There’s a lot to love about the cute little bohemian town of Bellingen: the laid back atmosphere, the incredible food, and the spectacular nature that surrounds it. With sensational wild swimming spots, ancient rainforest, dramatic waterfalls, remote beaches and even a winery nearby, there’s enough to keep you going for weeks!
It’s easy to spend whole afternoons hopping from one great eatery to another, but if you can tear yourself away you’ll find some of the best attractions in NSW are all within a short drive of Bellingen.
We spent a couple of weeks in the area, uncovering all the top spots and hidden gems to help you plan the perfect trip.
-
1: Take a dip at the sublime Promised Land
2: Hike through the rainforest to beach paradise
3: Go wine tasting
4: Watch thousands of flying foxes at sunset
5: Gorge on gelato in a tropical courtyard
6: Admire the ocean and wetlands at Urunga Boardwalk
7: Marvel at the ancient rainforest on the Wonga Walk
8: Visit Dorrigo’s tallest waterfall
9: Indulge at Bellingen’s best cafe
10: Hit the beach!
11: Go shopping for local handicrafts
12: Visit the secret glow worm colony
13: Try the local brews at Bellingen Brewery
14: Check out the local community markets
15: Drive the spectacular Waterfall Way
16: Catch a sunset at the summit of Cathedral Rock
The best things to do in Bellingen
1. Take a dip at the sublime Promised Land
We had to start with the Promised Land because it’s such an idyllic spot and should be top of your list of things to do in Bellingen. Whether you love wild swimming, catapulting off a rope swing or just having a picnic in a spectacular setting, the Promised Land will be for you.
It’s a pretty, 15 minute drive from the centre of town and the moment you see that water for the first time it’s almost impossible not to let out a ‘wow’.
It’s absolutely beautiful, electric blue yet crystal clear all at once. There are several different deep swimming holes if you want to have a proper swim, as well as plenty of other spots along the river which are shallower, but good for a paddle.
Kids tend to congregate around the first swimming spot you’ll come to, directly from the car park, but walk a little further down the path and you’ll find several other gorgeous spots. To get to the rope swing (which is also where one of the deep pools is) head north from the car park, along the trodden down path, and you’ll be there in less than five minutes.
If you're keen for some serenity it’s best to go on a weekday or early in the morning, locals and travellers alike love this spot so it can get very busy.
When taking a dip in the water here, please don’t wear sunscreen or insect repellant which harms the local wildlife (there are always plenty of shady spots so you don’t need to worry about getting burnt). There are no facilities whatsoever at the Promised Land, so please remember to take all rubbish with you and keep this area beautiful for generations to come.
Note that Google Maps/GPS is not very accurate in directing you to the Promised Land, it’s located near the Angel Gabriel Capararo Reserve.
2. Head through the rainforest to a remote beach paradise
We initially visited the Bongil Bongil National Park to look for koalas, as it has one of the biggest wild koala populations in all of NSW. Whilst we didn’t get lucky with the koalas we couldn’t believe our eyes when we saw the beach!
This stunning stretch of golden sand stretches for kilometres into the distance and we saw a grand total of one other person on it, and that was on a Saturday in school summer holidays! It was incredible.
You can either access the beach directly from the car park or via the 3km flat walking trail through the rainforest. We love walking, so we’d recommend the trail, it also has that emerge from the wilds feeling when you leave the forest and hit the beach.
If you take this route you’ll have to walk 3km back along the beach to your car, but it’s compact sand, so very easy to walk on.
We’ve never had such a reward for a failed koala hunt!
Bongil Bongil National Park is a 30 minute drive from Bellingen. The walking track we took is the Bundagaree Rainforest Walk, a 6km circuit.
3. Go wine tasting with a view
Most people visit the award winning Raleigh Winery for its fabulous restaurant with a terrace overlooking the vines and river. Sadly it was full when we turned up (definitely book in advance), but they still squeezed us in for a wine tasting.
We had a table nestled by some gorgeous plants which made for a really lovely setting. You’ll be given a wine menu and allowed to choose any six that take your fancy, or you can do what I did and say the kind of wine you normally drink and then they’ll bring you various options they think you might like.
It’s a friendly, relaxed tasting and I really enjoyed everything I tried. Tastings are free, a rarity in NSW nowadays, although I do always buy a bottle!
They are closed Mondays and otherwise open between 10am and 5pm at time of writing.
4. Watch the nightly Flying fox spectacle
Bats often get a bad rap but personally I love them, and even if they creep you out you can’t fail to be amazed by the sight of over 20,000 of them flying overhead! They fly out en-masse from their home on Bellingen Island every evening at dusk.
