Get the feeling that you’re missing out on something? That there’s something just beyond your reach that you need to discover?
Well, there is. Just beyond the 9 to 5 routine of everyday city life lies a cool vibe of fun, excitement and culture that a Kiff & Culture tour can help you discover.
Their premium food and culture tours will take you on an adventure to discover where your food comes from. A journey to country can help you take off your ‘big city shoes’, change your perspective and help you ground yourself with Mother Earth.
In mid-2021, founder Drew Campbell applied his experience as an award-winning South African tour operator to starting his second tour business in the Brisbane to Byron area, close to where he had been educated.
Taking on business partners (and longstanding school friends) Alex Baker and Angus Bushnell, Drew used their turbulent first year of operation during Covid to liaise with handpicked producers to develop memorable tours in South-East Queensland (Brisbane, Gold Coast and Tamborine Mountain) and Northern NSW (Byron Bay and Northern Rivers).
The trio named the business ‘Kiff & Culture’, the two words aptly describing their mission to enable cool cultural experiences, ‘kiff’ being South African for ‘cool’.
We were invited to take their Byron Hinterland Paddock to Plate tour which visits award-winning eco-friendly businesses, sustainable family-owned producers and a vibrant arty village hub centred around hyperlocal garden-to-plate produce experiences.
Picked up from the Gold Coast by our tour guide and driver, Alex, we drive south through the rich volcanic farmlands of the Northern Rivers to the Byron Bay Hinterland. With a smile and the communication skills to get on with everybody, Alex tells us about the company and its philosophy as we drive.
Our first stop on the hilltop above Byron is the family-owned organic producer, Zentveld Coffee. We’re met by Bec, a second-generation coffee farmer and roaster who produces their coffee from crop to cup. As Bec takes us on a tour of plantation and roastery she describes their sustainable practices, such as companion growing and composting, before we return to the café, where we enjoy a cup of home-grown coffee.
Next, we visit the township of Newrybar for a guided tour of Harvest’s gardens and facilities. We enjoy a deli lunch of salads, sandwiches, pastries and baked goods, allowing free time afterwards to wander and shop at the homewares, art and vintage shops in the tiny hamlet.
Since being founded in 2007, Harvest Newrybar has been recognised as one of the top farm-to-table establishments in the Northern Rivers. They are committed to using hyperlocal seasonal produce where possible, backed up by excellent Australian and international products.
We tour their verdant gardens, the newly added outdoor dining area, take a peek into the restaurant for a follow up visit, and check out the historic bakery with its 120-year-old wood-fired oven where the sourdough and baked goods for Harvest’s restaurant and deli are fired.
Our last stop is Cape Byron Distillery, one of the Brooks family’s enterprises along with the delicious Brookfarm range of products. Greeted by staff, we take a quick look at the distillery before settling on the verandah overlooking the farm and rainforest to enjoy a signature gin and tonic. Well known for their use of rainforest botanicals in their products, we indulge in a tasting of several of their gins.
We learn that Brookies is one of Australia’s leaders in sustainability, having made the transition from a barren rundown farm in 1988 to tropical rainforest and macadamia farm under the Brook family’s ownership. Recently, Cape Byron Distillery achieved worldwide recognition with B Corp Community certification.
While the day’s activities are ethically based, our day would be perfect for a group of friends to enjoy together. It was lots of fun, informative yet not overloaded with information. Alex is a jovial and interesting host with lots of experience as a world traveller. His skills made our Kiff & Culture tour the perfect balance for a good day out, relaxed and casual.
Kiff & Kulture, Ph: 0411 163 186
NOTE: Good Food Gold Coast was a guest of Kiff & Culture. Some photos supplied. The Byron Hinterland Paddock to Plate tour is $175 per person. You can find more details and book on Kiff & Culture’s website.
Read more about Cape Byron Distillery here.