Travel guides

Beyond Byron (Preview)

Overview

The purpose of this unashamedly food-focused guide is to take us beyond Byron Bay. While there are lots of gems in Byron Bay proper, (hello Pixie, hello Belongil Beach Italian, yes always to drinks at Luna Wine Store and of course a reservation any night at Bar Heather), if you want to spread your wings beyond The Bay to experience the most interesting cafes, restaurants, things to do and places to stay in the Northern Rivers, this is the guide* for you. 

Words Megan Morton

*This is a true guide in the sense that none of these recommendations are sponsored in any way. All of these opinions are our own, and what follows is a collection of the places we loved the most. We'll update the guide every few months. And if there are things we need to know about, please email us info@galahpress.com

Where to eat and drink

Bistro Livi, Murwillumbah. Photo by Jessie Prince.

Bastion Lane

Uki

A working post office that serves truly excellent coffee? Bastion Lane, in the small hinterland town of Uki, 15 minutes south of Murwillumbah, is exactly this. The coffee in this glorious 1909 heritage-listed building is downright some of the best you can drink. And to be able to do so while sitting alongside sacks of coffee beans (to be roasted out the back), watching the comings and goings of Uki, population 700, and their mail deliveries is an entirely delightful experience. It’s almost only coffee here, which is fine because 10 doors down is Uki Pies, serving almost only pastry (see next listing). And if you like to hang out in weirdo bookshops post-coffee, The kooky Fortuna Bookshop is a short walk away to bookend the journey. Also worth a visit is A Tinker’s Cuss, a smithing collective where knives are made (and sharpened) out the back.

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Bistro Livi

Murwillumbah

Where even are we, Dorothy?! Just promise you’ll try to get a table if you want evidence that this area has a world-class hospitality offering. Shared plates of the region's most incredible produce ...

What to do

Mushroom Meander with Martin Martini

Madcap, but truly devoted to his subject, Martin Martini is the respected mushroom forager who deals shrooms to many bougie establishments throughout the Northern Rivers. He is as good a mushroom spotter as he is an educator, and his walks follow local natural trails, sharing the sites and the secret code to help identify what might be a “good” one versus a “bad” one, or a “really good” one. Listening to him say #pushthemush during an early morning walk is a wonderful way to start the day. 

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Where to stay

If we had to pick one spot for your Beyond Byron base camp, it’d be hard to go past Brunswick Heads. With Mullumbimby just 10 minutes’ drive west, Murwillumbah 40 minutes north and Bangalow 15 minutes south, it’s a good central spot. There are a handful of great places to stay, ranging from simply renovated motels such as The Sails, The Brunswick and Chalet, all with clean fresh rooms and pools and bikes you can use to tootle about town, through to ...

A dream day

We asked cook and author and long-time Mullumbimby resident Belinda Jeffery to map out her dream Northern Rivers day.

Words Belinda Jeffery

It would definitely be a Friday so I could start off at the Mullumbimby Farmers Market to pick up all their beautiful fruit, cheese, bread and veg…and no doubt, have breakfast there too. Look out for The Nomadic Kitchen stall. Robert and Michelle’s cooking is some of the best in the entire area.

Then a quick stop at ...

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