7 incredible Murwillumbah restaurants to try now

Lara Picone Lara Picone
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Tuck into the beautiful produce of the Tweed Valley at these Murwillumbah restaurants that showcase both provenance and culinary talent.

Sprawling across both sides of the Tweed River, the bucolic and Art Deco town of Murwillumbah has long been an arts stronghold, but now this hinterland gem is turning up the dial and delivering good dining, too. From Murwillumbah restaurants to eateries tucked into the surrounding villages, these diners are making the most of the incredible produce of the region and plating it up with reverence.

1. Bistro Livi

Best for: Date nights and long Saturday lunches with friends.

This sleek fine diner wouldn’t look out of place in a city laneway, but here Bistro Livi sits in the corner position of an Art Deco building in Murwillumbah’s M-Arts Precinct. With the owners coming by way of some of Melbourne’s best restaurants, it’s little wonder this refined 36-seater is faultless.

Local produce is expressed on the plate with respect and refinement, the drinks are well-stirred and the wine list elegant. Diners are tended to expertly amid the minimal-luxe interiors, making it very easy to lose time devouring exquisite dishes with a gentle Italian leaning. Book a babysitter and settle in for the night.

outside Bistro Livi restaurant, Murwillumbah
Find the refined Bistro Livi in Murwillumbah’s M-Arts Precinct.

Open: Dinner Wednesday–Saturday; lunch Saturday

Address: 1A, 1-3 Brisbane Street, Murwillumbah

2. Tweed River House

Best for: Special occasions or afternoon sessions by the water.

Stepping into this tenderly restored Queenslander-style homestead set right on the river is a little like taking a portal to the era of the British Raj. Opulent and expertly styled in sympathy with the breezy building, Tweed River House is a special occasion restaurant.

the Tweed River House by the side of the river
The Tweed River House sits by the river in South Murwillumbah.

Service is en pointe and affable and the plates beautifully considered with local flavours assembled to showcase the region.

the restaurant interior of Tweed River House
The outdoor verandah offers peaceful views.

If you can’t get a spot for dinner, or even if you can, head to the downstairs Lawn Bar on a Saturday and Sunday sundowner.

a plate of food at Tweed River House, Murwillumbah
Plates are assembled to showcase the best produce in the region. (Image: Nelly le Comte Photography)

Open: Dinner Friday and Saturday; lunch Thursday–Sunday; Lawn Bar weekends from noon

Address: 131 River Street, South Murwillumbah

3. Barrels Pizza Restaurant

Best for: Casual dining with family and friends.

A contemporary pizzeria that honours the produce of the region, at Barrels Pizza you’ll find oven-blistered pizza from classic Italian toppings to a few Aussie curveballs.

a table-top view of pizza at Barrels Pizza Restaurant
Taste your way through the menu at Barrels Pizza.

There’s also a range of antipasto to get the party started, from buffalo mozzarella with Roma tomatoes to goat’s cheese, roasted grape and walnut focaccia. You can also opt for takeaway if you prefer not to enjoy your hot pizza in the family-friendly dining room.

a woman holding a wine glass at Barrels Pizza Restaurant
It would be rude not to drink wine with your pizza.

Open: Wednesday–Sunday from 5pm

Address: 13 Wharf Street, Murwillumbah

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4. Potager

Best for: Intimate and cosy dalliances and group celebrations.

This gorgeous cottage garden setting with sweeping valley views is a stunning locale for a long lunch. Inside the charming timber cottage, guests are warmly welcomed with impeccable hospitality and treated to a menu with provenance and community at its heart.

the Potager Restaurant in a garden setting, Murwillumbah
Dine at the garden-themed Potager Restaurant.

Despite the country cottage vibes, the food at Potager is elegant, refined and generous with influence from the antipodes to Europe and Asia without labouring the point.

an aerial view of the Potager Restaurant
Find yourself in a stunning location for a long lunch.

Open: Dinner Friday and Saturday; lunch Friday–Sunday

Address: 502 Carool Road, Carool

5. Husk Distillery

Best for: Lawn sessions on sunny afternoons and gatherings with mates.

Northern Rivers rum distillers, Husk, are equally loved in the region for their delicious tipples as they are for their cellar door digs. The beautiful brick building houses the barrels of spirits quietly maturing, as well as a gorgeous bar and restaurant that sprawls out onto a terrace and onto the grassy lawn overlooking cane fields, from which their rum is made.

the Husk Distillery in Tumbulgum
It’s not all about the spirits at Husk, it also features a gorgeous bar and restaurant.

