Fog covering the low-lying hills below Federal, Australia
In my travel outline I detail the purpose of these family travel guides along with how our family prioritizes our budget and how we structure our days. The travel outline also contains an index of all travel guides. If you have any recommendations that are not covered below, leave a comment and let me know!
Enjoy!
As I detailed in Part 1 of the Byron Bay Travel Guide, our family had the incredible fortune of visiting Byron Bay, Australia, for three weeks in 2017 (thus the retro photos of the boys). Sara and the boys were on winter break and I was working remotely at the time so I was able to have the weirdest schedule of my working career living on Australian time and working on Central Time.
For part 2 of the travel guide I'll be covering some tips for your Australian family travels and I'll also be covering what we ate (and loved).
Beautiful beaches outside of Byon Bay, and just below the Lighthouse
If you're looking for a “ripper of a time” in Australia, the Hinterlands of Queensland are a top-notch destination. It's the perfect place to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life and immerse yourself in nature, culture, and cuisine. So grab your thongs (that's Aussie slang for flip-flops, not underwear), and let's take a gander at what the hinterlands have to offer.
Australian coffee plantation from the air
First up, hiking. Now, we all know Aussies love a good walkabout, and the Hinterlands have no shortage of trails to get your bushwalking fix. Just watch out for the snakes and spiders, though - they're not as cuddly and awesome as the local koalas. The hills and swimming holes near Whian Whian Conservation Area offer miles of hiking and tramping and the views are just exceptional as you see the acres of Macadamia farms in the distance.
Byron Bay is another must-see destination in the Hinterlands. It's famous for its stunning beaches, laid-back vibe, and Bohemian culture. You can surf, swim, eat, climb to the lighthouse, or just soak up the sun on the sand.
When you're done with all the adrenaline-pumping activities in the surf on the shores of Byron Bay or Lennox Head, it's time to explore the charming towns and villages in the area. Though Byron Bay grabs the headlines Bangalow is probably our favorite.
Henry using a “flying fox” (a zipline) at Binna Burra National Park and Sky Lodge
It is a quaint little village that's full of surprises, with funky cafes, boutique shops, and colorful houses. It's the kind of place that makes you feel like you've stepped back in time with lots of historic shops and buildings preserved and taken care of. And if you're very lucky, you might even spot one of those koalas chilling out in one of the gum trees.
There is one place that I’d say is a must-try, even if you don’t buy anything, and that’s The Farm. It’s a working farm with tons for the family (and everyone else) to do. Chickens wandering, cows and pigs nearby, fresh ice cream, so many ingredients that were grown 100 yards away… it’s paradise. It’s a bit expensive but delicious and wonderful experience.
Federal is a small town that's bursting with personality. It's the kind of place where everyone is welcomed. You can stroll down the main street and check out the local shops and restaurants. And, you won’t have to look hard to catch a glimpse of the wild Federal hippie - a breed of human that's known for its love of tie-dye, incense, and acoustic guitars.
While looking at a map it would seem that Federal is an isolated food desert, but it's actually the opposite and there are several ridiculously good restaurants and artisanal coffee everywhere.
Doma: This really is the crown jewel, so why not start there. Fantastic outdoor dining space with picnic tables and music on the weekends. Kids can climb in trees, follow the chickens that wander the property, and eat gobs of sushi, halloumi burgers, smoothies, kombucha, and other pure deliciousness. This place is just spectacular.
Byron Bay Lighthouse with the family. Gorgeous views, and remarkable coastlines
Federal General Store: It's a "simple" grocery store and post office but it was our go-to for small items, popsicles, Australia's amazing ginger beer, and my beloved spearmint Aero Bars. If you ever want to know the fastest way to my heart, just surprise me with one of those :)
Crystal Castle cafe: I suggested Crystal Castle in Part 1 for its activities, but I also need to suggest it for its cafe. It's a super weird place and it's expensive, I am totally aware of that, but it's also gorgeous with an incredible view of the rolling hills surrounding Bangalow and you can absolutely just lose yourself in it's forests and hidden areas. The cafe is super healthy, a bit expensive, but super delicious all with another impressive view of the forests below.
Now, let's talk about the food. Aussies love their grub, and the Hinterlands have some real beauties on offer. Make sure you hit up the farmers' markets in the area for fresh produce and locally made cheeses, and locally grown produce. And don't forget to try the local specialties, like macadamia nuts and honey. Just be warned, though - once you try farm-fresh Aussie cuisine, you might never want to go back to your own farmer’s market fare.
Highlights we loved about the Hinterlands:
Australia has awesome travel stops and rest areas all throughout their highway system
The food is so much more local, natural, and healthy than we our Central Texas palettes were prepared for
The warm and beautiful ocean
What to be plan for:
Beautiful parrot at Macadamia Castle
Speed cameras: in the United States we have heard about speed cameras, but we’re much more familiar with red light cameras. In Australia, and especially in the Byron Bay area, they use speed cameras to monitor and ticket you for speed violations all over the place. When you see a sign that says a road is monitored by a speed camera take it seriously. They also have less than a 10 kilometer/hour threshold on these cameras which means that if you go over by any more than that you’ll receive a several hundred dollar ticket in the mail (or more… I had no idea it was so serious).
Snakes! There are lots of snakes and animals that we weren’t used to and you should absolutely take it seriously. We did see several carpet pythons on our trip and these are actually loved as they are non-venomous and keep the very dangerous brown snakes at bay.
Keep at least $100 in cash. While we didn’t run into many cash-only situations there are enough that you’ll be grateful you had it.
Weird cults around Crystal Castle area. We never had any troubles but they do exist and it’s a bit of a shock if you’re not prepared for it.
Your phone’s data plan: If you don't have an Australian sim card for your phone, I recommend downloading Google Maps for offline use. This saved us, literally, hundreds of dollars. And, make sure to download a larger area of a map than you think you'll explore. For one adventure we went just beyond the map I downloaded and we were lucky to find our way back on course.
Lennox Head coastal area seen from a drone
Kangaroo at Macadamia Castle
Our home for several weeks near Federal, Australia
The Farm, just outside of Byron Bay, with the boys.
Visiting the beaches of the Gold Coast after running the Binna Burra Marathon
Just one of the many gorgeous national parks in the Byron Bay region.
Swimming holing in the Federal area
Henry having a GREAT time at Crystal Castle
