Bellingen is on the Waterfall Way (B78), 520 km north of Sydney and about 115 km south of Coffs Harbour. The nearest major centres are Coffs Harbour (30 km to the northeast, about 35 minutes) and Grafton. A car is the most convenient option; the Waterfall Way connecting Bellingen to the New England plateau is a scenic route in itself.
By public transport, Busways operates a service from Coffs Harbour. The nearest train station with frequent services is Coffs Harbour on the North Coast line. Dorrigo, up the escarpment, is reached by the same road (B78) continuing inland; there are no regular buses between Bellingen and Dorrigo.