Tweed Byron Hinterland, NSW – 4-Day Rainforest Trek
I'm about to start the Gidjuum Gulganyi Walk, a four-day hike through the beautiful Tweed Byron hinterland. This post is based on our research and planning before starting the trail—I’ll update it after the hike with more details and firsthand tips.
If you’re preparing to do this walk yourself, here’s what I’ve gathered so far:
Logistics & Getting There
This is a point-to-point hike, meaning you start and finish in different locations. That makes logistics more involved than a loop trail, especially if you're driving yourself.
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Shuttle service:
You can leave your car in Mullumbimby at the City Council car park on Station Street. This may be the most convenient and affordable option if you're booking the Vision Walks Shuttle, which costs about $38 each way from Mullumbimby. -
Don’t leave your car at the trailhead:
I visited the Unicorn Falls car park, and it’s extremely isolated. It didn’t feel like a safe place to leave a vehicle unattended for multiple days. -
Friend drop-off/pick-up option:
If you’re lucky like me, you can rope in a few friends! I invited a friend to join me on the first leg of the hike, visiting Unicorn Falls and Hell Hole Falls as a day adventure. Then I’ll have another friend meet me at the end to do Minyon Falls as a separate day hike. It’s a great way to share parts of the trail and manage logistics—plus, it adds a bit of social fun on both ends.
Water Access
There are rainwater tanks and rivers available along the trail. After heavy rain (like right now), the tanks should be full. Still:
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Don’t rely on tanks as a guaranteed source.
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There are plenty of river crossings.
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Always filter your water or use AquaTabs to purify it—no exceptions.
Tent Platforms & Campsites
Each campsite has raised wooden tent platforms with gaps between the slats and adjustable chains to help secure your tent.
But setup can be finicky, depending on your tent's type, shape, and size.
Tips:
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Bring extra straps to tie off where the chains don’t reach.
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Fishbone pegs are super handy—they slot into the platform gaps to help anchor your tent corners.
Leeches & Insects
Being a rainforest track, leeches are common, especially after rain. Don’t skip bug protection.
My recommendation:
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Bushman Heavy Duty Insect Repellent Aerosol Spray (45% DEET) – it’s the strongest I’ve used and works better than anything else I’ve tried against leeches.
Extra Resources
If you’re planning your walk, feel free to use the resources I’ve prepared:
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My Full Packing List (LighterPack)
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GPX File with Waypoints (Trail + Campsites): You can upload this to apps like AllTrails and Garmin to help with offline navigation.
Final Thoughts (For Now)
This hike has been on my radar for a while, and I'm excited that it is finally open. We’ll be walking through ancient rainforest, sleeping on platforms in the wild, and figuring things out as we go. Everything I’ve shared above is based on research and prep and I’ll update this post with real-time trail notes once I’m back.
In the meantime, if you’re also planning to do the Gidjuum Gulganyi Walk and have questions, feel free to drop a comment or message me.
See you on the trail.