Local's Guide | Things To Do In Kingscliff
Inspiration
Start your day at a local farmers market where you’ll find an abundance of just-picked fruit and veggies alongside a fresh, friendly vibe. There are food markets to be found across many of the Tweed’s villages, here are two to get you started.
Held every Wednesday morning, Murwillumbah Farmers Market is a mecca for food-lovers from near and far, recently taking out the prestigious Delicious Produce Award for Australia’s most Outstanding Farmers’ Market, as voted by readers. This national accolade celebrates the authenticity, quality and sustainability focus of the Murbah Farmers’ Market. Be sure to bring a large basket!
Set high on the fertile hills of Duranbah, on the grassy front lawn of Tropical Fruit World, Duranbah Road Farmers’ Market is an intimate set-up that brings local producers together to provide a one-stop artisan food shop. Don’t be fooled by its small footprint – this market comes with a big focus on organic, ethical produce and the freshest of flavours, each and every Saturday morning.
Duranbah Road Farmers Market by Rhiannon Jones Photography
As all good foodies know, if it’s got a Chefs’ Hat it’s going to be a stand-out. When it comes to this coveted recognition, the Tweed bats above the average, with a selection of restaurants proudly wearing an Australian Good Food Guide Chefs Hat. Map out your next Tweed eat-inerary from seaside to hinterland with these Chef Hatted favourites.
Coast-side, from Kingscliff via Cabarita and south to Pottsville, you’ll find a string of nationally revered dining experiences. Seafood lovers score a catch at FINS in Salt Village with a menu starring fresh fish and other deep sea treats. Nearby in Kingscliff, Taverna has long been a go-to for those seeking Greek flavours, prepared with a nod to regional produce.
Cabarita is home to lots of tasty eateries, including two Chef Hatted spaces. Elegant Paper Daisy at Halcyon House is on the must-book list for many, while No 35 Kitchen & Bar balances a stylish yet casual vibe, right in the heart of Caba.
On your southbound coastal trail, last but absolutely not least, is the oft-awarded Pipit in Pottsville, where the team is driven by a mission to create a sustainable approach to food that strongly heroes local flavours.
Journey into the lush Tweed Valley and you’ll find equally impressive Chef Hatted options to choose from. In Carool, set high overlooking the green caldera, Potager – A Kitchen Garden has cultivated a loyal following, along with an award-winning menu and lush food garden.
In Murwillumbah, Tweed River House invites guests to slow down with a soothing and elegant plantation-style interior and a French influenced menu that encourages unhurried dining, taking in the gorgeous river view.
Paper Daisy Restaurant
Long established as a dairy region, it’s little surprise that the cheese scene in the Tweed is grate, er – great!
Start in Murwillumbah where Kat Harvey – both a cheese maker and cheese monger – keeps everyone’s palate finely tuned at her artisan store (Kat Harvey Cheese!) with a curated selection of local and regional bites from small-batch producers. You’ll find other yummy things to go with your selections, plus Kat’s famous cheese toasties!
Burringbar-based artisan cheesemaker, Deb Allard – whose catchy business is Cheeses Loves You – has been crafting everything from ricotta and haloumi to brie and romano (plus many others) for over 10 years. Made from fresh Jersey cow milk from the dairy farm she and husband Jim run, Deb’s delicious cheeses can be found on menus and in markets around the region.
Further proving that cheesemakers have a nifty way with business names, Tweed Valley Whey Farmhouse Cheeses, located on Tweed Valley Way, is a must to visit. Sample and buy take-home flavours, sit in the fresh air with a tasting board and learn about the process of milk to cheese, right here at the dairy paddock.
Kat Harvey Cheese by Sally Singh Photography
You can’t get fresher or tastier flavours than those harvested directly from a kitchen garden and the Tweed has some of the most plentiful patches around.
A long-running Tweed dining experience, Mavis’s Kitchen is nestled in at the foothills of Wollumbin Mt Warning and is a magnet for avid gardeners and foodies alike. Unwind over a long lunch in the heritage Queenslander restaurant or outdoors overlooking the lush garden filled with herbs, veggies, fruit and more that are featured throughout the menu.
Farm & Co is a 52 acre working organic farm in Cudgen that is a one-stop foodies shop. It combines a relaxed restaurant experience focussed on shared dishes and seasonal produce, with a locally stocked Farm Store Cafe and a farm walk that invites you to meet friendly farm animals – plus a stunning seasonal sunflower field.
Not only a Chef Hatted restaurant, Potager – A Kitchen Garden is, as its name proclaims, equally a dining hot-spot and food garden. The 10 acre property in Carool has a menu philosophy guided by a true paddock to plate approach – ‘while we don’t grow everything we serve, we serve everything we grow.’
Farm & Co Restaurant
If you’re thinking more grab-and-go, we’ve got you covered. Stock up at these enticing take-home spots where locally made is high on the taste-list.
In central Tweed Heads, Rob Roy Drinks & Deli is a literal wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling treat for the taste buds. You’ll find locally made pasta, cheeses and meat along with Tweed-crafted sips, from beer to gin and vodka. Plus, with a trained sommelier on hand, you’ll find a wine just right for you from their sustainably farmed, low intervention range.
From Uki to Murwillumbah and Tyalgum, the Tweed hinterland has ample pantry offerings too. Call in to the Tyalgum General Store for fresh produce and plants grown in the neighbourhood plus a range of cheeses and condiments.
Pasta lovers prepare yourself and head directly to Pasta Bah in Murwillumbah! Made by Woodland Valley Farm using their fresh chook eggs, choose your pasta preference, from pappardelle and casarecce to spaghetti or tagliatelle. Freshly made pasta sauces are also on hand from basilico to bolognese. Deliziosa!
A recent addition to Uki is The Pantry by Mavis’s – a selection of tasty lunch menu choices plus pantry items for home, including chilli sauce and banana chutney to name a few, made over at Mavis’s Kitchen using produce from the kitchen garden.
Rob Roy Deli & Drinks by Jeffery Keiffer
The Tweed is blessed with a bustling cafe scene that stretches right across the region from seaside to countryside. Also done well here is the cafe + bakery blend – here are a few must-dos to get you started.
Bread Social is something of an institution in Tweed Heads, both for its community vibe, consistent coffee brews and the delectable breads and pastries. With a focus on supporting local and organic suppliers, the delicious daily bake takes place at Bread Social’s Byron Bay bakehouse then delivered locally to their various outlets.
Also in Tweed Heads, Baked at Ancora has the good fortune of a riverside location and grassy outdoor setting which, when paired with their fresh baked pastries and wide-ranging cake selections, proves to be a tantalising combination.
Cubby Bakehouse, overlooking the Tweed River in Chinderah, is high on the bakehouse itinerary for many a sweet tooth, and for good reason. People flock here and line up to fill take-home bakery boxes with irresistible treats that are not only mouth-watering but also gorgeously decorated and ready for Instagram moments!
Said to have the best croissants this side of Paris, don’t miss a visit to Ben’s Patisserie in Murwillumbah where traditional French pastries, cakes and slices are crafted utilising premium ingredients.
One more for the bakery lovers is the Bakehouse Co. of Tyalgum, set within the tranquil Flutterbies Cottage Cafe hub and serving up tempting treats each Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Cubby Bakehouse
Still hungry? Explore more restaurants, cafes and foodie experiences HERE.
Inspiration
Inspiration
Inspiration
Inspiration
