Is Mullumbimby the New Byron Bay?

When we first made a plan for our 2023 road trip through South-Eastern Queensland, we set Byron Bay as our most southern destination. Yes, Byron Bay is, in fact, in New South Wales, but you get the idea. Yet, while making our road trip, we decided we didn’t need to return. We went to Byron Bay on last year’s trip, and for Yentl, it would have been its third time. Instead, we got back into planning mode and stumbled upon this town that is supposed to be the new Byron Bay, Mullumbimby. 

If you ask Yentl, he will tell you that Byron Bay is different from what it used to be. It is nice but not worth the hype that destroyed the authentic vibe. Reading that Mullumbimby is the town where the authentic Byron Bay vibe has moved to, we were very excited to put that on our road trip map. As we also wanted to go to Nimbin, we at least didn’t have to scrap the entire New South Wales snippet in our trip.

Our 2023 Greater Brisbane Road Trip: 

If you still need to catch up on our travels, I’ll give you a short overview. In July 2022, we completed last year’s East Coast Adventure, where we went from Melbourne to Darwin. During this trip, we set foot on the world’s 3rd largest sand island, Moreton Island, for the first time. After snorkelling the famous Tangalooma Shipwrecks, we fell in love with the island and its atmosphere. Yentl applied to become a DiveMaster, and I got into guiding Quad tours. 

After eight months of working and living on the island, we were eager to hit the road again. Fortunately, Kane and Jenna, two friends we met on the island, lent us their car for six weeks during their trip to Vietnam. A vehicle allowed us to explore the greater Brisbane Area better and more in detail. Although the resort had asked us if we could help again over Easter, we still had four and a half weeks to travel. 

The Noosa Everglades became our furthest destination in the North and Byron Bay in the South. After some reconsideration, we had to go check out the hippie vibe of Nimbin and what people call the new Byron Bay, Mullumbimby, instead. Yentl isn’t a fan of re-visiting destinations, and a third time Byron Bay would have been too much for him. 

A visit to Nimbin, the famous Hippie Town: 

Not re-visiting destinations is a thing, but if there is a destination we still need to see, there is no way around it, and we need to go. Nimbin had been on Yentl’s mind since his first East Coast Trip in 2019. Back then, he travelled by bus, which made Nimbin too far away for a visit. We also tried to come and visit on last year’s train trip, but we couldn’t find the time. Kobe, Yentl’s brother, was visiting us, and Nimbin was only worth trying to get to with our own transport. Luckily, we had the luxury of having our own vehicle this time, so Nimbin was finally included in this trip. 

After our trip to Mount Barney, we headed straight for the allusive town, only to find out it was really in the middle of nowhere. Moreover, floods have wiped out many roads over the past few years, and getting into town was almost a challenge. We didn’t have many plans or expectations, but Nimbin was precisely how we imagined it to be, but also completely different. Nestled between the rolling hill, you would think you were lost if you didn’t know it was here. 

Was Nimbin worth the stop?

Driving into town, Nimbin shows what it is famous for; a very relaxed hippie vibe, with 60’s art at pretty much every corner. Although, while walking through town, there is a fine line between the alternative hippies and people that are living on the street. The use of drugs is widely accepted here, and not that we have anything against it, but it gives a weird and very insecure vibe. Yes, it might have been the perfect spot for a festival, which is how the town started in the first place, but much of that vibe has faded. 

It took us about two hours to browse through an array of exciting stores, but after that, we felt like we saw the place and decided to move on. We first had planned to stay at the local Nimbin hostel. We were happy that we didn’t. In the car, we discussed whether Nimbin was worth the visit, we were delighted that we saw what the hype was all about, but it might not have been worth the drive. From here, it took us about an hour to Minyon Falls, and after that, it was time for Mullumbimby.

