Savour The Tweed: The Foodie Festival You Can’t Miss

The Tweed is getting a brand-new gourmet event to shine a light on its world-class food culture.

Sandwiched between Byron Bay and the Gold Coast, the Tweed rivals both with its stunning beaches, laid-back coastal vibes and vibrant food scene dotted with highly awarded restaurants. Full of talent and passion, there’s so much for gourmands to discover here and now they can with the launch of the inaugural Savour The Tweed this October.

As a region dotted with eight hatted fine diners, NSW’s best regional restaurant (that’s two years running, mind you) and a hinterland proliferated with incredible producers, it certainly seems long overdue for the Tweed to have its own dedicated food and drink event.

FINS Plantation House in the Tweed — It’s long overdue for the Tweed to have its own dedicated food and drink event.

Now both locals and visitors alike are invited to enjoy a roaming feast of the area with the five-day Savour The Tweed launching this spring. From 30 October to 3 November, a banquet of gourmet events will roll out from coast to country with a program co-curated by renowned Tweed-based chef and cookbook author, Christine Manfield and local food advocate Amy Colli of Straight to the Source.

Chef cooking at Pipit in Pottsville — From 30 October to 3 November, a banquet of gourmet events will roll out from coast to country.

“The festival highlights the diversity and breadth of talent in the region and applauds the agritourism initiatives that continue to flourish and allow our community to stand out," says Manfield.

Amassing local and visiting talent to spotlight such initiatives, the program is stacked with both ticketed and free events, with everything from First Nations storytellers to passionate chefs, distillers, brewers, cheesemakers and farmers, among a huge array of locally grown and crafted foods.

Pipit restaurant in Pottsville — The program is stacked with both ticketed and free events.

The program

From the simple love of a good meal to a deeper dive into artisan products and discovering the terroir of the region, there’s a Savour The Tweed event to satiate everyone.

It all kicks off with a free event at the local Murwillumbah Farmers Market, where Tweed local and Rae’s on Wategos chef Jason Saxby will hold a foodie Q&A session. From there, you can dip in and out of the program. Learn about all things fishy with a Demystifying Seafood masterclass with chef Steven Snow at local favourite Fins; find a deeper connection to Country with a talk by Bundjalung chef Mindy Woods and First Nations ally Christine Manfield; and enjoy a hinterland feast of fire and ice at a collaboration by hatted Potager and Bush Ice-creamery.

Fresh produce from the Murwillumbah Farmers Market — Attend a foodie Q&A session at the local Murwillumbah Farmers Market.

There will be laidback lunches, brunches, degustations and vibrant parties to attend at some of the Tweed’s most acclaimed eateries and establishments, as well as kid-focused events and experiences that speak to sustainable and regenerative farming and region-specific flavours. The final farewell party will be held on 3 November at the hatted No.35 Kitchen & Bar at Cabarita Beach.

Burrata and bread at No.35 Kitchen & Bar Cabarita Beach — The final farewell party will be held on 3 November at the hatted No.35 Kitchen & Bar.

Event highlights

With more than 20 events across five big days, it’s difficult to pinpoint highlights. Manfield suggests looking for events that speak to your budget and interests.

“I would encourage everyone to engage with at least a few of the events to really get a measure of the excellence on show in the Tweed," she says.

If we had to choose, for those who relish refined flavours and beautiful produce, you shouldn’t miss The Producers Dinner at Murwillumbah’s hatted Bistro Livi on 31 October.

Bistro Livi in Murwillumbah — Don’t miss The Producers Dinner at Murwillumbah’s hatted Bistro Livi.

The following day, head to Farm & Co for The Farm Kitchen with acclaimed cookbook author Belinda Jefferies. Relish a warm spring evening outdoors that night with a Wood Fired Dinner Under the Stars at Plantation House.

Farm and Co table setting in the Tweed — Head to Farm & Co for The Farm Kitchen. (Image: Pineapple Images)

Then on Saturday 2 November, get the kids in the kitchen with an Eat the Rainbow workshop led by local Samantha Gowing, before leaving them with a babysitter and heading to the Flamin’ Negroni Party at Husk Farm Distillery, where you’ll try their famous Ink Gin.

Negronis at Husk Farm Distillery — Head to the Flamin’ Negroni Party at Husk Farm Distillery.

