Once youve parked you can get a slightly closer look at the falls as well as watch how it affects the traffic! Despite being in the area a couple of weeks it didnt match up for us, but we think it would be a good one as Bellingen is such a creative place. The Promised Land is about as magical as it gets. Youll also visit two spectacular waterfalls, including the famous Crystal Shower Falls. 1700 ft. We hadnt been anywhere in Australia that has a silence like here. 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. When she needs to go faster, she rides a Red Beemer (F700GS). That makes a visit here even more special. This stunning church is a popular must visit especially in Autumn when it really comes alive. Its also quite nice to relax in Bellingen and enjoy the best coffee shops and food in the area after lots of exploring. Its a spellbinding view and always a difficult spot to leave. 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. 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. But in Bellingen, things only get better. One way. All Rights Reserved. If youre wondering, The Promised Land is an actual place. The menu is a mixture of Mexican & Indian food. 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. 4:38 pm CST. Then back down the hill and you're done, literally and figuratively :), Keelan Birch The final stretch is a steep few steps up to the summit, with a chain to help you with the gradient. Although there are more amazing falls like Dangars and Apsley beyond Armidale, it would be too far on a day trip from Bellingen. Its a pretty, 15 minute drive from the centre of town and the moment you see that water for the first time its almost impossible not to let out a wow. When we saw the above photo, we actually couldnt believe a sight like this exists in Australia. Thank you for subscribing! You can also visit the nearby Aboriginal rock art site, which was very well preserved, as well as an excellent regional art gallery. 5 Church Street and we return here again and again for live music, heavenly strawberry daiquiris and its biodynamic, organic and local produce driven menu. Dangar Falls is one of the most popular waterfalls in Dorrigo, if not all of NSW. I cant thank enough for all your articles, Ive been using many of them as travel inspiration. By ELKW. The walk begins along Slingsbys trail, stretching 6.5km to Lanes lookout along gently undulating terrain that's also suitable for mountain biking. A sense of adventure as you motor across red plains. 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. Red Cedar Falls is the tallest waterfall in Dorrigo and an absolutely jaw dropping sight, particularly if you are visiting after recent rain. Located just over a 15 minute drive away, the 2km fully accessible walkway takes you along the Kalang River before you head right to a area of dense mangroves - kids will love the armies of crabs that march all over the mud flats (update for November 2022, this righthand section of the boardwalk is currently closed due to storm damage). This time we hit up Hearthfire Bakery first and ended up going back four times. Link. It will take you about 60 to 65 minutes. 2 Oak Street, that put Bellingen firmly on the foodie radar, has reopened under new owners, with a new name and a new chef. 1500 ft. Markets. NPWS info: Dorrigo Wonga Walk (includes Crystal Showers Falls): Hungry Head (not always patrolled), (20 mins): Mylestom (not always patrolled), (20 mins): Sawtell (often but not always patrolled), (30 mins). You will have a pretty big hill to climb up afterwards, but trust us, its worth it! A similar distance from Bellingen is Sawtell Beach which is another great option. 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. Ebor Falls has both an upper and a lower falls and both would be a spectacular waterfall in their own right. Just past Newell youll see Sherrard Falls, theres nowhere to stop here so you just have to admire it from the car. If you are lucky enough to walk this track on a misty day (dont let rain deter you!) View detailed information about Lookout Pointe rental apartments located at 1200 Terrace Drive, Provo, UT 84604. VisitNSW.com is the official tourism site for Destination NSW. If you have more time to spend in the park, we have a full guide on all the day walks there. Getting there Almost halfway between Sydney (5.5 hours' drive north) and Brisbane (five hours' drive. This helps towards the costs of running our website. 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. Unlike the Eagles Nest, the 8km walk to Wrights Lookout and the Cascades is one wed recommend to keen hikers. 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. Dogs are permitted off-leash on Urunga Beach, in between the river mouth and the four wheel drive access point, the "Sand Mines". Utes with farm dogs line the main street alongside Land Rovers, BMWs and rusty bicycles. The most popular Bellingen festivals include the following: Dorrigo Folk & Bluegrass Festival: October, Bellingen Readers & Writers Festival: June. There was also a gorgeous shop which sold a variety of beautiful furniture and trinkets from Asia, which was right up my street, if not my budget! Before we know it the week has flown by. But as we already talked about that one we wanted to give a few other recommendations. Part of the best-selling Woodslane Walking Guides series. Its just a one minute walk from the car park so its definitely worth a peek. From here its more like boulder hopping, which makes for a fun challenge. Start location: 74 Mount St, Fernmount NSW 2454, Australia. