4.9 / 5 rating612 verified food guests
NRF PartnerNorthern Rivers Food member
Small groupsMax 10 guests
Tastings includedDistillery + brewery
Real producersDirect from the source
The Region

A region defined by its makers

The Northern Rivers is one of Australia's most distinctive food regions — subtropical microclimate, regenerative farms, B-Corp distilleries and chefs who genuinely cook within walking distance of the soil. We take you to the people behind it.

From paddock to plate to glass

From Bangalow's heritage village to The Farm at Ewingsdale, from Cape Byron Distillery's rainforest cellar door to Stone & Wood's brewery floor — the Byron hinterland packs an extraordinary density of independent producers into a few kilometres of green rolling country.

Our Food & Farm Trail tours are designed in partnership with Northern Rivers Food (NRF), the regional food network connecting paddock to plate. We rotate through a carefully chosen line-up of 7+ producer venues on any given day, with tastings, paddock walks, and time at one of the heritage villages.

What's on the trail

  • Three Blue Ducks @ The Farm
  • Brookie's Gin (Cape Byron)
  • Husk Distillery (Tumbulgum)
  • Stone & Wood Brewery
  • Brookfarm macadamias
  • Bangalow village
  • Newrybar & Harvest
  • Byron Farmers Market (Thu)
Northern Rivers macadamia and rainforest landscape
The Makers

Real producers, real stories

Eight Northern Rivers icons we visit on rotation. Line-up varies by day, opening hours and season — your final itinerary is confirmed at booking.

The Farm · Ewingsdale Three Blue Ducks at The Farm Byron Bay
📍 11 Ewingsdale Road ⏱ 7am – 3pm daily 🌱 Working farm

The Farm at Ewingsdale

"Grow, feed, educate, share" — a 86-acre working farm and one of Byron's most loved producer destinations.

Three Blue Ducks at The Farm is the on-site restaurant — open for breakfast and lunch seven days a week, plus weekend dinners. The kitchen sources almost everything from the farm itself or from local producers within the surrounding hinterland. Menus are seasonal, ingredients are spray-free, and the view across the paddocks to the hinterland is honestly worth the trip alone.

On site you'll also find the Produce Store (deli, farm-fresh fruit and veg, small goods from Salumi, Byron Bay Cheese Co. and Peace Love & Vegetables), Baylato gelato in the converted Dairy Bails (their farm burnt-honey flavour has won multiple awards), and the original Bread Social bakery.

  • Three Blue Ducks restaurant
  • Produce Store & deli
  • Baylato gelato
  • Animal feeding @ 10am
  • Bread Social bakery
  • Guided farm tours Fri–Sun
Cape Byron Distillery Cape Byron Distillery rainforest bar Brookie's Gin
📍 80 St Helena Rd, McLeods Shoot ⏱ Thu–Sun · 10:45am – 6pm 🌿 B-Corp Certified

Cape Byron Distillery — Home of Brookie's Gin

A B-Corp distillery tucked inside the Brook family's 96-acre macadamia farm and regenerated rainforest, 15 minutes from Byron.

This is a true collaboration story: Eddie Brook, a Byron local and son of the family that planted 35,000 subtropical rainforest trees here over the past 30 years, partnered with Jim McEwan — the legendary Scottish Master Distiller formerly of Bruichladdich and Bowmore. The result is Brookie's Gin, distilled with 25 botanicals of which 17 are sourced locally, many from the surrounding rainforest itself: Native Ginger, Cinnamon Myrtle, Aniseed Myrtle, Lemon Myrtle, Banksia and Macadamia.

The Rainforest Tour & Gin Tasting (1h 45min, $43 per drinker / $20 for non-drinkers and under-18s) starts on the deck overlooking the macadamia plantation and finishes with a guided tasting in the cellar door. The whisky side — "The Original" Australian Single Malt — is rapidly gaining global acclaim.

  • Rainforest tour & tasting
  • 25 botanicals · 17 local
  • Single Malt Whisky
  • 96-acre macadamia farm
  • B-Corp certified
  • Advance booking essential
Husk Farm Distillery Husk Farm Distillery sugar cane field Tumbulgum
📍 1152 Dulguigan Rd, North Tumbulgum ⏱ Wed–Sun · from 11am 🌾 Paddock-to-bottle

Husk Farm Distillery

Australia's first paddock-to-bottle Agricole rum producer — and the home of Ink Gin (yes, the one Margot Robbie famously Instagrammed the day before her Byron wedding).

