10+ Eco Friendly Tours in The Tweed
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Soak up the festive vibe at one of the Tweed’s fun Christmas markets, from coastal to country villages. You’ll find gorgeous art, locally made pantry items, homewares, jewellery and more. Here’s a few markets not to miss this Christmas.
In Murwillumbah, the creative folk at the regular Makers and Finders Market are getting in the spirit with a special Christmas Makers Market on 16 December featuring over 100 stall holders, delicious artisan food and plenty of festive cheer. Meet local makers, learn their stories and take home beautiful goods and gifts that have been ethically created by talented Tweed creatives.
Image by Sally Singh Creative
If you’re heading to Tweed Heads for some celebration vibes, the place to be is Bay Street where hip new businesses are popping up and the season is being ushered in with the Christmas on Bay Street Markets on Saturday 16 December. There’ll be stallholders and pop-up shops, live bands and buskers, food from an array of restaurants, cafe and delis and even a photo opp with Santa himself, surfing!
Experience the magic of the season in Tyalgum with the village’s Christmas Night Markets on Friday 22 December, featuring festive market stalls, lots of locally made wares and uplifting tunes to shop to by Scandinavian string trio Northern Resonance. You’ll find all the Christmas joy at Flutterbies Cottage Cafe.
Stumped for the perfect gift? Who doesn’t love a massage, day spa treatment or a meditation experience in nature?
Pick up a voucher from The Spa at Salt, ranging from mindfully created treatments based on the key elements – Air, Water, Fire, Light and Earth or sign your bestie up for some restorative bliss at Kingscliff Saltwater Studio with sessions in yoga, qi gong, meditation, sound healing and more.
For something completely different, and completely calming, talk to the team at Watersports Guru and sign your loved ones up for a soothing Meditation in the Mangroves, paddling gently via SUP to a serene spot, floating on the water with guided meditation.
Get some more wellness gift voucher ideas here.
With creative people and places in every corner of the Tweed, you’ll find plenty of artspiration for quick Christmas gifting this year. Visit one of the many artisan markets, drop into galleries to snap up a local art work or shop at a gallery gift shop.
Condense your shopping to a big, bustling arts hub at M|Arts Precinct in Murwillumbah, where you’ll find countless art gifting options, from ceramics, canvas paintings and intricate pencil drawings to leatherwork, hand-crafted jewellery and sculptural pieces, all in one place to make your browsing and buying easy.
You’ll also find gorgeous Tweed works of art right beside the seaside at Mist Gallery in Cabarita Beach. The gallery has a commitment to encouraging, showing and selling the works of local creatives, with regularly changing exhibitions and Tweed artist spotlights. They also run regular art workshops across a range of modalities – another gift voucher option!
Also perfect for a quick pick for the artistically inclined is the Tweed Regional Gallery Gift Shop, with a focus on selling artworks by nationally recognised local artists and designers, as well as gorgeous merchandise aligned with current exhibitions and the wonderful Margaret Olley Art Centre within the Gallery.
Get more arty ideas here.
Food, glorious food! Inspire your foodie friends and family with a delicious Tweed treat under the tree this Christmas. Gift a dining voucher from one of our many celebrated eateries, from chef hatted restaurants to beachside favourites and hinterland kitchen gardens, or wrap up some local flavours, ready to go.
Take a drive up to Tropical Fruit World in Duranbah to shop at their aptly named Gift Market, where you’ll find a bounty of options from a curated selection of pantry staples, fruit-based delicacies and nature-inspired home and body essentials.
Pop in to see the good crew at Earth Beer Company with a brew-lover in mind to buy delicious craft beers, fun brewery merchandise or grab a voucher for one of their fascinating and fun brewery tours.
For those more on the gin or rum side of life, stop by Husk Farm Distillery, riverside in Tumbulgum. Shop at the cellar door, where signature gins, including the colour-changing Ink
Gin and Art Series Gin will be sure to please, or select a Husk Rum, from a signature or rare blend to the popular Bam Bam or new Husk Coconut rum. There are also distillery tours on offer for gift vouchering.
More appetising ideas here.
Across our coastal and countryside villages, you’ll find local stores with a warm welcome and well-stocked shelves of gorgeous homewares, fashion, jewellery and more ready-to-wrap gifts. Try these spots for a start.
Head to beautiful Burringbar in the hinterland to visit Kath’s Home & Garden, upstairs from The Barn Burringbar. Kath’s sweet store is a farm flower and gift shop with a wide range of beautiful and diverse gifts, from farm-grown flowers and gorgeous garden accessories to kids toys and games, home and table decorating, pottery, local artworks and lots more.
More abundance awaits at La Markette Lane in Tyalgum, inviting you to meander through a gorgeous courtyard garden setting to browse artisan boutiques and art spaces. From silversmith-crafted jewellery to an eclectic bookshop, fashion stores and handmade crafts, chalk paint and homewares, vintage clothing and eco-lifestyle products, you’re bound to pick up a stocking-full or two here.
If you have someone on your list that loves mid-century vintage style, head straight to The Vault in Murwillumbah, where you’ll find a veritable treasure trove of original and gorgeously restored pieces, from dining settings, lounges and sideboards to lamps, wall art, plant stands, glassware and plenty more.
Image by Sally Singh Creative
Also in Murwillumbah, drop in to the Tweed Regional Museum, which is not only the keeping place for the Tweed’s rich heritage and history, but also a great place to giftshop! The Museum Shop stocks beautiful products inspired by the region, including curated learning kits, natural history specimens and books and a range of unique pieces crated by local makers and creatives.
A delightful coffee book to gift, Visit Murwillumbah by talented local photographer Sally Singh, can be found around town and also on the shelves at our Murwillumbah Visitor Information Centre. Sally’s creative lens has captured indelible images of life in Murwillumbah, featuring local businesses, landscapes and original art deco features of the town.
Image by Sally Singh Creative
Bless extended trading hours at this time of year, where the days are counting down faster than the shopping list is being ticked off.
Stores, cafes and restaurants in Murwillumbah have come together to create a little Murwillumbah Shopping Magic this year, with extended shopping hours up to Christmas including to 6pm on Thursdays, to 3pm on Saturdays and from 10am to 3pm on Sunday.
A couple of quick tips for shops to visit during these later hours – with Bolt + Buckle the go-to for men’s gifts and Chantilly Lace for boutique fashion options. Head to Instagram #murwillumbahshoppingmagic for more information on participating stores.
Image by Sally Singh Creative
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We wish to acknowledge the Ngandowal and Minyungbal speaking people of the Bundjalung Country, in particular the Goodjinburra, Tul-gi-gin and Moorung – Moobah clans, as being the traditional owners and custodians of the land and waters within the Tweed Shire boundaries. We also acknowledge and respect the Tweed Aboriginal community’s right to speak for its Country and to care for its traditional Country in accordance with its lores, customs and traditions.
