A Four-Day Family Holiday in Murwillumbah

DAY ONE

MORNING

Assemble the kids bright and early, buckle up and set your road trip playlist to holiday fun as you journey out from Brisbane and along the Pacific Motorway, Tweed-bound.

Continue past the Kingscliff turn and follow the signs to Murwillumbah – all up, the drive from Brisbane to Murwillumbah will take you a couple of hours.

First things first, call in to the Murwillumbah Visitor Information Centre at the restored railway station platform, which you’ll find on the left just before town, with ample car parking on-site.

Pick up a copy of the The Tweed Official Visitor Guide for inspiration and chat with the friendly volunteers here for insider’s tips during your time in the Tweed Valley.

While here at the Murwillumbah Railway Station platform, also the trail head for the Northern Rivers Rail Trail, book e-bikes for three, ready for your riding adventure tomorrow – they have adult and kids e-bikes available.

Time to check in to your gorgeous accommodation at The Imperial Hotel, a 1931 art deco beauty that’s been welcoming locals and travellers for nearly 100 years. You can’t miss the hotel, it’s the one on Murwillumbah Street with a sweet pink facade – there’s parking around the back for hotel guests.

AFTERNOON

Once refreshed in your lodging for the coming nights, it’s time for a relaxed lunch at the iconic Austral Cafe, first opened in 1919 and still serving classic milkshakes and tasty burgers, plus more. With a fun retro vibe, the kids will love this lunch spot, plus the cabinet of sweet treats for afters.

Stroll along to spend some time meandering through M|Arts Precinct, an impressive 1960s warehouse space that once was a mechanics and now is home to incredible local artists, working out of reimagined shipping container studios and happy to talk about their work, inspirations and process.

Meet ceramicists, painters and a pencil artist, leather worker and florist and pick up any works of art that catch your eye to take some Tweed beauty home.

Be sure to also browse the outside of the precinct, where more creativity awaits.

Pop in to Kat Harvey Cheese, where owner, cheesemonger and cheesemaker Kat Harvey will stock you up with the best local cheeses from the Northern Rivers (Note: remember to pack your esky, there are plentiful take home Tweed foods ahead!).

Nearby you’ll find The Regent Cinema, a gorgeous 1947 theatre that still entertains today, with arthouse movies, film festivals, live music and more. Note what’s showing while you’re here on holiday for some family cinematic fun.

M|Arts is an impressive creative hub that also has art classes for all ages along with regular evening events, like the family-friendly Music After Dark, a fun night of live music from 5pm to 9pm, with a pop-up pizzeria that’s perfect for an easy dinner tonight.

Head back to your overnight accommodation at The Imperial Hotel when it’s time for rest – the walk from M|Arts couldn’t be easier, just 2 minutes!

DAY TWO

MORNING

After a good night’s sleep in the sweet art deco town of Murbah, as it’s known, head right across the road for a hearty breakfast at Keith, a local favourite with a relaxed and friendly vibe and choices that range from bacon and eggs, healthy crumble bowls, avo on toast or simple and delicious pastries.

Fuelled up and ready to roll, head to the Murwillumbah Railway Station to get fitted and sized for helmets, ready to board your e-bikes and have a fun half-day out on the Northern Rivers Rail Trail.

The trail is smooth and picturesque with both sealed and gravel sections, passing through landscapes from lush tropical settings to local farm life and featuring heritage highlights such as bridges, tunnels and restored train stations.

Better yet, this new trail is much more than just a ride with plenty to see and do along the way.

Set off on the pedal and watch the town’s houses pass by to be replaced by vistas out to cane fields in the east and up to Wollumbin Mount Warning to the west.

A couple of kilometres in, you’ll find a stop-off point to visit the Tweed Regional Gallery and Margaret Olley Art Centre – don’t stop here though as you’ll be visiting the gallery tomorrow.

Continue on and you’ll soon cross over the Dunbible Creek Bridge, a beautiful heritage feature that has undergone major repairs and restoration as part of the trail development.