30 minutes north of Byron in the lush Tweed Valley, Husk grows 4 hectares of sugar cane on the farm and crushes around 450 tonnes annually, yielding roughly 320,000 litres of cane juice. They're the only paddock-to-bottle rum distillery in Australia — every drop of their Husk Agricole Rum traces back to cane grown within sight of the still.

The cellar door experience is genuinely lovely. Walk the paddocks, watch the distilling process, then settle into the indoor bar or onto the picnic blankets outside for cocktails — the Husk Rum Mojito and Ink Gin Negroni are the regulars-pick. Table bookings recommended on weekends and during holidays.

  • Ink Gin (the famous one)
  • Husk Agricole Rum
  • Paddock-to-bottle
  • 4 ha sugar cane on site
  • Walk-through tours
  • Lunch & cocktails available
Stone & Wood Stone and Wood Brewery Byron Bay tap room
📍 Byron Bay & Murwillumbah ⏱ Daily tap room 🍺 100% independent

Stone & Wood Brewery

Born and raised in Byron Bay in 2008. The independent craft brewery that put Northern Rivers beer on the global map.

Their Pacific Ale was voted Australia's #1 craft beer at the 2020 GABS festival from 2,500 nominated beers — and it's still arguably the single most-loved bottle in the Northern Rivers. The original Byron Bay brewery remains the heart of the operation, while a larger production site at Murwillumbah handles volume.

What makes Stone & Wood worth a tour stop isn't just the beer — it's the closed-loop sustainability. Spent brewers' grain goes to Northern Rivers cattle farmers. Organic brewing waste is composted locally. Bottles are 50% recycled content. A genuine village-brewery model that's grown to national scale without losing the local thread.

  • Pacific Ale tastings
  • Seasonal release flights
  • Tap room experience
  • Closed-loop sustainability
  • 100% independent
  • Born in Byron 2008
Brookfarm · McLeods Shoot Brookfarm macadamia orchard Northern Rivers
📍 McLeods Shoot · Byron hinterland ⏱ Farm visits by arrangement 🌰 96 acres regenerative

Brookfarm

Australia's leading premium macadamia producer — the same Brook family farm that's home to Cape Byron Distillery.

Over the past 35+ years the Brooks have regenerated 35,000 subtropical rainforest trees alongside their working macadamia orchard, transforming what was cleared dairy country into a model of regenerative agriculture and biodiversity. They produce gourmet muesli, granola, premium roasted nuts and snacks — sold internationally and stocked in every good Northern Rivers café.

Brookfarm visits are typically combined with Cape Byron Distillery (they share the same farm) and offer a fascinating look at the regenerative model: the rainforest that supplies the gin's botanicals also shelters the macadamia orchard from wind and pest.

  • Premium macadamia products
  • Regenerative orchard tour
  • 35,000 rainforest trees
  • Combined with distillery
  • Premium muesli & snacks
  • Tasting samples to take
Bangalow Village Bangalow heritage village main street
📍 12 minutes south of Byron ⏱ Cafes from 7am 🏘 Heritage main street

Bangalow & Bangalow Sweet Pork

A preserved heritage village with arguably the best concentration of independent cafés, restaurants and producers in the Northern Rivers.

Bangalow is the food village. Common People Brewing Co. handles the craft beer side. 100 Mile Table (named for its strict 100-mile sourcing radius) is one of the region's most-loved cafes and produce stores. The famous Bangalow Sweet Pork — proudly heritage-breed and free-range — is on the menu of half the restaurants in Byron. We also visit Tintenbar Distillery's bottles (no cellar door but their gin is exceptional) and the Bangalow Farmers Market when it's running.

This stop is your lunch break on most tours — three hours of village exploring, paddock-aware eating, and shopping the heritage main street.

  • 100 Mile Table cafe
  • Common People Brewing
  • Bangalow Sweet Pork
  • Heritage main street
  • Bangalow Farmers Market (Sat)
  • Boutique food shopping
Newrybar · Harvest Harvest restaurant Newrybar forest dining
📍 18-22 Old Pacific Hwy, Newrybar ⏱ Lunch Wed–Sun 🍽 Hatted dining

Harvest at Newrybar

Forest dining and a long history — Harvest is one of the Northern Rivers' most celebrated paddock-to-plate restaurants.

Set in the tiny hamlet of Newrybar, Harvest combines a heritage cottage restaurant with its own deli, bakery and produce store. The kitchen sources from the surrounding farms (much of it visible from the dining tables) and the menu changes constantly with what's in the ground. It's quietly become a destination dining experience for Sydney and Brisbane visitors making the trip north.

For our Premium Long Lunch tour this is the centrepiece — a long, lazy lunch with hinterland views, paired with Northern Rivers wines and spirits from the producers we've visited that morning.

