If you’re driving through the Rainbow Region of New South Wales, you might happen upon the self proclaimed Biggest Little Town in Australia. I think it’s moniker should be Little Town Big Spirit. Welcome to Mullumbimby NSW.
The Rainbow Region.
The Rainbow district starts to the west in the town of Nimbin and wafts it’s way through The Channon, Uki south to Lismore and across to the coastal towns of Brunswick Heads and Byron Bay. Mullumbimby sits toward the top of that rainbow.
Why Rainbow?
An Alternate Lifestyle arrived at nearby Nimbin in 1973 on the back of the life changing Aquarius Festival. A tie-died pot-smoking culture followed with influential logging protests that brought about the protection of many Australian forests. We drove through some of those forests and it was a magical experience. Gentle rain fell only to rise again like smoke from the treetops and at the end of the day there was just a hint of colour shimmering in the clouds.
The road leads to Mount Chincogan and Mullumbimby
Where is Mullum?
Tourist information sites, caravan park admins, google searches and random strangers all mentioned a town called Mullum. It wasn’t marked on our maps but it didn’t take long to realise that Mullumbimby and Mullum were one and the same.
Arriving in town, we spotted the now familiar name everywhere. Mullum was incorporated into business names, splashed across signs and posters and hidden in the menu. The name sits well with the spirit of the town.
Yoga Mullumbimby and the Mullum Spirit
Smiles are wide and heads are dreadlocked, hearts are open and spirits awakened. As we walked along the footpath I watched a little boy entertaining himself while his Dad was busy talking. He appropriated a large cylindrical tin money box from a store display, sat on the ground with the tin upturned and started drumming. I guess he’d been to a few drumming circles in his life!
It could have been a side effect of the Spirit Festival, in town during our visit 15-17 April 2016, but if the high proportion of Yoga Studios per head of population (1 per 530) is any guide, this is one relaxed town.
A Social Conscience.
Demands a call for action on Climate Change Now!
Middle Pub Mullumbimby – Quirky
This normal looking Aussie outback town has wide streets, palm trees and of course pubs. Middle Pub Mullumbimby has broken the mould of Aussie outback pubs by quirkily decorating their front bar with classy looking antique furniture. I cornered a comfy lounge chair for some time-out and no-one batted an eyelid – in fact another guy settled in for a chat on his mobile and neither of us were paying customers. Yep – The Spirit of Mullum.
Don’t be fooled into thinking that Middle means there are another two pubs in town. No, this is a two pub kind of place, but this one acquired it’s name because it is in the middle of town. Quirky!
Things to Do in Mullumbimby
Pole sculptures down my Mullumbimby Creek
Non-conformist Poles point skywards at the entrance to a planned Sculpture walk down by Mullumbimby Creek and a spirit workshop circle in progress nearby. It’s a nice place for a relaxing walk. There was not a sculpture in sight but I’m very sure community spirit will make it happen.
Finishing touches being applied.
Mullumbimby Markets
This relaxed market, our reason for visiting Mullum, reflects the spirit of the town. With green grass underfoot and large shade trees overhead, we free-ranged, talking to the stall holders and watching artists at work.
It seemed fitting that a bric-a-brac stall holder and I shared a spooky story about a pre-loved 70’s tablecloth that found it’s way back to it’s original family. With both of us feeling goose-bumpy, the deal was sealed. I ended up with a tablecloth and she with $5.
It goes without saying that we were surreptitiously eyeing off some interesting market food and before long had selected tempura vegetables (a bargain 3 fritters for $3), a slice of chocolate cake heaven and two pick-me-up coffees.
Looking for somewhere to sit we gravitated to the make-shift stage and nabbed a front row seat in the shade to catch a performance by Jesse Morris. A free spirit accompanied him with an interpretive dance routine complete with unlit fire sticks.
The Mullum spirit was alive and well.
Afterward Jessie pulled up a stool and started chatting while we listened to Julian Temple, the next performer. Both of these guys have their own bands and are world class acts.
Mullumbimby today is likened to Byron Bay before it acquired megastar status.
Now is the time to appreciate Mullumbimby/Mullum – A little town with big spirit.
Budget Travel Talk.
Mullum Community Market is held at the corner of Stuart and Myocum Streets in Summers Park, Mullimbimby, from 9am to 3pm on the third Saturday of the Month.
Mullimbimby Farmers Market is held near the Showgrounds at the base of Mount Chincogan from 7am to 11am every Friday.