Start the experience with a distillery tour, where you’ll get to taste rum and their violet-hued ink gin, then grab a table or patch of grass to sip cocktails and savour share plates. There’s a very handy shuttle service, should you wish to loosen your restraint.

Husk Distillery aerial view
Expect to find space to roam at the sprawling Husk property.

Open: Daily from 11am

Address: 1152 Dulguigan Road, Tumbulgum

6. Farm & Co Restaurant

Best for: long lunches that go on and on…

This farm-to-plate eatery has some of the Tweed’s best restaurateurs at the helm, ensuring the organic produce that lands on the plate is deftly crafted to showcase seasonality and flavour.

Perched on a 52-acre farm in the Tweed Valley, Farm & Co Restaurant’s agrarian setting makes for a lovely place to unwind with good food and wine, while the kids free-range in the sunflower patch.

Nourishing share plates may include the likes of wood-smoked lamb shoulder with chimichurri or roasted goldband snapper with aromatic oil and curry leaves or opt for the signature banquet and be surprised and delighted.

Open: Dinner Thursday–Saturday; all-day dining Friday–Sunday

Address: 529 Cudgen Road, Cudgen

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7. House of Gabriel

Best for: Gazing across at the twinkling river while you enjoy fresh fare.

Housed in a charming riverside building once home to a bakery and a confectionery, House of Gabriel serves a slice of history with a menu of seasonally changing dishes.

the House of Gabriel in Tumbulgum
Drop by House of Gabriel for a meal served inside a charming riverside building with an eclectic past.

Take up a spot on the front deck festooned by purple wisteria and enjoy simple but delicious contemporary Australian fare and local beverages from Husk Distillery and Stone & Wood, as well as carefully curated wines.

sweets and pastries at House of Gabriel, Tumbulgum
The High Tea is exceptionally popular here for good reason.

High tea is a popular affair here (bookings essential) with handmade treats and elegant teaware really leaning into the bygone nostalgia of the building.

tea and pastries at House of Gabriel, Tumbulgum
Score Parisian-style pastries and desserts at House of Gabriel.

Open: Breakfast and lunch Wednesday–Sunday; pizza night Friday

Address: 106 Riverside Drive, Tumbulgum

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Lara Picone
Working for many of Australia’s top publications, Lara Picone has had the distinct pleasure of writing, editing and curating content about the finer things in life for more than 15 years. Graduating from Macquarie University with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication, her editorial foundation began at Qantas: The Australian Way magazine, before moving on to learn the fast-paced ropes of a weekly magazine at Sunday Magazine and picking up the art of brand curation at donna hay magazine. Pivoting a near-problematic travel lust into a career move by combining it with storytelling and a curious appetite, her next role was as Deputy Editor of SBS Feast magazine and later Online Editor of SBS Food online. She then stepped into her dream job as Editor of Australian Traveller before becoming Online Editor for both International Traveller and Australian Traveller. Now as a freelancer, Lara always has her passport at-the-ready to take flight on assignment for the Australian Traveller team, as well as for publications such as Qantas Magazine, Escape and The Weekend Australian. As ever, her appetite is the first thing she packs.
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After dark: 6 experiences along the Murray lighting up the night

(Credit: Serena Munro)

    Gemma Kaczerepa Gemma Kaczerepa
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    See the Murray region in an entirely different light by exploring its night-time experiences and attractions.

    By day, the mighty Murray River is a majestic and ever-changing sight, with river red gums and wetlands stretching along 2500 kilometres. But by night, its cities, towns, villages and landscapes totally transform.

    From Albury Wodonga to Mildura, and everywhere in between, you’ll be in for a multi-sensory and memorable treat encompassing mesmerising light shows, guided ghost tours and vibrant celebrations that capture the nocturnal magic of the river.

    This is no ordinary nighttime adventure; the region becomes an entirely different world when the sun sets. Discover six must-do activities along the Murray that can only be enjoyed after dark.

    1. Share in ghostly tales

    Port After Dark tour Murray at night
    Hold on to your nerve when learning local ghost stories. (Credit: Campaspe Shire Council)

    If you’re up for something a little more spine-tingling, Port After Dark in Echuca is your best bet. Rumour has it that the Port of Echuca Wharf and the buildings around it have long been home to lingering ghosts and mysterious events – like the vengeful woman said to haunt an old tramway bridge and spirits searching for stolen money through the town centre.

