Eco-Friendly Businesses on the NSW North Coast
The NSW North Coast is not only home to breathtaking beaches, lush rainforests, and diverse wildlife but also a growing number of eco-conscious businesses dedicated to sustainability and cultural preservation. Whether you're looking to connect with Indigenous heritage, explore untouched natural beauty, or support environmentally responsible tourism, these businesses are leading the way.
From immersive eco-adventures to sustainable accommodation and ethical distilleries, here are some of the best eco-friendly businesses on the NSW North Coast that you should add to your must-visit list.
Wajaana Yaam Gumbaynggirr Adventure Tours – Coffs Harbour
🌿 Experience: Cultural immersion & stand-up paddling📍 Location: Coffs Harbour📷 Photo Credit: Destination NSW – Craig Parry
Step onto a paddleboard and glide through the waterways with Wajaana Yaam Gumbaynggirr Adventure Tours, an Indigenous-owned and operated experience offering a deep cultural connection to the land and sea. Led by direct descendants of the Gumbaynggirr people—some of the world’s first stand-up paddlers—you’ll gain insight into Dreamtime stories, language, and traditions.
The tour also includes the opportunity to forage for seasonal bush tucker, learning about the medicinal and culinary uses of native plants along the way. More than just an eco-adventure, Wajaana Yaam offers a powerful way to connect with the ancient wisdom of Australia’s First Nations people.
➡️ Why it’s eco-friendly?✔️ Operated by Indigenous custodians who protect and share their land sustainably✔️ Low-impact, non-motorised paddle tours✔️ Promotes Indigenous knowledge of native plants and ecosystems
Vision Walks Eco Tours – Byron Bay
🌿 Experience: Wildlife encounters & rainforest walks📍 Location: Byron Bay hinterland📷 Photo Credit: Destination NSW – Craig Parry
For those seeking an authentic eco-tourism experience, Vision Walks Eco Tours in Byron Bay is a perfect choice. This award-winning business takes small groups on unique excursions through ancient rainforests, mystical waterfalls, and untouched bushland, ensuring minimal environmental impact while maximising the chance to witness Australia’s incredible wildlife in their natural habitat.
From glow worm night tours to crystal castle experiences and guided hikes to World Heritage-listed forests, Vision Walks offers something for every nature lover. Plus, all tours are carbon-neutral—a testament to their commitment to sustainable tourism.
➡️ Why it’s eco-friendly?✔️ Carbon-neutral tours✔️ Small group sizes to protect fragile ecosystems✔️ Focus on conservation and wildlife protection
Contained in Nimbin – Sustainable Accommodation
🌿 Experience: Eco-friendly tiny home stays📍 Location: Nimbin, Northern Rivers📷 Photo Credit: Lismore City Council – Nikki Bernoth
Imagine waking up in a completely self-sufficient eco-cabin nestled within the lush hills of Nimbin. Contained in Nimbin offers a sustainable, off-grid escape in a beautifully repurposed shipping container turned into a luxury tiny home. With solar power, rainwater harvesting, and composting toilets, this eco-stay allows guests to experience a minimal-footprint lifestyle while being immersed in nature.
Perfect for eco-conscious travellers looking for a peaceful retreat, Contained in Nimbin showcases how sustainable accommodation doesn’t mean sacrificing comfort.
➡️ Why it’s eco-friendly?✔️ 100% off-grid living with renewable energy✔️ Uses repurposed and sustainable materials✔️ Promotes low-impact tourism in the Northern Rivers
Jetty Dive – Coffs Harbour
🌿 Experience: Marine conservation & scuba diving📍 Location: Coffs Harbour📷 Photo Credit: Destination NSW – Craig Parry
For an unforgettable underwater adventure, Jetty Dive in Coffs Harbour offers eco-friendly scuba diving and snorkelling tours to the Solitary Islands Marine Park. This unique location is home to an incredible blend of tropical and temperate marine life, including vibrant coral reefs, friendly sea turtles, and elusive grey nurse sharks.
Jetty Dive is dedicated to protecting marine ecosystems, ensuring that their tours follow strict environmental guidelines to minimise the impact on delicate underwater habitats. They also actively promote ocean conservation through educational programs and reef clean-ups.
➡️ Why it’s eco-friendly?✔️ Supports marine conservation efforts✔️ Educates divers on protecting fragile reef ecosystems✔️ Uses sustainable diving practices to minimise environmental impact
Cape Byron Distillery – Byron Hinterland
🌿 Experience: Sustainable gin distillery & rainforest walks📍 Location: Byron Bay hinterland📷 Photo Credit: Destination NSW – Craig Parry
Hidden in the lush Byron Bay hinterland, Cape Byron Distillery is a family-run distillery with a passion for sustainability. Known for producing Brookie’s Gin, their unique blend is infused with 25 botanicals, including 17 native ingredients sourced from the surrounding regenerated rainforest.
Guests are welcomed with a gin and tonic on arrival, followed by a guided walk through the distillery’s subtropical rainforest, where they learn about native botanicals and their traditional uses. The tour ends with a full gin tasting experience, where visitors can savour the unique flavours of this locally crafted spirit.
➡️ Why it’s eco-friendly?✔️ Restores and regenerates native rainforest ecosystems✔️ Uses locally sourced, native botanicals✔️ Runs an ethical and sustainable distillery operation
Supporting Eco-Friendly Businesses on the NSW North Coast
Visiting and supporting eco-friendly businesses like these is not only a rewarding way to experience the beauty of the NSW North Coast but also an opportunity to contribute to sustainable tourism. Whether you’re exploring the ocean, hiking ancient rainforests, learning about Indigenous culture, or staying in eco-conscious accommodation, every choice you make helps protect and preserve this stunning region for future generations.
