Follow The Tweed wellness trail

When you need to find some calm, head to The Tweed. One of the loveliest corners of northern NSW, The Tweed is home to ancient rainforests, endless beaches and some of the most charming country towns around. A relaxed trip through the region offers plenty of ways to nourish your body and soothe your soul.

The World Heritage-listed Border Ranges National Park, near Murwillumbah, offers scenic walks, cycling, drives and breathtaking vistas. Our favourite is the Pinnacle walk which will take you to the lookout for uninterrupted views over the rainforest, the crater escarpment, Wollumbin (Mount Warning) and the Tweed Valley. If you want to maximise the rainforest experience, check in to ecOasis, where six two-storey villas are nestled into the surrounding trees. The views unfurl over the forest and across to Wollumbin, the area’s highest peak. You will often see lightning flashing atop the mountain – according to the Bundjalung people, that happens when two warriors are fighting on the peak.

Murwillumbah, on The Tweed River, is the place to immerse yourself in some inspiring art. Head to M|Arts Precinct, where you can meet local artists and makers who work out of shipping containers repurposed as studios. Don’t leave without dropping in at the Tweed Regional Gallery, which is known for its high-quality exhibitions. Among its permanent displays is the fascinating Margaret Olley Art Centre, where the revered artist’s home studio has been recreated. Every surface is covered with colourful objects that the painter used for inspiration.

Over on the coast at Kingscliff, potter Jennifer Redmond runs Stone Studio, a community pottery studio and coffee bar. Here, you can get hands-on at one of her ceramic classes or book studio access if you’re just after a space in which to work on your pieces. It’s a great way to relax and reconnect with yourself as you shape the clay.

If you’d rather chill in the water, the ocean-loving Watersports Guru team in Kingscliff, led by Tweed Coast local wellness expert Tim Jack Adams, offers snorkelling tours to Cook Island Aquatic Reserve. Tim helps people reconnect with each other and the natural environment. On your journey with him, you can expect to see green turtles, clownfish and puffer fish in the reserve.

Thanks to the volcanic soils and temperate climate, The Tweed is a plentiful food bowl. Stop in at Duranbah to visit Tropical Fruit World, a family-run plantation where you can learn more about sustainable farming on a farm tour. Afterwards, sample the best of what’s in season at the Plantation Cafe or opt for their new lunch on the lawn.

Or turn a meal into an event with an al fresco feast organised by Blue Ginger Picnics. Whether you opt for a brunch picnic on the beach or a leisurely lunch on a boat cruising The Tweed River’s backwaters, Blue Ginger Picnics will organise everything for you. Menus are built around the best local, seasonal produce (organic where possible) and vegetarian, vegan, gluten and dairy-free options are available.

Allow enough time to unwind along The Tweed’s coastline, where the water is always inviting and the beaches are perfect for strolling. Base yourself at the Oaks Casuarina Santai, one of the region’s premier resorts for wellness. It’s a blend of contemporary and traditional Balinese design, and there is an onsite wellness spa and restaurant that focuses on regional produce.

Or give yourself a complete break with an indulgent stay and spa treatment at Halcyon House in Cabarita Beach. The treatments use the acclaimed Australian Sodashi range: our favourite is the Thermal Infusing Facial, which will leave you glowing.