It is the wonderful combination of Bellingen’s turn-of-the-century ‘main street’ village atmosphere, rich architectural heritage, rural charm, bohemian atmosphere and thriving cosmopolitan culture that seems to capture people’s hearts.

Every café and pub you walk into seems to showcase art, music, film nights or other community events and unlike many other smaller towns there always seems to be people about. Other creative hubs can be found 7 days a week around the Old Butter Factory with its galleries and arty shops or every third Saturday at the Bellingen markets.

Bellingen could probably claim to be the festival and events town of the Creative Coast, home to the Bellingen Jazz Festival, Bellingen Writers Festival, Camp Creative, Bellingen Fine Music Festival and numerous concerts and shows at the Bellingen Memorial Hall. The art deco hall is used for everything from weekly classes to plays, gigs, movies and a wonderful array of touring acts.

All of these special features and more have given Bellingen a nationally recognised reputation as a cultural hub, despite it being a small country town.

For more information on visiting Bellingen go to Visit NSW Website: http://www.visitnsw.com/destinations/north-coast/coffs-harbour-area/bellingen

Travel Oz have produced a great feature on the Bellingen Shire, watch it here:

https://vimeo.com/graingertv/review/737394565/fb0b41d942