we wouldnt have known about the awesome road trip you can do down to Armidale which takes 2 hours. This out and back route begins and ends from the end of Hill Street, where the Hill Street Trail trailhead is located. The trail itself features a wonderful view from the top at the Lardner Lookout. Bellingen River Paddle via Hammond Street. Weve never had such a reward for a failed koala hunt! Bellingen is 520 kilometres north of Sydney, just inland from the mid-north coast. 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. So here are the major stops, hidden gems and highlights to help you plan your trip along the Waterfall Way. Dont forget to eat at the Black Bear which is actually the best cafe in town! Our go to Bellingen accommodation is easily The Belfry Guesthouse located just a stones throw from the Bellingen Brewery. It is a 30-minute drive from Coffs Harbour airport, serviced by several daily flights from Sydney and Melbourne on Qantas, Tiger Air and Virgin Blue. If you only have time for a lookout rather than a walk in New England National Park, then opt for Point Lookout. Which trail has the most elevation gain in Bellingen? Enjoy hand-curated trail maps, along with reviews and photos from nature lovers like you. We planned to visit at sunset but we were too late. 2,100 m The "Down" version starts at the Point Lookout Carpark this routes makes its way down Robinsons knob trail before heading onto Horseshoe Rd and eventually Hospital range road into Bellingen. You can read more in our Cathedral Rock guide. Leonys Martn led off with a walk and Wong hit a line-drive single, bringing . As well as the glorious rainforest you will also visit two spectacular waterfalls. We tried the lemon and mascarpone and rocher (chocolate nut) flavours and both were fab. There is dense forest, mountains and huge rocky outcrops as far as the eye can see. You can make the trip in either direction, but if you are starting in Sydney, wed recommend beginning in Armidale. The 6km paved Wonga Walk is nothing short of extraordinary. Its a 5.5 hour drive from Sydney, which becomes a lot longer if you go in the school holidays or weekends (it took us about 7 hours to get to Armidale at Christmas!). Whilst we didnt get lucky with the koalas we couldnt believe our eyes when we saw the beach! Were we to return we have our eye on the Lookout Mountain Retreat. It is simply sensational and so powerful that sitting and staring for a while is pretty much mandatory. 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