A guide to Bellingen as Charli Robinson takes an iconic road trip from Sydney to Brisbane

The well-worn road between Sydney and Brisbane is filled with charming coastal towns and some breath-taking scenery.

Charli Robinson has done the iconic road trip many times, and shares her favourite place to stop for a break. 

Location: 

Bellingen, NSW 

Info: 

Retro Bello www.instagram.com/retrobello 

Open daily 

State of Embrace stateofembrace.com 

Open daily 

Bellingen Farmers & Producers Market 

www.facebook.com/bellingenfarmersandproducersmarket 

Open 2:30pm - 5:30pm, every Wednesday 

Prices correct at 25.04.26 

Highlights: 

Bellingen sits among picture postcard farmlands, 30 minutes drive south of Coffs Harbour, on the NSW mid-north coast. The pristine Bellinger River meanders through the middle of town which is famed for its alternative boho vibe and cultural festivals. 

The historic main street is full of eclectic boutiques, galleries and cafes. Charli came across Retro Bello, a shop full of vintage treasures and up-cycled high end clothes. The local community cares about its environmental footprint, so turnover is high, especially with the children's clothes. Charli had her eye on a fur vest and a Spell dress, or maybe the Louis Vuitton sneakers… 

Bellingen is known for its vibrant, creative community, and local fashion designer Megs Ferrier draws her design inspiration from the area's botanicals for her clothing collections. Charli has always been a fan of the online store, so it was exciting to be able to visit the beautiful Bellingen shopfront. Made from sustainable materials using eco-friendly dyes, Megs' clothing range caters for sizes 4 to 20. 

If you are lucky enough to be in the area mid-week, then a visit to the Wednesday afternoon Bellingen Farmers and Producers Market is a must. The market backs local growers, like Tom from Mandarin Bend organic farm, whose produce is harvested and sold within 24 hours. From honey to chai, mushrooms to sourdough, cultural activities and live musicians, it's a whole community event. 

So next time you are looking for a relaxing, yet inspiring place to rest, Bellingen has something for all kinds of travellers.

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