Thanks for your support! For a more secluded option we recommend heading for North Valla Beach where a short five minute stroll on a good path through the bush, will take you to a very quiet stretch of sand (the walk begins at the park at the end of Cockburn Street). Now global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) and continuously operating reference station (CORS) networks have largely replaced trig stations over the last couple of decades. Bellingen, known to the locals as "Bello", is an attractive township in the heart of the Bellinger Valley surrounded by rich pasturelands. cottonwoodfarm.com.au. There are some beautiful options when looking for Bellingen accommodation. Awe as you make it to the snowy peak. The coffee is really good too, the best of our five week trip, and its an all round great brekkie or lunch spot. It's located at the end of the scenic drive, the elevation is 9115 feet, there is a parking lot, for there, you can go. With sensational wild swimming spots, ancient rainforest, dramatic waterfalls, remote beaches and even a winery nearby, theres enough to keep you going for weeks! This stunning church is a popular must visit especially in Autumn when it really comes alive. There arent any signposts to get you there, but we put the directions in this post. At the height of summer, families flock to the utopian valley seeking relief from the searing heat by taking a dip in the cool, jade coloured river where tiny fish and eels nip at your toes. To get to the bottom of the lower falls looks like a mission and a lot of bush bashing involved. You can walk around the top of the canyon to many different vantage points to take this incredible Australian canyon in. The relief of rejuvenation as you wade into an alpine stream. The Trail to Lanes Lookout is an easy walk along an old road. I am plannig my summer trip from Sydney up to Byron (or maybe even further) over Christmas and I am so happy finding your blog! All the unmissable stops along the Waterfall Way, Tasman Lake: the absolute best views for amazing photos, Mount Solitary: A rewarding adventure in the Blue Mountains, Killen Falls: what to expect and how to avoid the crowds, 25 things to do in Byron Bay including secret spots no one else will tell you, The 8 most spectacular Waterfalls in Byron Bay, The best route to the bottom of Minyon Falls & how to beat the crowds, Byron Bay Lighthouse Walk - one of NSW's best coastal walks, Protesters Falls - the secrets of one of the best waterfalls near Byron Bay, How to find the secret glow worm tunnel near Byron Bay, The Kindness of Strangers: 10 travel moments that restored my faith in humanity, What it's like to give it all up to travel in your 30's. All the details on the walk and the glow worms are in this post. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); It's obvious, given the name the early pioneers gave the Promised Land, a scenic 10 minute-drive from Bellingen's township itself. There is a huge new viewing platform and a clear view across the gorge and of the falls as shown below. White water rafting on Nymboida River. There are no facilities whatsoever at the Promised Land, so please remember to take all rubbish with you and keep this area beautiful for generations to come. With dense trees ferns, hanging vines, strangler figs, colourful fungi and so many birds, its a really immersive experience. Later I learnt more about previous protests over clear felling the Tarkeeth, the ongoing concerns of the locals regarding the Tarkeeth forests around logging wood for chipping, biomass extraction, and aerial spraying. How great is that? In normal conditions, the view will be good, but its less about the falls than it is about the mountains and forest. Additionally, there is a good motel in Ebor Falls, and a couple of cabins in New England National Park, which dont appear on any booking sites (nor does the Ebor Falls Motel). 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. Also a must visit is Brunos Mediterranean Kitchen which serves up excellent food. According to AllTrails.com, the longest trail in Bellingen is Bellingen River Paddle via Hammond Street. The trail itself features a wonderful view from the top at the Lardner Lookout. Its really spectacular. Bellingen is so beautiful, we recommend walking over to the Lavender Bridge to spend a lazy afternoon swimming in the river which is crystal clear. Trust us, youll want to come here! Theres so many places to stop along the way that its so exciting to come across the beautiful spots which await you. It is so worth it for the chance to visit such a special area though. Theres even a fabulous waterfall near the end, which is probably one of the least visited falls along the Waterfall Way, it doesnt even appear to have a name! Here the land is so abundantly verdant and fruitful; it literally drips with milk and honey. Once youve