Bellingen, NSW 2454

Mix of hippie/ hipster individuals, full of creativity, originality, and a love of nature. All about clean living and respecting nature. Filled with coffee shops, restaurants, op shops, reused and refurbished items, home made stuff, organic produce, festivals, markets and community spirit

We moved to Bellingen 4 years ago from Sydney and were astonished with how welcoming the community were. We have met so many people and our kids love the community atmosphere where they have friends in their street and freedom. Amazing natural environment and no traffic.

I grew up in Bellingen, when it was still primarily a dairy farming community and the "hippies" had just started arriving. I still go back to visit my mother once a year.
It's a beautiful town which has, if anything, improved since my childhood. There are so many creative things happening and it has such a lively and friendly vibe. It seems like a very tolerant, open-minded community. It now has some great cafes and restaurants and I love browsing the shops. Some of it is expensive, but there are some beautiful things. I never come away from a visit without having bought something.
We grew up swimming in the river and it is still a great place to swim. Just watch out for the bullrouts--fish that will give you a very painful sting, resulting in a trip to the hospital for pain relief.
I'd love to buy a property there some day.

We used to live here but reluctantly moved on due to work commitments. However, we would love to return one day. Probably the best place we have ever lived in Australia.
Try to find a place that is on the south side and flood free.
William Street is my tip.

WE moved here with our young family from the inner city and have never looked back. A close knit but friendly, independent, arts oriented community with more on offer than most big towns. Surrounded by some of the most superb countryside, national parks, rainforest and beaches anywhere in Oz.

When I first drove into Bellingen it felt like home. That was 20 years ago and I am still here and I am likely to be here until I die. I have been blessed to have travelled all over the world and if you come to Bellingen, you will have made the right decision.