4 Best Sights in Bellingen, North Coast

From Bellingen a meandering and spectacular road leads inland to Dorrigo and then travels back east, eventually reaching the Pacific Highway close to Coffs Harbour. This circular scenic route, beginning along the Bellinger River, climbs more than 1,000 feet up the heavily wooded escarpment to the Dorrigo Plateau. At the top of the plateau is Dorrigo National Park, a small but outstanding subtropical rain forest that is included on the World Heritage list. Signposts along the main road indicate walking trails. The Satinbird Stroll is a short rain forest walk, and the 6-km (4-mile) Cedar Falls Walk leads to the most spectacular of the park's many waterfalls, but the most dramatic of all is the free Skywalk lookout, a 230-foot boardwalk above the canopy that has panoramic views out to the coast. The national park is approximately 31 km (19 miles) from Bellingen.

The excellent Dorrigo Rainforest Centre, open daily 9--4:30, has a good display on the natural heritage of the park and a small café that serves good coffee. From here you can walk out high over the forest canopy along the Skywalk boardwalk.

If you have an hour to spare (and a set of wheels), cross the river at Bellingen and take an 18-km (11-mile) excursion on the Bellingen–Gleniffer Road to the village of Gleniffer. This tranquil, rambling journey leads through farmlands and wooded valleys and across the evocatively named Never Never River to—believe it or not—the Promised Land, a peaceful, pastoral region with spots for picnics and swimming. Author Peter Carey once lived in this vicinity, and the river and its surroundings provided the backdrop for his novel Oscar and Lucinda.

If you want to stay overnight in the area, the three chalets at the 100-acre Promised Land Retreat are lovely self-contained sanctuaries.