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The Tweed Coast sits beautifully between Byron Bay & the Gold Coast. This region in NSW is a hidden gem, with so many amazing beaches, cafes & outdoor attractions. So if you’re looking for places that aren’t overrun with tourists, keep reading for the best things to do in the Tweed.
The Tweed Coast Road begins just south of the Tweed River near Kingscliff. And, is the perfect route to take to get easy access to many of the coast’s most beautiful places.
Getting to the Tweed Coast is easy as well, with the most northern suburb, Tweed Heads, blending seamlessly with the Gold Coast’s Coolangatta. The closest airport is Gold Coast (OOL), in fact, half the runaway is in Tweed.
The best way to explore the Tweed Coast is by car, giving you the freedom to make the most of your trip. Compare all the car hire deals with Discover Cars. You’ll be able to collect your cars from the terminal at Gold Coast Airport or if not, very close by.
Or, you could fly into Ballina Byron Gateway Airport (BNK), but then it’ll be about a 50-minute drive up to the Tweed Coast.
So, now that you know where you’re at, let’s get into the best things to do in the area and where you should stay along the Tweed Coast.
The 9 Best Things To Do Along The Tweed Coast Road
Cook Island; Snorkel, or Dive with Sea Turtles
Cook Island is an Aquatic Reserve only a short distance off the coast at Fingal Head. The water around the island is perfect for snorkelers and open water divers. Year-round the area is home to sea Turtles, and bottlenose dolphins are regularly seen swimming around. And, to make it even better, from June to October there’s a good chance you’ll see Humpback Whales or hear their song while you’re underwater.
There are a couple of companies that do snorkeling and diving trips out to Cook Island.
I have previously done a snorkeling trip with Kirra Dive. The day I went the water was pretty choppy especially heading out to the open sea from the tweed river. But the boat trip to the snorkeling sites is only about 15 to 20 minutes (thank goodness). So if you’ve been seasick in the past it wouldn’t be a bad idea to take a couple of seasick tablets beforehand as a preventative.
I definitely recommend the trip, we stopped at two different snorkeling sites around Cook Island, and even with low visibility we still saw heaps of turtles.
Fingal Head & Dreamtime Beach
This hidden gem is truly one of the most beautiful and peaceful places along the Tweed Coast. The headland itself is a rock formation which formed around 23 million years ago from lava that flowed from Mt Warning.
From the car park, the walk to the headland and the beach will have you walking down a sandy path, shaded with all kinds of tropical trees. It’ll make you feel like you’re on a deserted island. Then at the top of the headland, there’s a small lighthouse and an unbeatable view of the coastline & Cook Island. It’s the perfect place to sit & drink your morning coffee.
Then right below the headland is Dreamtime Beach, I have no doubt you’ll love this beach. There are no main roads or busy shops in the area, so there’s no unwanted sound. This beach is fun and laid-back, and dogs can run free & the surf is really good.
Kingscliff
Keep heading south and you’ll arrive in the beachside town of Kingscliff. This is one of the most popular areas along the Tweed Coast. Kingscliff has the largest amount of hotels, cafes, restaurants & pubs. There is always something going on so it’s very popular with locals and tourists.
The surf beach and “Kingy Creek” are both awesome places for swimming & water sports as well.
If you’re after a feed, the Kingscliff Beach Hotel is great for drinks and a pub meal, plus they regularly have live music. But if you wanted more of a quieter atmosphere, Mockingbird Cafe is just off the main road and serves beautiful meals, and the seating around is outside in their garden.
Get a Massage at Salt Village
Tucked nicely between Cudgen Creek and South Kingscliff beach, Salt Village is a small resort area with a few cafes, bars & restaurants. And, if you’re looking for a way to completely relax you’d be due for a massage, and maybe even a facial if you really want to spoil yourself. Exhale At Salt is one of the best in the area. I received lovely service, the products were beautiful (although I can’t remember what brand they used) and my whole body felt completely at ease afterward.
Farm & Co.
If you turn off the Tweed Coast Road onto Cudgen Rd you’ll get to my next three suggestions. You’ll love Cudgen Road, driving down this quiet two-lane road you’ll have sugarcane crops, cow paddocks & old country houses on either side. And, of course, palm trees mixed in to remind you that you’re still so close to the ocean.
Farm & Co is a family farm that welcomes all. You can eat in their cafe or explore the grounds. To wonder the grounds of the farm adults will pay $5 and children are free. Depending on the seasons there’s a massive sunflower field you can explore. The sunflowers grow taller than (short) people, so it’s a fun place to take photos. Or you can spend the afternoon laying in the hammocks under the Macadamia trees.
The cafe has an all-day breakfast menu and serves delicious vegetarian meals, that are organic & fresh from the farm.
