Jazz with a side order of winter sunshine
If you love the arts and the outdoors in equal measure, but have not yet experienced winter sunshine on the NSW mid north coast, then the 3rd weekend in August is the time and Bellingen is the place.
From whale watching on the Coffs Coast to breathing in the pure oxygen produced by the Gondwana World Heritage rainforest in Dorrigo, this region screams “nature-lover’s nirvana”.
As for the arts, its fair to say that Bellingen reverberates with creativity and enjoys a rich lineage of cultural events that showcase the visual arts, literature, spoken word and of course, live music.
At the Beyond Jazz Weekender, you’ll be able to scratch the arts, outdoors and wellbeing itches in a single weekend by immersing yourself in live music, dancing, great local food, yoga, sound healing and opportunities to explore the natural wonders in our back yard.
Fly or drive - it’s easy to get here
Did you know that Coffs Harbour airport is served by direct flights from Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra and Armidale? There’s also a daily direct flight from and to Melbourne on Qantas.
The Bellingen Shire lies just a short drive to the south of Coffs, with the Urunga township on the coast, Bellingen itself 25 minutes to the south west and the Dorrigo plateau reachable within an hour.
Driving the Waterfall Way between Bellingen and Dorrigo is a motor enthusiast’s dream, with tight winding bends and spectacular views - it’s really popular among touring motorcyclists.
Wake to the sound of nature
In Bellingen, you’re spoilt for choice by an array of boutique guest houses and rustic farm stays where you’ll be enveloped in a warm doona and wake to joyous birdsong.
Or, for a more cosmopolitan, coastal experience, explore the range of accommodation situated on the Coffs Coast. Visit the Eat | Stay | Play section of our website to find all the links.
Mingle with the locals
Beyond Jazz takes place on the same weekend as the monthly Bellingen Community Markets. As a mechanism for grassroots socializing and trade, there’s no greater gathering - it's one big community, cultural celebration and collaboration, where locals come together and have the best time.
Every market features live entertainment and on Saturday 16 August, the jazz spirit will be flooding the markets with a free public performance by the Bellingen Big Band. Harking back to the glorious decades of swing, this local musical institution features the format’s hallmarks of punchy horns and swinging rhythm section.
Catch them from 9.30 ‘til midday, with special guests and roaming theatre performers adding to the celebratory atmosphere.
See you in August…
From the boundary-pushing sounds of the Beyond Jazz Weekender to the bustling Bellingen Community Markets and the tranquillity of boutique farm stays, you’ll find yourself immersed in a uniquely nourishing experience. Whether you're flying in or hitting the road, this slice of the NSW mid north coast is calling.
Early bird tickets are available here.