  • Hatted dining experience
  • On-site bakery & deli
  • Heritage cottage setting
  • Long-lunch format
  • Northern Rivers wine list
  • Premium tour feature
Byron Bay Farmers Market Byron Bay Farmers Market Thursday morning produce
📍 Cavanbah Centre, Ewingsdale Rd ⏱ Thursdays · 8am – 11am 🥬 Farm-fresh weekly

Byron Bay Farmers Market

The Thursday-morning institution where the region's farmers, bakers and small producers gather under one roof.

Every Thursday from 8am to 11am, the Cavanbah Centre on Ewingsdale Road hosts one of the most loved farmers markets on the Australian east coast. Farm-fresh fruit and veg straight from Northern Rivers growers, bread from Bread Social, raw honey from local apiaries, Brookfarm macadamia products, Australia's Manuka honey, kombucha from The Bucha of Byron, and a constellation of small-batch producers you'll find nowhere else.

If your tour falls on a Thursday, the market stop is the morning highlight — bring an empty bag, sample widely, and chat directly with the growers.

  • Every Thursday 8–11am
  • Cavanbah Centre Ewingsdale
  • 30+ stallholders
  • Direct from growers
  • Coffee & breakfast on site
  • Bread Social, Brookfarm & more
Choose Your Day

Three food trail tours

From a focused day on the trail to a premium long lunch with a hatted chef, to a fully private experience with overnights in the hinterland.

Byron Bay food trail standard tour Standard

Food & Farm Trail Day

⏱ Full-day · 9hr👥 Max 10🥂 Tastings inc.

The flagship trail. Five producer venues with tastings and platters throughout, plus a free 90-minute lunch break in Bangalow village. Gold Coast pickup.

  • 5 producer stops
  • Distillery + brewery tastings
  • Morning tea included
  • Bangalow village lunch break
  • Hotel pickup Gold Coast
From$185
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Premium long lunch at Harvest Newrybar Long Lunch

Premium Long Lunch Trail

⏱ Full-day · 9hr👥 Max 8🍽 Lunch inc.

The food trail with a centrepiece. Morning producer visits including Cape Byron Distillery, then a three-course hatted long lunch at Harvest Newrybar with paired Northern Rivers wines.

  • Three-course lunch at Harvest
  • Cape Byron Distillery tour
  • Brookfarm macadamia visit
  • Paired Northern Rivers wines
  • Brisbane or Gold Coast pickup
From$345
Book →
Private luxury food and farm tour Private

Private Producer Day

⏱ Full or 2-day👥 Up to 4🚗 Mercedes

Your own Mercedes V-Class and a fully bespoke producer itinerary. Add Husk Distillery, a chef-led farm tour at The Farm, or extend to a two-day hinterland immersion with overnight accommodation.

  • Private Mercedes V-Class
  • Fully customised itinerary
  • Behind-the-scenes producer access
  • Hatted lunch reservation
  • Two-day option available
From$795
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A Sample Day

What your Food & Farm Trail day looks like

Indicative Thursday timeline for the standard small-group tour, departing the Gold Coast.

9 hours
Hotel-to-hotel
Gold Coast pickup
Surfers Paradise + OOL
Small group
Maximum 10 guests
Tastings inc.
Lunch own cost
1
8:00am · Gold Coast

Hotel pickup

Early-ish pickup from Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach and Gold Coast Airport — we want to hit the Byron Farmers Market while it's still in full swing.

2
9:15am · Cavanbah Centre

Byron Bay Farmers Market

An hour at the Thursday market. Coffee from a local roaster, breakfast roll, and direct chats with the farmers. Bring an empty bag if you want to take produce home.

3
10:30am · Ewingsdale

The Farm — Three Blue Ducks & Produce Store

Tour the working farm, visit the Three Blue Ducks kitchen garden, taste your way through the Produce Store, and pick up a Baylato burnt-honey gelato for the road.

4
12:00pm · McLeods Shoot

Cape Byron Distillery — Brookie's Gin

The 1h 45min Rainforest Tour and Gin Tasting. Walk the macadamia farm, sample the 25-botanical Brookie's range and the new single malt whisky on the rainforest deck.

5
2:30pm · Bangalow

Heritage village & long lunch

90 minutes of free time in Bangalow. Lunch at 100 Mile Table, browse the boutiques, sample Bangalow Sweet Pork, or stop into Common People Brewing for a pint.

6
4:00pm · Byron Bay

Stone & Wood Brewery

Final stop at Stone & Wood's tap room for a Pacific Ale flight, brewery tour and the story of how a village brewery grew to national prominence without losing its local roots.

