The first Europeans to explore the Tweed region were stuck by its remarkable landscape. In 1770 James Cook passed by the Tweed Coast and named Mount Warning. The largest extinct volcanic shield in the southern hemisphere, it’s also the first peak to receive morning sun in the country. The local Bundjalung people poetically referred to it as ‘Wollumbin’: the cloud catcher. As colonial New South Wales took shape, more intensive investigation of the region occurred. In 1823 John Oxley navigated his way around the Tweed’s waterways. Upon entering the Tweed River he described the Tweed Valley as “beautiful beyond description. The scenery here exceeded anything I have previously seen in Australia.” Close to 200 years have passed since Oxley made this observation. Although the Tweed Valley has transformed in this period, few would dispute his description today. Contemporary Tweed Heads is a major regional city. Bordering Coolangatta - its ‘twin town’ - Tweed Heads is one of the key commercial, retail and administrative centres in northern NSW. A major tourist destination, it’s also one of the fastest growing residential areas in the state. It’s hardly surprising. Who wouldn’t want to immerse themselves in one of the most beautiful parts of the country?

There’s an impressive range of cafés and restaurants in Tweed Heads along with plenty of places serving takeaway food. You’ll find all the usual major franchises in town, along with some good options for casual dining in Tweed Heads South. It’s home to the Tweed Heads South Bowling Club and Tweed Heads South Golf Club and both serve good lunches and dinners. You’ll find very good fine dining restaurants in the city, some with superb waterside venues. Jimbo’s Seafood on the Wharf is a good example; it’s not just renowned for its excellent local seafood, but its steak. Signatures Restaurant in the Twin Towns Services Club is also very well regarded, as is the Ivory Hotel Restaurant.

As you’d expect, Tweed Heads/Coolangatta offers an excellent range of shops from large department stores to small boutiques and specialty stores. Residents of Tweed Heads West also have the convenience of local shops at Kennedy Drive Shopping Village. Likewise, residents of Tweed Heads South have one of the largest local shopping centres on their doorsteps. Tweed City Shopping Centre houses department stores, national retail chains as well as100 specialty stores.

Tweed Heads has good transport services, with Surfside Busliness operating a number of regular bus routes to Tweed Heads South and West and beyond. Tweed Heads is also served by bus routes operating routes along the Pacific and Gold Coast highways. The Gold Coast Airport is approximately five minutes’ drive from Tweed Heads. The Gold Coast rail network is also easily accessible; Robina train station is approximately 30 minutes away.

Unlike some nearby parts of Southern Queensland, Tweed Heads has grown outwards, not upwards. The riverfront area of Tweed Heads is a mix of single dwellings, duplexes and higher density apartment complexes, not high rises. Mainly residential, there’s also a small amount of tourist accommodation. Central Tweed Heads has a mixture of freestanding homes, townhouses and units located near the commercial and professional services found in the CBD. Tweed Heads South is one of the more developed local suburbs. Homes here are mostly freestanding, often on large garden blocks. For many, Tweed Heads West represents an affordable entry to Tweed Heads. Primarily residential, you’ll find duplexes, units and houses. With great local services and amenities and plenty of green space, it’s a great place to raise a family.

Tweed Heads is very popular with families and a wide range of childcare and educational services are available. You’ll find numerous family daycare centres, long daycare centres and preschools in Tweed Heads, including Cooloon’s Children Centre, Freckles Early Learning Education Centre, ABC Tweed Heads South, Tweed Heads Community Preschool and Northern Rivers Family Day Care. Tweed Heads Primary and Tweed Heads South, and St Josephs provide primary education. Public secondary education is provided by Tweed Heads High. Residents have excellent access to tertiary education, as a campus of Southern Cross University is located in Tweed Heads itself. TAFEs are located in Kingscliff and in Coolangatta.

It’s fair to say there’s something for everyone in Tweed Heads when it comes to sport and recreation. For many, what makes this part of the world so special is the ease with which you can immerse yourself in pristine bushland. The Tweed Valley is ringed by some of the most spectacular landscape in the country, and the nearby national parks make unbeatable places to walk, hike or climb, or simply to be. The local beachfront and waterways are also exceptional, and they really do accommodate everything from swimming, house-boating, kayaking and snorkelling to fishing and whale watching. The local surf schools are renowned, and there are many reputable providers offering deep sea fishing expeditions. There are great facilities for individual and team sports, with numerous ovals and playing fields in town. There are also some excellent local golf courses. The Coolangatta and Tweed Heads Golf Club has two courses; its River Course was ranked among the top public golf courses in the country.