    You can hear all about them on this guided lantern tour, which takes place on Wednesday and Saturday nights after dark. The stories are atmospheric and intriguing – you may even spot a ghost or two yourself. If you’d like a more intimate experience, private tours are also available to groups of 15 or more.

    2. Wander art installations

    Bruce Munroe's Fibre Optic Symphoinic Orchestra Murray at night
    See Bruce Munro’s immersive art installation. (Credit: Serena Munro)

    Right near the Perry Sandhills, sits an experience that feels almost otherworldly. Artist Bruce Munro (of Uluru’s Field of Lights fame) has created a Fibre Optic Symphonic Orchestra, a network of 80 Hills Hoists illuminated with fibre optic light combined with the sounds of an orchestra. The clotheslines glow and pulse in time to the specially composed score, immersing you in a dreamscape of light and sound.

    For a different light experience, you’ll find stillness at Trail of Lights, also curated by Munro. Located just 30 minutes away on Lock Island in Mildura, thousands of lights stretch over the landscape, spotlighting both the river and a series of Munro’s sculptures. The trail is intended to be a peaceful and meditative setting for wandering and reflecting.

    3. Learn through lasers

    Heartbeat of the Murray at night
    Travel 30 million years into the Murray’s past at Heartbeat of the Murray. (Credit: Ewen Bell)

    Discover a fascinating history in this dual act of lights and projections on the banks of the Little Murray River. Legends of the Mallee is a multimedia show in Swan Hill combining lasers and lights, which tells the story of the region’s rich past. Learn about the Wamba Wamba and Wadi Wadi Peoples who first inhabited the area, as well as the figures and events that shaped the Mallee of today.

    The river steals the spotlight in the Heartbeat of the Murray, a multimedia spectacle inside the Pioneer Settlement encompassing lights, lasers, sound and special effects against the natural backdrop. Through a sequence of large-scale animated projections, you’ll go back 30 million years to explore the Murray River’s formation before travelling to the present to learn how it supports modern communities.

    4. Light up the lake

    Lake Mulwala Laser Light Show Murray at night
    Watch the lights and lasers of Lake Mulwala. (Credit: Mulwala Water Ski Club)

    Travelling with kids? Head to Yarrawonga Mulwala and nearby Lake Mulwala for the family-friendly Laser Light & Sound Show. Lights and lasers are projected over the lake and onto curtains of fog, creating a colourful and high-energy visual display. The show suits all ages and tastes, set to a mix of songs that everyone knows and loves.

    You can take in the spectacle from either the grassy banks of the lake or book a table at the Mulwala Water Ski Club’s Malibu Deck Cafe, serving pub-style food and refreshing drinks, including excellent classic cocktails. If you’re watching from the foreshore, the show is entirely free, making it a great budget-friendly option.

    5. Be captivated by local culture

    Bullanginya Dreaming Murray at night
    Soak in the culture of the Bangerang People. (Credit: Laser Vision)

    Set aside an evening to explore Bullanginya Dreaming in Cobram Barooga – you’ll want ample time to take in the stories and symbolism of this immersive laser light and sound trail. The 1.8-kilometre trail explores the storytelling and culture of the Bangerang People, who have long cared for the lands around Bullanginya Lagoon in Barooga. The trail features 12 activations – each telling a different story – and combines dramatic lights and lasers with water and fire.

    Intertwined with the visual displays are Bangerang narratives, giving you meaningful insight into the area’s Indigenous heritage. It’s designed to be explored over 90 or so minutes, encouraging you to move slowly and thoughtfully.

    6. Discover a winter glow

    winterglow festival
    See the streets of Albury Wodonga come to life after dark. (Credit: Visit Albury Wodonga)

    Albury Wodonga comes alive as the weather drops, with an annual celebration of the season on Saturday, 15 August. WinterGlow takes over the CBD and features a vibrant program of things to see, do, learn, eat and drink.

    Take part in hands-on workshops that let you try different art forms and crafts. Feast on street food and winter warmers from local eateries. Browse for artisan wares at the night markets. Watch musical acts on the main stage. Or get involved in different activations, including a silent disco and giant maze. Artificial snow will be falling to add to the festive atmosphere.

    Even wandering the streets and laneways and soaking up the late-night energy will leave you feeling enchanted.

    Start planning a day-to-night adventure along the Murray at visitthemurray.com.au.