Insider's Guide: Explore the Tweed's Seaside Village Vibes

Start the day well-fuelled

Take an early morning dip, SUP or paddle in the calm inlet of Mooball Creek in Pottsville to prepare your appetite for the seriously good tastes that await at Black Drop Cafe. Expect coffee that’s brewed to get you going, eggs done all the right ways and a healthy smattering of plant-based fare. Get yourself there!

If your day gets underway in Cabarita, we’ve got the perfect place to start it well. Smoothly styled and full of smiles, Nectar Juice House has a menu designed to enjoy at an easy pace from local bakes courtesy of the Sourdough Crumpet Co (you’ll never go back to store-bought!) to DIY sandwiches, energy packed smoothies and nutritious cold pressed juices.

Tucked into a bustling corner of the Commons in Casuarina, Tucker is a tasty magnet for hungry families, beach walkers and after-class yogis with an abundant menu and super-friendly staff. From house-baked bagels to berry-topped pancakes and crunchy karaage burgers, you’ll leave 100% sated.

Come lunch, mix it up

Cycling, surfing or sea-splashing at Kingscliff will work up a healthy appetite and we’ve got your holiday hunger covered with some lunchtime bites sure to fill your tummy.

First up, feast your eyes on a food spectrum at Mixing Colour Salad Bar, where you can choose a nutritious food bowl just right for you. From sashimi, sprouts and pickled ginger to tofu, kale and edamame, if the vibrant salad colours don’t catch your eye the tastily worded menu will!

A firm holiday favourite for all, the Kingscliff Beach Hotel is the place to be for refreshing sips in the sun, classic pub meals with a local twist and live music into the evening. Sourcing local produce and spinning out tasty wood-fired pizzas, the Kingy is the kind of place you’ll ease into and find hard to leave.

Warm nights + global plates

Journey to another time and place with global fare, set to a soundtrack of crashing waves and cool evening breezes.

For grecophiles, be sure to book ahead at Xenia Casuarina with flavours celebrating the Greek islands from fresh seafood to meze and a cocktail list full to the brim with cheer. Choose from a range of tempting feast menus, featuring country favourites like spanokopita, dolmades, grilled pita through to the theatrical flaming saganaki.

Locals have long been drawn to the mouth-watering Japanese goodness created by the folk at low-key Izakaya in Pottsville. Set back from the beach close to the village vibe, you’ll find tempura, edamame, agedashi, sashimi, nigiri and all the other culinary favourites you’d expect from a true-to-culture eatery such as this one!

Get creative beside the sea

It goes without saying that beside the seaside in the Tweed there is plenty to do, from surf lessons and snorkelling with turtles to sand-play and cycling beach paths – so we thought we’d share some non-aquatic ways to be inspired on your next Tweed coast getaway.

Art lovers listen up! Steps from the sand and open to the sea air, Mist Gallery is a contemporary space that shows and sells the work of talented locals and artists from further afield, with regular exhibitions throughout the year. They also offer meet the artist sessions and run occasional art classes.

With sea views and barista-made coffee on offer from its Kingscliff locale, Stone Studio runs an array of fun, themed pottery classes, such as Vases & Vino or Clay & Coffee, through to kids classes making monsters and trinkets. Professional tuition is paired with an enticing ethos of Light Hearts, Dirty Hands – high time to roll up the sleeves!

Sea-breeze browsing and buying!

Keep your Tweed holiday memories alive with take-home pieces from our coastal stores, from beach wear and homewares to great gifts and local goods.

In Cabarita, pop in to The Corner Collective to select some pieces that will bring a chic beach vibe to your home from plants and pots to frames, mirrors and more for your walls.

Stroll the shops of Kingscliff and you’ll find all manner of must-have pieces. From the colourful racks and shelves of fashion and homewares at Sorella to a vast array of locally sourced food, wellness and lifestyle products at newly opened Pippi Lifestyle.

Stay well

From beachfront cabins and luxury apartments to boho glamping and boutique style, you’ll find the perfect spot to rest your head in the Tweed’s sweet coastal villages. Search for your perfect overnight stay or check out some current hot deals here.