Minyon Falls:

If you visit the Mullumbimby, Nimbin, and the greater Byron Bay area, Minyon Falls is a must-visit location. It’s about an hour’s drive from Nimbin back towards the coast and does well as the perfect halfway stop on the way to Mullumbimby. The waterfall has two entree points; one leads down to the base of the falls, the other to the lookout. Unfortunately, due to the heavy rainfall in the greater area last season, the road towards the bottom of the waterfall was not reachable with Kane’s and Jenna’s car. 

The view from the bottom would have been amazing, and a swim is always welcome, but you can’t control these things. The area had so much damage that it had been impossible to get all the needed work done within a year. Nevertheless, the lookout was very impressive, and we had the perfect short break that we needed. From there, it was all about our next stop, Mullumbimby. 

Visiting Mullumbimby:

We were ready to reach Mullumbimby when we got there. It was our final destination for the day, and it took us about three hours to drive. Our legs were sore and stiff, and sitting all day wasn’t that comfortable. Besides, it was only the day before that we decided to climb Mt. Maroon after hiking eight kilometres, so you’ll get the idea. 

Our camp for the night was at the rugby oval just out of town. From there, we decided to head back to the main street and look around. Mullumbimby is a big town where you’ll find everything you need. The locals in town were amiable and helpful, and we have yet to start on the great collection of unique shops. My favourite shop was, of course, the chocolate specialty shop. After practically begging Yentl to come in with me for self-control, we shoved our faces with fantastic gelato. For us, it was a great rest and re-stock place. In short, we loved Mullumbimby, which was almost love at first sight. 

Is Mullumbimby the new Byron Bay? 

So, the big question for us was, is Mullumbimby the new Byron Bay? In saying that, we hope it is not because it is good as it is. Moreover, if this is what the old Byron Bay used to be, the real Byron Bay lost too much of its original character. Mullumbimby has a similarly relaxed vibe, except for not being overrun by tourists. It is the ‘Big Little Town’ that it says it is, making it perfect for an overnight stop. Although the town does not have the fantastic beach that Byron Bay has, the city of Brunswick Heads is only a short drive for the locals. Yentl loved the most that he wasn’t the only one in the shops without shoes. If anything, the alternative vibe of the locals is evident. 

The first thing we did after breakfast the next day was head to the beach at Brunswick Heads for a stroll. We would have loved to go for a walk, but there was too much wind that day, making it too cold to swim in the ocean. Yes, as a local of King Island in Tasmania, that’s a very accurate judgement. 

Our thought on the New South Wales Part of our Road Trip: 

Overall, our trip through the North of New South Wales on our 2023 road trip was worthwhile but not one of the highlights. Especially coming from the scenic rim made it less exciting. We always wanted to tackle Nimbin, so that was a success, but the closure of Mount Warning, often referred to as the best sunrise spot in Australia, was a disappointment. Even before arriving in Australia, climbing that mountain had been on Yentl’s list, and even though he tried multiple times, this time was also not the time. The fact that this time it’s closed for cultural reasons is slightly better to comprehend. 

We got to check out the New Byron Bay and were happy that we didn’t go to the real Byron Bay again. Mullumbimby is much more authentic than the big hype around the corner. It was a great couple of days resting before moving closer to the final stages of our road trip, which again included several national parks and lots of hiking. 

What’s next? 

It’s back to Queensland again, heading straight to Springbrook National Park for two days. From there, we head to our second most anticipated National park of the trip, Lamington National Park! To wrap it all up, Tamborine National Park will be our final stop before Brisbane and heading back to Moreton Island for the Easter Holidays to work and shelter from the onset of kids screaming in caravan parks. Stay tuned for more blogs and guides from this 2023 road trip; there is plenty more to come!

Read all the 2023 Greater Brisbane Road Trip Chapters: 

1: Kayaking the Noosa Everglades.

2: The Best doughnuts in the Hinterland?

3: Attempt to Climb the Glass House Mountains. 

4: Camping and Hiking in D’Aguilar National Park.

5: Mt Maroon and Its Incredible Views on the Scenic Rim.

7: Is Mullumbimby the new Byron Bay?

8: Springbrook National Park.

9: Lamington National Park.

10: Mount Tamborine National Park.

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