Just over the border from Australia's most famous holiday destination, the Tweed region offers a tranquil, nature-based alternative to the busy resorts and glitzy highrises of the Gold Coast.

Stretching south from Tweed Heads along 35kms of coastline, this is a destination where you can still stroll hand-in-hand along almost deserted beaches and stop for lunch at an oceanfront restaurant without having to book months in advance.

In this idyllic setting, seaside getaways come in all shapes and sizes. At bustling Tweed Heads, you can be right in the heart of the action; within walking distance of seafood restaurants on the banks of the river and the fine dining venues of Griffith Street, with live music, dancing and international concerts on offer at the cluster of nearby clubs.

South of the TweedRiver, the quieter villages of Kingscliff, Salt, Casuarina, Cabarita, Hastings Point and Pottsville offer all the ingredients for the quintessential seaside escape.

Each village has its own unique characteristics: Kingscliff with its beachfront 'eat street' featuring a veritable smorgasbord of international cuisine; Salt Village and Casuarina with their exclusive five-star resorts and holiday apartments; Cabarita's surfing beach and laid-back vibe; Hastings Point's absolute beachfront camping and great value holiday parks.

Tempting as it will be to hide away and shut the world out, there are plenty of activities available if the mood takes you.

Hire a bike and cycle along the oceanway. Kayak through the Cudgen Creek wetlands. Snorkel with the turtles out at CookIsland. Learn to surf. Haul in a feast of mudcrabs on a TweedRiver cruise. Head out whale watching during the humpback migration season from June to November. And there's much more.

Of course, you will want to devote at least a day or two to exploring the spectacular TweedValley.

Surrounded by an almost perfect semi-circle of rainforest-shrouded mountains, the TweedValley forms the heart of Australia's Green Cauldron – nominated as a National Landscape by Tourism Australia due to its unique geography as an ancient volcanic caldera and the region's incredible biodiversity of flora and fauna.

The Rainforest Way (www.rainforestway.com.au) makes it easy to get out and about by providing a series of driving loops that connect the Valley's art and craft villages with World Heritage-listed National Parks.

To design your own perfect Tweed getaway, contact Destination Tweed Tourism on 1800 674 414 or book online at www.destinationtweed.com.au.

FACT FILE:

For detailed maps and further information on the loops and trails of the Rainforest Way, go to www.rainforestway.com.au. Local itineraries and accommodation bookings are also available from Destination Tweed on 1800 674 414, online at www.destinationtweed.com.au or call into the Tweed Visitor Information Centres at Tweed Heads (Wharf Street) and Murwillumbah (Alma Street).

Karen Ransome - Destination Tweed Media Relations                

Ph: 07-5538 7379      

Mob: 0431 958 726

Destination Tweed Inc is the official tourism and business investment promotional body for the Tweed region in northern NSW. Under the Destination Tweed banner, Tweed Tourism is the region's established tourism authority, operating the Visitor Information Centres at Murwillumbah and Tweed Heads, steering new tourism product development and marketing the region for tourism visitation; and Tweed Business manages promotion and marketing of the region for business investment.