Things to do in Bellingen, NSW: 5 top activities

The best things to do in Bellingen, NSW, include seeing the flying foxes of Bellingen Island, shopping at the Bellingen Community Markets and canoe tours.

The 5 best things to do in Bellingen are:

Hop between cafés and restaurants – try the Black Bear Café and Za’atar.
Drink locally brewed beer at the Bellingen Brewing Co.
Browse the Bellingen Farmers’ Market every Wednesday afternoon.
Look for flying foxes in the rainforest on Bellingen Island.
Take a canoeing tour with Bellingen Canoe Adventures.

Where is Bellingen, NSW?

Bellingen, NSW, is one of the best adverts for venturing away from the coast on the drive from Sydney to Byron Bay.

A 36km drive from Coffs Harbour along the Waterfall Way towards Armidale, Bellingen is a forest-shrouded river town. It’s also one with a strong alternative lifestyle streak, and a surprisingly strong food and drink scene. The Waterfall Way Visitor Centre in Bellingen should give you all the information you need if you’re planning to drive on to Dorrigo, Ebor Falls, the Oxley Wild Rivers National Park and Armidale.

Things to do in Bellingen, NSW: Bellingen Brewing Co and cafés

There are a few things to do in Bellingen itself, however. First up Is grazing. The Black Bear Café, the Cedar Bar and Kitchen and Za’atar are three examples of why this small river town has become a really good place to eat. The Bellingen Brewing Co keeps it simpler, serving up posh pizzas. But the reason you go to the Bellingen Brewing Co is to taste the beers brewed on site.

Things to do in Bellingen, NSW: Markets

If food and drink is your thing, Wednesday is the best day of the week to visit Bellingen. This is when the weekly farmers’ market is held in Bellingen Park. It’s held between 2.30pm and 5.30pm.

The Bellingen Farmers’ Market is not the same thing as the Bellingen Community Markets, which are held on the third Saturday of every month. The Bellingen Community Markets have a focus on art, craft and bric-a-brac. There are often more than 250 stalls to browse through, too, making it one of the best markets in Australia for visitors.

What to do in Bellingen: Bellingen Island

Other things to do in Bellingen include visiting Bellingen Island. It’s only an island if the Bellinger River is in full flood, but Bellingen Island is a gorgeous pocket of rainforest to explore. Among the strangler figs, you’ll find plenty of bird life. The most significant inhabitants of Bellingen Island, however, are the grey-headed flying foxes. A colony lives here, and they all take flight at dusk – a rather impressive site.

Bellingen canoe tours

Active types, however, will prefer a canoeing tour with Bellingen Canoe Adventures. The company offers a range of tours, including a one hour sunset tour that’s good for seeing wildlife and ends with a glass of champagne. This tour costs $25.

Canoeing on the Bellinger River from Bellingen, NSW. Photo courtesy of Destination NSW.

Bellingen Canoe Adventures also offer half day flatwater tours for $48, and whitewater tours along the river rapids. The more adventurous whitewater tours cost $95 for a full day and $80 for a half day. Book via the Bellingen Canoe Adventures website.