Byron Bay Hinterlands

A macadamia and avocado farm set in the rolling hills of the Alstonville Plateau, Summerland House Farm's founder, Lionel Watts, also created the House with no steps after having contracted polio and being left a quadriplegic. With the farm’s stately avenues of macadamia trees, it employs mostly disabled workers. Take a look at the farm's wide array of activities and visit its museum, then follow with lunch in their café to sample the famous Macado Salad.

Next point your car to the village of Clunes, a picturesque and laid-back town, where you’ll step back into the gold rush era, with streetscapes straight out of a colonial history book. Make a pit stop at Doma Café and sip a latte to the sound of chiming bellbirds and the bush punctuation marks of a whipbird.

Driving deep into the hinterland and stop at the Eltham Hotel, built in 1902. Dine on slow-cooked lamb shoulder so tender it gives us goosebumps. Former school principal, Lorraine Barlow, runs this country pub. This one-horse town is worth the pit stop if you like fine dining and wine.

Wind further up into the hinterland and then make our way down to Byron Bay. Park up and stroll to the beach to admire Byron’s breathtaking beauty and the spectacular lighthouse perched above the town like a sentinel.

Catch a Crab is a river adventure tour is a river cruise activity which sees its passengers catch crabs, pump yabbies and reel in fish, before returning to land for a seafood feast. Gorge on mud crabs as big as truck wheels and slurp freshly shucked oysters.

Take a detour into the sub-tropical hinterland in the Northern Rivers, where you'll find rolling hills, pristine rainforest, secluded waterfalls and spectacular views. Head to the Crystal Castle at Montecollum – you’ll get beautiful views, awesome food, and some crystal healing. Don't forget to stop by the chic-coastal kitchen The Kingswood for a glass of natural and low intervention wine, as well as a few share plates.

Drive on north to Santai Retreat in Kingscliff. This slick poolside resort, with its Balinese aesthetic and twitching palms, is a grand affair. We could well be in Denpasar. The rooms are uber-stylish and an endless ribbon of beach is only 50 ‘thong-thwacks’ down the road.

A lazy meandering drive away from Byron Bay is the pretty village of Tyalgum. It’s a magical place with cafés, artisans, music festivals and smiling denizens. A sign above an arts and crafts shop explains: “Tyalgum is my Tuscany”. At Flutterbies Cafe, with its French linen, fresh flowers and vintage crockery, enjoy the legendary flutterby cake. The turn-of-the-century tea room also houses a gift shop specialising in shabby chic.

When Peter and Charlie, the owners of Mavis's Kitchen and Cabins, relocated their restaurant from the Gold Coast to Mount Warning, they brought their Queenslander house with them (cut into three pieces). This picturesque ex-dairy farm has since been converted into stylish cabins. The attention to detail is impressive and the food is five-star, with fresh organic produce from their gardens. Stay in the Secret Cabin, a hideaway ideal for honeymooners or those celebrating wedding anniversaries.