Alstonville, New South Wales

Away from the coast, the Shire's lush hinterland is punctuated by pioneer settlements like Teven, Tintenbar and Knockrow, where you can enjoy a round of golf, savour the burgeoning regional cuisine or sample the delights of the surrounding coffee, macadamia, peanut, avocado, stone fruit and banana plantations. The village of Alstonville is an Aladdin's cave for curio hunters and culture buffs with its historic buildings, classic Australian architecture, art gallery and intimate cafe's and tea-houses. Among the surrounding hills are secluded waterfalls, lush, sub-tropical parks and gardens and, at Victoria Park Nature Reserve, one of the last remnants of the "Big Scrub" - a vast rainforest which once blanketed the region.