Then, he dropped it all and embarked . This out and back route begins and ends from the end of Hill Street, where the Hill Street Trail trailhead is located. 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. The "Down" version startsat 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. 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 need a car shuffle or a taxi ride as this is a one way walk, although it can be walked in either direction. There is a huge new viewing platform and a clear view across the gorge and of the falls as shown below. Its a spellbinding view and always a difficult spot to leave. Weve had our eye on the following cottages and chalets which all have excellent views. Local stories about the environment, heritage and culture of the region. The colour changes according to the light and can be anything from electric blue to turquoise to almost crystal clear. All the details on the walk and the glow worms are in this post. Light enough to pop in your backpack, illustrated with over 150 photos, and with full colour maps for every walk. Bring your swimmers because youll find crystal clear swimming holes in the Never Never River to swim in. The first falls youll come to is Newell on the windy road before you reach Dorrigo. 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. Its absolutely beautiful, electric blue yet crystal clear all at once. Whatever you do, do not miss out on this walking track in Dorrigo National Park. Before you go - tips to stay safe. Bellingen's former famed restaurant No. Further along the path is a shelter and a fire ring the site of logging protests perhaps? They did have some local products too but most looked to be from overseas. You can walk around the top of the canyon to many different vantage points to take this incredible Australian canyon in. Overlook at Stone Oak Park Apartments 22202 Estate Hill Dr is an apartment building with 10 floorplans, and 1-3 bedrooms units available. 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. 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. Again we dont like saying it but after a couple of dinners out in Dorrigo youll thank us for the tip! We can hear the sound of logging machinery as we walk, and in the distance the brown slope of clear fell is jarring among the green of the forest. Leaving from the beginning of Scotchman Range Road on the edge of Bellingen, this is a gorgeous run along the top of the Scotchman Range via Hospital Range Road and Horseshoe Road, bringing you first to the spectacularMt Killiekrankie lookout, then onto the even more spectacular Point Lookout, one of the highest points and best views in the region. The centre is open every day from 9am until 4:30pm (except Christmas Day) and is a must-do stop on the journey of Waterfall Way. Previously we have stayed at the Promised Land Cottages (now Promised Land Retreat), 12 kilometres north of the town across Lavender's Bridge and next door to Helfgott's property. Bring a picnic with you and chill out on the grass. 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. We hadnt been anywhere in Australia that has a silence like here. For full functionality of this site it is necessary to enable JavaScript. Explore this 1.3-mile out-and-back trail near Bellingen, New South Wales. You can . The most popular hike in the Dorrigo National Park is to Crystal Shower Falls. Check out some trails with historic sights or adventure through the nature areas surrounding Bellingen that are perfect for hikers and outdoor enthusiasts at any skill level. Pure joy as you wake to the sunrise. Theres no hiking involved to get to this waterfall as you can park up right next to it. 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. 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. Trigonometric surveying in NSW commenced in 1867 with a baseline at Lake George, and some 6000 trig stations were established over the next 150 years to create a control network for NSW. 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. Make the effort to drive out just to see how beautiful this part of Bellingen really is. Both the Wrights Lookout Track and the Cascades Trail begin at Robinsons Knob trail car park. Nearby is a mix of quaint seaside villages, wineries and incredible stretches of often deserted coastline. The city hosts the annual Jacaranda Festival and boasts a fine regional art gallery. 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. The menu is a mixture of Mexican & Indian food. 10,000-mile walk includes stop in Delaware. 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. The map below (blue line) is a short 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. If youre feeling adventurous the most magical night time experience you can have close to Bellingen is to heard into Dorrigo National Park at night. Tarkeeth State Forest contains both plantations, recovering forests and old growth, and provides habitat for koalas, birds, reptiles, marsupials and more. I couldnt find. Unfortunately its a six hour road trip from Sydney which would be better for a brilliant long weekend getaway. 