We sent Anna, Bellingen Shire local and We Are Explorers Producer, out into the wild for a holiday in her hometown. She came back with a newfound appreciation for her corner of the world and a desire to share her adventures with everyone.

 

We Are Explorers acknowledges that this adventure is located on the traditional Country of the Gumbaynggirr people who have occupied and cared for the lands, waters, and their inhabitants for thousands of years. We pay our respects to them as the Traditional Custodians and recognise that sovereignty was never ceded.

 

It’s been a funny feeling returning to my childhood home as an adult and seeing it with fresh eyes. As a teenager all I wanted was a movie theatre and a Maccas but as an adult, it’s the lack of these that make my hometown arguably one of the best spots on Earth.

It’s wholesome and untouched by big chains. The locals are genuine, salt-of-the-earth farmers or small business owners and there’s a hidden swimming hole or hike on every corner.

Sure, it’s a great stop on a road trip. But trust me, if you’re just driving through you’re going to miss what makes this region really special. Take the time to set up camp, slow down and enjoy a sunrise, get to know the locals, appreciate the history, and you’ll be sure to see why us locals love our region as much as we do. I’m beginning to think the Bellingen Shire needs a lifetime to explore, not just a night.

Jump to Section

About the Bellingen Shire

In the last few years, Bellingen Shire has become a lure for those wanting to escape the crowds and get back to nature and experience true regional town charm. The Bellinger River carries from the peaks of Dorrigo Mountain, through the lush foothills of Bellingen, all the way to the coastline of Urunga. Alongside a host of smaller communities, these places make up the Bellingen Shire.

This is a place of vertiginous ranges, lush Gondwana rainforest, quaint country towns, and swimming holes and waterfalls galore. With every trip, there’s something new to explore and even as a local, I’m still finding little gems.

 

 

I’m so happy to share my recommendations of our beautiful region and I’m sharing them with one simple request: help us keep these places as beautiful as you find them.

Please remember that these places don’t always have facilities, so take your rubbish and poo with you. Our rivers aren’t toilets. They’re sacred places that feed and water our communities. They’re steeped in ancient Aboriginal history. They’re places we take our little ones to run free and wild and places we relive our own carefree, barefooted memories. Treat them with respect.

Read more: How To Poo in The Bush

Bellingen Shire History

Old Man Dreaming, or Ngali, tells the Gumbaynggirr creation story of one of the region’s sacred female birthing sites. As the story goes, the warrior Ngali was sent to take care of birthing mothers only to fall asleep on the job and be cast into the stone for eternity. Now, you can see his sleeping profile as it overlooks the Bellingen Shire, a constant reminder of the sacred Traditional Owners of our region.

Take a minute to wind down the windows and truly appreciate the dramatic peaks that make up the silhouetted outline of our region’s Dreaming creation.

Read more: Remember to Leave No Trace

How to Get to the Bellingen Shire

Bellingen Shire is a scenic 30-minute drive from Coffs Harbour, 4.5 hours from Brisbane, and 5.5 hours’ drive from Sydney.

 

Sherrard Falls, Bellingen Shire, Waterfall Way, winding road, dense rainforest, mountain pass, one lane, give way, road signs, guardrail

Essential Gear

  • Swimmers
  • Towel
  • Walking shoes
  • Rain jacket (always handy here!)
  • Camera
  • Camping gear
  • BYO water if camping far from town
  • First aid kit

Read more: How To Purify Water in the Bush

Where to Stay in the Bellingen Shire

Platypus Flats Campground

One of my favourite campgrounds in the region is Platypus Flats, aptly named for its platypus population – mind you, they’re elusive little cuties, so don’t hold your breath that you’ll spot one.

Located 45 minutes outside of Dorrigo in the Nymboi-Binderay National Park, Platypus Flats offers uninterrupted off-grid camping on the shores of the Nymbodia River, however it’s 4WD access only. Being so far from civilisation you’ll need to pack supplies and leave no trace.

Dangar Falls Lodge

For a camping option that’s more easily accessible and closer to food, Dangar Falls Lodge offers both camping, caravan sites, and cabins on the rocky cliffs of Dangar Falls itself. It’s a short drive or walk from Dorrigo where you’ll find cafes, op shops, supermarkets to stock up at, and a handful of nighttime dining options.

