Previous Story
Going green in New South Wales
Posted On 15 May 2014
THE northern part of New South Wales, often called the “Rainbow region”, is renowned for its colourful resident populations that have embraced an organic, environmental and alternative existence in some of the most beautiful country in Australia. Here you’ll find yoga retreats, markets featuring locally grown produce, a blossoming arts scene and a tendency to do things differently. And it’s all surrounded by wonderful coastline, beautiful hinterland towns and soaring mountain ranges. Here are some of the highlights of the region.
Beautiful coastline in northern New South Wales. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com
Byron Bay
The beachside town of Byron Bay has become a backpacker mecca in recent years with numerous hostels dotting its beautiful coastal stretches. Its warm summers and mild winters make it a superb place to holiday all year round and the prevailing laid-back and languid atmosphere is very appealing to all that know and frequent Byron.
The Byron scenery is one of its biggest draws. The town has a number of beaches that are good for surfing, scuba diving and snorkelling. There’s also a walkway that leads out of town to the Cape Byron lighthouse, dating back to 1901 and located on Australia’s most easterly point on the mainland. From this scenic location whales can be seen passing between April and September.
Apart from hitting the sands or hanging out in any number of local cafes, there are good regional markets to frequent between Byron and other centres like Nimbin and The Channon each weekend. There’s also a Thursday farmers market at the Butler Street Reserve and a craft market here on the first Sunday of each month. Byron is also an incredible festival destination with the annual Easter Blues and Roots Festival, one of Australia’s biggest and best. There’s also the Byron Bay Writers Festival and the Byron Bay Film Festival.
Byron Bay lighthouse. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com
NimbinSeventy kilometres west of Byron Bay, Nimbin is actually the counterculture centre of this region, and indeed most of Australia. It’s been described as anything from a “social experiment” to the “drug capital of Australia”. Whatever your take or experience of the town, it is thanks to the 1973 Aquarius Festival, in which hippies converged on the town and stayed, that the hippy, happy and alternative vibe was established both here and in many other centres such as Bangalow, Murwillumbah and The Channon. Today the area is known as the “Rainbow Region” and continues to attract environmentalists, actors, musicians, permaculture followers, writers and those seeking an escape from the city and other mainstream life.
Apart from the seemingly open buying and selling of cannabis, there are a number of places to enjoy the collective creativity of residents. The Nimbin Museum is perhaps the best example of this with collages, photos, newspaper clippings, an old Volkswagen van and other memorabilia showcasing the life and depth of Nimbin and its community. There are also great monthly markets. The annual MardiGras festival on the first weekend of May is also a chance to experience the colourful and spiritually motivated side of the town with various food, entertainment and frivolity all centered on rallying for an end to the prohibition of cannabis in Australia.
The Nimbin Museum. Pic: nimbinmuseum.com
Mt Warning
Mt Warning is the highest point in this region and its summit is the first part of the mainland to see the sunrise, thanks to its easterly location. The 8km track to the summit is an excellent walk to the top of an ancient caldera. The route takes about five hours return and winds up through rainforest before entering drier shrubland and a rock scramble is encountered to the summit. From here, 360 degree views abound from The Gold Coast right down to Byron Bay. There are plenty of other tracks in the National Park that encompass the mountain should this one prove to be too demanding. Whichever you undertake, make sure you take water and food with you.
Camping is possible in the Mt Warning National Park. Other nearby parks worth checking out include Nightcap National Park with its Big Scrub rainforest and the Border Ranges National Park on the New South Wales and Queensland border.
Mt Warning’s distinctive shape. Pic: Joanne Lane, www.visitedplanet.com
Murwillumbah
Located just 13km south of the Queensland border, Murwillumbah is another of the New South Wales hinterland’s colourful towns. Meaning “camping place” in the local Aboriginal language, it is dominated by views of Mount Warning located nearby. Like its neighbours Murwillumbah has a funky local scene with Art Deco buildings, cafes, galleries and antique stores. Apart from this artsy local scene there are also a series of festivals that attract visitors such as the Tweed Banana Festival and the Speed on Tweed motor racing festival.
Agoda
ETERNITY Springs Art Farm is located in the rainbow region of New South Wales, west of Byron Bay, and is a wonderful place to experience the vibrant natural beauty of the area. Here farming, ecological practices and sustainability are all par for the course and Eternity Springs Art Farm very much embodies this philosophy. It…>
IF you’re seeking a unique blend of local artisans, home baked or grown goods, environmental solutions, antiques, crafts, clothing and other eclectic goods then the markets in New South Wales are a fantastic choice for experiencing all the best the region has to offer.
