Brisbane, we need to talk. You've been driving straight past Kingscliff for years and heading to Byron like everyone else, sitting in that traffic, paying those prices. It's time to take the exit. Just over an hour south down the M1, across the NSW border, Kingscliff is the kind of town that has everything you actually want from a weekend away. A great beach that doesn't require a booking to get a patch of sand. A main street stacked with serious restaurants, good coffee and the kind of farmers market on Saturday morning that actually makes you want to get out of bed early. It has the beauty of pristine northern NSW beaches and the coolness of Byron's bar and dining scene, without the Byron crowds.

And here's the thing, Kingscliff still retains a lot of its rural, beachside charm. The beach is uncrowded, the hinterland is right there when you want it and you can genuinely park the car on Friday afternoon and not need it again until Sunday. Bike paths run north to Tweed and south to Cabarita Beach, the water is warm and nobody is in a hurry.

So pack the car, grab the crew and get across that border. We've rounded up the best places to stay, eat and things to do in Kingscliff so all you have to do is show up.