And don’t miss a pairing of a sustainable ethos with culinary talent at the Sensational Seaweed: Healthy Planet lunch at Pottsville’s hatted Pipit.

Dishes from Pipit in Pottsville — Don’t miss Pottsville’s hatted Pipit.

Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.

Where to stay

Blue Water Motel, Kingscliff

This cool, revived retro surf motel is a short walk to the beach, town and Kingscliff Bowls Club, where the Kids Cooking Workshop will be held.

Blue Water Motel bed — Blue Water Motel is a short walk to the beach.

Halcyon House, Cabarita Beach

This luxe, five-star hotel is beach-adjacent and just a few steps from the Cabarita Beach high street. It’s also home to the hatted Paper Daisy restaurant.

the Halcyon House Pool — just a few steps from the Cabarita Beach high street. (Image: Kara Rosenlund)

Oaks Casuarina Santai Resort

Set in the beachside Casuarina, this recently revived resort looks over a large interior pool and is close to shops and the beach.

Peppers Salt Resort & Spa, Kingscliff

Easy, breezy accommodation by the beach with all the amenities expected of a Peppers property.

Peppers Salt Resort & Spa pool in the Tweed — Relax at Peppers Salt Resort & Spa.

Weekly travel news, experiences
insider tips, offers, and more.

Tweed Holiday Parks, Pottsville South

Keep it casual and stay in a tidy creek-side cabin at this holiday park. It’s just a short walk from Pottsville town and Pipit and right on the lagoon-like Cudgera Creek.

If you can’t make the festival…

It stands to reason next year’s Savour The Tweed is likely to be even bigger. But if you can’t wait that long, there are plenty of food-forward places to experience no matter when you visit.

Of course, there are eight hatted restaurants to book: Pipit, Bistro Livi, No.35 Restaurant & Bar, Paper Daisy, Tweed River House, Potager, Taverna, and Fins Restaurant.

Potager restaurant in the Tweed — Potager is one of eight hatted restaurants to book.

There are also wonderful places to sip and chill, such as Husk Farm Distillery in Tumbulgum and Earth Beer Company in Cudgen, while the Kingscliff Hotel has an excellent live music rotation. Head to Bay Street in Tweed Heads for provisions at Rob Roy Deli and The Bread Social, as well as Kat Harvey Cheese in Murwillumbah and the plentiful local farmer’s markets, including the fabulous Saturday market at Tropical Fruit World.

In Pottsville, Black Drop has a well-finessed daily menu and also does great pop-up dinners, while in Cudgen, Farm & Co is a perfect brunch spot or farm-to-plate dinner date, and Burringbar’s Teakwood Cafe and the Natural Wine Shop are well-worth a hinterland sojourn.

Farm & Co tables with sunflowers — Farm & Co is a perfect brunch spot or farm-to-plate dinner date. (Image: Mathilde Bouby Photography)

Tickets

Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at Savour The Tweed where you can also view a full program of events. Event prices vary but do not exceed $200. So be quick, headline events will surely sell out fast.

Series of dishes at Savour The Tweed festival in the Tweed — The five-day Savour The Tweed festival is launching this spring.

See the Murray region in an entirely different light by exploring its night-time experiences and attractions.

By day, the mighty Murray River is a majestic and ever-changing sight, with river red gums and wetlands stretching along 2500 kilometres. But by night, its cities, towns, villages and landscapes totally transform.

From Albury Wodonga to Mildura, and everywhere in between, you’ll be in for a multi-sensory and memorable treat encompassing mesmerising light shows, guided ghost tours and vibrant celebrations that capture the nocturnal magic of the river.

This is no ordinary nighttime adventure; the region becomes an entirely different world when the sun sets. Discover six must-do activities along the Murray that can only be enjoyed after dark.

Port After Dark tour Murray at night — Hold on to your nerve when learning local ghost stories. (Credit: Campaspe Shire Council)

If you’re up for something a little more spine-tingling, Port After Dark in Echuca is your best bet. Rumour has it that the Port of Echuca Wharf and the buildings around it have long been home to lingering ghosts and mysterious events – like the vengeful woman said to haunt an old tramway bridge and spirits searching for stolen money through the town centre.

You can hear all about them on this guided lantern tour, which takes place on Wednesday and Saturday nights after dark. The stories are atmospheric and intriguing – you may even spot a ghost or two yourself. If you’d like a more intimate experience, private tours are also available to groups of 15 or more.

