Blue Knob is seven kilometres north of Nimbin and a 35-minute scenic drive from Lismore. Stop at Blue Knob Gallery and Café for refreshments and view the local artists latest masterpieces. The gallery has regular exhibitions of local artists work, and the Café has splendid views of Blue Knob mountain. Open Thursday to Sunday. The Blue Knob Market is on every Saturday morning.
Blueys Beach is another famous Pacific Palms surfing beach. It has great surfing and swimming with stunning views across to Seal Rocks.
Legend has it the beach gained its name from a misadventure by a local cow. Cows can still be spotted on the southern headland.
Boomerang Beach and Elizabeth Beach are nearby alternatives for sheltered and patrolled options for families.
Black Head has a laid back surfing culture with a multi-award winning beach that is patrolled in the summer months. It features an ocean pool, excellent fishing, picnic and barbecue areas under shady Norfolk pines.
Another highlight of this area is a littoral rainforest walk which encompasses striking coastal landforms as well as rare tracts of coastal rainforest.
A must-do while you’re in the area is go to the Black Head Bazaar which sells fresh farm picked fruit and vegetables, handmade clothing and jewellery, homemade cakes, slices and biscuits. This popular market is held on the first Sunday of each month from September to May in Wylie Breckenridge Park.
Bexhill is located nine kilometres north-east of Lismore on the Bangalow Road. Bexhill is home to the beautiful Open Air Cathedral, a delightful setting for outdoor marriage ceremonies. The local Bexhill Church is one of the best attended in the district. Its impressive organ attracts organists from Brisbane and Sydney for recitals.
An important settlement in the 1850s, today it has a small general store that sells all the essentials.
The tiny town of Bentley sits 23 kilometres north-west of Lismore on the Kyogle Road. It was named after Great Bentley in England, the birthplace of the owner who built Bentley Homestead in the 1870s.
Bentley has become recognised throughout Australia for its annual art competition. Held in August at the Bentley Hall, the Bentley Art Prize offers AUD1,000 for first prize for its open section and a AUD1000 acquisition prize. Hundreds of artists from New South Wales and Queensland enter with the Aboriginal art section gaining an impressive reputation.
In April 2014 residents of Bentley and the Northern Rivers gathered in Bentley to form the ‘Bentley Blockade’, a protest opposing a drill site from unconventional Coal Seam Gas miners. This successful protest has led to the Northern Rivers being declared gas field free.
The riverside town of Bellingen is nestled in the heart of the Bellinger Valley between the coast and the Dorrigo Plateau on the scenic Waterfall Way. Home to a large number of people who moved there to enjoy a laid-back and creative, artistic or alternative lifestyle, Bellingen is buzzing with markets, cafes, galleries, festivals and events.
The beautifully restored timber, stone and iron lace Hammond and Wheatley Emporium dominates the townscape. It shares the main street with an equally beautifully renovated country pub and eclectic shops and boutiques, clothing and general stores, bakeries and award-winning cafes and restaurants.
The Old Butter Factory, more than a century old, now houses a range of art, craft and gift shops in a garden atmosphere. Its cafe looks out onto the green open spaces of the local golf course and borders the Bellinger River that traverses the town.
Belmont is located on the eastern shores of Lake Macquarie, 90 minutes north of Sydney. The town is home to a championship golf course, Belmont Wetlands State Park and is the southern start point of the Fernleigh Track, a heritage rail trail popular for walking and cycling. Dine right on the Lake at your choice of two major sailing clubs, or pay a visit to one of the patrolled beaches a short drive away.
On an island at the mouth of the Richmond River is the town of Ballina, the commercial and cultural heart of the area. Surrounded by 32 kilometres of white, sandy beaches and crystal waterways, it is a natural fun park for beach lovers, surfers, boaters, anglers and eco-adventurers.
The historic streets are lined with stylish cafes, restaurants and classic country pubs where you can sample the famous local seafood. Visit the Ballina Naval and Maritime Museum, browse antiques, arts and craft shops or stroll the magnificent walk and bike paths.
Enjoy a cruise along the Richmond River, journey into the teaming wetlands of North Creek by canoe or spot the annual migration of humpback whales from any of the coastal headlands. Try fishing at the popular Flat Rock and Angels Beach.
Overlooking the mighty Clarence River, the small village of Ashby offers scenic views and a monthly market.
Held on the third Sunday of every month, the markets provide local, homegrown produce from local farmers and is the perfect location for a quiet Sunday browse.
Drive carefully through these country roads and watch for the friendly local wildlife that can be spotted road side. We are talking about you Roos!
Enjoy a picnic on its riverbank and see the mighty hills of Maclean in the distance.
Ashby provides a great view of The Broadwater, a stretch of shallow water with a deeper channel towards its eastern bank that is accessible to smaller yachts and tinnies. Sitting near the entrance is the hulk of an old sugar cane barge.
A gorgeous drive if you’re heading out for a casual day out and want to explore more of the Clarence Valley.
The town of Alstonville sits amongst green fertile hills on the plateau 15 minutes inland from Ballina. Its historic buildings, classic Australian architecture, galleries, cafes and teahouses make it a popular destination for visitors.
The area is known for its rich red volcanic soil that produces avocadoes, macadamia nuts, tropical fruits and coffee. The surrounding hills are home to secluded waterfalls and lush sub-tropical parks and gardens. The Victoria Park Nature Reserve is home to one of the last remnants of the Big Scrub – a vast rainforest which once blanketed the region.