Clear your calendar and bring your appetite: Savour the Tweed is back from 22 to 26 October, and this year it’s serving up more flavour, flair, and food-fuelled fun than you can poke a grazing board at.

With a lineup of 35 events across the region, this springtime celebration of all-things-delicious promises to showcase the best of The Tweed’s thriving food and drink scene – paddock to plate, sips to sounds, and everything in between.

Curated by local culinary kween Christine Manfield and passionate produce advocate Amy Colli, Savour the Tweed brings together more tasty collabs than a Rihanna album, with farmers, chefs, distillers, roasters, and storytellers all joining forces in one beautifully curated program.

Start your adventure at the beloved Murwillumbah Farmers Market with the Tweed Tasting Trail, where you can sample your way through the best local bites and watch live cooking demos from regular stallholders. Keep the farm vibes going at Harvest & Handmade at Raven Place Farm in Clothiers Creek, where a guided walk is followed by a gyoza-making session using farm-grown ingredients. Or head to Woodland Valley Farm for Pasture to Plate, a sunset pasta-making class paired with a two-course dinner and Italian wines, served with stunning valley views.

On the restaurant front, this year’s headline events bring together local heroes and big-name chefs in a series of not-to-be-missed double-acts. Frank Camorra of Melbourne’s MoVida teams up with Bistro Livi in Murwillumbah for A Taste of Spain in The Tweed and we are here for their sensational six-course tasting menu celebrating produce-led elegance. Over at Farm & Co, Thai tucker master Martin Boetz packs some serious heat with A Thai Feast in The Tweed, a vibrant long lunch jam-packed with ‘Thai’d’ and tested palette-pleasing flavours.

One of the signature events, the Girl Gang Chefs Collab Lunch at Pipit in Pottsville, unites four powerhouse female chefs and four local female producers in a celebration of food, creativity and community. Meanwhile, Bundjalung chef Mindy Woods and Christine Manfield join forces for Walking Together, a moving First Nations and Indian fusion dinner complete with native ingredients, music, storytelling, and a stirring Welcome to Country by Banaam cultural dancers.

Food meets culture again on the Gidjuum Gulganyi Walk – a four-day guided hike through World Heritage-listed Gondwana rainforest. This immersive journey begins with a campfire dinner by Mindy Woods, featuring a night of deep connection with Country. And bonus – the calories you burn on the trek means you can chow down the delish native foraged ingredients guilt-free.

The program also includes plenty of hands-on workshops and masterclasses. Seafood legend Steven Snow of Fins Restaurant leads a Seafood Masterclass, while nutritionist and chef Samantha Gowing presents Food As Medicine at Husk Distillery, blending health, flavour and a well-earned botanical gin cocktail. Speaking of, if you’re looking for something a little more, let’s say, liquid-forward, then all aboard the Golden Swan for Golden Hour on the River. With a crab roll in one hand, bush ice cream in the other, all soundtracked by rising musical star Birren Slabb, it’s a sunset soiree to satisfy all the senses. Or, go full Gatsby at the Speak Easy Secret Supper Club inside the Tweed Regional Museum, where prohibition-style cocktails and canapés meet curated culture.

Rum lovers can dive into Cane Country Taste Makers, a tasting and cocktail workshop with the team behind Birds of Isle Rum, and coffee fans are spoilt for choice with bean-to-brew sessions at Bastion Lane Espresso in Uki and Old Quarter Roasters in Murwillumbah.

If wine is more your style (hand-up emoji from us!), there’s Sips & Snacks with Knucklehead Wines at Rob Roy Deli, and The Natural World: Terroir & Taste at Burringbar’s Natural Wine Shop, pairing local wines with antipasti and storytelling. Or perhaps you’d prefer a more artistic pairing: Cheese, Clay & Culture in Murwillumbah features cheese and beer tastings, live pottery wheel demos and a handcrafted plate to take home.

The events are as delish and diverse as the landscapes they’re set in. Brunch by the Platform at the Murwillumbah Rail Trail Station blends coffee, pastries and live music under the trees, while over at Tropical Fruit World, Fire & Forage brings an open-air feast under festoon lights, featuring wild game, seafood, and foraged fruit ice cream.