2. Wander art installations

Bruce Munroe's Fibre Optic Symphoinic Orchestra Murray at night — See Bruce Munro’s immersive art installation. (Credit: Serena Munro)

Right near the Perry Sandhills, sits an experience that feels almost otherworldly. Artist Bruce Munro (of Uluru’s Field of Lights fame) has created a Fibre Optic Symphonic Orchestra, a network of 80 Hills Hoists illuminated with fibre optic light combined with the sounds of an orchestra. The clotheslines glow and pulse in time to the specially composed score, immersing you in a dreamscape of light and sound.

For a different light experience, you’ll find stillness at Trail of Lights, also curated by Munro. Located just 30 minutes away on Lock Island in Mildura, thousands of lights stretch over the landscape, spotlighting both the river and a series of Munro’s sculptures. The trail is intended to be a peaceful and meditative setting for wandering and reflecting.

3. Learn through lasers

Heartbeat of the Murray at night — Travel 30 million years into the Murray’s past at Heartbeat of the Murray. (Credit: Ewen Bell)

Discover a fascinating history in this dual act of lights and projections on the banks of the Little Murray River. Legends of the Mallee is a multimedia show in Swan Hill combining lasers and lights, which tells the story of the region’s rich past. Learn about the Wamba Wamba and Wadi Wadi Peoples who first inhabited the area, as well as the figures and events that shaped the Mallee of today.

The river steals the spotlight in the Heartbeat of the Murray, a multimedia spectacle inside the Pioneer Settlement encompassing lights, lasers, sound and special effects against the natural backdrop. Through a sequence of large-scale animated projections, you’ll go back 30 million years to explore the Murray River’s formation before travelling to the present to learn how it supports modern communities.

4. Light up the lake

Lake Mulwala Laser Light Show Murray at night — Watch the lights and lasers of Lake Mulwala. (Credit: Mulwala Water Ski Club)

Travelling with kids? Head to Yarrawonga Mulwala and nearby Lake Mulwala for the family-friendly Laser Light & Sound Show. Lights and lasers are projected over the lake and onto curtains of fog, creating a colourful and high-energy visual display. The show suits all ages and tastes, set to a mix of songs that everyone knows and loves.

You can take in the spectacle from either the grassy banks of the lake or book a table at the Mulwala Water Ski Club’s Malibu Deck Cafe, serving pub-style food and refreshing drinks, including excellent classic cocktails. If you’re watching from the foreshore, the show is entirely free, making it a great budget-friendly option.

5. Be captivated by local culture

Bullanginya Dreaming Murray at night — Soak in the culture of the Bangerang People. (Credit: Laser Vision)

Set aside an evening to explore Bullanginya Dreaming in Cobram Barooga – you’ll want ample time to take in the stories and symbolism of this immersive laser light and sound trail. The 1.8-kilometre trail explores the storytelling and culture of the Bangerang People, who have long cared for the lands around Bullanginya Lagoon in Barooga. The trail features 12 activations – each telling a different story – and combines dramatic lights and lasers with water and fire.

Intertwined with the visual displays are Bangerang narratives, giving you meaningful insight into the area’s Indigenous heritage. It’s designed to be explored over 90 or so minutes, encouraging you to move slowly and thoughtfully.

6. Discover a winter glow

winterglow festival — See the streets of Albury Wodonga come to life after dark. (Credit: Visit Albury Wodonga)

Albury Wodonga comes alive as the weather drops, with an annual celebration of the season on Saturday, 15 August. WinterGlow takes over the CBD and features a vibrant program of things to see, do, learn, eat and drink.

Take part in hands-on workshops that let you try different art forms and crafts. Feast on street food and winter warmers from local eateries. Browse for artisan wares at the night markets. Watch musical acts on the main stage. Or get involved in different activations, including a silent disco and giant maze. Artificial snow will be falling to add to the festive atmosphere.

Even wandering the streets and laneways and soaking up the late-night energy will leave you feeling enchanted.

Start planning a day-to-night adventure along the Murray at visitthemurray.com.au.

Taste your way through the Tweed: The foodie festival you can’t miss!

The Tweed is getting a brand-new gourmet event to shine a light on its world-class food culture.

The program

Event highlights