Things To Do in Murwillumbah

If you're looking for a Big Avocado to go with your Coffs Harbour Big Banana, head for Tropical Fruit World, on the Pacific Highway (tel. 02/6677 7222; www.tropicalfruitworld.com.au), 15km (9 1/2 miles) north of Murwillumbah and 15km (9 1/2 miles) south of Coolangatta. The Tweed Valley's top attraction grows some 400 varieties of tropical fruit, which you can discover on an interesting 1 1/2-hour tractor-train tour of the 81-hectare (200-acre) plantation, as well as on four-wheel-drive rainforest drives and riverboat rides. It's open daily from 10am to 4pm. Also on the property are a kiosk, fruit market, and gift shop. Admission to food and shopping areas is free.

The 1,154m (3,785-ft.) Mount Warning is part of the rim of an extinct volcano formed some 20 to 23 million years ago. You can hike around the mountain and to the top on trails in the Mount Warning World Heritage Park.

The clubs up here on the border of Queensland are huge and offer cheap bistro meals as well as pricier ones in more upscale restaurants, inexpensive drinks at the bar, entertainment, and hundreds of poker machines. The biggest in New South Wales is the Twin Towns Services Club, Wharf Street, Tweed Heads (tel. 07/5536 2277). Another worth checking out is Seagulls Rugby League Club, Gollan Drive, Tweed Heads (tel. 07/5536 3433). Major entertainers, such as Tom Jones and Joe Cocker, have played here over the last few years. It's open 24 hours. To gain admittance to these "private" clubs, you must sign the registration book just inside the door. Tweed Heads is 40km (25 miles), or about a 30-minute drive, from Murwillumbah.