Our April Rituals & Rhythms

Welcome to April and another edition of our Rituals & Rhythms. April is when the slightest hint of a chill is in the air here in the Northern Rivers and everything is starting to feel a bit slower in nature after the constant growth of the Summer months. We had a strange time in March with the storms and flooding associated with Cyclone Alfred. The community feels like it’s still recalibrating a little, especially those who had to evacuate their homes and businesses. Here are some gentle suggestions to get out and about this month. .

What we’re doing: 

• When the rivers rise here in the Northern Rivers, it’s easy to see these beautiful water systems as something to be feared but, like the ocean, perhaps we need to build our respect for the rivers that nourish this region – after all, we wouldn’t have such vibrant rainforests and landscapes without their abundant waters. So this month, we’re taking time to visit the rivers and creeks we love so much – the roaring powerful water at the base of Minyon Falls and where the river meets the sea at Brunswick Heads.
  

Where the Brunswick River meets the sea at Torakina Beach.

• For more experiences with nature, we recommend visiting the Byron Bay Wildlife Sanctuary If you’ve been visiting the region for a while you might remember the site as the old Macadamia Castle. Now home to the Wildlife Sanctuary, as well as the Byron Wildlife Hospital which cares for injured native wildlife, the Sanctuary is a great outing with the kids.
  

A vibrant red and blue Australian Eclectus parrot at the Wildlife Sanctuary.

• After having to dismantle and move all of their exhibitions to higher ground a few weeks ago, the Lismore Regional Gallery is back open. This month we’re excited to see Occurrant Now – a major exhibition featuring new and recent works by influential Aboriginal artist collective proppaNOW. The exhibition runs until 27 April.
  

Members of the influential Aboriginal artist collective proppaNOW.

• Closer to the coast, we highly recommend popping by Art Kind Studio & Gallery in the Arts & Industrial Estate. Their group exhibitions feature emerging local artists and the works are exceptional. We always love to pop by to see what’s hanging on the walls.

Bec, founder of Art Kind Studio & Gallery, pictured in her creative space.

• Get the wind in your hair on the Northern Rivers Rail Trail, now with two different sections open for cycling – Murwillumbah to Crabbes Creek in the north, and Lismore to Casino in the south. Both sections take you through varying regional landscapes. We love the section starting from Burringbar and heading towards Murwillumbah which takes you through some of the old original train tunnels.

A stretch of the Northern Rivers Rail Trail winding through lush countryside.

• We’ll be dancing away at Blues Fest over the Easter long weekend. If you’re heading along too, we might see you there!

Sunset over last year’s Bluesfest.

• If the rail trail isn’t enough for you, why not enter the annual Byron Triathlon? Held on 27 April, if you’re visiting Byron that weekend, be aware that a number of roads will be closed from early morning until the afternoon.
  

Swimmers in the ocean during the Byron Triathlon.

• If Blues Fest isn’t enough to fill your music cup: Crooked Coloursis playing at the Beach Hotel on the 4th, and Babe Rainbow is playing at Hotel Brunswick the same night. Meanjin 7 piece band, Kuripala Beach is playing at The Northern in Byron on the 26th.
  

The Beach Hotel alive with music during a gig.

What we’re reading:

The latest book by London-based Australian writer Jessica Stanley has just been released and we can’t wait to get a copy. Consider Yourself Kissed, is the tale of a modern woman in love. If you haven’t heard of Jessica, we love her monthly substack newsletter ‘READ. LOOK. THINK’.

Cover of ‘Consider Yourself Kissed’ — the tale of a modern woman in love.

What we’re listening to: 

Lately we’ve been fueling our creative fire with the inspiring conversations of The World Needs Creatives podcast by Rachael Sardelich. We loved the conversation with Byron-based artist, Mia Taninaka, and the raw and joyful chat with Dee Kawai Tang. We can’t wait to listen to Heath Wae, Matty Hannon, and Holly Rankin (Jack River) next.

All the best, 

The Sienna team
x