Byron Bay and the Gold Coast have long tempted tourists with sun-soaked beaches and great surf, but the cluster of coastal towns that stretch between these two destinations are just as worthy of your attention.

The area is known for its natural beauty and, more recently, as a culinary hot spot, courtesy of an influx of fine-dining chefs who have made a sea change.

Today, we’re exploring the stretch between Burleigh Heads and Byron Bay in the Mercedes-Benz C 300. The popular mid-size sedan delivers a smooth and powerful ride south along the Gold Coast Highway and into northern New South Wales – a journey that could be made in little over an hour if not for the many delicious detours along the way.

Kick things off in Burleigh Heads

Start your journey on the Gold Coast, specifically the southern part of the region, which is fast becoming a favourite alternative to the traditional tourist mecca Surfers Paradise. Southern Gold Coast’s crown jewel when it comes to dining is the beachside suburb of Burleigh.

Burleigh is best visited on an empty stomach because visitors are spoiled for choice when it comes to dining options, including long time favourites Rick Shores and Burleigh Pavilion, which both sit perched on the water’s edge. However, it’s the arrival of Sydney fine dining chefs that have been pivotal in the flavour immersion taking over the Gold Coast.

Former Cottage Point Inn head chef Guillaume Zika is at the helm of Burleigh Pavilion’s The Tropic, while Alex Munoz Labart, formerly of Monopole and Cirrus Dining, is behind European-inspired Labart and award-winning bar Paloma.

“The Gold Coast dining scene is no longer dominated by Surfers Paradise tourist traps,” says Munoz Labart. “Since opening Labart in 2018, we’ve seen a new wave of owner-operators raise the bar and things are showing no signs of slowing down. I think the next five to ten years will see the Gold Coast firmly cement itself as one of Australia’s must-visit food destinations.”

Explore Tweed Coast

Next, we put the Mercedes-Benz C 300 into Comfort mode and cruise down the Gold Coast Highway until we hit the seaside town of Kingscliff.

This town, on the northern tip of New South Wales, is definitely worthy of a pit-stop, if not an overnight stay at The Blue Water Motel – a mid-century architectural gem recently reimagined by interior designer Jason Grant.

During the day, explore Kingscliff’s surf beach or a dip in the protected swimming hole in the waters of Cudgen Creek, which is best enjoyed at high tide. For those looking for a memorable meal, Taverna dishes up a Greek-inspired menu right on the beachfront or cruise five minutes inland to Farm & Co. With most of the restaurant’s produce supplied from onsite paddocks, Farm & Co is truly a farm-to-table experience.

Drop into Cabarita

A short trip further south and you’ll pull up to Cabarita Beach, the surfing community harbouring one of the region’s most eye-catching beaches at Norries Cove.

Once a lesser-known gem of the Northern Rivers, Cabarita has been placed firmly on the map courtesy of luxe coastal oasis Halcyon House designed by Anna Spiro. This boutique hotel also includes Halcyon Spa and onsite restaurant Paper Daisy, helmed by former Attica talent Jason Barrett.

Just across the road is No. 35 Kitchen and Bar, an Italian-inspired eatery, courtesy of Icebergs’ alumni general manager Rachel Duffy and chef Daniel Medcalf. If you’re dining here, we recommend trying the Local Snapper Fish Finger Sandwich, which has garnered a loyal following.

Medcalf, a Byron Bay native, is one of many local chefs returning home and making waves in the area’s booming dining scene.

“It’s so nice to come home after all these years and see a lot of old faces, alongside plenty of new ones,” says Medcalf. “The food scene in Tweed is changing so much and so rapidly, all for the better. There are so many talented people doing so much for food around here and adding so much more to the area.”

Ben Devlin, chef and owner of Pipit in Pottsville, is another Byron local returning to the region after stints at the likes of Copenhagen’s Noma. Being back in the Northern Rivers hasn’t swayed the chef’s passion for pushing boundaries when it comes to cuisine. It’s at Pipit that he plates creative dishes like grilled oyster with macadamia milk tofu and pomelo, and dry-aged duck breast with black sapote, green pepper and yuzu.

Visit Brunswick Heads and the Northern Rivers

Back on the road, our next stop is Brunswick Heads, the former fishing village on the fringe of Byron Bay. When visiting this region be sure to drop into Josh Lewis and Astrid McCormack of Fleet fame’s latest venues Roco Ramen and La Casita.

After a scenic drive along the length of the crystalline Brunswick River, stop by Honour, a bar that specialises in natural wines and French-inspired snacks. Like so many now based in the Northern Rivers, owners Anna Mortimer and Aymeric Albores have a strong pedigree. Mortimer manned the pans at Septime in Paris and trained in butchery at Andrew McConnell’s Meatsmith in Melbourne, while sommelier Albores is behind the wine list, a celebration of smaller producers and intriguing drops.

For more information, visit each website below for up-to-date opening hours.

Discover the Mercedes-Benz C-Class and book your test drive today.

By Sarah Bristow