Nimbin, NSW, 2480
Australia's alternative lifestyle capital
by Jo-Ann Palmer.
Nimbin exploded on Australia's psyche in the 1970's when it hosted the Aquarius Music Festival.
After the bands left and the dust cleared, a few intrepid souls stayed on and made their mark on the formerly sleepy rural village.
The unofficial capital of the "Rainbow Region" and Australia's alternative lifestyle capital, old shopfronts have been converted to eateries and retail shops are gaily decorated in indigenous and new age motifs.
Nimbin Shuttle ph. (02) 6680 9189, makes a run each Sunday from Byron Bay to the various popular local markets, and the Nimbin - Byron Bay Shuttle ph. (02) 6687 2007, makes a daily run between the two settlements.
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Accommodation in Nimbin and nearby
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- Teretre Cabins Nimbin
- Silk Pavilions Glamping - Mt Burrell
- Kookaburra Cottage at Uralba Eco Cottages - Upper Horseshoe Creek
- Nimbin Hotel & Backpackers
- Nimbin Crystal Tourist Park
- Nimbin Showground
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Local Tours & Attractions
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- Nimbin Community Centre
- Nimbin Good Times
- Nimbin MardiGrass
- Border Ranges National Park
- Nightcap National Park
- Art & Soul Gallery, The Channon
- Blue Knob Cafe and Gallery
- Choices Cafe
- Djanbung Gardens Permaculture Centre
- Nimbin Artists Gallery
- Nimbin Candle Factory
- Nimbin Craft Gallery
- Nimbin Environment Centre
- Nimbin HEMP Embassy
- Nimbin Museum
- Nimbin Pizza & Trattoria
- Nimbin Tours
- Rainbow Power Company
- The Rainbow Cafe
- Big Volcano Activities & Attractions Directory
Accommodation
Accommodation in Nimbin is limited to a couple of B&Bs, 2 caravan parks, and a pub suitable for backpackers. Farmstay and cottage accommodations are scattered in the hamlets around the village.
Nimbin Showground
The Nimbin Showground is a great place to camp within easy walking distance of the village of Nimbin.
Facilities include powered and non-powered sites, a camp kitchen (refrigerator, microwave, kettle, sinks, and free electric barbecue), toilets, hot showers, and a coin-operated washing machine, plus rotary clothesline.
We also have a dedicated dump point for the benefit of motorhome operators. Access to powered sites is on a first-come basis, although this is not normally an issue. Maximum stay: seven nights.
Attractions
A number of day tour operators from Byron Bay and the Gold Coast, include a Nimbin visit in their day tours.
The vision of Aquarius is still alive and kicking with the likes of the the Rainbow Power Company and Jarlanbah Permaulture Hamlet, providing an insight into and working examples of alternative roots and potential futures.
No visit to Nimbin would be complete without a visit to the Nimbin HEMP Embassy. Started in 1992, the HEMP Embassy runs an information centre/ paraphernalia shop to fund their campaigns to reform outdated industrial, medicinal and recreational use cannabis laws.
The Nimbin MardiGrass, established out of a protest in 1993, is now a popular annual event focussed on hemp and drug law reform, which inevitably generates some heated discussion.
And the local free monthly newspaper The Nimbin Good Times, is an excellent source of local news, information and events, and is well worth a read.
National Parks and Reserves
Look out for the Nimbin Rocks, particularly beautiful in the early morning sunlight, about 3 kilometres south of town.
Nightcap National Park
Nimbin also provides convenient access to Nightcap National Park, now one of the five World Heritage sites in the region.
Mount Nardi picnic area offers a starting point for walks of varius lengths, or you can just enjoy a picnic and the views.
However, if you want to visit Terania Creek and Protester Falls, the scene of protests to have the then state forest old growth stands protected from logging, you'll need to detour via The Channon.
Border Ranges National Park
Spectacular views looking out over the Tweed Valley and Mount Warning to the east, accessed by easy walks through Cool temperate or Subtropical rainforest, is a feature of this spectacular World Heritage area.
The 64km Tweed Range Scenic loop Drive can be reached via the Barkers Vale turn off on the Murwillumbah - Kyogle Road, just northwest of Nimbin.
Take a packed lunch and then decide which views to enjoy, at Bar Mountain, Blackbutts Lookout or Antarctic Beech day use picnic areas.
More infomration is available from Nimbin Visitor Information Centre on ph. (02) 6689 1388, or Lismore and Nimbin Visitor Information Centre on ph. 1300 369 795.
Photos © by J Palmer, Big Volcano Tourism
Getting to Nimbin
Road
Getting to the region is easy: Nimbin is approximately 811 kilometres - about 10 hours drive north from Sydney via Lismore, and about 2 hours drive south from Brisbane, via the Pacific Highway.
Driving options include the Pacific Highway via Lismore and Summerland Way (via Kyogle) in New South Wales, and Pacific Highway via Murwillumbah, from Queensland.
Air
Domestic flights operate from east coast capital cities into Ballina/Byron Gateway Airport, and from all capitals and a number of regional airports, into Gold Coast Airport at Coolangatta.
A number of international carriers servicing SE Asia, New Zealand and the Pacific also fly into Gold Coast Airport, with all airports having airport car hire or other car rental services available nearby.
Coach/Rail
Daily interstate coach services are available for Lismore to Brisbane and Sydney, with a daily or overnight train service available via coach transfer at Casino. See Countrylink services for timetables and more information.
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