Burringbar NSW – A Tiny Tweed Valley Village Worth Exploring
Burringbar is a small country village tucked away in the Tweed Valley of Northern NSW, between Murwillumbah and the coast. For years, it was the sort of place many travellers simply drove through, but the arrival of the Northern Rivers Rail Trail has given visitors a new reason to stop and explore.
The village itself is small and easy to wander on foot, with local shops, places to eat and drink, old wares and plenty of country character. But it’s what you’ll find in and around Burringbar that makes it worth spending a few hours here.
From cycling through the historic Burringbar Range Tunnel and browsing vintage treasures to tasting locally made cheese and exploring the surrounding Tweed countryside, Burringbar makes an easy addition to a Northern Rivers road trip.
Choose How You Want to Experience the Rail Trail
You don’t need to bring your own bike or tackle the entire trail. There are several ways to experience the Northern Rivers Rail Trail, from independent e-bike hire and picnic packages to guided evening rides through the Burringbar Range Tunnel.
E-Bike & DIY Picnic – Full Day
For a relaxed day out, consider combining a full-day e-bike hire with a DIY picnic.
Starting from the Murwillumbah end of the trail, you can ride at your own pace, stop in Burringbar and choose a scenic spot for lunch along the way. Some experiences include e-bikes, helmets, tunnel lights, picnic equipment and a locally prepared grazing box.
This is a great option for couples or friends who want to make a day of the Rail Trail rather than simply cycling from one end to the other.
Glow Worm Tunnel Evening Guided Tour
For something completely different, take a guided evening e-bike tour through the Burringbar Range Tunnel.
The 524-metre tunnel is home to glow worms and microbats, and visiting after dark offers a very different experience from cycling through during the day.
An organised tour also takes care of the bikes and equipment, making this an easy option if you’re visiting the area and want to experience one of the Rail Trail’s most unusual attractions.
E-Bike Hire – Explore at Your Own Pace
If you prefer to be independent, hire an e-bike and create your own itinerary.
There are half-day e-bike hire and full-day e-bike hire options available along the trail.
Hiring for the day gives you plenty of freedom to stop in Burringbar, browse the shops, have something to eat or continue through Mooball towards Crabbes Creek.
E-Bike Hire with Return Transport
You don’t necessarily have to cycle the entire trail in both directions.
Another option is e-bike hire with return transport, allowing you to enjoy a one-way ride and have your return journey organised for you.
This can be particularly convenient if you’re not a regular cyclist or simply want to enjoy the trail without worrying about completing the return distance.
Progressive Traveller Tip: If you’re not a regular cyclist, consider an e-bike. You still get to pedal and enjoy the trail, but the electric assistance makes it easier to take your time, stop along the way and explore Burringbar rather than concentrating on covering the distance.
Ride or Walk the Northern Rivers Rail Trail
One of the biggest changes to Burringbar in recent years has been the opening of the Northern Rivers Rail Trail.
The 24 km Tweed section runs from Murwillumbah to Crabbes Creek, passing through Stokers Siding, Burringbar and Mooball along the former railway line. You don’t have to ride the entire trail either. Burringbar is a convenient place to join the trail for a shorter ride or walk through the surrounding countryside.
Burringbar Range Tunnel
One of the highlights is the Burringbar Range Tunnel, located between Stokers Siding and Burringbar. At 524 metres long, it’s the longest tunnel on the Northern Rivers Rail Trail and home to microbats and glow worms.
The tunnel isn’t lit, so you’ll need a bike light or torch to travel through it. It’s noticeably cooler and darker inside, which makes it one of the most memorable sections of the trail.
The trail itself is a mixture of sealed and compacted gravel surfaces and follows the old railway corridor through farmland, forest, historic bridges and small Tweed Valley villages.
Progressive Traveller Tip: Don’t simply cycle through Burringbar. Stop for a coffee, browse the village shops and allow some extra time to explore. The Rail Trail has made Burringbar a destination in its own right rather than somewhere you simply pass through.
Stop at Hosanna Farmstay
Another worthwhile stop along the Northern Rivers Rail Trail is Hosanna Farmstay at nearby Stokers Siding, another small Tweed Valley village surrounded by farmland and lush countryside.
The Rail Trail runs directly through the farm, making it an easy place to stop during your ride. Even if you’re not staying overnight, you can call in for a coffee or something to eat at the farm café, relax on the grass and enjoy the country setting.
One of the biggest attractions, particularly for families, is the chance to see and feed the farm animals. Daily animal-feeding sessions are part of the farm’s activities, with chickens, alpacas, llamas and pigs among the animals you may meet. Day visitors can also purchase a farm pass to enjoy more of the activities.
Hosanna is also a good option if you’d like to turn your Rail Trail visit into an overnight stay. Accommodation ranges from powered and unpowered camping to glamping-style huts, rustic cabins and a large homestead.
Progressive Traveller Tip: If you’re cycling the Rail Trail with children, Hosanna makes a fun stop to get off the bikes, grab something to eat and let the kids enjoy the farm animals before continuing your ride.
Taste Local Cheese at Tweed Valley Whey
A short drive from Burringbar, Tweed Valley Whey Farmhouse Cheeses is worth adding to your visit if you enjoy locally made food.
This family-run dairy produces artisan cheeses using milk from its own herd. Along with cheese, you’ll find yoghurt, kefir and gelato, as well as other locally sourced produce.
