PHOTOS : MIA FORREST ; GREGORY LORDING / DESTINATION NSW

Tweed River House

Mavis ’ Kitchen

DAYS 1 - 3 FIRST , WE FEAST

The rolling green hills of the Tweed Valley and the laidback charm of the Tweed Coast are an ideal introduction to the Northern Rivers gourmet trail , with a plethora of coast-to-country kitchens delivering some very special dining experiences . Begin your road trip in the rural haven of Carool , a 20-minute drive just over the border from Queensland , at the delightful Potager , a multi-award-winning hatted restaurant set within a charming country cottage on a four-hectare farm . Homely dishes whipped up using homegrown and locally sourced organic produce , fish , and grass-fed meat provide every reason to settle in for long lunch , making Potager the perfect start to a week of feasting ahead . Alternatively , you could head straight to the charming green enclave of Uki and spend your first day at one of the area ’ s beautiful hinterland retreats . Mavis ’ Kitchen & Cabins is a 25-acre former dairy farm , home to a countrystyle restaurant where horticulturalist Jackie Hopkinson takes care of the produce for the restaurant ’ s kitchen garden , and head chef Simon Liljeqvist takes on the seasonally rotating menu in the dining room . Wanting some serious luxury with your hinterland escape ? Book in for a night at the couples-only haven of Crystal Creek Rainforest Retreat instead , with its architecturally designed lodges and spa cabins by a babbling brook of pure , crystal-clear mountain water . You ’ re in for a blissful retreat to romance , tucked away together in the rainforest within one of the most beautiful corners on earth ! There are plenty more farm-fresh dining options for day two , and hungry bellies should make a beeline to Murwillumbah for lunch at one of the area ’ s finest restaurants . The century-old riverside manor Tweed River House sits on the banks of the Tweed River with views across to Wollumbin ( Mount Warning ), a grand old dame that has been magnificently restored in the colonial style of bygone eras to offer diners an elegantly relaxed affair . Make a reservation ahead of time to take a seat out on the breezy terrace and savour a set menu of everevolving Provençal-style dishes and contemporary cuisine based around the very best of each season ’ s haul from the Northern Rivers ’ farms , riverways and ocean , as well as many dishes inspired by native bush foods . While you ’ re out this way , it ’ s an excellent opportunity to swing by Husk Distillers in the charming little riverside village of Tumbulgum , a mere ten-minute drive via the

holidaysforcouples . travel 25