Villa Kiara Boutique Hotel
Urban Boutique Hotel
Siem Reap, , Cambodia
Deal USD $ 125 per night
Barefoot Sakau Lodge
River Guesthouse
Sandakan, Sabah, Malaysia
Deal USD $ 75 per night
The Peninsula
Urban, Luxury
Bangkok, , Thailand
Deal USD $ 185 per night
Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit
Urban Luxury Hotel
Bangkok, , Thailand
Deal USD $ 125 per night
Shangri La Bangkok
Urban Luxury
Bangkok, , Thailand
Deal USD $ 175 per night
The Heritage House & Gardens
Boutique Resort
Chiang Mai, , Thailand
Deal USD $ $115 per night
Dream Bangkok
Boutique Hotel
Bangkok, , Thailand
Deal USD $ 84 per night
Santhiya Koh Phangan Resort & Spa
Boutique Resorts
Koh Phangan, , Thailand
Deal USD $ 184 per night
Sala Samui
Boutique Resort
Koh Samui, , Thailand
Deal USD $ 225 per night
Panviman Resort
Boutique Resort
Bantai, Koh Phangan, Thailand
Deal USD $ 275 per night
The Racha
Luxury Resort
Racha Island, , Thailand
Deal USD $ 250 per night
Lebua At State Tower
Urban Luxury Hotel
Bangkok, Bangrak, Thailand
Deal USD $ 150 per night
The Sukhothai Bangkok
Boutique Hotel
Bangkok, , Thailand
Deal USD $ 190 per night
Anantara Bophut Koh Samui Resort & Spa
Luxury Resort
Koh Samui, , Thailand
Deal USD $ 125 per night
Zeavola Resort
Boutique Resort
Ao Nang, Koh Phi Phi , Thailand
Deal USD $ 210 per night
Rachamankha Hotel
Boutique Hotel
Changmai, , Thailand
Deal USD $ 150 per night
LUXX
Boutique Hotel
Bangkok, , Thailand
Deal USD $ 75 per night
The Nam Hai
Luxury Villa
Hoi An, Quang Nam Province, Vietnam
Deal USD $ 550 per night
Hotel Penaga
Boutique Hotel
Georgetown, , Malaysia
Deal 150 per night
Hibiscus Villa
Luxury Villa
Kudat, Sabah, Borneo
Deal USD $ 750 per night
Sepilok Jungle Resort
Nature Resort
Sandakan, Borneo, Malaysia
Deal USD $ 10 per night
Old Penang Guesthouse
Urban Boutique Guesthouse
Penang, Georgetown, Malaysia
Deal USD $ 10 per night
Marco Polo Hotel
Urban Luxury Hotel
Davao City, , Philippines
Deal USD $ 92 per night
Pearl Farm Resort
Luxury Beach Resort & Spa
Davao, Samal, Philippines
Deal USD $ 119 per night
Bohol Beach Club
Beach Adventure Resort
panglao, Bohol, Philippines
Deal USD $ 111 per night
Eastwood Richmonde Hotel
Urban Hotel
Metro Manila, , Philippines
Deal USD $ 94 per night
Casa Leticia Boutique Hotel
Urban, Boutique
Davao City, , Philippines
Deal USD $ 67 per night
Satrisna Home
Urban Guesthouse
Tanjung Bungah, Penang, Malaysia
Deal USD $ 125 per night
Manila Hotel
Urban Hotel
Manila, , Philippines
Deal USD $ 185 per night
Dusit Thani Manila
Urban Hotel
Manila, , Philippines
Deal USD $ 140 per night
Sipadan Kapalai Dive Resort
Beach Resort
Kapali, Sipadan Island, Malaysia
Deal USD $ 1000 per night
Sukau Rainforest Lodge
Eco River Retreat
Kinabatangan River, Borneo, Malaysia
Deal USD $ 400 per night
Casa Nicaros Hotel
Urban Budget Hotel
Manila, , Philippines
Deal USD $ 50 per night
The Poseidon House
Luxury Villa
Kudat, Sabah, Malaysia
Deal USD $ 363 per night
Abaca Boutique Resort
Spa & Wellness Resort
Lapu Lapu City , Mactan Island, Philippines
Deal USD $ 340 per night
Sangria Langkawi
Luxury Beach Villa
Pantai Tengah, Langkawi, Malaysia
Deal USD $ 530 per night
Eternity Springs Art Farm
Eco Wellness Retreat
Byron Bay, New South Wales, Australia
Deal USD $ 100 per night
Bali Dynasty Resort
Beach Resort
Kuta, Bali, Indonesia
