Tweed Byron Hinterland Trails

New ways to experience nature in the north.

Doughboy and Wollumbin caldera, Wollumbin National ParkThe Tweed Byron Hinterland Trails project will deliver new nature-based tourism experiences for visitors to the popular Northern Rivers hinterland.

The project includes a new multi-day walk from Mount Jerusalem National Park to Nightcap National Park. This signature 4-day walk will be purpose-built to provide walkers with an immersive rainforest experience through the remnant caldera of an ancient shield volcano, concluding at the spectacular Minyon Falls lookout.

What the project involves

The centrepiece of the Tweed Byron Hinterland Trails project is a new, 36-kilometre multi-day walk starting near the town of Uki in the Mount Jerusalem National Park and concluding at Minyon Falls lookout in the Nightcap National Park.

The 4-day walk will wind through some of the region's most spectacular rainforest and feature 3 new campgrounds with visitor amenities where walkers can camp overnight. A new trail head will also be developed near Unicorn Falls in Mount Jerusalem National Park.

A minimal impact approach, using existing trails and allowing the natural elements to determine the route, will reduce the need for extensive trail construction. The walk will be able to be undertaken as self-guided, or through commercial tour operators offering various levels of assistance to individuals or groups, with the National Parks and Wildlife Service fostering these partnership opportunities.

The Minyon Falls visitor precinct has also undergone a major upgrade, with a stunning new lookout overlooking the clifftop waterfall and a revitalised picnic area. These spaces are wheelchair-friendly and provide better access and amenity for the many day visitors from Byron Bay who visit this beautiful waterfall.

This $7.3 million project is part of the NSW Government’s largest investment in national parks history.

The Tweed Byron Hinterland Trails project is due for completion in 2023.

The NSW Government is delivering its largest investment in national parks history with more than $450 million for over 200 visitor infrastructure projects across the State.

It builds on the $17.9 billion and 74,000 jobs national parks already contribute annually to the State's economy and is supporting NSW communities to recover in the wake of droughts, bushfires, floods, and the pandemic.

This project will boost the local economy by extending visitor stays and providing greater opportunities for visitors to explore the Northern Rivers region outside tourist hotspots such as Byron Bay.

We are consulting with Aboriginal communities and developing partnerships to highlight the area's rich cultural heritage, including opportunities for Aboriginal-guided experiences.

Our national parks are managed to protect their unique values and provide for sustainable visitor use and enjoyment. This includes providing visitor experiences and, where appropriate, new visitor facilities including walking tracks.

We will conduct independent environmental assessments to examine the significance of likely environmental impacts of the proposal and measures required to mitigate any potential impacts. This highlights the need to ensure public visitation and enjoyment is compatible with the protection of conservation values.

The proposed project will undergo further detailed design and assessment to ensure compliance with the park's plan of management and conservation management plans. Further stringent environmental, cultural heritage and cost-benefit assessments, involving our staff, key stakeholders and other experts, will ensure the project meets environmental, cultural and economic aspirations.

Interpretation through innovative storytelling is one of the most effective ways to achieve an 'experience of a lifetime' for visitors. Developing rich and engaging interpretation, including opportunities for local Aboriginal guided experiences, will be a key focus to immerse the walker in the natural and cultural landscape, creating a strong connection and sense of place.

Effective community and stakeholder engagement are critical to the success of this project. We will engage with stakeholders and interested community members in a meaningful and timely way. Positive and ongoing consultation with the Aboriginal community aims to ensure the proposal is in keeping with Aboriginal interests and aspirations.

Those interested in the project are invited to register their interest and receive regular updates on the project.

The proposed Tweed Byron Hinterland Walk (working title only) provides outstanding views of the Tweed Caldera of the Wollumbin/Mount Warning shield volcano.Wollumbin from Doon

Updates: December 2021

Project stakeholder update.

  • 18 Dec 2021
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Nightcap oak (Eidothea hardeniana)

Updates: February 2020

Tweed Byron Hinterland Trails is a NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service project to create high quality nature-based visitor experiences focusing on a signature walk from Unicorn Falls, near the village of Uki, to Minyon Falls in the far north New South Wales hinterland. The project will also see new sustainable visitor infrastructure at Minyon Falls, Unicorn Falls and Wollumbin.

  • 20 Feb 2020
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To register your interest in this project please complete and submit the form.

Tweed Byron Hinterland Trails – Register of interest





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