Towns and Villages
Chinderah
Chinderah is approximately a 1.5 hr cruise from Tweed Heads and is the first town you will come upon on your venture upriver. A great place to stop off and pick up some bait and supplies. If you aren’t having too much luck with the fishing, pop on over to Tweed River Seafoods and pick yourself up some fresh, local seafood or stop in at Chinderah Tavern for a pub lunch. A floating jetty has been installed for easy access for boaties.
Whilst you are in town don’t forget to check out Chinderah Bay Antiques and Museum and Cubby Bakehouse – a must for your early morning coffee or sweet treat!
Tumbulgum
Tumbulgum, a small peaceful village situated on the banks of the Tweed River and was one of the first settlements in the valley. The village name is an aboriginal word meaning “meeting of the waters” as the Rous River joins the Tweed River here.
Tumbulgum has been a busy commercial and maritime centre from the middle of the last century, however is now a tranquil riverside village.
Tumbulgum was originally a cedar loggers settlement and many of the early buildings were constructed of red cedar and have been gazetted by the National Trust.
These days, activity at Tumbulgum centres on the river. A public wharf is conveniently located near the shops, and bait and tackle can be had by those who fancy a lazy day’s fishing.
The village has a small art gallery, café and general store, catering for most needs. The area’s popular watering hole is the historic Tumbulgum Tavern where the food is excellent and the views spectacular!
For the lovers of fine spirits, why not take a short stroll to Husk Distillery and enjoy an afternoon on the lawn sipping gin and experiencing the hidden beauty of the Tweed Valley.
Rous River
The Rous River is a small, quiet inlet with beautiful scenic views of the Tweed Valley. If you are up for a short bush walk, the Pioneers Cemetery is well worth a look and is easily accessible using your tender.
Condong
Further upriver you will come across the small town of Condong, approximately a 4 hour journey from Tweed. On the banks of the river is the Condong Sugar Mill which was first established in 1880 and is still up and running today. Condong has beautiful calm water, perfect for skiing and wakeboarding along with picturesque views of the Tweed Valley.
We would recommend dropping by and saying g’day to Geoff and Karen at Stamp and Grind – a beautiful cafe and post office located on McLeod Street, which is within walking distance from the river.
Due to the low set bridge at Cane Road our larger houseboats (Pacific Blue, Kalinda, Blue Bayou, Island Dream, Gypsea Belle, Paradise II and JFS Rhyanna) are unable to fit underneath. The rest of our fleet are able to cruise on through to Murwillumbah – a further hour cruise from Condong.
Murwillumbah
Murwillumbah is a beautiful, country town that sits at the base of Mount Warning, located approximately 4.5-5-hour cruise upstream from Tweed Heads. Some houseboats are restricted to Condong due to the low bridge near the sugar mill, so please check if you would like to explore this part of the river. There are plenty of great restaurants and cafes, clothes and antique shops to investigate.