Deal 132 per night
Club Bali Hawaii
Beach, Adventure
Anyer, Bali, Indonesia
Deal USD $ 90 per night
Desa Seni
Boutique Spa Resort
Canggu, Bali, Indonesia
Deal USD $ 125 per night
Alila Ubud
Boutique Retreat Resort
Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Deal USD $ 163 per night
Long Life Hotel
Urban Budget Hotel
Hoi An, , Vietnam
Deal USD $ 28 per night
Grace Hotel Beijing
Urban Boutique Hotel
Beijing, 798 Art District, China
Deal USD $ 135 per night
Life Heritage Resort Hoi An
Urban Retreat
Hoi An, , Vietnam
Deal 131 per night
Princess D’Annam Resort & Spa
Boutique Resort
Binh Thuan, , Vietnam
Deal USD $ 250 per night
Evason Ana Mandara Hideaway
Luxury Beach Resort
Nha Trang, , Vietnam
Deal USD $ 200 per night
Victoria Chau Doc Hotel
Boutique Hotel
Chau Doc , , Vietnam
Deal USD $ 125 per night
The Terraces
Boutique Hotel
Kanatal, Uttarkhand, India
Deal USD $ 240 per night
The Orchid
Urban Boutique Hotel
Beijing, Gulou, China
Deal USD $ 110 per night
The Quay
Urban Retreat Hotel
Phnom Penh, , Cambodia
Deal USD $ 70 per night
Luang Prabang River Lodge
Urban Budget Hotel
Luang Prabang, , Laos
Deal USD $ 40 per night
Royal Bay Inn Angkor Resort
Urban Hotel
Siem Reap, , Cambodia
Deal USD $ 60 per night
Knai Bang Chatt
Beach Resort
Kep, , Cambodia
Deal USD $ 115 per night
City Inn
Urban Budget Hotel
Vientiane, , Laos
Deal USD $ $60 per night
Independence Hotel
Luxury Beach Hotel
Sihanoukville, , Southern Cambodia
Deal USD $ 130 per night
Amanjaya Pancam
Urban Retreat Hotel
Phnom Penh, , Cambodia
Deal USD $ 100 per night
Sala Luang Prabang
Urban Budget Guesthouse
Luang Prabang, , Laos
Deal USD $ 50 per night
La Residence d’Angkor
Luxury Hotel
Siem Reap, , Cambodia
Deal USD $ USD $285 per night
Settha Palace Hotel
Urban Boutique Hotel
Vientiane, , Laos
Deal USD $ 150 per night
Wanderlust
Urban Boutique Hotel
, , Singapore
Deal USD $ 158 per night
The Mercer
Designer Luxury Hotel
Hong Kong, Sheung Wan, China
Deal USD $ 200 per night
The Club Hotel
Urban Boutique Hotel
China Town, , Singapore
Deal USD $ 188 per night
L’Hotel Nina at Convention Center
Urban Budget Hotel
Hong Kong, The New Territories, China
Deal USD $ 100 per night
Hotel Fort Canning
Urban Hotel
, , Singapore
Deal USD $ 240 per night
Marina Bay Sands
Urban Hotel
Marina Bay, , Singapore
Deal USD $ 341 per night
Hullet House
Urban Luxury Hotel
Hong Kong, Kowloon, China
Deal USD $ 500 per night
Hotel De Edge
Urban Designer Hotel
Hong Kong, Sheung Wan, China
Deal USD $ 100 per night
Sunrise Nha Trang Beach Hotel & Spa
Luxury Beach Resort
Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa province, Vietnam
Deal USD $ 134 per night
Maya Ubud Resort and Spa
Mountain Luxury Retreat
Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Deal USD $ 295 per night
Batu Karang Lembongan Resort
Luxury Beach Resort
Nusa Lembongan, Bali, Indonesia
Deal 230 per night
Bon Ton Resort
Beach Luxury Villa
Pantai Cenang, Pulau Langkawi, Malaysia
Deal USD $ 250 per night
Clove Hall
Urban Boutique Hotel
Georgetown, Pulau Penang, Malaysia
Deal USD $ 180 per night
The Secret Sanctuary Boutique Cottage
Boutique Guesthouse
Kuching, Borneo, Malaysia
Deal USD $ 35 per night
O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat
Boutique Resort
Canungra, Queensland, Australia
Deal USD $ 200 per night
Argonauta Boracay
