Holiday houses in Fingal Head

Set on Letitia Spit, with the Tweed River estuary on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other, the sleepy village of Fingal Head is known for its long and lovely beach, its historic lighthouse — and not much else. But that’s just the way locals like it; things move slowly here, even when the larger surrounding town of Tweed Heads heaves with visitors seeking sun and sand.

This region is as far north in New South Wales as you can travel, and you’re just five kilometres (three miles) from the Queensland border. A single road services the spit, linking locations where you can fish from rocks, swim in calm coves, surf occasional waves, and gaze over Cook Island, a marine reserve popular among birdwatchers. Head inland and you’ll soon be enveloped by rainforest of the Tweed Coast hinterland, a place where farm-to-table cafes sit beside innovative distilleries.

With a balmy year-round climate, there’s never a bad time to visit the Tweed Coast region of northern New South Wales. Things here are particularly busy over the summer months, when holidaymakers descend to make the most of the river and ocean assets and accommodations are harder to book last minute. It’s peak season too for Fingal, although thanks to geographic limits of the spit, the village never feels crowded. While the beach here is not known for its waves, it does host a surf competition for Indigenous athletes every August. The year’s cooler months also draw avid surfers to neighbouring beaches, in particular the breaks of Cabarita and the Gold Coast. From May through November you’ll be treated to sightings of migrating whales, often close to shore.

Fingal Lighthouse

Just south of Point Danger (marking the Queensland border) lies this working lighthouse, established in 1872. While the building itself is off-limits to the public, its rocky headland host is the perfect perch from which to watch dolphins play and whales breach during their annual migration. Arrive via a short walk through coastal rainforest, then cool off with a swim at the small beach.

Border Ranges National Park

Spanning Queensland and New South Wales, this enormous enclave is one of Australia’s best places to marvel at ancient Antarctic beech trees, some 2,000 years old and decorated with delicate falcorostrum orchids clinging to their trunks. The short Falcorostrum Loop walking track also offers the chance to spot elusive and lyrically talented lyrebirds scratching through leaf litter.

Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre

This jaw-dropping regional gallery hosts a dynamic program of permanent and touring exhibitions, many spotlighting regional artists. The on-site Margaret Olley Art Centre pays homage to one of the country’s most celebrated painters, recreating her famous home studio and showcasing a great number of works.