Set between mountain and river in the Tweed Valley, the artful town of Murwillumbah was always destined to be cool.

Cradled in a caldera at the foot of Wollumbin (Mt Warning) and curling along beside the Tweed River, Murwillumbah is ahead of the game in terms of geographical assets.

But this 1840s-era town rises to meet its pretty landscape with an impressive assortment of Art Deco buildings – within which are housed an ever-increasing number of curated boutiques, cool artist studios and top-class eateries. Keep reading to discover the top things to do in Murwillumbah.

Could Murwillumbah be the Tweed’s coolest town?

For a long while, the time-warp buildings huddled along Wollumbin and Murwillumbah streets languished in various degrees of disregard. But of course, treasures never stay buried for long, even in this hinterland hub set on cane and cattle country.

Wander the main street and you’ll find a mixed bag of amblers, from well-to-do country women to hip young parents, artsy types and even the occasional staff-toting wizard. It all adds to the charm as they pop in and out of the many wholefood stores, workwear retailers, barber shops and well-merchandised op shops.

Thanks in part to the Northern Rivers Rail Trail that starts here, Murwillumbah’s inherent beauty and elegantly dilapidated heritage are starting to draw people in from the coast.

As such, the town is in mid-gentrification mode and still feels like a cool tip-off in the way Redfern or Fitzroy once did. It’s a veritable crucible for hip status with its artist population, a somewhat gritty undercarriage and a CBD of untapped potential.

Embrace creativity at M|Arts Precinct

A hip hood in its own right, this corner collection of artists’ workshops, boutiques and eateries feels more like something you’d find in Sydney’s Surry Hills than The Tweed hinterland.

A huge range is contained within the sprawling block, including local cheesemonger Kat Harvey Cheese, a two-storey fashion and homewares emporium, Empire Revival, The Bespoke Linen Co. and the Six & Four Wine Store that sells small-batch organic drops.

Feast on Italian fare at Pasta’bah

Pasta’bah all began with eggs. The eggs from Fabian Fabbro and Jodie Vickers’ Woodland Valley Farm go into the beautiful homemade pasta, which the couple have peddled at local markets for years.

Now they have a pasta bar and deli tucked behind Mur’bah’s main street. Come in and fill your basket with continental goodies and grab a panuozzo (a Neapolitan-style street-food sandwich), bowl of pasta or a fresh cannolo that’s filled while you wait.

Indulge in Bistro Livi’s culinary delights

Buffed to culinary perfection, this destination diner is set in a sunny corner of the M|Arts Precinct. Consistently setting the table with fare that’s a deft assembly of flavours gathered from local producers, the team here has easy-going hospitality in hand.

This is a place where you don’t have to look at the menu online before arriving – just trust that everything is good.

Sample Sayu’s Japanese flavours

Sake flows at this neighbourhood izakaya serving modern Japanese fare. The classic rib-stickers of gyoza, karaage and katsu do the work when you’re opting in for pints of cold Sapporo.

Step across concrete floors into a space defined by tactile stone and moody, minimal hues. Pull up to a wooden-slab table or settle in for an arvo session in a booth. 

Find your next favourite read at Slow Books

This welcoming store is a bright, cosy place to discover a new favourite novel, sit with a pour-over coffee, browse the art or just inhale that delicious new-book scent.

Here you’ll find a balanced collection, with everything from gorgeous kids’ books to Japanese pop culture and modern fiction – all with covers begging to be judged for their design aesthetic.