Mullimbimby is 20 minutes by road from Byron Bay.
Add a link to your travel post at the link up below. I am co-hosting Nancie’s Travel Photo Thursday with Ruth from Tanama Tales and Rachel from Rachel’s Ruminations.
Piazza Navona and the Tale of Three Fountains
Oh yes Rainbow Region indeed! I think most of the people that live in this area see rainbows all the time!! It is an education visiting Mullumbimby and some of the other towns in this area, but I do love the peace-loving alternate types that reside here. Also I do love some of the healthy food that they prepare and their arts and crafts are very good. Thanks for taking me back here.
Hi Kathy, I love the creative feel of Mullum. It would be such an accepting place to live.
Mullum looks like such a fun place. That’s crazy how many yoga studios there are! As you say, it must be one very chilled out town!
It is a fun place and I would love to live there Fairlie. 🙂
This is my type of countryside – rolling green countryside. I do love it, and the markets look fantastic. We did travel this way back in 2010 but it was whistlestop and I really wanted to stop more along the way. Thank you for giving me a virtual tour today 🙂
Hi Jo, After the forests were chopped down, the green fields made dairying very popular. It is gorgeous country to drive through and the remaining forests are magical.
What a weirdly wonderful place. There are so many curious little spots around Australia – and I’ve only been in the eastern parts. Expect there are some scattered around in the dry centre of the country as well…?
Hi Sophie. I think the further you get away from the coast the more interesting the communities would get!
Mullum seems to be an interesting destination. The pictures are so lively. Knowing so much about it for the first time. I would love to own one of those shoes… may be one I will get there.
Those shoes caught my eye too Indrani. I guess it gets a little cold in Mullum 🙂
Lol – do you want to make us feel ‘homesick’? Since 2010 we call Mullumbimby home, although we’ve left again for our next big adventure in early 2013. Before that we lived near Bangalow and in Byron Bay: Still: we own a house in Mullum, near the showground, and will return one day! You certainly captured Mullum’s atmosphere nicely even if it’s not really dreadlocks everywhere. Now almost too many city people discover the beauty of Byron’s hinterland and move into the region.
Hi Juergen, there were quite a lot of dreadlocks in town when we were there. Maybe they came with the Spirit Festival. You certainly are lucky to own a home near the showgrounds. We drove that way through the Jerusalem National Park on the way to Uki. It was quite beautiful.
Ah, Uki is another of these cute hinterland towns. Much quieter than Mullum, shame only that the main road to Kyogle passes through. Will you feature Uki soon too?
Maybe as part of a drive Juergen. There was a market on in the village hall the day we were there but had finished by the time we arrived.
I do love the names of Australian towns. They’re fun to say, and Mullumbimby is no exception. That’s a great rainbow photo you took. I can see how the region got its nickname. It looks like such a relaxed place to visit, although I can see myself perhaps spending more money than I had intended at that market.
The great thing about markets is you can spend as little or as much as you like and still enjoy the ambience. It would be nice to just grab a drink and sit and listen to the music. Thanks for commenting Michele.
I love this post. I’ve worked and/or lived in Mullum since 1993 – when I’m not travelling. But just one little correction – I’m pretty sure there are only 2 pubs in Mullum. And I think the Middle Pub is called that because it’s in the middle of town – but of that I am not sure.
Thanks for correcting me Yasha. I think I read in a review that there were three. I’ve corrected it now. You’re lucky to live in such a great little town. 🙂
Mullumbimby, besides having a great name, looks like one of those places where you think ‘I could live here!’ I had that feeling in quite a few places when I visited Australia!
Oh Jan by whatever name, this town calls out for a visit! Your photos absolutely snap in this post. Love, love, love this one!
I get the Byron Bay comparison. Great informative post, Jan. We must pop down. The last time I went to Nimbin I fell over, slashed my knee and had to go get stitches from the Lismore hospital. There was no drinking involved. I love that the area is called the Rainbow Region.
Oh No, stitches on holidays are not fun.:(
Hi Jan! What an interesting town. I loved that green arm chair! Looks very comfy. I also spotted those cats at the market. I would have one of those! Thanks for hosting, and sorry that I am so slow getting around. I’m back in grading hell purgatory! 🙂
I don’t know how you manage posting and grading at the same time Nancie!
Oh i so could stay there for at least a week or two! And yep Yoga, my ideal way of living 🙂
Love the wall art!