SPILL THE TEA, DARLING!
- Donna Rishton
- Sep 3
- 4 min read
Need an excuse to frock up with friends and get gloriously bougie with a glass of bubbles? High Tea is calling — and we’re answering with airy light finger sandwiches, and towers of petit fours, worthy of a Dutchess. From old-world elegance to rainforest glamour, high tea in the Northern Rivers is
where Carrie Bradshaw meets Jane Austen… with just a touch of Wonderland whimsy. So, grab your grandma, your sisters or besties, and join us as we explore the region’s most delightful, delicious and downright fabulous tea party experiences. Pinkies up, darlings!
WRITTEN BY DONNA RISHTON-POTTER
SUNDAY BEST
A little bit forest fairy, and a lot fabulous, Crystalbrook Byron brings
you Brookie’s Gin High Tea – it’s elegant, botanical, and infused
with Brookie’s gin in all the right places – so naturally, we’re in.
Served every Sunday on the open-air veranda, overlooking 45
serene acres of subtropical rainforest, this is a distinctly Byron twist
on the traditional tea party.
In collaboration with Cape Byron Distillery, guests are welcomed
with a Brookie’s Spritz on arrival, followed by a three-tiered spread
of gin-cured ocean trout, dark chocolate mousse and Davidson
plum lollipops, rhubarb jam infused with (you guessed it) more gin,
and a riot of native flavours in playful sweet and savoury bites.
Glorious in the spring sunshine and perfect for long lunches,
birthdays, or just because you feel like frocking up in your Sunday
best. Swap your spritz for a Brookie’s Turkish Delight cocktail or
go full Marie Antoinette with a fancy French Champagne upgrade.
Before or after your sitting, stroll the winding rainforest trails and
soak up the beauty of Byron in full bloom.
BONAPPETEA, MES AMIES!
Ok, not technically the Northern Rivers, but worthy of the short
drive north, this whimsical Gold Coast high tea feels like stepping
through the looking glass.
Set in a beautifully restored Queenslander in the Gold Coast
hinterland, Bonappetea is a dreamy destination where high tea
takes centre stage, and every occasion feels a little whimsical.
Baby showers, bridal brunches, birthdays, or simply a fancy catch-
up with your besties – this is the kind of place where tiered trays,
sparkling sips and delightful conversation reign supreme.
Owner Bianca is the undisputed Queen of Hearts, with over
15 years’ experience in the fine art of high tea indulgence. Her
decadent, house-made menus range from Luxe to Deluxe,
Breakfast to Sparkling High Tea (hello, lobster buns and smoked
salmon mousse cones), with vegan, gluten-free and vegetarian
options to keep every guest happily nibbling. Don’t miss dessert –
the vanilla roulade with passionfruit and lemon curd is pure magic.
There’s even a Kids High Tea for your little Alices-in-training.
Private rooms, breezy balconies and a garden pavilion set the
scene for your very own tea party wonderland. Book midweek
this spring and you’ll be welcomed with a complimentary glass of
bubbles — because there’s always a reason to celebrate, and high
tea is always the answer.
Come for the towering treats, stay for the whimsy. Mad Hatters
optional (though highly encouraged).
PARADISO FOUND
If you like your High Tea served with a side of vintage glamour and
a splash of Veuve, make a beeline for Paradiso Teahouse. Tucked in
the hills just outside Mullumbimby and set in one of the area’s original
homesteads, this whimsical wonderland is more guesthouse than
restaurant – think strolling through gardens where peacocks roam, and
the charm of a country manor set with velvet lounges and silver teapots
ready to pour.
With just 18 seats across three delightfully olde-worlde rooms (hello,
Ladies Parlour!), it’s perfect for intimate catchups or full teahouse
takeovers, where you can swan table to table like a Bridgerton socialite
with a teacup. The decor is 100% authentic vintage — every tablecloth,
teaspoon and teapot lovingly curated in homage to the women who
elevated hospitality to an artform.
Expect a show-stopping parade of savoury and sweet: Macallan whisky
pate sausage rolls, peacock egg sandwiches, Chantilly cream scones
and more. Dress in your vintage finest and prepare for an afternoon of
theatrical flavour, genteel charm and unapologetic indulgence. Exactly
how high tea should be.
ROSE-TINTED GLASSES
Take a sojourn to the countryside and step into another time at
Flutterbies Cottage Cafe, where the charm of a rose-themed High Tea
Room beckons like a Jane Austen novel.
An iconic feature of the quaint village of Tyalgum, this storybook cottage
cafe is all cascading florals, vintage lace, and fine floral China – the sort
of place you’d half expect the Bennet sisters to drop in for a slice of cake
and a little light scandal.
High Tea is served daily at 11am and 2pm, beginning with a Sparkling
Rosé Bliss Cocktail crowned in Persian rose fairy floss (because
naturally). Then comes the birdcage-style tower – laden with dainty
quiches, lavender shortbread and lemon curd kisses, each handmade by
Flutterbies’ specialty pastry fairies and fresh as a country morning.
You’ll have two full hours to sip, swoon and pose beneath the roses. For
birthdays, bridal showers or a private gathering of up to 30 guests, it’s
high society the Austen way – romantic, whimsical, and quite frankly, the
prettiest excuse for cake we’ve seen.
A RIVERFRONT RENDEZVOUS
Forget cucumber sandwiches and Earl Grey cliches — our final stop
is high tea on a whole other tier. Perched regally above the Tweed
River, this century-old manor has been meticulously restored to offer
one of the region’s most refined experiences. From the chandeliers
and pressed tin ceilings to the wraparound terrace views, every detail
whispers quiet luxury with an elegant country twist.
Only available on Saturdays (because fabulousness waits for the
weekend), the Deluxe High Tea is a chef-hatted showcase of seasonal
opulence. Think lobster mini rolls with coral lettuce, beef tartare with
pomme allumette, mulled wine chicken parfait, and ocean trout gravlax
with lemon myrtle labneh — all before dessert even makes its entrance.
And when it does? White chocolate ganache, banana parfait with a
gold wafer, snicker peanut financiers, and scones with rosella-rhubarb
confiture and mascarpone.
Bookings are essential — this is high tea for grown-ups who take
indulgence seriously. Perfect for any kind of spring celebration, it’s
indulgent, elevated, and just the right amount of extra.
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