Things To Do on the Tweed Coast

Duranbah Beach (D'Bah)

Known affectionately as "D'Bah" by locals, this is the most northerly beach in New South Wales and a surfer's paradise. The beach offers consistently excellent swells year-round, attracting surfers from around the world. The laid-back atmosphere, combined with stunning sunrise views, makes it popular with families, backpackers, and surf enthusiasts alike.

• Best For: Surfing, sunrise watching, dog-friendly beach walks
• Facilities: Parking, showers, toilets, nearby cafes
• Special Features: Dog-friendly beach, excellent surf breaks, beautiful at sunrise

Kingscliff Beach

The jewel in the Tweed Coast crown, Kingscliff Beach features pristine white sand, patrolled swimming areas, and a vibrant beachfront village atmosphere. The beach is backed by excellent cafes, restaurants, and boutique shops, making it perfect for a full day of beach and dining. The iconic Marine Parade offers beachfront dining with ocean views, while the rock pool at the southern end provides safe swimming for children.

• Best For: Swimming, families, beachfront dining, shopping
• Facilities: Lifeguard patrol, rock pool, cafes, parking, showers, BBQ areas
• Nearby: Marine Parade shopping and dining precinct

Cabarita Beach

A peaceful, family-friendly beach with calm waters perfect for swimming and paddleboarding. Cabarita offers a more relaxed vibe than its busier neighbors, with beautiful coastal walking trails and excellent cafes. The beach stretches for 3 kilometers of golden sand, with the southern end offering rock pools to explore at low tide.

• Best For: Families, swimming, paddleboarding, coastal walks
• Facilities: Surf lifesaving patrol, cafes, parking, beach showers
• Highlight: Coastal walking trail with stunning ocean views

Fingal Head Beach

This hidden gem sits on a narrow peninsula between the Tweed River and the Pacific Ocean. Fingal Head offers two distinct beach experiences: the ocean beach with rolling waves perfect for surfing, and the river beach with calm waters ideal for families with young children. The historic Fingal Lighthouse, built in 1878, provides a stunning backdrop and is a short walk from the beach.

• Best For: Surfing, snorkeling, fishing, photography
• Facilities: Basic facilities, parking, boat ramp
• Special Features: Historic lighthouse, dual beach options (ocean and river), excellent snorkeling around the headland

Whale Watching (May-November)

Between May and November, majestic humpback whales migrate along the Tweed Coast, traveling approximately 5,000 kilometers between Antarctica and the warmer waters of the Great Barrier Reef. This represents one of the longest migrations of any mammal on Earth. The Tweed Coast offers exceptional whale watching opportunities both from land and sea.

For the ultimate experience, Cooly Eco Adventures offers unique swimming-with-whales experiences, allowing participants to enter the water and observe these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat—an incredibly rare and intimate wildlife encounter offered by few companies worldwide.

Land-based viewing is excellent from Point Danger Lookout, which sits on the NSW-Queensland border and provides panoramic ocean views perfect for spotting whale spouts and breaches.

• Season: May to November (peak season July-September)
• Best Spots: Point Danger, Fingal Head, coastal cruises
• What to See: Breaching, tail slapping, spy hopping

Swimming with Sea Turtles

The Tweed Coast's clear waters provide habitat for several species of sea turtles, including green turtles and loggerhead turtles. Half-day snorkeling tours take participants to the best locations for turtle encounters, with experienced guides ensuring respectful wildlife interactions that don't disturb these ancient mariners.

• Duration: Half-day tours (approximately 3-4 hours)
• Best Time: Year-round, with warmer months offering best visibility
• Suitable For: Confident swimmers aged 8+

Tweed River Cruises

The Tweed River meanders through subtropical rainforest, mangroves, and sugarcane fields, creating a scenic waterway perfect for exploration. Tweed Eco Cruises offers leisurely journeys showcasing the river's natural beauty, with sunset cruises providing particularly stunning photography opportunities.

For a more hands-on experience, "Catch a Crab" tours teach participants traditional crabbing techniques for catching mud, sand, and spanner crabs. Your haul is prepared aboard the vessel, followed by visits to local oyster farms where you can enjoy freshly shucked oysters straight from the water.

Alternatively, hire a houseboat from Berger Houseboat Holidays and captain your own floating accommodation. No boat license required—explore at your own pace, stopping to fish, swim, or kayak whenever inspiration strikes.

• Options: Eco cruises, fishing charters, dinner cruises, houseboat rentals
• Wildlife: Dolphins, sea eagles, ospreys, water dragons
• Duration: 2-hour cruises to multi-day houseboat adventures

Surfing & Surf Schools

The Tweed Coast's consistent swells and variety of breaks make it ideal for surfers of all levels. Duranbah Beach offers powerful waves for experienced surfers, while Cabarita and Kingscliff provide gentler conditions perfect for beginners. Several surf schools operate along the coast, offering lessons and board rentals.

• Best Spots: Duranbah (advanced), Kingscliff (intermediate), Cabarita (beginners)
• Surf Schools: Available at most major beaches
• Season: Year-round, with best swells March-May and September-November

Wollumbin National Park (Mount Warning)

Rising 1,157 meters above sea level, Wollumbin (formerly known as Mount Warning) is the remnant central vent of an ancient shield volcano that last erupted 23 million years ago. The massive erosion caldera stretches across the entire Tweed Valley, creating the region's distinctive landscape.