The best place to take it all in is from Lavender Bridge, right in town. The majority of bats pass by in around 30 minutes after which point it’s just a few stragglers.
We’ve watched this kind of bat exodus in a few different places and the great thing about Bellingen is that they fly high above you and you don’t need to bring a poncho if you know what I mean…..
5. Delight in delicious Gelato in the tropical courtyard
The food in Bellingen was definitely a highlight for us and we knew we had to check out the Bellingen Gelato Bar when we saw a queue every time we passed!
It didn’t disappoint, not only have they got lots of delicious flavours to choose from, but the little courtyard with tropical plants offers the perfect shady spot to enjoy them.
We tried the lemon and mascarpone and rocher (chocolate nut) flavours and both were fab. I noticed as I left they also had a custard one which is my fave, so I’ll have to head back to try it one day! If you want a more guilt free treat they also have sorbet.
They are open daily between 10am and 5pm at time of writing.
6. Admire ocean and wetlands on the Urunga Boardwalk
I am pretty sure the Urunga Boardwalk is the longest boardwalk we’ve ever been on and it’s definitely a Bellingen must do.
Located just over a 15 minute drive away, the 2km fully accessible walkway takes you along the Kalang River before you head right to a area of dense mangroves - kids will love the armies of crabs that march all over the mud flats (update for November 2022, this righthand section of the boardwalk is currently closed due to storm damage).
You then retrace your steps and follow the boardwalk straight towards the ocean. You’ll see the pretty Mylestom Spit before arriving at a beach which has that wonderful wild and remote feeling.
It’s a fabulous, easy walk with great views and the chance to take a dip in the river by the start of the boardwalk.
If you love the Urunga Boardwalk, you could also check out the Urunga Wetlands Walk, a 600m circuit which is great for birdwatching and comes recommended by two of our lovely readers.
7. Marvel at one of the world’s most ancient rainforests on the Wonga Track
If there is a more magnificent rainforest walk in NSW we’ve yet to find it. The ancient forest along the Wonga Track is absolutely awe-inspiring in the true sense of the word.
With dense trees ferns, hanging vines, strangler figs, colourful fungi and so many birds, it’s a really immersive experience.
If you are lucky enough to go on a misty day it might just become your favourite walk in the whole state.
The 6km circuit track is fully paved and though there are some hills, it’s not a difficult walk. You’ll also visit two spectacular waterfalls, including the famous Crystal Shower Falls.
You can read our full trail guide here.
8. Take a dip in Dorrigo’s highest waterfall
Bellingen is surrounded by lots of great waterfalls, and one of the most spectacular is also one of the lesser visited ones. Red Cedar Falls is the tallest waterfall in Dorrigo and an absolutely jaw dropping sight, particularly if you are visiting after recent rain.
There’s a pool at the base which makes for an incredible wild swimming spot (unless the flow is too powerful in which case you can paddle in the pool before the base).
There are a couple of different ways to get there, the shortest route being 6.8km return. You will have a pretty big hill to climb up afterwards, but trust us, it’s worth it! You can read more about the routes and other wild swimming spots nearby in our post on Red Cedar Falls.
9. Indulge at Bellingen’s best cafe
Normally we like to try a variety of cafes so that we can give you a few different options on the blog. This time we hit up Hearthfire Bakery first and ended up going back four times.
The woodfired sourdough is amazing, as are the pies and quiches (the zucchini, goats cheese and kale quiche is one of the best I’ve ever had!).
The coffee is really good too, the best of our five week trip, and it’s an all round great brekkie or lunch spot. If it was in Sydney, I’d definitely be a regular!
They are currently open every day but Sunday.
10. Hit the Beach
Our absolute favourite beach near Bellingen is Bongil Beach, that we mentioned at the start of this post. It’s a huge jaw dropping 7km long beach that is one of our favourites on the east coast. But as we already talked about that one we wanted to give a few other recommendations.
Our next pick is Valla Beach, which is another beauty, just 25 minutes from Bellingen. The most popular end is South Valla Beach which you can park right beside.
For a more secluded option we recommend heading for North Valla Beach where a short five minute stroll on a good path through the bush, will take you to a very quiet stretch of sand (the walk begins at the park at the end of Cockburn Street).
A similar distance from Bellingen is Sawtell Beach which is another great option. It was a bit busier when we visited so we’d rank it below the other choices, but it’s still a very pretty beach.
11. Pick up some local handicrafts at the Old Butter Factory
When you’re in the mood for a relaxed mooch around the shops, the Old Butter Factory is the place to head. The majority of outlets were selling locally made goods including art, woodwork and leather.