Oh, and don’t forget to meet Hank, their vegan pig.
Earth Beer Company Brewery
What actually sounds better than a Brewery on an avocado farm? This is a very popular place along the tweed coast to have a drink. As well as the beautiful country setting, Earth Beer Company makes really really good beer.
They even have one brew made from avocados, it’s called Avocado Kolsch. Spoiler alert; it tastes nothing like avocados. 😆
When you first order I recommend getting a tasting paddle so you can try smaller portions of each beer. The way they do food here is a bit different, so they have almost like a little shop with a selection of cheeses, crackers, cold meats, dips, etc. You’ll be able to grab what you fancy from the shelves & fridge, pay at the front then make your own platter.
The Brewery also does tours, these are $30 and it’s an informational session about the company, the beer and the price also includes a taste a paddle.
Tropical Fruit World
If this sounds boring to you, bear with me! Because I thought it would be too but it’s actually really fun and the property is absolutely beautiful. The outdoors is a way of life in the Tweed Valley and Tropical Fruit World is at the center of this. It’s a family-owned fruit farm that is set among rainforests but still only 10 minutes from Kingscliff beach.
When you arrive you’ll see the fruit shop and next door another store that sells awesome products, including skincare products made from avocado.
You can’t come to Tropical Fruit World though without doing a farm tour. Tickets start at $30 and the tour goes for 2 hours. You’ll tour the farm by tractor, taste exotic fruit, crack macadamia nuts under a jackfruit tree and also see heaps of native animals.
Cabarita Beach & Headlands
Further south along the Tweed Coast road you’ll get to Cabarita, this is definitely my favorite suburb along the Tweed Coast. And, it’s not just me that thinks so! Cabarita Beach was named Australia’s best beach in 2020, it really is that amazing.
The beach is very popular with locals, especially for surfing, and part of it is patrolled by the surf life-saving club. And, behind the beach is a big car park and public bathrooms.
Next to the beach is Norries Headland Lions Park, it’s an easy walk up to the top of the headland. The views of the coast are stunning, and there’s a good chance you’ll see whales during whale season (June-October). There’s also a large grassy area facing west, so it’s a perfect spot to set up a picnic and watch the sun go down.
Hastings Point Lookout
Hastings Point is a small coastal settlement in the tweed valley and is known as the “jewel of the tweed”. Surrounded by National Park, Hastings Point has a real laid-back atmosphere. So basically there’s not a lot to do there but that doesn’t mean it’s worth missing.
Drive a bit further down the tweed coast road and stop at Hastings point Lookout. The view is amazing and with a massive grassy area, it’s another great place to sit and watch the waves roll in and the sun disappears.
Recommend Accommodation Options Along The Tweed Coast
Manta on Salt Beach, Kingscliff
Peppers Salt Resort & Spa, Kingscliff
Oaks Casuarina Santai Resort, Kingscliff
The Hideaway Cabarita Beach, Cabarita
Halcyon House, Cabarita
The Tweed Coast may not be talked about as much as Byron Bay and the Gold Coast, but it really is a natural beauty with so much to offer. Come and join the locals for amazing food and some of the best beaches in Australia.
Sign up for my mailing list because in the coming weeks I’ll be posting more content on the Tweed Valley region, and this way I can send it straight to your inbox.
Thanks for reading,
Happy Travels
Ps. Don’t make the same mistake many others do and get caught out when you travel! Purchase Travel Insurance before you leave home.
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Elyse is the author & content creator behind A World To Live. After traveling to over 40 countries, she has a passion for discovering new places. Elyse is a money-conscious traveller who loves writing independent travel guides to help her readers get the most out of their travels.
Aww, my husband lived in Tweed Heads for a few years and had some great memories there. We got to just pass through on our E. Coast road trip the other year. I’m sad we missed the Earth Beer Company – sounds right up my alley. Looks like we will have to go back next time we’re in AUS visiting family.
aww that’s awesome. Yeah, you’ll definitely have to stop off next time! It’s such a beautiful part of Australia.
Stunning photos.. and I love that most of thes eplaces you can picnic and just relax and take in the beauty of nature…
Thank you so much. Yeah so do I, its a very chilled atmosphere
Australia continues to be on the top of my bucket list! I love the idea of a massage and the lookout sounds so cool!
That’s so good to hear. Our borders are opening soon and we can’t wait to have you 🙂
Definitely some great places here. I used to live in Brisbane but never explored this area.
Thanks Kez, so many don’t and it’s such a shame, it’s such a beautiful part of the east coast
The sunflowers fields at Farm & Co look so fun to explore and take photos! The blue waters along the Tweed Coasts look incredible. Thanks for sharing – adding to our bucket list!
Thanks heaps Ashlee, so glad you like it