The licensed café and farm shop make it an easy stop for morning tea or lunch while exploring the Tweed Valley. You can sample the cheeses, stock up on local produce or simply sit back and enjoy the rural surroundings.
It’s also an easy place to combine with Burringbar and the Northern Rivers Rail Trail if you’re making a day of exploring this part of the Tweed.
Progressive Traveller Tip: Check the current opening hours before making the drive, particularly if you’re visiting midweek.
Where to Find Good Coffee in Burringbar
Burringbar’s coffee scene has changed considerably since I first wrote this article. Back then, one of my favourite stops was Elwood Cafe. Sadly, Elwood was destroyed by fire in 2022, but there are now several places to stop for coffee while exploring the village or riding the Northern Rivers Rail Trail.
The Barn Burringbar
Right in the heart of the village at 27 Broadway, The Barn Burringbar is an easy place to stop for coffee while exploring the main shopping strip.
Its central location makes it particularly convenient if you’re browsing the village, visiting Heath’s Old Wares or taking a break from the Rail Trail.
Teakwood Cafe
Teakwood Cafe, on Tweed Valley Way, is a good option if you’re looking for more than a quick coffee.
Along with coffee, it’s a sit-down café serving breakfast and lunch, making it worth considering if you’re planning to spend a few hours exploring Burringbar and the surrounding area.
Station 22 Cafe
For something a little different, Station 22 Cafe is tucked inside Burringbar Rainforest Nursery in Upper Burringbar.
The café has direct access from the Northern Rivers Rail Trail and is close to the Burringbar Range Tunnel. Stop for coffee, a smoothie or something to eat, then wander through the nursery and botanical gardens before continuing your ride.
With creekside picnic areas, shady forest corners and outdoor seating overlooking the surrounding landscape, it’s a lovely place to slow down for a while.
Browse Heath’s Old Wares
One place I would definitely keep on your Burringbar list is Heath’s Old Wares.
I love rummaging through places like this, and Heath’s is a genuine treasure trove. Long aisles are filled with old tools, signs, bottles, baskets, furniture, industrial antiques, collectables and all sorts of things you didn’t know you were looking for until you spotted them.
Heath’s began with stalls on the local market circuit in 1990, followed by shops in Ballina and Bangalow, before settling into Burringbar in 2016.
It’s one of those places where a quick browse can easily turn into an hour, particularly if you enjoy antiques, vintage pieces or simply a little nostalgia.
Burringbar Village Essentials
Burringbar may be small, but you’ll find a few useful local businesses along the village shopping strip, including the general store, liquor store and local butcher. They’re handy if you’re staying nearby, travelling through the Tweed Valley or need to pick up supplies while cycling the Northern Rivers Rail Trail.
The village shops sit opposite Burringbar Memorial Reserve, where you’ll find shady places to stop, picnic facilities, public toilets and a drinking-water refill station.
Progressive Traveller Tip: Burringbar is a good place to stock up on a few supplies, grab something to eat and take a break before continuing along the Rail Trail.
Stop at Burringbar Memorial Reserve
Opposite Burringbar’s small shopping strip is the shady Burringbar Memorial Reserve and Masterson Park, a handy place to stop for a break while exploring the village or riding the Northern Rivers Rail Trail.
There are picnic areas, public toilets and a drinking-water refill station, making it a convenient rest stop for cyclists and walkers. The park is also home to Burringbar’s war memorial and provides plenty of shade beneath the established trees.
Progressive Traveller Tip: If you’re cycling the Rail Trail, Burringbar is a good place to refill your water bottle, use the public toilets and take a break before continuing towards Mooball.
Visit Burringbar Rainforest Nursery
If you enjoy gardens and native plants, Burringbar Rainforest Nursery is well worth the short trip into Upper Burringbar.
The nursery specialises in Australian native plants, particularly species from Northern NSW and South East Queensland, with more than 2,000 species grown here. You’ll find everything from rainforest trees and native shrubs to palms, cycads, ferns, grasses and bush-tucker plants.
What makes it particularly enjoyable for visitors is the acre of botanical gardens surrounding the nursery. You can wander through established native gardens and see how many of the plants look once mature rather than simply browsing rows of pots.
The nursery is also accessible from the Northern Rivers Rail Trail and is close to the Burringbar Range Tunnel, so it’s an easy addition if you’re cycling or walking this section of the trail.
Station 22 Cafe is located within the nursery grounds, making it a lovely spot to combine a wander through the gardens with coffee or something to eat.
Progressive Traveller Tip: Even if you’re not planning to buy plants, stop for a wander through the botanical gardens. It’s a lovely little detour from Burringbar village and one that’s easy to miss if you don’t know it’s there.
Continue Exploring the Tweed Valley
Burringbar is only one small part of the beautiful Tweed Valley. If you have more time, these nearby places are worth adding to your trip:
- Discover Murwillumbah NSW – explore the town, local cafés, shops and the Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre.
- Condong Sugar Mill – discover the history of the working sugar mill that has been part of the Tweed Valley landscape since 1880.
- Things to Do in Tumbulgum – visit this small riverside village on the Tweed River, around 10 km from Murwillumbah.
- Husk Distillers, Tumbulgum – learn more about this local distillery and its connection to the Tweed Valley.
- Brisbane to Sydney Road Trip – travelling by car? Discover more places to stop along Australia’s east coast.
Together, Burringbar, Murwillumbah, Condong and Tumbulgum make a great day or weekend of exploring the Tweed Valley.
