The little town of Bellingen, near Coffs Harbor

For such a small town, Bellingen is big on creativity and entertainment. Located on "Waterfall Way", more mundanely known as Hwy 78, not far from Coffs Harbour, Bellingen is arguably becoming the entertainment capital of Australia. That’s a big claim for a town of 2,700, but when you look at the roster of festivals, it’s not an unfounded one. Bellingen’s artistic community deserves the credit for its vibrant atmosphere and for this beautiful part of Australia to public attention after it was almost forgotten.



Originally, the Bellinger Valley was exploited by European settlers for its red cedar. Bellingen became the seat of the local government because of its location on the Bellinger River: hence its original name was Boat Harbour. From here, the wood was shipped by boat down to the mouth of the river. By the early 20th century, the red cedar was largely removed and the cleared land was turned into pasture. For a time, dairy farming was the principle industry in Bellingen, but that industry crashed in the 1960s.



Like its neighbors further north, Nimbin and Byron Bay, Bellingen was re-discovered by nomadic travellers looking for a new home during the 1970s. The beauty of the countryside appealed to them. The stayed on, managing to survive on the money they made from their arts and crafts. Music and the arts go hand in hand. A local music scene developed, but that wasn't enough for them. Since they couldn't afford to go see live international acts themselves, the locals brought the music to them. That was the beginning of the Bellingen Global Carnival.



The first Bellingen Global Carnival was hosted in 1995. It steadily grew in size and popularity. In 2010, it had to be abruptly cancelled when a flash flood forced the evacuation of over 4000. This didn’t stop organizers from staging the event in 2011, though.



While the Global Carnival may be the biggest one in Bellingen, it is by no means the only music festival in the area. It hosts a Jazz and Blues Festival, the Bellingen Music Festival, the Dorrigo Folk and Bluegrass Festival and now even a Classical music festival. In addition to music festivals, there is the Toast Urunga food and wine festival every Father's Day and innumerable events virtually every month of the year.



If all of this activity is making you think Bellingen is always bustling with excitement and may not be for you, think again. One of the things that makes it so special is its semi-rural atmosphere. It remains a small town refreshingly free from the pressures of city life. It’s the perfect place to escape, with wonderful and unique shops and restaurants. If you are a jaded shopper who thinks you have seen it all, you will be delighted by the many unique, handcrafted items you will find in Bellingen and surrounding areas.



If the Bellingen lifestyle sounds appealing to you, you will be happy to know that your Bellingen accommodation fits in with the local lifestyle perfectly. The local artistic flair is reflected in many of the visitor accommodations throughout the area. You can choose between budget family accommodations, cabins tucked away in the hills, luxurious chalets or even a tent by the river. If you have never visited Bellingen before, you have been missing out. Next time you’re on the New South Wales mid-north coast, check it out.



Take a few days off, find Bellingen accommodation, things to do and other travel related information about the area on bookitnow.com.au. Or visit our Australia blog for more Australian holiday ideas.