Start your journey in beautiful Byron Bay. Rise early to be among the first in Australia to watch the sun peek over the Pacific Ocean from the iconic Cape Byron Lighthouse, keeping your eye out for migrating whales between May and November, before fueling up with a hearty brunch at one of Byron’s many cafes. It’s just a short walk to Main Beach from the centre of town, with more surf beaches – including The Pass, Wategos and Tallow Beach – to the east.

After exploring the buzzy heart of town to the soundtrack of talented buskers, catch the Byron Solar Train to the Arts & Industry Estate for more shopping, an ever-increasing range of wellness options, and perhaps a brew at the Stone & Wood brewery or the Bucha Shed, Australia’s first alcoholic kombucha cellar door. Heading north towards Mullumbimby, The Farm is a great spot to stop for coffee, a delicious meal, and to learn about environmentally conscious farming.

Heading north from Byron, take the scenic route through the coastal farmlands of Myocum to ‘Mullum’. Nestled beside the Brunswick River, near the foot of 309m Mount Chincogan, this timber industry settlement-turned alternative culture hub is home to some of the region’s best-preserved Federation-era buildings, many of which now house cafes, health food stores, and quirky boutiques.

Start your visit by exploring the centre of town, peeking down side alleys to admire colourful murals, before heading north on Dalley St, where you can enjoy a short bushwalk in the Brunswick Valley Heritage Park hugging the river. At the southern end of town, don’t miss the Mullumbimby Museum housed in the town’s first post office, built in 1907.

Mullum is also the jumping-off point for Goonengerry National Park to the south and Mount Jerusalem National Park to the north, both of which are set to receive infrastructure upgrades in the coming years.

When you’re ready to move on, head north on Coolamon Scenic Dr. If you have time to spare, make a short detour to explore the buzzy riverside town of Brunswick Heads en route to Murwillumbah, which has a fantastic bakery.

Heading north from Mullumbimby along Coolamon Scenic Dr, turn onto the Pacific Mwy and take the next exit at Yelgun. From here Tweed Valley Way winds through green pockets of coastal forest towards the sleepy country town of Murwillumbah. On the way, be sure to stop in at Tweed Valley Whey Farmhouse Cheeses just south of Burringbar for a decadent tasting, and in tiny Burringbar itself to admire its historic buildings.

Set alongside the Tweed River and surrounded by sugar cane fields and small farms, with the Tweed Range rising up to the west, old-fashioned ‘Murbah’ is best known for one of regional Australia’s finest art galleries – the Tweed Regional Gallery Margaret Olley Art Centre. Yet the town’s architectural charm is increasingly becoming a similarly compelling reason to visit. Many of Murbah’s art deco buildings have been restored in recent years, including Murwillumbah St’s iconic pink pub, the Imperial Hotel, which has a great bistro.

You’ll enjoy superb views of 1,159m Wollumbin (formerly Mount Warning), the most distinctive feature of the Tweed Range, during the 14km drive from Murwillumbah to Wollumbin National Park. The road ends at the base of this volcanic plug, a remnant of the long-extinct Tweed Volcano, which has deep spiritual significance to the Bundjalung People of the Tweed Valley.

Nearby is Uki, a tiny, quirky village alongside the upper reaches of the Tweed River. Don’t miss its heritage-listed post office, which now doubles as the hip Bastion Lane coffee shop and roastery.

Mount Jerusalem National Park can also be accessed from Uki. If you’re travelling in a 4WD, consider making a side-trip into the park via Rowlands Creek Rd to seek out Unicorn Falls before making your way to Nimbin.

Instead of heading onward to Nimbin via pretty Kyogle Rd, which slices between Wollumbin National Park and Mount Jerusalem National Park, take the slightly longer route via Byrrill Creek Rd through Mebbin National Park. Make a stop at Cutters Creek campground to test your native birdwatching skills on the 1km-return Byrill Creek walking track. Be sure to keep an eye out for lace monitors and brush turkeys patrolling the forest floor.

If it’s a warm day you may wish to take a dip in Byrill Creek before continuing south into the lush Nimbin Valley to Australia’s capital of counter-culture.

Like most northern NSW hinterland towns, all the action happens on Nimbin’s main street. You’ll no doubt cross paths with some of its colourful characters as you browse local galleries and hippy boutiques including the iconic Hemp Embassy. Nimbin also makes a great base for exploring Nightcap National Park, particularly the gorgeous Protestors Falls walking track.

Passing through town towards Kyogle, you’ll spot the volcanic extrusions of rhyolite known as Nimbin Rocks rising up to the southwest. Like Wollumbin, this geological formation is both a remnant of the ancient Tweed Volcano and a significant cultural site to the Bundjalung People.