Beach Boutique Hotel
Hagdan, Boracay Island, Philippines
Deal USD $ 120 per night
Anggun Boutique Hotel
Urban Boutique Hotel
Kuala Lumpur, Bukit Bintang, Malaysia
Deal USD $ 75 per night
Soria Moria
Urban Retreat
Siem Reap, Old French Quarter, Cambodia
Deal USD $ 40 per night
La Villa Battambang
Boutique Guesthouse
Battambang, Rattanak Srok, Cambodia
Deal USD $ 55 per night
The Apsara
Urban Boutique Guesthouse
Luang Prabang, Luang Prabang Province, Laos
Deal USD $ 75 per night
Salana Boutique Hotel
Urban Boutique Hotel
Vientiane, Wat Chan , Laos
Deal USD $ 100 per night
Villa Santi Hotel
Boutique Hotel
Luang Prabang, Ban Wat Sene, Laos
Deal USD $ 90 per night
TenFace Bangkok
Boutique Hotels
Bangkok, Pathumwan, Thailand
Deal USD $ 87 per night
Villa Lomchoy
Luxury Villa
Chaweng, Koh Samui, Thailand
Deal USD $ 275 per night
Hintok River Camp @ Hellfire Pass
Rivers Glamping
Kanchanaburi, River Kwai, Thailand
Deal USD $ 125 per night
Luang Poj Boutique Hostel
Boutique Guesthouse
Ranong, City Centre, Thailand
Deal USD $ 13 per night
The Chedi, Chiang Mai
Luxury Boutique Hotel
Chiang Mai, Chang Khlan, Thailand
Deal USD $ 250 per night
Villa Blubambu
Luxury Spa Villas
Seminyak, Bali, Indonesia
Deal USD $ 115 per night
Santi Sari
Luxury Guesthouse
Goris, Bali, Indonesia
Deal USD $ 200 per night
La Residence Hue
Boutique Hotel
Hue City, Tha Thien-Hue, Vietnam
Deal USD $ 118 per night
Ana Mandara Villas Dalat Resort & Spa
Luxury Resort
Dalat, Lam Dong, Vietnam
Deal USD $ USD $175 per night
Hotel G
Urban Boutique Hotel
Beijing, Sanlitun, China
Deal USD $ 170 per night
Tiger Rock
Luxury Boutique Guesthouse
Pangkor Island, Perak, Malaysia
Deal USD $ 200 per night
The Opposite House
Urban Luxury Boutique Hotel
Beijing, Sanlitun, China
Deal USD $ 330 per night
The T Hotel
Urban Designer Hotel
Hong Kong, Pokfulam, China
Deal USD $ 150 per night
Hotel ICON
Urban Luxury Boutique Hotel
Hong Kong, Kowloon, China
Deal USD $ 335 per night
Hotel 1929
Urban Boutique Hotel
Singapore, Chinatown, Singapore
Deal USD $ 136 per night
The Scarlet Hotel
Urban Boutique Hotel
Singapore, , Singapore
Deal USD $ 200 per night
New Majestic Hotel
Urban Boutique Hotel
Singapore, Chinatown, Singapore
Deal USD $ 196 per night
Rohet Garh
Luxury Boutique Hotel
Rohet Garh, Rajasthan, India
Deal USD $ 100 per night
Padmini Niwas
Luxury Hotel Test
Mussoorie, Uttarkhand, India
Deal USD $ 33 per night
Orange County
Boutique Luxury Resort
Coorg, Karnataka, India
Deal USD $ 380 per night
Old Harbour Hotel
Luxury Boutique Hotel
Fort Kochi, Kerala, India
Deal USD $ USD $185 per night
Nilaya Hermitage
Boutique Luxury Hotel
Arpora, Goa, India
Deal USD $ 397 per night
Maneland Jungle Lodge
Adventure Resort Retreat
Sasan Gir, Gujurat, India
Deal USD $ 65 per night
House of MG
Urban Boutique Hotel
Ahmedabad, Gujurat, India
Deal USD $ 92 per night
Hotel Bougainvillea
Budget Boutique Guesthouse
Anjuna, Goa, India
Deal USD $ 15 per night
Fort Tiracol
Luxury Boutique Hotel
Tiracol, Goa, India
Deal USD $ 172 per night
Fort Chanwa Luni
Luxury Boutique Hotel
Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India
Deal USD $ 130 per night
Fernhills Palace
Luxury Boutique Hotel
Ooty, Tamil Nadu , India
Deal USD $ 235 per night
Carlton Plaisance
Luxury Hotel
Mussoorie, Uttaranchal, India
Deal USD $55 per night