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. If time is in your favour, Bellingen has plenty more things to do that we detail in this post. Also located along the Waterfall Way and roughly a 1 hour 20 minute drive from Bellingen, youll find Cathedral Rock National Park. Bellingen, New South Wales, Australia Length: 1.3 mi Est. There is so much good food and beautiful places to discover in this little town so stick . Watched over by the commanding Mt Warning, and surrounded by five World Heritage National Parks, the countryside surrounding Murwillumbah is a blend of rolling green hills and gently flowing rivers, punctuated with pockets of sugar cane, banana plantations, hobby farms and small villages. Check out Hammond & Wheatley Emporium As well as the glorious rainforest you will also visit two spectacular waterfalls. You can walk around the top of the canyon to many different vantage points to take this incredible Australian canyon in. Both the Wrights Lookout Track and the Cascades Trail begin at Robinsons Knob trail car park. 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. Find out how easy it is to get down to the bottom of Dangar Falls, you can bring you kids too! The relief of rejuvenation as you wade into an alpine stream. 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. 53% of the Bellingen Shire LGA comprises National Park and State Forest, so it is of no surprise that there are some great walking trails in and around the Shire. Email Bellingen Online, Photography by Peter Mitchell. The view from the top is just fantastic, particularly at sunset (or sunrise). All the insider news, tips and inspiration you need to plan your next trip, delivered straight to your inbox. 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. Bring the family along for a picnic on the idyllic river banks or burn some energy in the skate park. When youve heard its the town Byron Bay used to be like, the standards are high. Dont let that put you off its super quiet here and oh my, waking up with the views is just stunning. Within easy walking distance to all of Bellingens cafes and restaurants the Guest House on Hyde gets rave reviews. I loved swimming here but if thats not your thing it is also a lovely picnic spot. It will take you about 60 to 65 minutes. Rooms are comfy and cosy and after reading the reviews I wanted to go for the brekkie alone. Here you will find a small carpark and rest area with picnic tables. It's only open Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights and I'd recommend making a booking. Two grandiose waterfalls and an amazing scenic walk along the escarpment edge. Link. Point Lookout - Bellingen (NSW, Australia). But the beauty of this incredible canyon is the pure silence. Go wine tasting with a view Most people visit the award winning Raleigh Winery for its fabulous restaurant with a terrace overlooking the vines and river. 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. SUBSCRIBE TO GET YOUR FREE SYDNEY E-GUIDE. It takes less than a minute to get there from the car park. After Dorrigo youll then come to the famous Ebor Falls (40 minutes away) whose upper and lower falls are well worth a visit. By submitting your email you are agreeing to Nine Publishing's terms and conditions We spent a lot of time in Dorrigo and have put a whole guide together on all the best things to do there if you have a little more time to go beyond the big hitters weve included on this list. This year however we base ourselves at a handsome 1900s federation home, with a prime Bellingen location that we found on Airbnb. There are actually two waterfalls, Wollomombi and Chandler falls, which cascade into an immense gorge. There are a couple of different ways of getting here, the quickest being the 3.2km return Crystal Shower Falls Walk. Our top pick would be to head to the Aboriginal Cultural Centre, where you can learn a lot about the indigenous history of the area, as well as look at the incredible artwork on display - when offered a guide, say yes, it really brings it all to life and we couldnt believe there was no charge! There are many luxury Bellingen accommodation options that you should definitely check out. Wonga Walk - for a mysterious forest of wonder Distance: 6.1km loop Elevation: 210m Difficulty: Moderate Whatever you do, do not miss out on this walking track in Dorrigo National Park. There are no steep inclines or difficult sections. This stunning stretch of golden sand stretches for kilometres into the distance and we saw a grand total of one other person on it, and that was on a Saturday in school summer holidays! Heres What It Looks Like! Its one of our favourite parts of the state, and you can spend anywhere from a couple of days to several weeks exploring this stunning area. The city hosts the annual Jacaranda Festival and boasts a fine regional art gallery. A walking trail from the main lookout takes you around the edge of the gorge towards two more viewing platforms from where you can see the lower Ebor Falls. Swim in the Bellingen River and bring a picnic, 15. The colour changes according to the light and can be anything from electric blue to turquoise to almost crystal clear. 