The lush hills of Nimbin give way to undulating cattle pastures dotted with more geological relics as you near the sleepy country town of Kyogle. Founded as a lumber camp in the 1830s, Kyogle’s main street is still lined with art deco buildings constructed during its dairy industry boom years.

The first decision you’ll need to make in Kyogle is whether to stop for a drink or a meal at the ‘Top Pub’ (The Commercial Hotel) or at the ‘Bottom Pub’ (The Exchange Hotel).

Kyogle is perfectly positioned for exploring several nearby national parks, notably Border Ranges National Park and Toonumbar National Park to the northwest, both of which have impressive lookouts, excellent walking loops, and scenic campgrounds.

Don’t leave town without soaking up the views over town towards the Border Ranges from the Captain Cook Memorial Lookout on a hill southeast of the centre on Fairy Mount. If you’re lucky, you might be joined by a kangaroo or two up here.

Enjoy more spectacular northern NSW landscapes by taking a scenic detour northwest of Kyogle, visiting Tooloom National Park to the west before looping back to Casino via Tabulam. When you reach Woodenbong, head south on Clarence Way until you reach the cute village of Urbenville, home to the Pioneer Cottage Museum and the picturesque Tooloom Falls campground.

From here it’s a one-hour return drive to the Tooloom National Park picnic area and its lush 1km rainforest walking loop. Continue south from Urbenville on Clarence Way towards tiny Tabulam on the east bank of the Clarence River before travelling onto Casino.

Hit the road en route to the Beef Capital of Australia. You’ll be travelling through the cattle farms that gave this large rural town its nickname. There are plenty of attractions worth seeking out within its broad streets including several museums, a bounty of art deco buildings, and new art gallery set to take over the Roads and Traffic Authority building on Barker St.

If you time your visit with Casino Beef Week in May, you'll find the town bursting with people keen to enjoy the cattle competitions, rodeo, markets and gala events.

If you’re wondering what this farming town has to do with the rainforest, look to the west. Rising up beyond golden pastures, Richmond Range National Park makes for an excellent day trip. Don’t miss the spectacular views towards Wollumbin from the Mallanganee Lookout near the entrance to Cambridge Plateau scenic drive (a dirt road best suited to higher-clearance vehicles), which winds its way into the rainforest.

The largest regional centre in the Northern Rivers, Lismore has enjoyed something of a cultural renaissance in recent years, with highlights of its thriving arts scene including the Lismore Regional Gallery, theatre company NORPA, the Back Alley Gallery, and the Arts, Vintage and Retro Trail.

But while it’s easy to get caught up in Lismore’s arts and increasingly vibrant culinary scene, one of the city’s best features is its proximity to Nightcap National Park.

The region’s most popular national park, Nightcap’s defining feature is the spectacular Minyon Falls, which cascades 100m into the subtropical rainforest below. There are viewpoints next to and opposite the falls, but to enjoy the full Minyon experience, hiking to the base of the falls is a must.

Intersecting the park from west to east, the 18km Historic Nightcap walking track follows a route once used by postal workers making their way between Lismore and Murwillumbah, ending at the Minyon Falls lookout. Nearby Rocky Creek Dam offers another beautiful setting for a picnic, with the added bonus of potential platypus sightings from a purpose-built platform.

Departing Minyon Falls lookout bound for Newrybar, you’ll soon pass through the blink-and-you’ll-miss-it village of Federal, where renowned Japanese fusion bistro Doma makes a great lunch stop. From here it’s a winding but gorgeous journey through macadamia plantations and other small produce farms towards the tiny hamlet of Newrybar.

Hugging a tiny arc of road off Hinterland Way, Newrybar is home to some of the Byron hinterland’s best boutiques as well as the award-winning Harvest Newrybar restaurant and deli, where you can also grab a coffee and baked goods to go. This hip little village lies close to Killen Falls, one of the hinterland’s most accessible waterfalls, and the serene Gaia Retreat & Spa, which is co-owned by Olivia Newton-John.

It’s just a short hop north along Hinterland Way to the trendy farming town of Bangalow. With its main street lined by Federation-era buildings housing cafes and boutiques, this hinterland hot spot has long-been popular with Byron Bay-based day trippers. Newer developments include the independent fashion precinct off Station St anchored by sunny plant-based cafe Woods, sister-cafe to Byron’s Folk.

At the southern entrance to town, the historic Bangalow Hotel will satisfy pub grub cravings, while at the northern end, the Bangalow Bowlo is another popular spot to relax over a casual meal or a game of barefoot bowls.

Tucked behind the main drag, you can also enjoy a taste of history – and homebaked goods – at the Bangalow Heritage House and Museum. It sits beside Bangalow Parklands, which makes a great picnic spot.

Instead of heading back to Byron via the Pacific Hwy, enjoy one last country drive along achingly scenic Bangalow Rd, which offers glimpses of Byron on the 20min drive back to the centre of town, ending your Rainforest Way adventure.