Tiny Nancy, Into The Wild

Another cosy option I was lucky enough to score a stay at is Into The Wild’s Tiny Nancy.

Nestled in the gumtrees a short drive from Bellingen, this tiny house felt a million miles away from civilisation, with nothing but the distant sounds of a babbling brook and the mist-shrouded mountains to keep me company. If you’re looking to wrap up your Bellingen Shire experience with a little low-key luxury, snap this one up quick as it’s often booked out (probably by me!).

Find a whole lot more options on the Bellingen Shire website.

Where to Eat Around the Bellingen Shire

Bellingen Shire is famous for its high-quality produce – beef, milk, potatoes, blueberries, garlic, and avocados, to name a few. So anywhere you choose to eat in the region is supporting local businesses and dishing up some of the highest-quality produce available.

Components

In Dorrigo, I can’t go past Components. The coffee is so good and the team knows me and my order by a nod of the head. Both the dine-in and takeaway options are some of the best I’ve ever seen in a regional town. I suggest the mushroom goat cheese toast if you’re dining in, or for takeaway they offer driving-friendly options like bougie bagels.

Food Vans

Dorrigo also has a few mobile food vans including woodfire pizza at Diavoletto (which operates next to the butchers in Dorrigo and Lavenders Bridge in Bellingen) and Amei’s Handmade Dumplings (across the street from the pizza van and at the local Bello Markets).

Bellingen is so rife with options but you can’t really go wrong with any of them (from someone who’s tried ‘em all!).

Za’atar & Bellingen Brewing Co

Za’atar has the most moist falafels I’ve tried since Orgasmicfalafel in Byron (IYKYK), while Bellingen Brewing Co has fun live music, delicious pizzas, and a family-friendly environment.

 

 

121 Cafe

For coffee, don’t miss 121 Cafe for two reasons: the coffee is unbeatable – Amelia the owner is also the co-founder of the International Women’s Coffee Alliance Australia and the coffee menu rivals any I’ve seen.

Secondly, the view and beautiful building itself, which features a wrap-around deck and outdoor seating area overlooking the fertile farmlands, Bellinger River, and World Heritage mountains.

For a full list, check out the Visit Bellingen Shire Eats page.

 

Things to Do Around the Bellingen Shire

Hiking in Dorrigo National Park

Dorrigo National Park is home to World Heritage-listed Gondwana rainforests and has so many separate tracks, I’d need a full article just to list them all.

Read more: 7 Tips for Rainy Day Hiking

 

Dorrigo National Park, Bellingen Shire, rainforest, canopy walk, skywalk, lush greenery, tall trees, person, hiking, exploring, Gondwana rainforest

 

Starting at the spectacular Dorrigo Skywalk, Crystal Showers is a must-do. It offers a gentle stroll through often misty ancient rainforest, a huge suspension bridge across the falls, and the option to walk into the cavernous cliff face behind them. While it’s an easy walk at around 3km return, I like to extend it by continuing onto Hardwood Lookout and Tristania Falls on the full 6.6km Wonga Walk circuit.

Read more: Leeches: How To Remove, Avoid, and Appreciate Them

The trek to Red Cedar Falls is roughly 8km return and pretty strenuous going but well worth it (pack a picnic and plenty of water) and you’ll enjoy Dorrigo’s largest waterfall standing at a huge 58m high.

 

Wild Swimming & Waterfalls

With an average of 156 days and 2,000mm of rain a year, there’s a reason it’s called Waterfall Way.

Read more: Staying Safe Around Swimming Holes and Waterfalls

In Dorrigo, Dangar Falls is our most well-known waterfall and swim spot. Whether rain or drought, the base of the falls has always offered me an incredible experience, a view of the 30m falls from below, and the chance to swim underneath it.

 

Dangar Falls | Photo supplied by Belligen Shire

 

Another great locals’ favourite, unlikely to be found on any lists and definitely not suggested by any AI itineraries, is an unnamed spot on the Little Murray, just before the Tyringham Bridge. It’s conveniently close to Boss Berries, making it an ideal spot to cool off after a day of blueberry picking. Look out for the local-made car park (patch of dirt) and can’t miss the gravel turnoff.