10 reasons you need to stay at The Belfry Guesthouse in Bellingen, How to get to the bottom of Dangar Falls in Dorrigo, 10 reasons to do the Crystal Shower Falls walk in Dorrigo National Park, 22 Places To Stop On Your Sydney to Byron Bay Road Trip, If you found this post helpful, please share it to your Facebook below , Hi Annie, just wanted to thank you for this post. Surrounded by century-old homes, this timber and weatherboard beauty is bounded by beautiful established gardens and offers serene views of the valley and pastureland from the wrap-around veranda. Map: Link; Bellingen lookout. It takes less than a minute to get there from the car park. 300m. There are a couple of different ways to get there, the shortest route being 6.8km return. We headed up to Wrights Lookout for sunrise, which was very special if you can manage the early start. Rooms are comfy and cosy and after reading the reviews I wanted to go for the brekkie alone. If in summer, take water, a hat and sun If youre looking for more walks nearby, check out the Cathedral Rock National Park too and hike up to the Cathedral Rock. All the insider news, tips and inspiration you need to plan your next trip, delivered straight to your inbox. Tish Facos is probably the best Mexican restaurant Ive eaten at the food is amazing here too. The track takes you through a boulder strewn forest before you arrive at the summit junction. Depending on the flow of the falls you can even take a little dip in the small pool at the base of the waterfall. A sense of adventure as you motor across red plains. Cottonwood Farm is a charming, self-catering B&B with 400 metres of Never Never River frontage, priced from $600 for two nights. Further up the coast towards Coffs Harbour we also recommend visiting Mylestom and Sawtell Beaches. The Trail to Lanes Lookout is an easy walk along an old road. 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. What more could you ask for? The reality is there are a few uphill sections and some parts of the track have rocks and tree roots to climb over, but its not a hard walk. Hammond & Wheatley Emporium. 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. We also recommend heading over to the Old Butter Factory to our favourite shop called Cargo Lane. Frequently asked trail questions about Bellingen, According to AllTrails.com, the longest trail in Bellingen is. Here are the instructions how to enable JavaScript in your web browser. Copyright 2023 Destination NSW. When we visited there was no water in sight even though it had been raining. If you take this route youll have to walk 3km back along the beach to your car, but its compact sand, so very easy to walk on. Walk My World provides highly detailed guides for those who love to explore independently and seek out hidden gems. 1700 ft. 25 Best Things To Do In Tromso Norway 2023 Winter Guide, What Our 5 Day Sumba Island Indonesia Itinerary Looked Like, 14 Crucial Tips For How To Get Around Sumba Island, Indonesia, The Real Story Behind Waimarang Waterfall In Sumba Indonesia, 5. The first thing to know is when you get to Dorrigo, the temperature drops as its 746m above sea level. Other highlights of the drive include the granite tors in Cathedral Rock National Park, Point lookout in New England National Park, and the Wollomombi Gorge and Falls picnic area, near Armidale, which has one of the states highest drops. There are many other viewpoints located along two walking tracks. This helps towards the costs of running our website. They are currently open every day but Sunday. Weve outlined each viewpoint and the distance it is from the car park, as well as whether we rated it highly or not in this post. We drove out there just to see what its like and its absolutely stunning! Known for having one of the largest populations of koalas in NSW, (we sadly didnt spot one though) this park also has a phenomenal 7km long golden sand beach. Wonga Walk - for a mysterious forest of wonder Distance: 6.1km loop Elevation: 210m Difficulty: Moderate 2023 - Walk My World. The walk has some elevation gain and sections of track which are quite slippery and rough. 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. This is an iconic boardwalk you really have to see for yourself. You can read more details on the track in our Eagles Nest guide. Its a lot bigger than we were expecting as its also a university town where the University of New England is located. 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. Its not surprising when you catch your first glimpse. Sunrise was our favourite because as well as watching the sun illuminate the mountains, you also hear the whole rainforest come to life. To get to the bottom of the lower falls looks like a mission and a lot of bush bashing involved. Bellingen On-line links you to local businesses, restaurants, accommodation, events, activities, maps, as well as art, craft and produce markets, and tourist information. Its a fabulous, easy walk with great views and the chance to take a dip in the river by the start of the boardwalk. Expect to see a loads of awesome stalls including home grown fresh produce, food stands and live music. Its a fantastic hike, although I didnt find the final part of the walk easy which Ive explained in detail in this post. Start location: 74 Mount St, Fernmount NSW 2454, Australia. Via Nobles Lane. previous protests over clear felling the Tarkeeth, concerns of the locals regarding the Tarkeeth forests. All the rooms look good here but if you can, Id opt for the apartment which offers the opportunity to self cater. Also a must visit is Brunos Mediterranean Kitchen which serves up excellent food. Were Cat & Joe, two Brits, now living in Australia, with a passion for the outdoors and adventure travel. Its one of our favourite beaches in all of NSW, and we all know how many amazing beaches there are here! Wed recommend it even to