The Bellingen Shire is located on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales, halfway between Sydney and Brisbane. The Shire is blessed with natural beauty. The Shire’s mountains, river valleys and beaches are drawcards which support a vibrant arts culture with art events held throughout the year. The Dorrigo Easter Art Show, the Urunga Small Sculpture Prize, and the Bellingen Shire Arts Trail Weekend are all well-loved events attracting visitors from far and wide. This year the E J Mantova Art Prize Exhibition in Bellingen had 500 entries from local artists reflecting the large pool of creativity in the Shire. Events, concerts and performances enrich the region with a year-round festival atmosphere.
From Dorrigo’s scenic village, the Arts Trail runs down the escarpment, zigzagging through ancient rainforests and mountains, to the historic township of Bellingen nestled in the verdant green Bellinger River Valley. It then continues past dairy farms, with glimpses of the Bellinger River, to the stunning laid back coastal surrounds of Urunga and Raleigh – all showcasing the studios, galleries and the workshops of talented local artists.
Many galleries and arts venues are open ALL YEAR for you to enjoy along with a charming café culture, breathtaking walks and scenic drives. Once a year, an Arts Trail WEEKEND is held which presents a rare opportunity for the public to venture into artists’ studios, pop-up galleries and group exhibitions which are not otherwise open.
The Bellingen Shire Arts Trail Weekend is on Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th November 2024.
By car –
On the Pacific Highway between Sydney and Brisbane, turn off at the sign to Urunga and the Waterfall Way for Urunga, Raleigh, Bellingen, and Dorrigo.
On the New England Highway between Toowoomba and Newcastle, at Armidale turn off at the Waterfall Way sign for Dorrigo, Bellingen, Raleigh and Urunga.
By air – fly direct to Coffs Harbour (20 min drive from Waterfall Way) from Sydney, Brisbane or Melbourne.
By train – catch the daily NSW North Coast TrainLink train running between Sydney and Brisbane, alight at Urunga Railway Station.
By bus – catch a bus running between Sydney and Brisbane, alight at Urunga, or a bus from Tamworth to Dorrigo/Bellingen/Urunga.
For more directions, visit our Arts Trail Maps page
For places to stay in the shire websites to look at include
For an overview of Bellingen Shire, visit:
Visit NSW- Bellingen
Visit NSW – Dorrigo
Visit NSW – Urunga
For cafes and restaurants, websites to look at include
tripadvisor.com
localista.com.au
For entertainment venues and things to do, websites to look at include
Once you get here…
Urunga Visitor Information Centre
The Urunga Visitor Information is located at the Coffs Harbour Trike Tours office.
Coffs Harbour Trike Tours office, Giinagay Way, Urunga
Email: info@coffsharbourtriketours.com.au
Waterfall Way Information Centre
Open Mon-Fri 10am-4pm
Council Grounds, 29-31 Hyde Street, Bellingen
Ph. 02 6655 1522
Email: wwvc@bellingen.nsw.gov.au
Dorrigo Visitor Information Centre
Open Wed-Sat 10am-2pm
36 Hickory St, Dorrigo
Ph. 02 6657 2486
Email: wwvc@bellingen.nsw.gov.au