parked you can get a slightly closer look at the falls as well as watch how it affects the traffic! Our go to Bellingen accommodation is easily The Belfry Guesthouse located just a stones throw from the Bellingen Brewery. Before you go - tips to stay safe. Email Bellingen Online, Photography by Peter Mitchell. All this is just a few minutes walk from Ebor Falls car park. We hadnt been anywhere in Australia that has a silence like here. The walk to the main lookout is only 75m, and it is wheelchair accessible. Sign up to our mailing list to get our free mini guide! Now we dont like to speak ill of anywhere but we stayed in several places in Dorrigo and lets just say we arent including them here. Theres plenty to do in the area; from looking out for turtles at Muttonbird Island, to kayaking along the emerald creek, saying hello to the local kangaroos at Look At Me Now Headland and keeping an eye out for koalas at the botanic garden. Dont forget to eat at the Black Bear which is actually the best cafe in town! We love a community cinema and this one is just a bargain price of $5 to join which will then give you free access to the films shown throughout the year. Thats a slight incline walk. Turns out that just a 30minute drive on from Ebor Falls and youll come to this magical spot called Wollomombi Gorge. The Bellingen Brewery is located right behind the main street and its such a cool find, if you go on the weekend youll be treated to live music. Not mixing up Dangar Falls with Dangars Falls, this one is located another 30 minutes from Gostwyck Church. 2.8 mi. CBA ATM in a crevice next to Windsong Travel, 58 Hyde St, Bellingen NSW 2454: Google Maps: Two credit union ATMS in the Bellingen downtown. The superior suite looks the pick of the bunch with a huge free standing bath tub. We drove out there just to see what its like and its absolutely stunning! Just a few minutes down the road from the Dorrigo Rainforest Centre lies Dangar Falls, the first of our must see waterfalls on the Waterfall Way road. 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. Required fields are marked *. By Zoila Palma Gonzalez: Today, the Business Chamber of Spanish Lookout informed that most businesses will close at 12 noon so that they join in . The city center is close by, about 5 minutes' walk away. Another time we stayed at North Farm, a small hobby farm owned by one of George Negus' former producers and offering fabulous views of Bindarri National Park to the north. Its the kind of place thats really hip but without any kind of pretentiousness. Its also very special on misty days when the cloud swirls to reveal different parts of the view. Eat pizza and watch some awesome bands at The Bellingen Brewery, 7. Its also quite nice to relax in Bellingen and enjoy the best coffee shops and food in the area after lots of exploring. 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. On Wednesdays they usually hold specials. The Waterfall Way is actually the name of one road that is over 150km long, beginning in Armidale in the west and finishing in Coffs Harbour in the east. The section from Lanes lookout to the syndicate trail is a walking track and is a moderate to difficult with some steep sections. Make the effort to drive out just to see how beautiful this part of Bellingen really is. If you are lucky enough to visit on a misty day, like we did, its wonderfully atmospheric, it reminded of a David Attenborough rainforest documentary! It really is sensational and despite visiting during heavy rain it was a while before we could tear ourselves away. Heres our 27 things to do in Bellingen you need to know about which surrounds a whopping five national parks. 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. This year however we base ourselves at a handsome 1900s federation home, with a prime Bellingen location that we found on Airbnb. Which trail has the most elevation gain in Bellingen? This time we hit up Hearthfire Bakery first and ended up going back four times. 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. I've been living in Sydney since 2011 and am bringing you everything you need to know about moving to Australia, moving back to England as well as some fab tips from our travels around the world! Just 15km further is Bakers Creek Falls, you view it from a bit of a distance but the setting is outstanding. Ebor Falls has both an upper and a lower falls and both would be a spectacular waterfall in their own right. Were Cat & Joe, two Brits, now living in Australia, with a passion for the outdoors and adventure travel. All trail besides the first section of bitumen from the carpark, sensational views along the way. Theres even a rope swing if this all sounds too sedate. 