people who dont usually do much walking, as long as there are no issues with the path not being manicured. Thank you for subscribing! This trail is estimated to be 4.7 mi long. To get to the rope swing (which is also where one of the deep pools is) head north from the car park, along the trodden down path, and youll be there in less than five minutes. Our next pick is Valla Beach, which is another beauty, just 25 minutes from Bellingen. The heart and soul of this bucolic region is unquestionably Bellingen, with its creative, alternative village feel and beautifully preserved shop fronts. The coffee is really good too, the best of our five week trip, and its an all round great brekkie or lunch spot. Whilst we didnt get lucky with the koalas we couldnt believe our eyes when we saw the beach! It is located in the Stone Oak neighborhood of San Antonio. Were Cat & Joe, two Brits, now living in Australia, with a passion for the outdoors and adventure travel. If you have more time to spend in the park, we have a full guide on all the day walks there. Heres our 27 things to do in Bellingen you need to know about which surrounds a whopping five national parks. One of the most amazing lookout points weve been to in Australia has to be at the Skywalk at the Dorrigo Rainforest Centre. They are closed Mondays and otherwise open between 10am and 5pm at time of writing. The upper falls is the more famous of the two, and the one you will have seen in many photographs. 2 hour round trip walk from the Treehouse. Sadly we leave Bellingen, our car filled with the smell of freshly baked pumpkin sourdough, the glove box crammed with local real estate brochures and a deafening chorus of cicadas through the open windows. The adjoining studio is $140 a night. When driving from Dorrigo youll first pass Sherrard Falls (which is also gorgeous but theres nowhere to stop), before you pass Newell Falls. I had a moment of vertigo on this last section but the view from the top was worth the push. The huge wrap around veranda will make you want to stay here forever! 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. If there is a more magnificent rainforest walk in NSW weve yet to find it. There are several different deep swimming holes if you want to have a proper swim, as well as plenty of other spots along the river which are shallower, but good for a paddle. Just 15km further is Bakers Creek Falls, you view it from a bit of a distance but the setting is outstanding. 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. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. There are a couple of different ways of getting here, the quickest being the 3.2km return Crystal Shower Falls Walk. Theres two lookout out points, one for the lower falls and one for the top falls. The walking track we took is the Bundagaree Rainforest Walk, a 6km circuit. Its honestly one of the top attractions in Dorrigo National Park. Which trail has the most elevation gain in Bellingen? If you get a completely clear sky you will be able to see all the way to the coast. You can then join up with the Cascades Track which will take you through what really does feel like a fairytale forest. Youll see the pretty Mylestom Spit before arriving at a beach which has that wonderful wild and remote feeling. Its wide and powerful and makes a beautiful shape as it flows over the rock. If youre wondering, The Promised Land is an actual place. Weve never had such a reward for a failed koala hunt! See promisedlandretreat.com.au. Free, no car required and good for you. Once you walk in, youll be greeted by a hip, rustic restaurant. From this point, Wrights Lookout is just 700m away and the Cascades Trail is a 2.8km circuit. 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! Primarily because it is one of the longest Point to Point trail runs in the area, and also because of the iconic start/finish location at Point Lookout, which is the highest prominent point in the geographic area. 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. Weve hiked all over the world and this one totally blew us away that we wrote all about it below. Thanks for your support! 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. The majority of outlets were selling locally made goods including art, woodwork and leather. Although there are more amazing falls like Dangars and Apsley beyond Armidale, it would be too far on a day trip from Bellingen. If you only have time for a lookout rather than a walk in New England National Park, then opt for Point Lookout. Start at the intersection of Crown St and Nobles Lane. The 6km paved Wonga Walk is nothing short of extraordinary. 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. Thanks Annie, that would be really useful. You can read more about the trail, including the track conditions in this guide. This historic port town, located on the Fleurieu Peninsula, is where the Murray River meets the sea. Bellingen, New South Wales, Australia Length: 1.3 mi Est. 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. Heres What It Looks Like! From there its a bit of an obstacle course as you make your way over, under and in-between huge boulder piles. If it was in Sydney, Id definitely be a regular! document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Eat pizza and watch some awesome bands at The Bellingen Brewery, 7. 2010 Peter Mitchell, Other regional tourist portals: Coffs Harbour | Valla Beach | Scotts Head | Auckland. 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