Our Stories
A Road Trip to the Seaside with Julia Ashwood of The Vista
Country Road celebrates the lands and waters that give us life; into which the songlines, stories, songs, ancestors and dreamings of First Nations peoples are woven. May we pay respect to all First Nations people, past and present, for their generosity and custodianship of Country. We demonstrate our respect for First Nations peoples through our commitments to environmentally sustainable business practices and to working collaboratively and ethically to increase First Nations inclusion in our business and the Australian fashion and lifestyle industry.
This article is written by guest contributor Julia Ashwood, founder of online travel platform The Vista. You can follow Julia at @the_vista where she curates guides on unique places and people.
With springtime officially here, thoughts are of road trips and sweet seaside getaways.
These escapes need not be too far from home, we recently took some time out in our own backyard in Kingscliff on the Tweed Coast (just 15 minutes from Gold Coast Airport).
A few long, sunshine days and cool, salty waters was the perfect way to welcome these warmer seasons.
STAY
We made it easy by booking a room at the newly renovated Blue Water Motel for the evening. Complete with a pool, across the road from the beach and a short walking distance to the village, this was the perfect spot to take in the relaxed atmosphere of this lovely coastal town.
The rooms are generous and well styled by our friend Mr Jason Grant—with just a touch of retro, plus it's both kids and dog friendly too!
EXPLORE
The beaches are nothing short of amazing in this area. From Dreamtime Beach in Fingal to Cabarita, Hastings Point and beyond, you can always find a surfing wave or a protected nook to relax.
Tropical Fruit World, Duranbah is a great morning trip with the family. Take a farm tour via tractor train and experience exotic fruits, cute farm animals and kangaroos.
EAT
The Salt Mill is the pot to kick off your day with coffee and smoothies. Takeaway is easy, or grab a seat under the sun umbrellas.
Kingscliff Beach Hotel is a good choice with kids. The menu is huge with lots of pub classics and there is plenty of space to park up with a pram or two. This village strip also offers Nepalese, Japanese and Greek food offerings.
A short drive from Kingscliff, Cubby Bakehouse at Chinderah is another popular destination for breakfast or lunch by the river.
If you manage to fit in a long lunch Paper Daisy at Halcyon House is my pick. Be sure to book a treatment at their lovely spa too (if you have a babysitter).
DO
Grab some bikes for the family and roll out! You can hire bicycles (including beach cruisers) from Kingscliff Cycle Centre. From here, head along the bike path north to Fingal or south to Casuarina, Cabarita, Hastings Point and Pottsville.
Kingscliff Markets are held in Jack Bayliss Park on Marine Parade, Kingscliff, the second and fourth Saturday of every month, from 8am to 1pm.
Have a picnic! We picked up some local produce from Farm & Co and headed to the stunning Cabarita Headland for a picnic and some whale watching too.