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. We love Sawtell Beach, its got a fab main street with a fantastic pub and some great little restaurants too which makes a great day trip from Bellingen if youre on your way to Coffs Harbour. All Rights Reserved. CountryLink trains run three times a day from Sydney to nearby Urunga and Coffs Harbour (about eight hours). Nearby is a mix of quaint seaside villages, wineries and incredible stretches of often deserted coastline. The upper falls is the more famous of the two, and the one you will have seen in many photographs. If youre looking for more walks nearby, check out the Cathedral Rock National Park too and hike up to the Cathedral Rock. Most people visit the award winning Raleigh Winery for its fabulous restaurant with a terrace overlooking the vines and river. When we visited there was no water in sight even though it had been raining. Theres a pool at the base which makes for an incredible wild swimming spot (unless the flow is too powerful in which case you can paddle in the pool before the base). Ebor Falls should not be missed. 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. Its an absolutely beautiful beach to discover and if youre looking for things to do in Urunga, we recommend going for a walk down the 1km Urunga boardwalk. Hi Annie, . For just $15 for an hour (or $35 for 4 hours), you can rent a canoe from Bellingen Canoe Adventures and go exploring down the Bellinger River. When driving from Dorrigo youll first pass Sherrard Falls (which is also gorgeous but theres nowhere to stop), before you pass Newell Falls. You can read more details on the track in our Eagles Nest guide. Depending on the flow of the falls you can even take a little dip in the small pool at the base of the waterfall. Phone 02 6699 3800 Pure joy as you wake to the sunrise. Book ahead for this one but we loved it here. Bellingen is a small town that is surrounded by green rolling pastures and the famously clean Bellinger River. 2.45 roundtrip walk from the Treehouse. It is no exaggeration to say its one of our favourite walks in all of Australia - and weve done A LOT of walks! I noticed as I left they also had a custard one which is my fave, so Ill have to head back to try it one day! . Start at the intersection of Hill Street and Evans Street . Subscribe foroccasionalupdates,, events and offers for our new guidebooks. This trail is estimated to be 4.7 mi long. Map: Link; Bellingen lookout. 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. It is simply sensational and so powerful that sitting and staring for a while is pretty much mandatory. The picturesque township of Murwillumbah is located at the heart of the lush Tweed Valley on the banks of the Tweed River on NSW's far north coast. The heart of the town is the mighty Murray River, which divides Echuca and the NSW river border town of Moama. This helps towards the costs of running our website. Frequently asked trail questions about Bellingen, According to AllTrails.com, the longest trail in Bellingen is. Just a 30 minute drive from Wollomombi Gorge is the beautiful town of Armidale. Bellingen is 520 kilometres north of Sydney, just inland from the mid-north coast. Although you can swim in other nearby waterfalls, none have a pool anything like Dangar. If you get a completely clear sky you will be able to see all the way to the coast. Its a fabulous, easy walk with great views and the chance to take a dip in the river by the start of the boardwalk. 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. Bongil Bongil National Park is a 30 minute drive from Bellingen. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
, Join 2,097 others in the Coffs Trails community. then it may just be the highlight of your entire trip - it was for us! Head down the river and enjoy the beautiful green scenery and aquatic life of Bellingen and its surrounds. Im not sure if anyone comes to Dorrigo and doesnt visit the Skywalk Lookout. 16 amazing things to do in Bellingen including secret spots, Roys Peak vs Isthmus Peak: views, difficulty, crowds and more, 13 Incredible things to do in Waitomo: so much more than just a day trip, 15 incredible things to do in Armidale for the perfect New England trip, All the unmissable stops along the Waterfall Way, 6 Stunning Walks in New England National Park, NSW, Lyrebird Track: the quietest walk in New England National Park, Wrights Lookout with the Cascades Trail: the best trail in New England NP, Eagles Nest Walking Track - A beautiful walk through Antarctic Beech Forest, Tea Tree Falls - the hidden waterfall along the Waterfall Way, All of Dorrigo National Park Walks Ranked, 13 Things to do in Dorrigo that will instantly put it on your bucket list, Cathedral Rock Summit Walk - the best sunset spot in New England, Rosewood Creek Circuit: rainforest, wild swimming and waterfalls in Dorrigo National Park, Dangars Falls - which lookouts are worth the walk, Red Cedar Falls: the most beautiful swimming spot in Dorrigo National Park, Wonga Walk - The Secrets of one of NSW's Best Day Walks, Apsley Falls - the best walks and lookouts at this beautiful waterfall, The hidden secret at Crystal Shower Falls that no one tells you about, Wollomombi Falls - the best lookouts to see this incredible waterfall, 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. At 800 metres above sea level, the air is decidedly cooler and we marvel at the magnificent rainforest canopy from the Dorrigo Rainforest Centre and Skywalk. Newell Falls is unusual in that it cascades underneath the main road between Dorrigo and Bellingen! 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. Here, the Canopy Cafe, run by Wolfgang Zichy and his wife Catherine McDonald, is yet another foodie find, serving up an interesting menu that includes all day breakfast and weekly specials concocted from the Bellofoodbox, a community initiative which distributes local, seasonal produce within 160 kilometres of Bellingen. We love walking, so wed recommend the trail, it also has that emerge from the wilds feeling when you leave the forest and hit the beach. 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