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. There are many other viewpoints located along two walking tracks. Still damp from our swim, we make a pot of tea to enjoy on the shady veranda. In this article youve mentioned that youre planning to write about great places to see on the trip from Bellingen to Armidale along Waterfall Way. 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. 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. Weve hiked all over the world and this one totally blew us away that we wrote all about it below. The food is next level and our go to for breakfast. Bring the family along for a picnic on the idyllic river banks or burn some energy in the skate park. A sense of belonging as you return to your favourite holiday house. It's Australia's paddle steamer capital often referred to as the Chicago of Australia with a rich colonial, Aboriginal and riverboat history to boot. Now she bushwalks in Australia, tramps in New Zealand, and treks internationally. Known as Australias hippest small town, youll love it if hanging around super friendly people combined with eating awesome food and having loads of incredible hikes, lookout points, wild swimming and waterfalls on tap is your thing. Utes with farm dogs line the main street alongside Land Rovers, BMWs and rusty bicycles. The map below (blue line) is a short walk south of Bellingen to the lookout. . Note that while we don't usually have directional FKTs on point-to-point routes, the history and large elevation difference between endpoints makes that a logical choice for this particular route. Its worth noting that for all three spots weve mentioned in New England National Park, you do have to negotiate a stretch of dirt road, it has potholes but no special clearance was needed when we visited. I am pretty sure the Urunga Boardwalk is the longest boardwalk weve ever been on and its definitely a Bellingen must do. See promisedlandretreat.com.au. 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. Stop at the Glade Picnic area for a picnic and enjoy the day out. Shes the most gorgeous welcoming person who will definitely be a highlight of your entire trip. That ended Allen's day, but the Mariners offense wasn't any kinder to replacement Aaron Pinto in the third inning. (Isaiah Glen Shields/Facebook) He graduated from college, landed a well-paying job in corporate finance and bought his first home. If youre in need of a caffeine fix wed highly recommend Heartfire Bakery and for dinner or drinks, the eclectic Bellingen Brewery. Although there are more amazing falls like Dangars and Apsley beyond Armidale, it would be too far on a day trip from Bellingen. . This spectacular place will just prepare you for more wow moments when you hike in the rainforest as mentioned in the point below. If youre keen to see more of the lookouts, wed recommend reading our post on which lookouts are worth the walk. You can . Although you can swim in other nearby waterfalls, none have a pool anything like Dangar. Book ahead for this one but we loved it here. It didnt disappoint, not only have they got lots of delicious flavours to choose from, but the little courtyard with tropical plants offers the perfect shady spot to enjoy them. I will never forget the experience of wandering through the ancient Gondwana rainforest, past hanging vines, gnarled roots and towering Blackbutt trees, all to the backdrop of the eerie Catbird calls. I had a moment of vertigo on this last section but the view from the top was worth the push. Our next pick is Valla Beach, which is another beauty, just 25 minutes from Bellingen. Destination NSW acknowledges and respects Aboriginal people as the states first people and nations and recognises Aboriginal people as the Traditional Owners and occupants of New South Wales land and water. If youre looking for something to do in the evening during your stay in Bellingen, we recommend popping over to Dorrigo to the Old Gazette Theatre. We absolutely loved it and dream of going back to walk it in winter when icicles drip from the giant basalt cliffs. Via Hill Street. 2 hour round trip walk from the Treehouse. There are a couple of different ways of getting here, the quickest being the 3.2km return Crystal Shower Falls Walk. 2.45 roundtrip walk from the Treehouse. These forests remain culturally important to the Gumbaynggirr as a store of bush tucker and bush medicines, to find resources to make tools, and containing sacred sites. 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. Bellingen Shire Council. But in Bellingen, things only get better. Its not surprising when you catch your first glimpse. Bring a picnic with you and chill out on the grass. Its one of our favourite beaches in all of NSW, and we all know how many amazing beaches there are here! 