They say that a change is as good as a holiday - and particularly when it's a change of scene. The new and vastly improved Pacific Highway south of the Queensland/NSW border now provides easy access to the Northern Rivers region, where you'll find the perfect antidote to work stress and strife all in a day's drive.

Recharge your batteries and rejuvenate your spirit as you follow our suggested trails to quaint rural villages and alternative lifestyle communities. Kick back and relax at cosmopolitan country cafes and trendy beachside restaurants. Test your limits on challenging bushwalks. Or just sit by a waterfall and contemplate your navel …

Scenic Splendour

Murwillumbah - Tweed Valley - Mt Warning - Uki - Border Ranges National Park - Lions Road - Rathdowney/ Beaudesert. Return via Canungra

This drive combines three very different aspects of the Northern Rivers region. In one day's outing, you'll experience the rural tranquillity of the Tweed Valley, the World Heritage-listed rainforests of the Border Ranges and the storybook farmland of the Lions Road.

Take time out to explore Murwillumbah where recommended stops include the Tweed River Regional Art Gallery (home to the prestigious Doug Moran Portrait Prize) and the World Heritage Rainforest and Information Centre. The village of Uki by the banks of the Tweed River has a number of historic buildings, such as the old Buttery where country craft markets are held on the third Sunday of each month.

You won't have time for the five hour trek up and back to the summit of Mt Warning, but you'll enjoy the easy 15-minute Lyrebird Track that leads to a platform in the rainforest. If you're looking for a good picnic spot, Clarrie Hall Dam is ideal.

The 64km Tweed Range Scenic Drive takes you through the eastern sector of the Border Ranges National Park, right along the rim of the caldera to breathtaking lookouts, waterfalls, ancient forests of Antarctic beech trees and several bush-walking tracks.

And for a grand finale, it's hard to beat the Lions Road up across the mountains to Beaudesert through some of the prettiest farmland you'll find anywhere in Australia. Built by the Lions Clubs of Kyogle and Beaudesert, the route winds up and over gently rounded hills cloaked in emerald green pastures, following the railway line into the depths of the rainforest. On the other side, the vast thoroughbred training studs lining the road to Rathdowney are reminiscent of Kentucky's bluegrass country.

Village Life

Mullumbimby - Coolamon Scenic Drive - Federal - Repentance Creek - Whian Whian State Forest - Dunoon - Lismore - Bangalow. Return via Pacific Highway.

The bustling university hub of Lismore is surrounded by a network of quaint villages and valleys connected by easy country roads through lush coffee, tea and macadamia plantations.

Coolamon Scenic Drive winds through the hills behind Byron Bay, offering panoramic farmland views across to the ocean. Sample the alternative lifestyle as you stroll through Mullumbimby's art and craft stores; enjoy locally-grown coffee blends at Rosebank's Green Frog Café; visit the Macadamia Nut Capital of Australia in Dunoon; and browse through the antique and craft stores at Bangalow.

The 30km drive through Whian Whian State Forest is a contrast to all this rural domes-ticity, taking you to Minyon Falls, numerous scenic lookouts and plenty of bushwalking tracks. The Falls picnic area is a favourite stop and has trails leading off to the base of Minyon Falls, as well as Quandong Falls, Palm Valley, Rummery Park and Peakes Mountain.

For a late lunch, try the café at Lismore's Regional Art Gallery or any of the great restaurants lining Bangalow's 'eat street'.

Beach Tracks

Kingscliff - Pottsville - Brunswick Heads - Belongil - Byron Bay - Broken Head - Lennox Head - Ballina. Return via Pacific Highway

The Northern Rivers is famous for its beach and surfing culture and winter is a great time to enjoy long leisurely walks along deserted stretches of golden sands.

Leave the Pacific Highway behind as you travel the Tweed Coast road through Kingscliff, Cabarita, Hastings Point and Pottsville. Stop for a quiet ale by the river at the Brunswick pub and, if the Byron Bay crowds are too much to cope with, turn off to Belongil Beach where you'll fall in love with this quiet strip of low-key oceanfront homes and B&Bs.

Stay on the coast road to the sheltering headland of Broken Head and the world-famous pointbreak at Lennox Head before exploring the inland town of Ballina where the Thursday Plantation is well worth a visit to stroll through the tea tree maze that doubles as an outdoor art gallery.

You can literally eat your way along this route at any of the excellent cafés and restaurants lining the Kingscliff esplanade, great pub meals at Brunswick and Byron, trendy beach cafés at Belongil, the award-winning Seven Mile Café at Lennox, Shelly's on the Beach Café at Ballina or the Blue Room on the banks of the Richmond River.

Forgotten Country

Beaudesert - Lions Road  - Toonumbar National Park - Toonumbar Dam  - Richmond Range National Park - Casino. Return via Bruxner Highway to Lismore/ Bangalow and Pacific Highway.

This drive takes you well off the beaten track to an area that even the locals call 'the forgotten country'.

Toonumbar and Richmond Range National Parks are relatively unknown outside the region, so you can enjoy the picnic spots and scenic bushwalks in relative peace. Toonumbar Dam is another unexpected find. The local Rotary Club has constructed a 3km walk through the bushland at Toonumbar Waters Retreat or you can drive around to the barbeque/picnic area at Bells Bay.

Birdwatchers and nature-lovers will also enjoy the Jabiru Geneebeinga Wetlands, adjacent to the Casino Golf Club, where observation points and walkways allow you to view wildlife and native birds, like jabiru, black swans and other water birds.

Casino is the Beef Capital of Australia and hosts Beef Week celebrations from May 23 to June 3 but one of the town's biggest drawcards are the shy platypus that are often seen playing in the Richmond River shallows at the base of the Casino Bridge.

Wild River Gorge

Bangalow - Lismore - Casino - Baryulgil - Copmanhurst - Clarence River Gorge - Grafton - Casino - Lismore. Return via Bangalow and Pacific Highway

It's a big day's drive but well worth the effort to discover a wild river gorge that few people know about.

Accessed via Copmanhurst, the Clarence River Gorge is enclosed by private properties that operate as farmstays with cottage and camping accommodation so you will need to phone ahead and make arrangements to visit.

Once you get there, however, you'll be blown away at the majesty of these thundering waterfalls and savage rapids interspersed with deep pools and sections of calm water. There are three main waterfalls and the fishing is excellent. You can also hire a canoe and organise guided walks to the gorge. Phone the Clarence Visitor Information Centre at South Grafton on (02) 6642 4677 for more details.

Following our suggested route, you'll criss-cross the Clarence River and its tributaries as they carve through sprawling cattle country. Return home via the jacaranda city of Grafton and up the Summerland Way to Casino. This is an excellent alternative to the Pacific Highway, with plenty of country treasures to be found if you have time to explore the side roads. The old Federation-style pub at Rappville, painted an eye-catchingly bright pink is just one example.

Stay … just a little bit longer

Stretch your day trip into a weekend by staying overnight at one of the many retreats, resorts and B&Bs found throughout the Northern Rivers region. It's almost a case of 'name your fantasy': A luxury health spa in the Tweed Valley, a Tuscan villa in the hills behind Ballina and Byron Bay, working farmstay properties in the remote 'forgotten country', historic homes, artist camps, beachside bungalows … take your pick.

If you're looking after the family budget, there are caravan parks in virtually every town and some spectacular off-the-beaten-track camping spots at places like Jackadgery Creek, Toonumbar Dam, the Clarence River Gorge and along the Lions Road.

With a couple of days to spare, you can travel further afield to Nymboida for white water rafting and canoeing, or to Evans Head, Yamba and Iluka for a spot of beach pleasures.