Important Note: The summit track is currently closed out of respect for the cultural significance of Wollumbin to the Bundjalung people, for whom the mountain is a sacred ceremonial site. The closure is being managed in consultation with Aboriginal custodians through the Wollumbin Consultative Group. Visitors are asked to respect these wishes.

While the summit is closed, Wollumbin National Park remains open and offers beautiful rainforest experiences:

• Lyrebird Track: Short walk through World Heritage-listed rainforest to a scenic lookout
• Breakfast Creek picnic area: Lovely spot for family picnics surrounded by subtropical rainforest
• Viewing the Mountain: Stunning views available from Border Ranges National Park, Nightcap National Park, and Cape Byron Lighthouse

Border Ranges National Park

Part of the Gondwana Rainforests World Heritage Area, Border Ranges offers spectacular mountain scenery, ancient rainforests, and breathtaking lookouts. The scenic rim drive provides access to numerous viewpoints showcasing the Tweed Valley and distant coastal views.

• Highlights: Antarctic Beech trees (remnants from Gondwana), Bar Mountain lookout, diverse wildlife
• Activities: Bushwalking, birdwatching, photography, picnicking
• Wildlife: Lyrebirds, pademelons, Australian brush turkeys

Minjungbal Aboriginal Cultural Centre

Gain insight into the rich Indigenous heritage of the Tweed region at this important cultural center. The museum features artifacts, interpretive displays, and educational programs about Bundjalung culture. The "Walk on Water" boardwalk trail meanders through wetlands and native forest, with interpretive signs explaining traditional bush tucker uses and Indigenous land management practices.

Visitors can access a traditionally significant ceremonial site—a sacred bora ring where important cultural ceremonies were historically conducted. This rare opportunity to visit such a sacred site is granted with the permission and guidance of local Aboriginal custodians.

• Location: Tweed Heads Historical Site, Kirkwood Road
• Opening Hours: Monday to Thursday, 10am-3pm (walking trails always open)
• Important: Bring insect repellent for the boardwalk trails

Cudgen Nature Reserve

This coastal nature reserve protects important littoral rainforest, wetlands, and beach environments. Walking trails wind through diverse ecosystems, offering excellent birdwatching opportunities and peaceful natural scenery.

• Activities: Bushwalking, birdwatching, beach access
• Distance: Various trail options from 1-4 kilometers
• Best For: Nature lovers, photographers, families

Husk Distillers

This award-winning distillery has become a must-visit Tweed destination, producing world-class spirits from locally grown ingredients. Sunday afternoons see the venue transform into a vibrant social hub where locals and visitors sip cocktails, enjoy gourmet picnics, and relax on the expansive games lawn. The scene feels almost magical—like discovering your own personal paradise complete with exceptional drinks, beautiful surroundings, and a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere.

• Specialties: Australian rum, gin, and liqueurs
• Activities: Distillery tours, tastings, cocktail gardens
• Best Time: Sunday afternoons for the full social experience

Beachfront Dining

The Tweed Coast's food scene rivals that of much larger tourist destinations, with an emphasis on fresh local produce and seafood. Taverna in Kingscliff serves Greek-inspired coastal cuisine in a charming cottage adorned with bougainvillea, offering beachfront dining at its finest. Their Sunday "sustainable banquet" showcases the region's best seasonal ingredients.

Other notable dining experiences include beachside cafes serving excellent coffee and brunch, fish and chips shops with ocean views, and upscale restaurants featuring locally caught seafood and Tweed Valley produce.

Blue Ginger Picnics

Experience the Tweed Coast's natural beauty with award-winning luxury picnics delivered to spectacular locations. Choose from couples' romantic packages or larger group settings, with gourmet hampers featuring local produce, wine, and all the trimmings. Perfect for proposals, anniversaries, or simply making special memories.

• Locations: Beach settings, riverside spots, hinterland locations
• Packages: Romantic couples to large groups
• Inclusions: Gourmet food, champagne/wine, setup and pack-down

Farmers Markets & Local Produce

The Tweed's fertile volcanic soil produces exceptional tropical fruits, vegetables, and artisan products. The Murwillumbah Farmers' Market runs every Wednesday, connecting visitors directly with local growers and producers. Browse fresh produce, handmade goods, and prepared foods while meeting the people who grow and create them.

One-Day Tweed Coast Experience

• Morning: Sunrise at Duranbah Beach, breakfast at a Kingscliff beachfront cafe
• Mid-Morning: Coastal walk from Cabarita to Norries Headland
• Lunch: Fresh seafood at Salt Village Kingscliff
• Afternoon: Visit Point Danger Lighthouse, explore Fingal Head
• Evening: Sunset cruise on the Tweed River, dinner in Kingscliff

Three-Day Nature & Adventure

Day 1: Marine focus—whale watching or swimming with turtles, beach time at Kingscliff, sunset at Point Danger

Day 2: Hinterland exploration—visit Minjungbal Aboriginal Cultural Centre, drive Border Ranges scenic rim, rainforest walks

Day 3: River adventures—morning Tweed River cruise or kayaking, afternoon at Husk Distillers, evening beachfront dining

Weekend Romantic Getaway

• Luxury Blue Ginger picnic at secluded beach location
• Couples spa treatments at beachfront resort
• Sunset dinner cruise on the Tweed River
• Morning beach walk followed by brunch
• Afternoon wine tasting or distillery visit
• Fine dining at award-winning coastal restaurant