Cara Sophie
Beyond the glitzy Gold Coast and the buzz of Byron Bay lies a quiet holiday drawcard entirely its own. Framed by surf beaches and an ancient caldera, the Tweed region rewards visitors with standout dining, exceptional local produce and a slower pace of life.
With award-winning restaurants, unique farm-to-table experiences and Australia’s only sugarcane distillery, this is a postcode worthy of weekend escape. Below, we’ve narrowed down a handful of quintessential dining experiences to make the most of your time in the glorious Tweed. Plus, our top recommendations for where to drink and sleep.
Where to eat in The Tweed – from casual cafes to slick bistros
For a wholesome breakfast or sun-filled lunch
Farm&Co
CUDGEN
Hedged by towering sunflower fields and a 52-acre working farm, Farm&Co is Cudgen’s answer to paddock-to-plate dining – with the paddock quite literally on your doorstep. Set in the heart of the Tweed Valley, the organic family farm supplies much of what lands on the restaurant’s seasonal menu, from avocados, macadamias and citrus to potatoes, salad greens and honey. Settle in for a weekend breakfast or lunch – the chopped egg on house-made sourdough crumpet is reason enough to make the drive –before purchasing a $7 farm pass and exploring the sprawling grounds, sunflower fields and resident rescue pigs Hank and Pepe.
For a true-blue farm-to-table experience
Potager
CAROOL
There’s something about being able to see where your food comes from, and Carool’s Potager puts that connection front and centre. Surrounded by a flourishing kitchen garden, rolling hills and glittering ocean views, you’ll find this decorated dining destination a mere 20-minute drive from Gold Coast Airport. With a deep commitment to organic, zero-waste and regenerative farming practices, this relaxed diner boasts a menu that evolves with the garden. When Gourmet Traveller visited, a look around the dining room confirmed that colourful crudités served with a macadamia cream and herb oil were the clear favourite.
For a special occasion
Bistro Livi
MURWILLUMBAH
The team at Bistro Livi are as adept in creating beautiful dishes as they are in extending genuine hospitality. From the minute you take your seat in the handsome, dim-lit dining room – try to snag the corner spot or the bar seats in front of the kitchen if you can – it’s clear that the team behind our 2026 NSW Restaurant of the Year know what they’re doing. Whether it’s explaining the menu with a warmth that puts you instantly at ease or recommending a natural wine that’s so good you’ll order it twice, this modern bistro puts it front foot forward. Expect a menu that champions the best produce the region has to offer – most likely featuring seasonal fruit or vegetables from Boon Luck Farm, layered with pickles, preserves or ferments – and wines from small-scale producers.
Pipit
POTTSVILLE
To set foot in Pipit is to step into chef-owner Ben Devlin’s creative consciousness. A chef’s counter surrounds an open kitchen brimming with garums and tinctures, while Devlin’s gyotaku prints take pride of place on the walls. Similarly to Farm&Co and Potager, a sustainable and seasonal ethos anchors Pipit’s menu, which is divided into an a la carte menu and a 6- or 8-course tasting menu, depending on the day of the week and time. Menu highlights might include a fish-shaped buckwheat waffle with smoked snapper cream and horseradish to start; followed by dry-aged pasture duck or a smoked bonito tartare. An Australian-only wine list is joined by local spirits and cocktails which take their cues from the seasons and the same low-waste ethos as the kitchen. Designated driver for the night? Pipit’s thoughtfulness extends to its half-glass serves, so you needn’t fear missing out.
For date night
Paper Daisy
CABARITA BEACH
The signature restaurant of coastal-cool boutique hotel Halycon House, Paper Daisy has been redefining what regional hotel dining looks like since 2015. Helmed by executive chef Baxter Newstead – who’s impressive resume spans Vue de Monde, Wildflower and Noma Australia – the blue-and-white clad heroes produce from the Northern Rivers with ease and expertise. Newstead’s latest menu spotlights fresh seafood, slow-cooked depth and bright citrus. And while the menu changes seasonally, it might present as: bay lobster placed on a bed of delicate, coral-like carrots; smoky barbecued quail layered with parsnip, pear and mushrooms, or a lemon myrtle-cured kingfish lifted with cucumber and radish. Our tip? Reserve your table early enough for a sundowner on the wraparound deck or a fireside wine.
Where to drink in The Tweed – from Australia’s first sugarcane distillery to a brewery
For a sun-soaked tasting
Husk Farm Distillery
NORTH TUMBULGUM
Set among the sugarcane fields in North Tumbulgum, Husk Farm Distillery is Australia’s first producer of Agricole rum, made with freshly pressed sugarcane juice in place of molasses. The 150-acre property is as much a destination as it is a distillery, with tours and tastings offering a peek behind the curtain at the full paddock-to-bottle process. Pull up a seat at the plantation-themed bar inside or if you get lucky with the weather, grab a picnic blanket or a game and make yourself at home among the cane fields. To drink, order a Husk Pure Cane white rum, with its clean, lightly sweet profile and earthy finish, or the oak-aged Spiced Bam Bam, where vanilla, spice and caramel notes give way to a smooth, whiskey-like finish.
For a romantic night out
Bar Bruto
CASUARINA
Euro-inspired newcomer Bar Bruto brings tapas-style dining, cocktails with character and late-night Barcelona energy to Casuarina. Run by hospitality duo Mark Wilson and Lee Middendorf – the team behind Farm & Co – it’s an intimate affair, with chef Juan Luis Branto drawing on Spanish flavours and local produce for a menu of small plates designed to be shared. Think dishes such as ajo blanco with almond, confit leek and sour grapes; octopus with chimichurri and potato foam; golden croquettes and fried squid – with the menu changing regularly with the seasons and specials handwritten on the chalkboard. At the bar, vermouth takes centre stage alongside a concise cocktail list and rotating low-intervention wines. With the feel of a tucked-away European bar, this one is best for a romantic date night or relaxed happy hour.
Where to stay in The Tweed – from award-winning stays to lesser-known gems
Halcyon House
CABARITA
Over a decade after opening, Halycon House continues its reign as one of Australia’s most recognisable beachfront properties. Set right on Cabarita Beach, the reimagined ‘60’s surf hotel serves up laidback luxury with a side of whimsy. Rooms are bold and vibrant, art is eclectic and antique trinkets and treasures make each space feel like a world of its own. In the morning, be sure to nab a striped daybed by the pool, surrounded by the serenity of pandanus palms, or book into The Halcyon Spa for a soul-soothing massage.
Hillside Carool
CAROOL
Just 25 minutes from Gold Coast Airport lies this private hinterland estate made for group getaways. A converted winery, the house sleeps up to 16, with ensuites in six of the eight bedrooms. There’s a 20-metre outdoor pool fringed by towering palm trees and rolling hills, as well as a heated spa, sauna and cold plunge. Plus, a billiards room, cinema, pickleball court, outdoor pizza oven and multiple spaces for long lunches and dinners. In other words, there’s little reason to leave — but plenty of good reasons to.
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