Nonstop flights from Sydney, Brisbane, and Melbourne service Coffs Harbour Airport (CFS), 21 miles northeast of Bellingen. A regular bus links Bellingen and Coffs in about an hour. But to make the most of the remote patches of national park and farmland in the region, having your own transportation is ideal; rental options are offered at the airport.

If you’re driving the 320 miles north from Sydney, allow at least 5.5 hours; more, if you want to detour from the highway to explore the sun-kissed coastal hamlets along the route. The journey south from Queensland’s capital, Brisbane, is shorter, at 230 miles (4 hours and 45 minutes). The coastal route takes in other popular spots, including the Gold Coast and Byron Bay.

There’s no bad time to visit Bellingen, although some times are preferable, depending on your planned activities. Hikers will want to consider midwinter and early spring (July through September), when daily temperatures sit around 65 degrees Fahrenheit, and annual rainfall is at its lowest. Water temperatures can be brisk at this time of year, reaching seasonal lows of 64 in August. Daytime temperatures rarely dip much below 80 degrees in summer (December through February), with long days of sunshine heating up creeks, rivers, and waterholes to the mid-70s. Rainfall is also high at this time of year, but reaches its peak in fall (March through May), when waterfalls are gushing.

This national park spans 30,000 acres. The best way to gain perspective of its far-reaching expanse is from the Dorrigo Rainforest Centre. For a bird’s-eye view over the Gondwana rainforest that hugs gorges and valleys, wander out on the Skywalk, cantilevered 70 feet above the forest floor. Back inside the center, rangers can advise on the perfect hike, whether you choose the one-hour Lyrebird Link track or the three-hour Wonga Walk to Crystal Falls. More cascades await along Waterfall Way, a dramatic, nature-fueled road-trip linking Bellingen’s forest with the Coffs Coast region to the east.

From organic produce stalls to hippy fashion and arts and crafts, the Bellingen Community Market is as entertaining as it is eye-opening. There’s not a local who doesn’t attend this buzzy affair, which also draws artists and makers from around the region. It’s well worth timing your visit to coincide with this all-inclusive fete, held on the third Saturday of every month.

There are few more serene ways to soak up the countryside than on a canoe expedition along the Bellingen River, past flooded gums and dairy farms, with azure kingfishers and sea eagles in your company. Paddle at your own pace, or join a guided tour: once a month, you can float at night under the glow of the full moon.