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Tyalgum, NSW, 2484

Place of Tall Trees

by Jo-Ann Palmer.

Tyalgum aerial view © by John Van Den Broeke

Tyalgum aerial view © by John Van Den Broeke,
with permission.

Currently accesible via Chillingham due to road closures resulting from damage during the 2022 floods, Tyalgum (proun: TALgum) is an old cedar getting village, located virtually under the rim of the caldera due west of Mt Warning.

This agricultural community produces mostly dairy and beef, but many new settlers are diversifying into alternative crops and enterprises such as coffee.

Tyalgum is famous for its hall, renowned for its acoustics.  This is remarkable, as the hall is constructed of wood with an iron (tin) roof.  The acoustics are said to be superb as long as it doesn't rain!

Each September, the hall and surrounding locations come alive with music as local performers and international musicians offer master classes, concerts and recitals, at the Tyalgum Music Festival.

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Crystal Creek lodge exterior
Crystal Creek Rainforest Retreat

Tyaglum Camping Ground - (description above left).

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Accommodation

Hikers and cyclists with strong legs (to handle the many hills) can stay at the Tyalgum Hotel and other nearby accommodation, including renovated farm cottages and homes.

Recently reopened under new management after extensive refurbishment, the Tyalgum Hotel has a bistro open Wednesday to Sunday from 12pm to 2.30pm and 5.30 to 8pm, a sports bar, swimming pool, snug room and bottleshop.  Refurmbished accommodation comprises thirteen rooms (doubles, queen and family rooms available) with ample shared bathroom facilities, a guest lounge, and complimentary tea and coffee.

Tyaglum Camping Ground is located at the Tyalgum Showground, and is managed by the local volunteer committee.  Powered and unpowered camping sites are available, with upgraded toilet, shower and laundry amenities onsite.  An extensive covered camp kitchen is also available.  Phone 0490 780 181 or (02) 6679 3569.

It's popular with camping and caravanner groups, and booked out during the music festival weekend.

Crystal Creek Rainforest Retreat This couples only award winning rainforest retreat is located at Crystal Creek via Chillingham, just 20 minutes scenic drive from Tyalgum.

Set in old growth rainforest with World Heritage National Park on three sides, Crystal Creek Rainforest Retreat offers just 13 private, architect-designed luxury bungalows, all with fireplaces, double spa baths, and rainforest views, placed discreetly in a spectacularly pristine Australian rainforest.  CCRR web site.

Attractions

A now well established and popular option for day trippers, is the Tyalgum Gelato Shop (open Sunday only), located next to the hall.

Stroll along the arts and crafts shops dotted along the main street, and browse for local handicrafts and homewares, or enjoy fresh from the oven treats with your coffee at Flutterbies Cottage Cafe, a coffee and gift shop situated in the "Old Bakery" building circa 1926.

A fire in August 2019, destroyed three popular local shops.  The local community rallied around, and these businesses are now hosted in locations behind Flutterbies, at the delighfully hidden Markette Lane.

Just ask - or better yet, use it as an excuse to explore the other shops and discover where they are.

The Tyalgum Village Market, held on the last Saturday of the month, adds to the village atmosphere, and provides visitors with the opportunity to meet local artisans, farmers and producers.

Stall holders set up colourful stands in the grounds of the former croquet club, where you can wander through the linked back yards of the shop fronts, while sampling tasty homemade treats and picking out a souvenir or two created by local artists, as the sound of live music echoes in the air.

The Tyalgum Market at The Stump - next to General Store is a newer community market also held on the last Saturday of the month from 9am-3pm, which focuses on sustainable goods and services, with live music and kid friendly interactive fun.

The Garden of Light is a favourite Autumn and Spring attraction, with many gardens including a Cottage Garden, Tuscan Garden, Wisteria Arbours, and more. Tours are offered every Spring and Autumn season.  (Requires advance booking).

For visitors staying in the area for more than a few days, you can top up with fresh local produce and general supplies at the Tyalgum General Store.

You can also choose from a diverse range of fruit trees and local native trees at the plant nursery, after you've decided which yummy sweet treat to indugle with your beverage of choice.

Enjoy the local atmosphere with a BBQ picnic at Norco Park, opposite the pub, or let the kids run free at the Skate Park opposite the Hall, overlooking the surrounding countryside.

Upgraded with new skate facilities and a playground in 2017, the skate park has day picnic facilities with free electric BBQs, picnic tables, public toilets, and needless to say (but we will anyway), a stunning view to Mount Warning/Wollumbin.  Norco Park, adjacent to the Oxley River, has a more cosy, peaceful feel, with older, but still serviceable picnic facilities.

Tyalgum has road access to Mebbin National Park, and very steep access on foot (not recommended), via private properties to Wollumbin (Mt Warning) National Park, the Border Ranges and Lamington National Parks.


Getting to Tyalgum

Road

Getting here. Tyalgum is approximately 845 kilometres - about 11 hours drive north from Sydney, via Murwillumbah, and approximately 145 kilometres - about 90 minutes drive south from Brisbane, via the Pacific Motorway.

Driving options include the Pacific Highway in New South Wales, and from the Pacific Motorway in Queensland, via Murwillumbah.

Alternative scenic routes are available by way of the Summerland Way via Grafton to Kyogle in NSW, and the Nerang - Murwillumbah Road through the spectacular Numinbah Valley from Nerang in the Gold Coast hinterland, through the village of Chillingham.

Air

Domestic flights operate from all capital cities to Ballina/Byron Gateway Airport and Gold Coast Airport at Coolangatta.  A number of international carriers servicing SE Asia, New Zealand and the Pacific fly into Gold Coast Airport.

Charter flights may also available to Lismore Airport.  All airports have airport car hire or other car rental services available nearby.

Daily airport transfer services between Ballina/Byron Gateway Airport and Gold Coast Airport, are available to selected localities in the region, with some shuttles also going to Brisbane International Airport. Visit Gold Coast Airport Transfer Services for more information.

Coach/Rail

Daily interstate coach services are available from Murwillumbah to Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne, and daily or overnight train service is available from Sydney to Brisbane via coach transfer at Casino.

Connecting Translink train services to Brisbane are also available from the Gold Coast.  (see Tweed Heads locality guide for more information.)

Getting Around

Tyalgum transport options are limited to school bus runs during school terms, with taxis, private coaches and private transport the main options.  As access is currently via Chillingham, the road is rather slow going, so take your time, and enjoy the country pace. (And if you see traffic beginning to build up behind you, pull over at a safe place and let the parade pass by, before continuing on your way.)

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