There was also a gorgeous shop which sold a variety of beautiful furniture and trinkets from Asia, which was right up my street, if not my budget!
They did have some local products too but most looked to be from overseas. There is also a well reviewed cafe we had been planning to check out…. but you know, Heartfire….
The Old Butter Factory is open 7 days a week but individual shops may have different opening times, so if one in particular takes your fancy it is best to check timings directly with them.
12. Feel the magic at a secret glow worm colony
If you’re feeling adventurous the most magical night time experience you can have close to Bellingen is to heard into Dorrigo National Park at night. A paved walkway will take you to a glow worm colony that lives on an overhang behind the waterfall.
It doesn’t appear anywhere online (well until we found it and wrote about it) so you will almost certainly get it to yourself. There’s nothing quite like looking up at the twinkling blue lights which look just like constellations in the night sky.
It’s also fun to be in the rainforest at night which has a totally different feeling to during the day. The sounds are different and you will likely see different wildlife, as well as the glow worms, we saw giant snails (as big as your fist) and possums.
Everything you need to know about exactly how to have this special experience is in this post.
13. Try the local brew at the Bellingen Brewery
Bellingen brewery is deservedly popular. The interior has a fantastic eclectic vibe that suits the town perfectly. Constructed from local timber and salvaged materials, it’s full of hanging plants, cool artwork and atmospheric lighting.
The beer is great, as you'd expect, and even non beer drinkers will probably love the alcoholic ginger beer - which was delicious. They don't have a big food menu, in fact it's just pizza, but I quite like it when places pick one thing and do it really well.
It's cooked in the wood fire oven right in front of you and there's a variety of toppings. The only thing not to like about the brewery is how hard it is to get in to! It's only open Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights and I'd recommend making a booking.
14. Check out the local community market
The community market also comes really highly recommended by locals but it is only on once a month so you have to time it right to visit. The community markets are on the 3rd Saturday of every month and sell a mix of food and local crafts - think soap, essential oil, candles, jewellery and clothes.
Despite being in the area a couple of weeks it didn’t match up for us, but we think it would be a good one as Bellingen is such a creative place.
15. Drive the spectacular Waterfall Way
Bellingen is located on the Waterfall Way and the best way to head to start a full day of exploring would be west towards Armidale.
The first falls you’ll come to is Newell on the windy road before you reach Dorrigo. Look out for the pullout (with picnic benches) to your right so you can stop and take a photo.
Newells Falls on the road to Dorrigo
Just past Newell you’ll see Sherrard Falls, there’s nowhere to stop here so you just have to admire it from the car.
We won’t mention Dorrigo much as we’ve already talked about it in this post, except to say it’s well worth stopping at Dangar Falls, 2km from town. It’s gorgeous and has a fabulous deep swimming pool at the base.
Dangar Falls
After Dorrigo you’ll then come to the famous Ebor Falls (40 minutes away) whose upper and lower falls are well worth a visit.
Top of Ebor Falls
Bottom of Ebor Falls
Roughly 25 minutes beyond Ebor you’ll find the incredible Wollomombi Falls which cascades into a dramatic gorge, we detail which lookouts are worth the walk in this guide. Just 15km further is Bakers Creek Falls, you view it from a bit of a distance but the setting is outstanding.
Whilst the Waterfall Way technically continues all the way to Armidale, if your primary interest is in waterfalls, there’s no need to go beyond Bakers Creek. Although there are more amazing falls like Dangars and Apsley beyond Armidale, it would be too far on a day trip from Bellingen.
16. Catch a sunset from the summit of Cathedral Rock
Also located along the Waterfall Way and roughly a 1 hour 20 minute drive from Bellingen, you’ll find Cathedral Rock National Park. It’s a bit of a drive but it’s definitely worth it if you love hiking or watching the sunset, or preferably both!
The track takes you through a boulder strewn forest before you arrive at the summit junction.
From there it’s a bit of an obstacle course as you make your way over, under and in-between huge boulder piles. The final stretch is a steep few steps up to the summit, with a chain to help you with the gradient.
The view from the top is just fantastic, particularly at sunset (or sunrise). There is dense forest, mountains and huge rocky outcrops as far as the eye can see.
It’s a fantastic hike, although I didn’t find the final part of the walk easy which I’ve explained in detail in this post.
Getting to Bellingen
Bellingen is located along the Waterfall Way, 520km from Sydney and around a 5 hour 15 minute drive. It’s roughly 30 minutes from both Coffs Harbour and Dorrigo.
If you’re headed to Coffs next, we have a whole guide on the best things to do there.
This post may contain affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, that we will earn a small commission if you click through and decide to make a purchase. This helps towards the costs of running our website. Thanks for your support!