In Bellingen, you can’t miss the local’s favourite Lavenders Bridge unless you literally close your eyes the whole time. There’s plenty of parking, glorious grass areas to set up a picnic, sections that are shallow for the kiddies, and deeper spots if you fancy trying out the rope swing on the opposite bank. If you’re looking for somewhere slightly less busy, The Point is also a crowd favourite.

 

 

There are too many wild swimming spots to name and to be honest a lot of them don’t even have official names! But as the river winds itself throughout the Bellinger Valley, there’s scarcely a place you couldn’t park your car on the roadside and find some fresh water to splash in.

Featured Event

Stargaze in the Blue Mountains with a Personal Astronomer

  • Start Date: Feb 14, 2026
  • Venue: Maya Sanctuary

Marvel at the wonders of the universe during a private stargazing session in the Blue Mountains, a UNESCO World Heritage Site west of Sydney. You'll relax in zero-gravity chairs and luxe blankets as you observe galaxies, nebulae, and planets with...

See Event Details See More Events
blue mountains stargazing, daygin prescott, mastercard priceless

Paddling the Bellinger River

Another beaut day out on the water is in a kayak! I recently had the chance to paddle 11km of the Bellinger River with Jody and Dan of Bellingen Canoe Adventures and it was a bloody dream!

 

 

Keen beans are able to paddle the full 20-30km length of the river (well, the paddle-able parts) from Thora to where the river meets the sea at Urunga. Paddling all the way to this coastal town means you’ll finish at the Lido, a local favourite for a calm ocean swim and right by one of the best boardwalks on the East Coast. Plus you can refuel after your adventure with fresh seafood from Anchors Wharf.

During my paddle, we stuck close to Bellingen and it was a handy way to scout out more quiet places for a swim, rope swings and all.

Even in just a few hours on the river we paddled past lush farmlands, tall Bunyan pines, and the dramatic 19-million-year-old Dorrigo/Ebor volcanic mountain ranges.

 

 

Indulge in Local Produce

As one of NSW’s biggest blueberry-growing regions, during the harvest season, I like to spend some time picking my own spray-free berries off the shrubs myself – eating as many as I fancy as I go.

After a rundown from owners of Boss Berries, Frank and Juanita (with pup Ziggy in tow), of how to ‘milk’ the blueberries gently off the bush, I roamed free through the orchard with bushes bursting blue with fruits. The hardest decision was which berries made it into the bucket and which went in my mouth (I landed on the ‘one for me, one for the bucket’ strategy).

Picking your own berries is a special harvest season treat, so make sure you’re here over summer to get your fix!

One of my favourite parts about living here is the roadside farm stalls that offer the honesty-box simplicity of regional town produce. I’ve found everything from freshly laid eggs to watermelons as big as my head.

Whether you’re camping or have accommodation with a full kitchen, check out the road stalls, the Saturday Bellingen Growers Markets, the Wednesday Farmers and Producers Market, or pop into Kombu Health Food store to grab some Bello Beef sausages (beetroot and beef – who knew how delicious that combo is?).

Tips for Visiting Bellingen

  • Embrace the region’s slower pace of life
  • Look beyond the spots made famous on social media and find a swimming hole for yourself
  • Respect the Country, locals, and wildlife and leave no trace throughout the whole region

 

Bellingen Shire FAQs

Is Bellingen worth visting?

Absolutely! If you’re near Bellingen Shire, make sure you don’t just drive through town. Spend some time taking in the whole shire, its beautiful national parks, and collection of community-minded villages.

Why is Bellingen so popular?

Bellingen is popular because of its close access to nature, including many national parks and natural waterways. The town itself if filled with independent, boutique shops and galleries, and the dining scene here punches above its weight for the quaint, community-minded, farming town it is. That means there’s lots of delicious local produce on offer, and the whole town has a friendly and welcoming feel.

Is Bellingen a hippy town?

Bellingen has a really interesting hippie history (check out the Bellingen: The Promised Land short film that premiered in Sydney in 2023). Today you’ll find a unique and friendly community that values time spent in nature, local produce, and connecting with family and friends.

Keep Exploring the Nearby Nature!

Our Editorial Standards determine which brands we partner with and our approach to the content we produce. 'In partnership' means we work together with a company to create content our readers will genuinely enjoy that also promotes their product or service. You’ll always know when you’re reading sponsored content, as we’re proud to promote the brands we’ve chosen to work with.