Just a short drive into town I found Walker Street Cafe & Bar, an easygoing country cafe that takes its coffee seriously. We grabbed a seat out the front to let the sun warm our bones before getting stuck into the day. Their breakfast menu runs the full range from bacon and eggs to lighter, fresher options 

By lunchtime, it’s hard to go past Country Crumbs Bakery on Johnson Street. It’s everything you want in a small-town bakery — the smell of fresh bread as you walk in, a cabinet stacked with pies, and staff who seem to know all the locals by name. We went for the steak and mushroom pie with a sausage roll on the side and took it to Richmond River for an easy picnic. Simple, delicious and no fuss. Wild Soul Bakehouse(slightly closer to the Park) is also delicious. We popped in for an afternoon coffee and cake and grabbed a loaf of sourdough to take back to our accommodation.

For dinner, we treated ourselves to Hotel Cecil, a local institution that’s been serving the town for generations. It’s part heritage pub, part modern bistro, with polished timber floors and a menu that highlights Casino’s reputation as the Beef Capital of NSW. The scotch fillet was cooked perfectly and paired beautifully with a glass of local shiraz — classic country dining done right.

Another bistro-pub option is The Charcoal Inn Hotel. It's got that proper modern Aussie pub feel — friendly crowd, icy beers, and hearty plates like schnitzels and burgers that arrive just as you’re thinking how good the day’s been. It’s an easy stroll from the park and a great way to cap off a laid-back day in the Richmond Valley.

If you’d rather cook in, the park has everything you need. There’s a fully equipped Camp Kitchen with BBQs, plenty of prep space and an undercover dining area, perfect for relaxed evening meals or a simple breakfast before heading out for the day.

There’s plenty to do without ever leaving the park. We spent a lazy afternoon by the swimming pool, the kind of place where time just drifts by between dips and deckchair lounging. The games room is another good spot to unwind — think pool table, table tennis and a few classic arcade machines that bring out everyone’s competitive streak. If you’re a golfer, the park has its very own 9-hole course, so you can roll straight from your cabin or site onto the fairway for a relaxed round surrounded by leafy greens and birdlife.

Beyond the park, Casino’s natural setting offers a few local gems. 

A colony of platypuses has made its home along the Richmond River near Irving Bridge, and it’s one of the best spots in NSW to see them in the wild. We went down early one morning and watched their ripples break the still surface of the water — a quiet, magical moment. Keep an eye out too for the platypus rock carvings etched into the riverbed below; they’re easiest to spot from the eastern side of the bridge.

If you’re up for a scenic day trip, head east to Evans Head, about 45 minutes away. A laidback fishing town with a host of long, sandy beaches where you’ll enjoy excellent fishing and surfing. Evans Head is a true hidden gem of the Northern NSW coast.

Closer still is Broadwater, a small riverside community surrounded by sugarcane fields and wetlands. It’s perfect for a peaceful drive, a riverside picnic, or even a walk through Broadwater National Park, where the coastal dunes meet untouched bushland.

If you’re visiting in May, you might catch Casino Beef Week, the town’s biggest annual celebration of country life. It’s a lively time to be here, but it does mean accommodation books out quickly — so plan ahead.