BC (or before Covid) Midginbil Eco Resort helped create memories for those who want country weddings. With a range of accommodation and a perfect hinterland vista as a backdrop, the resort has proven enormously with couples who want to tie the knot surrounded by their nearest and dearest.

Until February 16, 2021, hosts Mel and Russ Diffey will offer overnight holiday accommodation. Three-day wedding packages for the bride, groom and guests are now again available too.

Where the air is fresh

Midginbil Eco Resort is in Northern NSW’s Tweed Hinterland. The Hinterland sits happily in the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area. This is the most extensive subtropical rainforest in the world. UNESCO deemed this ancient place on the border of Northern NSW and South East Queensland late last century.

According to UNESCO – “It represents outstanding examples of major stages of the Earth’s evolutionary history, ongoing geological and biological processes, and exceptional biological diversity. A wide range of plant and animal lineages and communities with ancient origins in Gondwana, many of which are restricted largely or entirely to the Gondwana Rainforests, survive in this collection of reserves. The Gondwana Rainforests also provides the principal habitat for many threatened species of plants and animals”.

The luxury of seclusion

Midginbil Eco Resort makes a good basecamp for seeing the best of the Tweed Valley. From here it’s easy to discover the other side of the Tweed where the landscape stars. Visit villages and stories of days before but remain close enough to the coast to finish the day with a beach walk or energising surf swim.

In contrast to the coast, mountain views are interrupted by deep valleys and lush emerald fields that make way for stretches of impenetrable bush.

How many retreats can offer four National Parks as their closest neighbours? Midginbil is surrounded by Wollumbin National Park and the silent but always present Mt Warning to the north; Border Ranges National Park to the west and Mount Jerusalem National Park to the East. Nightcap National Park completes the fab four to the south with magnificent escarpment views from the hilltop safari tents.

ConTENTment

Midginbil Eco Resort’s six safari tents stand along a ridge separated from the main buildings by a climb that is a little testing in the heat of a summer afternoon. The tents are cosy with comfortable bathrooms and decks that overlook a designed for maximum viewing pleasure.

Meanwhile, meals and refreshments can be BYO with an industrial kitchen in the main building. A small esky might be the answer for chilling some wine and cheese for the best time of day – sunset. The view is bucolic by day comes dramatically alive at golden hour.

Along with the sunset, the cicada chorus signals happy hour. Frogs join in before the stars make their mark in this big sky. As darkness falls the occasional thump in the night is just the wallaby stragglers making their way home.

Next, gaze at a sky that the traditional owners, the Bundjalung have wondered at for thousands of years. Early nights are a pleasure as the temperature cools and the extra comfy queen bed comes with a doona designed for nights like this. The frogs continue with their moodier, late-night set.

If you’re a regular glamper this might not be exactly what you had in mind. Midginbil Eco Resort is more rustic than upmarket. Coming here it’s important to pack a good attitude and a willingness to switch off and take in all that the Tweed Hinterland has to offer.

Explore one of the Eco-Resort Glamping Tents.

Use your cursor to rotate the view

Explore

Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre

This outstanding Gallery has become well-known for showcasing Tweed artists. Currently, ‘You are here: art of the region’ is an exhibition comprised entirely of works from the Tweed Regional Gallery collection. Exploring artists’ different interpretations of the land and seascape, the exhibition includes works by Margaret Olley, James Guppy, Guy Maestri and more.

Every art lover will be enchanted by the Margaret Olley Art Centre. The centrepiece – a recreation of her home studio in Paddington in Sydney’s inner East highlights the artist’s bower bird inclinations with over 20,000 items.

The 2020 Archibald Prize Regional Tour is making its first stop at this dynamic gallery. The show begins on January 22 and will close March 7, 2021.

Bastion Lane Espresso

Depending on the time of day there are two important stops on the way to Midginbil Eco Resort. If it’s the afternoon, pull into Uki’s Mount Warning Hotel for a bottle of something chilled for taking in that sunset view on your safari tent deck. If it’s morning don’t go past Bastion Lane Espresso and its heady, caffeinated aromas.

Former high-flyer Gary Wall wanted a change. He came to Uki (pronounced Youk-eye) and completely re-invented the 110-year-old heritage-listed Post Office. Still a busy Australia Post Office, the building is also home to a coffee roastery, busy cafe and art space.

Uki’s locals were once as immovable as Wollumbin that stands tall above the village. It took a little while to warm to the changes, but Gary’s outstanding lattes and flat whites were simply too good to resist.

Disclaimer: TML were guests of Midginbil Eco Resort and Tweed Tourism Company.