Don’t leave Coffs Harbour without visiting Muttonbird Island Nature Reserve, or Giidany Miirlarl, another site of great cultural significance complete with an award-winning outdoor learning space and guided tours run by Gumbaynggirr owners. The island, also an important seabird rookery and prime whale-watching spot, offers up sensational views of the Coffs Coast and into the hinterland – where you’re headed next.

Take an 2.5 hour adventure tour paddle in Coffs Harbour's Solitary Islands Marine Park withdirect descendants of the world’s first stand-up paddleboarders, as the Gumbaynggirr owner-operators of Wajaana Yaam Gumbaynggirr Adventure Tours describe themselves.

The star attraction here is really the Bellinger River, which cuts a lovely wide swathe through town. One of the best ways to experience it is with Bellingen Canoe Adventures, which offers both canoe hire and guided tours that take in swimming holes and provide plenty of wildlife-spotting opportunities: keep your eyes peeled for dolphins, koalas, egrets, eagles, jumping fish and even swimming cows.

There are plenty of accommodation options in and around Bellingen to choose from, like the villa at Lombok on Waterfall between Bellingen and Dorrigo just off Waterfall Way itself offers majestic views over one of the region’s most beautiful valleys from its huge verandah.

The 3.5-kilometre return Crystal Shower Falls walk is short but sweet. It provides a captivating snapshot of the world around you: 600-year-old trees tower above you while birds call out in an atmospheric rainforest chorus. You’ll hear Crystal Shower Falls before you see it as you arrive at a suspension bridge; walk across it and follow a path around the side of the falls to step right behind it.

Drive north of Dorrigo for two kilometres, a quick detour off Waterfall Way, to check out the picturesque 30-metre Dangar Falls. View it from the lookout not far from the road or stretch your legs on the path that leads to the bottom in 10-15 minutes.

Another worthwhile diversion is New England National Park for one of Australia’s most spectacular lookout points. Point Lookout allows a panorama of unspoilt wilderness, with views back across to the Bellinger Valley. Also within this World Heritage-listed park, protected for its ancient Gondwana rainforest, is a choice of accommodation options: from camping to cosying up in the one-bedroom Chalet or three-bedroom Residence right next to the lookout.

The jewel in Armidale’s crown is the excellent New England Regional Art Museum (NERAM), which boasts the most comprehensive overview of Australian art history in regional Australia. At the core of this is the Howard Hinton Collection, which NERAM was purpose-built to house in 1983, with over 1000 significant works by artists including Arthur Streeton, Margaret Preston and Brett Whiteley.

Don’t miss a guided tour of Saumarez Homestead, a 30-room Edwardian mansion complete with its original furnishings and attractive gardens, which tells of the settler history of the region.