Guide to Lismore New South Wales Australia

They call it the Rainbow Region. In this unspoiled, lush and laid back pocket of northern New South Wales is a city that boasts the culture and convenience of a major regional centre as well as an extraordinarily beautiful natural environment. Where else can you find a place where the blend of city sophistication and country calm is so inviting?

With a population of 45,000, the city of Lismore is home to the progressive Southern Cross University, the award-winning performing arts group NORPA, a valuable macadamia and dairy industry, a creative artistic community and a thriving business centre.

Lismore is just 30 minutes inland from the beautiful beaches of the far north coast, easily accessible via the Pacific Highway from Brisbane or the Gold Coast; and has its own regional airport.

Regarded as the birthplace of eco-tourism, the Rainbow Region contains nearly a third of NSW’s forest reserves. Surrounded by an area of extraordinary geographical beauty, Lismore attracts thousands of visitors annually who come to experience the heritage-listed rainforests and national parks, most of which are situated a half hour’s drive from the CBD – we even have a rainforest in the city centre.

Our latest attraction, the Café and Culture Trail is a unique experience for Northern Rivers visitors, immersing you in Lismore’s culture and cuisine. The Trail will guide you through Lismore’s CBD pointing out significant areas of social history. Keep an eye out for the Coffee Cup Mosaic symbol on the Trail at participating Cafes. Here you will find local produce on the menus, local artworks and a great environment to experience Lismore. The region’s rich agricultural farmland produces avocadoes, stone fruit, coffee, macadamias, custard apples, coffee and other organic fruits and vegetables, all of these showcased in the local cafes. You’ll also find organic produce and foodstuffs at the markets held in the region every weekend and on Tuesday mornings the fully certified organic markets at the showground.

If you only have a day, you can easily spend it doing a scenic drive of the region, calling in at one, two or all of the historic villages in the Rainbow Region. This region is home to Nimbin – with its colourful street murals and abundance of arts and crafts Nimbin is a popular spot for visitors to the Northern Rivers. There are extensive choices for a fabulous weekend retreat, simply check out one of the accommodation houses in these villages.

The award-winning Lismore Visitor Information Centre offers some quality local products and all the information you’ll need. Just next door is Heritage Park, a superb oasis for families with miniature train rides and play equipment.