Discover the place of possums

The mellifluous name of Murwillumbah was the indigenous owners name for “a place of possums”, amid the caldera, formed by a volcano eons ago.

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The most significant feature of that long ago volcano where Murwillumbah stands today is Mount Warning, whose dramatic peak is surely Australia’s most distinctive landform. It’s a graceful reference for anyone driving in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales and can be admired from far out to sea off the east coast of the continent.

Mt Warning, stands at 1,100 meters tall and the peak is the first on the Australian continent to be touched by the rising sun. You’ll need to be fairly fit to undertake the 8km four to five hour round trip climb through thick rainforest, but the view will make it all worthwhile. Get advice from the locals before tackling her.

The Murwillumbah of today had its start back in 1872, when it was laid out to support the timber industry and the surrounding farmers. Supporting a population of just 7,500, the town has many fine Art Deco and Federation buildings, pubs and clubs. The possums are celebrated in paintings and murals around the town.

The Tweed valley is a rich, green oasis, where the rhythms of the land can be observed in fruit orchards, vegetable patches, dairy farms and cane fields.

The beaches of Byron Bay and the Gold Coast are in easy striking distance and a 30 minute drive gets you to Coolangatta Airport.

A recent arrival on the Tweed River is a BBQ Boat, where you can charter the boat for the day for parties of up to 12 to explore from Bray Park Weir to Barney’s Point Bridge and the Rous River from Tumbulgum.

The birds of prey along the river are quite magnificent.