You’ll cycle over more scenic bridges on the way to Stokers Siding, home to a creative arts community and the friendly local Post Office, also offering snacks, coffee and trail souvenirs.

Onwards from Stokers Siding village, be sure to immerse in local farm life with a stop at Hosanna Farmstay, where resident farm animals await curious children and great coffee and food are served. There’s also a fun water slide and dam if the kids need to refresh with a splash.

AFTERNOON

Riding on to Burringbar you’ll traverse gorgeous countryside and encounter one of the trail highlights, the 500 metre long Burringbar Range Tunnel – note that it’s a dark tunnel so bring a head torch and ride slowly as a group.

The township of Burringbar also invites a pause, with the iconic Heath’s Old Wares and Collectables tempting vintage-lovers and The Barn ready with lunch for hungry tummies.

Nearby, Tweed Valley Whey Farmhouse Cheeses is also a great place to stop, sample artisan cheeses and buy your favourites to pop in the travelling esky.

The last tranquil stretch of the trail passes by fertile farmland and pine tree canopies, crosses a number of bridges and through the arched Hulls Road Tunnel on the way to Crabbes Creek, originally known as ‘Pimble’ to the local Bundjalung people, for whom this area holds Ancestral significance.

The small village of Mooball, distinguished by the various black and white cow prints found around town, is a great place to circle back to and finish the trail. Enjoy a refreshing drink at the 1930s Victory Motel or the Moo Moo Roadhouse while waiting for your return shuttle ride back to Murwillumbah.

Time permitting – and if the kids are hot and in need of a splash – head to the Tweed Regional Aquatic Centre, a go-to for family water play that’s famous for its 100m Hill Waterslide, with a kids pool as well.

After such a big day of activity, it’s time to relax with a delicious pub meal tonight at The Imperial Hotel, with an easy walk back upstairs to bed as the yawning begins.

DAY THREE

MORNING

Up earlyish, rally the troops and take a short drive to the Murwillumbah Showground where you’ll find the ever popular weekly Murwillumbah Farmers Market, selling fresh, local and seasonal produce. Plus there’s live music, fun for kids, delicious smoothies, great coffee and tasty breakfast treats from pastries to cakes and fresh fruit.

After time relishing in this much-loved community hub, stop by the Tweed Regional Museum, an award-winning keeping place for the Tweed’s stories of past, present and future, with great interactive features for children.

Listen to the voices of Traditional Owners and learn more about the people, places and culture of the region. Be sure to pick up a copy of Facade while here, a handy self-guided walk that unearths Murwillumbah’s remarkable art deco features.

AFTERNOON

Next up, take a short drive to South Murwillumbah and the unmissable Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre. This award-winning art space has something for all ages, with a range of exhibition spaces that host local, national and international artworks, as well as the Margaret Olley Art Centre where the home of this revered Australian artist has been relocated.

Throughout the gallery are touchpoints to keep children engaged with regular art workshops too and, when hunger hits, take the kids through to Apex Dining, the gallery cafe with bites for all taste-buds plus sweeping views of the Tweed Valley.

Replete with stories of the Tweed, it’s the end of another immersive Murwillumbah day.

A casual dinner is on the menu tonight at a local go-to in Barrels Pizza, a cosy and inviting family-friendly eatery serving traditional Italian pizza showcasing Northern Rivers produce.

DAY FOUR

MORNING

Pack the bags and stock up all your Tweed goodies in your cooler bag for home and set out for a slow morning in town before checking out.

Passing by myriad art deco features (remember to bring your copy of Facade to spot the highlights!) stop in at friendly Wild Thyme Dining for scrumptious offerings with all day breakfasts and a special brekky menu just for kids.

Browse a range of stores and boutiques, from vintage clothes and art to gorgeous gift stores such as The Foundry Murwillumbah, a well-stocked emporium that’s housed in an original 1908 art deco space.

Inspired, connected, relaxed and energised by your many Murwillumbah moments, it’s time to turn the car toward home, chatting along the drive about everyone’s most favourite bits (and when can we go back!).