the northern rivers

Day 1 | Monday 24 August
Arrival and QAGOMA
We begin our journey in Brisbane, a city whose dynamic cultural life provides the perfect gateway to the Northern Rivers. After meeting in the hotel reception in the early afternoon, we make our way to the Queensland Art Gallery & Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA). This flagship institution is renowned for its ground-breaking exhibitions and collections, which highlight the intersections of Australian, Pacific and Asian art. Our visit not only introduces us to the breadth of contemporary practice but also frames the regional creativity we will encounter in the days ahead, situating the Northern Rivers within broader national and international conversations. In the evening, we return to our hotel for a welcome dinner at Belle Époque. Overnight Brisbane (D)

Day 2 | HOTA and Byron Bay
Travelling south towards Byron Bay, we pause on the
Gold Coast to visit HOTA – Home of the Arts – a striking cultural precinct where bold architecture meets contemporary creativity. On a guided tour through its expansive galleries, we encounter ambitious exhibitions and specially commissioned works that span painting, sculpture, photography and new media. HOTA is more than a gallery: it is a community hub that demonstrates how regional institutions can reframe identity and inspire cultural renewal. After enjoying a rooftop lunch with sweeping views of the city and hinterland, we continue into the Northern Rivers, arriving in Byron Bay by mid-afternoon. Our base for the next four nights is a luxury rainforest resort, designed for both relaxation and immersion in the coastal landscape that has long nurtured artists and creatives. As the day draws to a close, evening canapés welcome us to Byron’s unique blend of cosmopolitan style and creative energy. Overnight Byron Bay (B, L, Canapés)

Day 3 | Wednesday 26 August
Margaret Olley and the Tweed
Few artists are as closely associated with the Northern Rivers as Margaret Olley, whose generosity and vision continue to shape the region’s cultural identity. This morning, at the Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre, we explore her recreated home studio – an intimate window into her daily practice and enduring influence on Australian painting. Surrounded by panoramic views of the Tweed Valley and Mount Warning, the gallery itself stands as a testament to the synergy between art and landscape. After a lunch break on site and time to wander Murwillumbah’s art deco inspired streets, we return to Byron Bay, reflecting on how Olley’s legacy continues to inspire new generations of artists. Dinner this evening is at our resort. Overnight Byron Bay (B, D)

Day 4 | Thursday 27 August
Mullumbimby Studios
The Northern Rivers is not only a region of galleries but also of thriving studio communities. Today we follow a trail through Mullumbimby, a picturesque town renowned for its grassroots creativity and collaborative spirit. In the morning we visit the home studio of ceramicist Jacqui Sosnowski, whose practice draws on the textures and colours of the surrounding hinterland. Surrounded by shelves of sculptural vessels and delicate tableware, Jacqui and her partner share the processes behind their work, from hand-building and wheel-thrown techniques to the intricate glazes that bring each piece to life. We then visit another artist couple who work in textiles and lithography. Between visits, we pause for a convivial pub lunch that underscores the region’s blend of informality and creativity. Returning to Byron Bay in the afternoon, there is time to relax in the tranquil rainforest surrounds of our resort. Overnight Byron Bay (B, L)

Day 5 | Friday 28 August
Ballina and Lismore
Today’s journey takes us first to Ballina’s Northern Rivers Community Gallery, a welcoming space housed in a heritage building that showcases the work of local painters, photographers, sculptors and craftspeople. Its ever-changing exhibitions highlight emerging and established artists side by side, reflecting the diversity of creative voices across the region. The gallery’s emphasis on community-led projects ensures that stories rooted in place are given a platform beyond metropolitan centres. We have coffee with the locals on a sunny deck. We then continue to Lismore Regional Gallery, one of New South Wales’s oldest cultural institutions and a vital hub for contemporary art in the Northern Rivers. Rebuilt and reinvigorated after the devastating floods of recent years, the gallery has become a symbol of resilience and renewal. Its program brings together provocative national touring shows with works by local artists. A lunch break in the restored gallery precinct allows time to absorb the atmosphere before a walk through town. Returning to Byron Bay, the evening is at leisure. Overnight Byron Bay (B)

Day 6 | Saturday 29 August
Grafton and the Clarence Valley
As we depart Byron Bay today, the Clarence Valley reveals another facet of the Northern Rivers’ cultural identity. Arriving in Grafton mid-morning, we visit the Grafton Regional Gallery, housed in a repurposed ‘mansion’ where a varied program of exhibitions brings together contemporary works, touring shows and collections reflecting the history and creativity of the valley. Afterwards, there is time to appreciate Grafton’s heritage streetscapes, with their wide, jacaranda-lined avenues and historic architecture, before visiting the Clarence River Historical Society Museum. Here, displays trace the cultural and social history of the valley, providing a wider context for the region’s artistic development. In the afternoon we continue south to Coffs Harbour, with the evening at leisure after we check into our hotel. Overnight Coffs Harbour (B)

Day 7 | Sunday 30 August
YAM, Coffs Harbour
Our final day takes us to the Yarilla Arts and Museum (YAM), a recently redeveloped institution that signals the future of regional culture in northern New South Wales. Combining art, history and community in a bold and porous architectural setting which respects the sub-tropical climate, YAM exemplifies how regional museums can reimagine themselves as hubs of contemporary creativity and engagement. We tour its galleries and reflect on the themes of the week—how place shapes art, and how art in turn sustains vibrant, reimagined communities. After enjoying a farewell lunch by the sea, we then transfer to Coffs Harbour Airport for flights home.
(B, L)