Overview

Towns in the
Bellingen Council Area ..

BELLINGEN
BELLINGEN EAST
BELLINGEN NORTH
BIELSDOWN HILLS
BIELSDOWN LOWER
BOGGY CREEK
BOSTOBRICK
BRIERFIELD
BRIGGSVALE
BRINERVILLE
BROOKLANA SIDING
BUFFER CREEK
CASCADE
CHARLMONT
DARKWOOD
DEER VALE
DORRIGO
DORRIGO MOUNTAIN
FERNBROOK
FERNMOUNT
GANGARA
GLENIFFER
GORDONVILLE
HARNESS CASK
HUNGRY HEAD
HYDES CREEK
KALANG
KOOROOWI
LEIGH
LITTLE NORTH ARM
MARX HILL
MATHEWS CREEK
MAYNARDS PLAINS
MEGAN
MELDRUM
MELDRUM DOWNS
MERANGO
MIDDLE KALANG
MOUNT GLADSTONE
MOUNTAIN TOP
MULDIVA
MULDIVA CREEK
MYLESTOM
NEVER NEVER
NEWRY
NEWRY ISLAND
NORTH BANK
NORTH DORRIGO
ORAMA
PADDYS PLAIN
PICKETT HILL
PROMISED LAND
RALEIGH
RALEIGH SOUTH
REPTON
SCOTCHMAN
SPICKETTS CREEK
SUNNY CORNER
TALLOWWOOD RIDGE
TARKEETH
THORA
UPPER KALANG
UPPER THORA
URANGA
URUNGA
URUNGA SOUTH
VALERY
WENONAH HEAD
WHISKY CREEK
WYEMBAH
YELLOW ROCK

Bellingen is situated within the Mid North Coast Region of New South Wales.

The town has enormous character and charm, thanks to the number of historic buildings that have been preserved.

Bellingen is a country classic, with faded weatherboard facades peering out from the verandahs that line the main street. The town’s New Age tendency is obvious in the whimsical architecture and in the cafés and street advertising. Bellingen is also the centre of a lively community with a high percentage of performance artists, painters, sculptors and craftworkers.

Bellingen is also a good base for exploring the towering rainforest of Dorrigo National Park.

History

Once covered by cedar forests, the Bellinger Valley was opened up by timber cutters. Most of the town centre was built between the 1860s and '90s, by which time it had become the hub of a dairying area. During the 1970s and '80s the town and the undulating subtropical country surrounding it became a favourite refuge for urban escapees seeking a more mellow existence.

Things to do

Take a Bellingen heritage walk around the historic town.

Take the scenic drive to Promised Land.

Explore the walking trails of Dorrigo National Park.

Take a dip in Never Never Creek.

Go for a stroll around the bat colony at Bellingen Island.

Events

The Bellingen Global Carnival in September/October is one of the funkiest of all music festivals, a blend of classical, contemporary and electronic music in a package that reflects Australia’s multicultural heritage.

Don’t miss

The craftworks in The Yellow Shed.

Bellingen Community Market on the third Saturday of each month.

Shopping at the Old Butter Factory Co-Op, a studio and gallery for local craftworkers – well worth a look if you're searching for distinctive, one-off souvenirs