7
5:00pm · Return

Drive back to Gold Coast

Scenic coastal drive home. Back at your hotel for dinner by 6:00pm — though after the day you've had, you'll probably skip it.

Real Guest Stories

What food guests say after the trail

"We'd been to Byron three times before and never knew about half these producers. The Cape Byron Distillery rainforest walk and tasting was the highlight — Eddie's story of the family farm is incredible. Brought home four bottles."

Anna & Pete D.Sydney · Food & Farm Trail Day

"The lunch at Harvest was something else. Three courses, paired wines, hinterland views, and our guide knew the producer behind every ingredient on the plate. Worth every cent of the premium tour."

Mei & Jonathan T.Singapore · Premium Long Lunch

"We did the private two-day option as our 25th anniversary trip. Mercedes from Brisbane, overnight in the hinterland, a chef-led farm tour. Absolutely unforgettable — and the kombucha tasting at The Bucha of Byron was a surprise highlight."

Helen & Mark L.Melbourne · Private 2-day
Common Questions

Food & farm tour FAQs

The questions we hear most often before guests book.

Our flagship trail visits a curated rotation drawn from: The Farm at Ewingsdale (Three Blue Ducks, Produce Store, Baylato gelato), Cape Byron Distillery at McLeods Shoot (home of Brookie's Gin, on Brookfarm's 96-acre macadamia plantation), Husk Farm Distillery at North Tumbulgum (Ink Gin, Husk Rum), Stone & Wood Brewery, Brookfarm macadamia produce, and the heritage villages of Bangalow and Newrybar (Harvest). Producer line-up varies by day, season and small-business opening hours — confirmed on booking.
Yes — distillery and brewery tours and tastings are included in the standard food and farm trail. Non-drinkers, designated drivers and under-18s are very welcome on all tours and pay a reduced rate where venues offer it (Cape Byron Distillery for example charges $20 for non-drinking attendees vs $43 for the full tasting tour). Always advise dietary requirements and non-drinker numbers at booking.
Premium and private tours include a sit-down lunch at one of the producer venues — typically Three Blue Ducks at The Farm, Harvest at Newrybar, or 100 Mile Table. The standard small-group tour includes tastings and platters throughout the day but lunch is at your own cost so you can choose what you fancy. We'll always confirm what's included on your final itinerary.
The Byron Bay Farmers Market runs every Thursday morning, 8am to 11am, at the Cavanbah Centre on Ewingsdale Road. It's one of the most loved markets in the region, with farm-fresh produce, fresh bread, honey, olives, and ready-to-eat breakfasts from local producers. Our Thursday tours include a market stop — it's worth timing your visit around it if you can.
Yes, comfortably. The Northern Rivers food scene is exceptionally accommodating — most of our partner producers offer plant-based, gluten-free and other dietary options as standard. Three Blue Ducks, The Farm, Harvest and 100 Mile Table all have strong vegetarian and vegan menus. Please advise any dietary requirements or allergies at booking so we can confirm with the venues in advance.
We recommend booking at least 7 days in advance, and ideally 2–3 weeks for premium tours and weekend dates. Several of our partner producers — particularly Cape Byron Distillery and Three Blue Ducks at peak meal times — require pre-bookings of their own that we coordinate on your behalf. Last-minute bookings (under 48 hours) are sometimes possible but can't be guaranteed.
Brookie's Gin is the signature spirit of Cape Byron Distillery in the hinterland behind Byron Bay. It's distilled from 25 botanicals, 17 of which are sourced locally — many directly from the Brook family's 96-acre macadamia farm and regenerated subtropical rainforest. Native ingredients include Native Ginger, Cinnamon Myrtle, Aniseed Myrtle, Lemon Myrtle, Banksia and Macadamia. The distillery is a collaboration between Byron local Eddie Brook and renowned Scottish Master Distiller Jim McEwan, formerly of Bruichladdich and Bowmore.
Our standard small-group Food & Farm Trail is a full-day tour, around 9 hours hotel-to-hotel from the Gold Coast (longer from Brisbane). We visit 4–5 producer venues with tastings and platters at each, plus time at one of the heritage villages and the Byron Bay Farmers Market on Thursdays. Private tours can be customised from half-day producer-hops to two-day immersions with overnight stays in the hinterland.

Ready to eat your way through the Northern Rivers?

Choose the standard trail day, the premium long lunch at Harvest, or a fully private producer experience — we'll match you to the right tour and handle every booking with the producers.

0409 661 342 7 days · 8am – 8pm AEST
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