The Bungalow Lismore Woodburn Tourist Drive 24 follows Byron Creek, Wilson River, and Richmond River visiting historic riverside villages.
From Bangalow to Woodburn
The Tourist Drive 24 starts from from Pacific Hwy near Ewingsdale, north of Bangalow, and heads west towards Lismore, travelling through Clunes. From Lismore, the drive heads south following the Wilsons River to Woodburn.
Start of Tourist Drive
If heading south, take the Ewingsdale Road for Byron Bay and Bangalow exit. At the roundabout, turn right for Hinterland Way towards Bangalow crossing over the highway, then at the roundabout, continue straight into Hinterland Way towards Bangalow. From the roundabout, the start of the drive is around 1 kilometre.
If heading north, take the Ewingsdale Road for Byron Bay exit. At the roundabout, turn left into Hinterland Way towards Bangalow. From the roundabout, the start of the drive is around 1 kilometre.
Continue on Tourist Drive
Continue on Hinterland Way for 2 kilometres to reach the first brown sign destination on the right. Make sure you are in the right lane as you will need to use a right-turn lane to access it.
St Helena Lookout
From the right-turn lane, turn into Coolamon Scenic Drive. There is a turning bay to return back to the lookout parking area. Be mindful that you will need to turn right back onto Hinterland Way to continue on the drive after visiting the lookout.
St Helena Lookout has a stunning panoramic view of the coastline north of Byron Bay. There are views towards the west as well, less picturesque but can produce nice sunsets depending on your timing of arriving there.
Continue on Tourist Drive
Continue on Hinterland Way for 4.1 kilometres to a roundabout, turning right into Byron Bay Road (Bangalow Road on Google Maps) towards Bangalow. Follow the road for approximately 650 metres, entering the town of Bangalow.
Bangalow Heritage House Museum
On the left as you enter town, turn left into Ashton St. A great place to see and learn some history of Bangalow and what earlier generations used to do and use.
Piccabeen Park – Bangalow Parklands
Next to the heritage house is the Bangalow Parklands along Byron Creek. The park is picturesque with a couple of playgrounds and toilets.
Continue on Tourist Drive
Continue along Byron Street another 300 metres to reach the main street of Bangalow shopping area. If you are already at the parklands, the main street of Bangalow is an easy walk.
Bangalow Main Street
The main street buildings make you feel like you are in a small country town. Wander along to browse in the shops or stop for a bite to eat.
Continue on Tourist Drive
Continue along Byron Street heading west. At the roundabout, continue on Lismore Road, becoming Bangalow-Lismore Road, towards Lismore for 13.7 kilometres to Clunes.
Clunes Village
Clunes boasts beautiful examples of Federation homes and early Australian church architecture. The Clunes Village Park is a great spot to stop with its lush trees and views across the valley towards Alstonville. The general store and cafe, houses a boutique cellar, post office, grocery and gift store. The stores are sparsely spaced out so if there were somewhere you would like to look at, stop and continue on to the next spot.
Continue on Tourist Drive
Continue along Bangalow-Lismore Road heading west for around 7.5 kilometres to reach Bexhill.
Bexhill Village
Bexhill boasts they have the “friendliest general store” in the Northern Rivers, also famous for its homemade Indian curries and samosas. More recent reviews haven’t been so good (after 2023).
Continue on Tourist Drive
Before leaving Bexhill, turn into Grace Road (opposite the general store), then take the first left to head to the Open Air Cathedral, 200 metres on the right.
Open Air Cathedral
The Open Air Cathedral 
overlooks the Corndale Vally with views to the Nightcap National Park. It is a popular outdoor wedding spot, as well as a great place to sit quietly and enjoy the view.
Continue on Tourist Drive
Continue along Bangalow-Lismore Road heading west for around 8.5 kilometres to Lismore. Turn left into Dawson St, following the brown sign with the Tourist Drive 24 symbol. Continue for another 900 metres, reaching the turnoff for the Lismore Regional Gallery. Turn right into Rural Street to access the parking area.
Lismore Regional Gallery
Lismore Regional Gallery was established in 1953, one of the longest-running cultural organisations in the Northern Rivers of New South Wales.
Continue on Tourist Drive
Return to Dawson St from the gallery and turn right to head south. Follow Dawson St for 550 metres to reach the Bruxner Highway.
Lismore Visitor Information Centre
The tourist drive is in the opposite direction to the tourist drive. to the left, however, the Visitor Information Centre for Lismore is to the right. To detour to Lismore Visitor Information Centre, turn right and follow the visitor signs.
Continue on Tourist Drive
Return to Dawson St on the Bruxner Highway and continue east for 350 metres, and turn right into Wyrallah Road heading towards Botanic Gardens. Follow Wyrallah Road for 3.4 kilometres and the entrance to the Lismore Rainforest Botanic Gardens is on the right.
Rainforest Botanic Gardens
Lismore Rainforest Botanic Gardens specialises in native plants, mostly rainforest, which naturally grow within a 200 kilometre radius of Lismore.
Continue on Tourist Drive
Return to Wyrallah Road and head south for 6.2 kilometres. The tourist drive continues on the right into Wyrallah Ferry Road, however, you can take the option of continuing on a little further to two additional brown sign destinations.
Aboriginal Bora Ring
Aboriginal Bora Ring (3.8km passed Wyrallah Ferry Road) is a ceremonial ring found on the Eastern coast of Australia. It is the second bora ring we have found with a brown sign.
Tucki Tucki Nature Reserve
Known as a place to spot koalas (if you are lucky enough to spot them) Tucki Tucki Nature Reserve (5.7km passed Wyrallah Ferry Road) is a small reserve with a short walking trail.
Continue on Tourist Drive
Cross over the Wilson River on Wyrallah Ferry Road and follow to the end, then turn left onto Coraki Road. Follow Coraki Road for 10.6 kilometres and cross the Richmond River on The Glebe Bridge.
Glebe Bridge
The Glebe Bridge is one of only three bascule bridges in New South Wales (the others being in Narooma and Carrathool). Bascule bridges, sometimes referred to as a drawbridge or lifting bridge) opens with a counterweight (either above or below the bridge) to lift the road up to allow clearance for boat traffic.
Continue on Tourist Drive
From the bridge, continue another 600 metres and turn left onto Queen Elizabeth Drive. Follow Queen Elizabeth Drive for 700 metres and turn left into Minto Street. Follow Minto Street to the end, reaching Richmond Terrace and the Memorial Park.
Memorial Park and Coraki Riverside Park
At the end of Minto Street is the Memorial Park, on the banks of the Richmond River, opposite where the Wilsons River joins it. Coraki is a word from the local Aboriginal people, meaning “meeting of water”. The park has public toilets and picnic facilities, and next to it is a boat ramp and jetty.
The park continues south along the river, becoming Coraki Riverside Park. Coraki Riverside Park has a man-made sand beach for swimming and launching personal watercraft.
Continue on Tourist Drive
Continue south on Richmond Terrace up to the bridge. Turn right (not over the bridge) onto Adams Street and follow for 800 meters, then turn left onto Queen Elizabath Drive.
Queen Elizabath Drive, becoming Woodburn-Coraki Road, for 16.4 kilometres to reach Woodburn.
There is no clear end of the Tourist Drive 24, except for a sign in the opposite direction 200 metres before Wagner St. Turn right and follow Tuckombil Road for 3 kilometres to return to the Pacific Motorway. Or turn left into River Street into Woodburn and join up with Coastal Tourist Drive 26, from Woodburn to Broadwater, via Evans Head.