As the sun sets on this five-day feast, the celebrations continue with Wollumbin Sunset Cocktails at Apex Dining and the grand finale, Caldera Celebrations, on the lawns of Plantation House. With food stalls, signature drinks, lawn games, DJs and activities for the kiddos, it’s like a Sunday sesh, a food truck party, and a wedding reception all rolled into one – minus the awkward speeches.

So whether you’re a seasoned gourmand, a curious sipper, a storytelling seeker, or someone who just really, really loves cheese, this year’s Savour the Tweed promises to be an edible adventure like no other. Bring your appetite and your sense of adventure, and get ready to chew, sip, swirl and shimmy your way across the tastiest corner of Northern NSW.

Where: Various locations in the Tweed.
When: Wednesday 22 October to Sunday 26 October 2025

Words by Bianca Trathen

When it comes to cafés, The Platform doesn’t just toot its own horn—it blows the whistle loud and proud. Newly opened in the heritage-listed Murwillumbah railway station, this pint-sized gem is serving up some serious trackside treats for rail trail riders, foodies, and coffee lovers alike. Housed in what used to be the station’s waiting area, The Platform packs big charm into its cozy footprint. Whether you’re pedaling for pastries or just after a scenic stop, this spot is your golden ticket.

The brains (and taste buds) behind this venture are none other than Hannah Setchell and Toby Bamford – affectionately known as “Hanbam” – the creative duo behind Apex Dining and Baked at Ancora. With over 50 years of combined foodie know-how, these two know how to turn your average coffee stop into an unforgettable culinary experience.

Co-owner Toby teamed up with Rebecca Whan of Patternshop Studio to create a space that screams charm and history in equal measure. Nestled in the heart of Murwillumbah’s 130-year-old station, The Platform feels like it’s always been part of the landscape, shaded by lush trees and surrounded by parklands. It’s the kind of place where you can park your bike, take a breather, and pretend for a moment that life doesn’t revolve around emails. It’s also very handily located next door to Better By Bike, so you can fuel up then hit the trail.

Hannah’s kitchen is the real MVP here, serving up everything from buttery croissants (fresh from Baked at Ancora) to Aussie classics like old-school ham, cheese and seeded mustard jaffles. Let’s just say the Cubano’ loaded croissant – layered with corned beef, sweet mustard and house pickles, swiss cheese and spicy mayo, will make your taste buds do a little happy dance. And for the plant-based crowd, the Vegan Roll with roast sweet potato, lentil & leek wrapped in crunchy gluten and dairy free pastry, showcases the thoughtful creativity that goes into every bite.

Planning to hit the trail? They’ve got you covered with picnic packs, perfect for fuelling your day of exploring. Starting at $15, there’s a kid’s pack with a sandwich, popper, banana bread and coconut yoghurt with fruit salad. For the grown-ups, packs include a chicken wrap (huge and delicious), quinoa salad, coconut yoghurt with fruit salad, apple and homemade “Rail Trail Mix” because nothing says adventure like snacks on the go! Vegan packs switch out the wrap for one of their dreamy sausage rolls. There are also cheese platter packages with cheese, pita crisps, grapes, a pear and a selection of homemade dips. Picnicking has never looked so good!

If you’re more about sipping than snacking, The Platform is brewing up the goods. Fresh juices, smoothies, and specialty coffees are on the menu for those early trail risers. But rumour has it that evenings could see this cosy cafe transform into a European-style wine bar, complete with local cheeses and wines. Tour de France vibes, anyone?

The Northern Rivers Rail Trail itself just snagged Gold in the Tourist Attractions category at the NSW Tourism Awards, and The Platform is quickly becoming its crowning jewel. With plans to add picnic tables, renovate the old water tower, and activate the railway turntable, the precinct is shaping up to be the ultimate day out for Gold Coasters and beyond.

So, whether you’re hitting the trail, hunting for the perfect croissant, or just want to soak up the charm of Murwillumbah’s history, make The Platform your next stop. Trust us—it’s worth every pedal stroke.

Where: Murwillumbah Railway Station, 284 Tweed Valley Way, South Murwillumbah
When: 7am until 2pm
Instagram: @theplatform2484
Website: theplatform2484.com.au