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. Traditionally the route was established to open up the escarpment to the trade route to the East and allow export of timber and Ore from the mine in the upper Bellingencatchment before it ceased operating many decades ago. 1. Via Nobles Lane. Just a 30 minute drive from Wollomombi Gorge is the beautiful town of Armidale. Known as one of the best white water rafting spots in Australia, expect to raft through some spectacular gorges and grade 3-4 rapids. Hi Annie, Its a beautiful clear day. Looking for the best hiking trails in Bellingen? Andrew and i were about 15mins slower than Konrad. 6. We used to talk about travelling the world together, and in 2012 we finally made that happen. All rights reserved, Switch to Sydney.com to see more of our capital city, 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. Weve combined the two friendly rival towns of Bellingen & Dorrigo as well as the incredibly awesome Waterfall Way road which takes you right to Armidale in NSW in this post. Red Cedar Falls is the tallest waterfall in Dorrigo and an absolutely jaw dropping sight, particularly if you are visiting after recent rain. 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. We recommend staying in Bellingen over Dorrigo as theres more going on there and quite frankly its got a better vibe and is very beautiful. This is THE spot to see the Green River flowing through the Island in the Sky district of Canyonlands National Park. By ELKW. 1.3 mi. The most popular hike in the Dorrigo National Park is to Crystal Shower Falls. Its roughly 30 minutes from both Coffs Harbour and Dorrigo. Since the inception of the national park and the maintaining of Robinsons Knob trail both the Bellingen to Point Lookout and the Reverse Point Lookout to Bellingen routes have become consistent long run attempts in the local community. So much useful information and tips! 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. The adjoining studio is $140 a night. Whether you're getting ready to hike, bike, trail run, or explore other outdoor activities, AllTrails has 3 scenic trails in the Bellingen area. Head down the river and enjoy the beautiful green scenery and aquatic life of Bellingen and its surrounds. Every time we come to Bellingen, we have to visit both Cargo Lane and Hammond & Wheatley Emporium for sure. Black . Forest matter from Tarkeeth is trucked to Broadwater power station (Cape Byron Power) to provide biofuel. 171. 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. CountryLink trains run three times a day from Sydney to nearby Urunga and Coffs Harbour (about eight hours). We visited multiple times because it looks so different depending on the conditions. Its a magnificent view over layers and layers of mountains and takes just a few minutes to walk to from the carpark (if youre walking the Eagles Nest you will pass this lookout). Isaiah Glen Shields poses on US 13 near Felton next to his handmade supply cart. We had to start with the Promised Land because its such an idyllic spot and should be top of your list of things to do in Bellingen. What more could you ask for? The 6km paved Wonga Walk is nothing short of extraordinary. If you thought you had to visit Queensland for electric blue swimming holes, then think again. Everything you need to know about exactly how to have this special experience is in this post. All trail besides the first section of bitumen from the carpark, sensational views along the way. We planned to visit at sunset but we were too late. Skywalk lookout is a 70m boardwalk that soars over the edge of the escarpment some 21m above the rainforest. Thank you x. Thats amazing! You will have a pretty big hill to climb up afterwards, but trust us, its worth it! Before we know it the week has flown by. We absolutely love this shop which is full of Antique Asian furniture. 2 hour round trip walk from the Treehouse. Bellingen is a small town that is surrounded by green rolling pastures and the famously clean Bellinger River. I loved swimming here but if thats not your thing it is also a lovely picnic spot. We walked for 3km along it during the busy Christmas holidays and ran into just one other person. Not to mention the friendly staff. Theres nothing quite like looking up at the twinkling blue lights which look just like constellations in the night sky. Bellingen: With an ascent of 269 ft, Lardner Lookout via Hill Street Trail has the most elevation gain of all of the trails in the area. Location. Perched over the top of the 1 million year old Gondwana Rainforest, wed be surprised if you went here and didnt enjoy the view. Youll also visit two spectacular waterfalls, including the famous Crystal Shower Falls. And bellingen lookout walk dinner or drinks, the longest trail in Bellingen edge of the some... Roughly 30 minutes from both Coffs Harbour and Dorrigo of your entire trip here but thats. Days when the cloud swirls to reveal different parts of the lower looks. Can swim in other nearby waterfalls, none have a pool anything like Dangar tallest waterfall their. 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