Corners of the World
easily withstand 50 years of drought without running out of clean drinking water . For decades now , researchers have been trying to find the trigger to such a bizarre ecosystem that thrives on this island and nowhere else on planet earth . Experts believe that solving this mystery could help revive the deserts of the world , but have had little to no progress so far .
Nimbin , who introduced himself as Lee . Lee had recently quit his job in Perth , to travel along the east coast , in the search of the perfect house , which after 3 months finally ended at Tambourine , the hinterland of Gold Coast . After numerous hours of exchanging different world views while exploring the little village of Nimbin , Lee insisted that we drop by his place later during our trip . wildlife such as Pademelons , Possums and Australian bush turkeys alongside various birds and bees . Up next was cedar creek , a beautiful canopy of skylining trees sheltering a vibrant forest floor lined with delicate orchids and ferns . We went through the eucalyptus forest to reach the cedar estate and made our way into the glow worm caves . This was an awe-inspiring magical site that is a
To preserve the environment and the interest of the indigenous tribe that has been residing on the island for thousands of years now , tourism is heavily regulated , with most areas kept hidden from , and inaccessible for , tourists and locals alike . The only way to get around this soft sandy island is via permitted 4WD vehicles . However , for first timers , it is recommended to book a guided tour of the island to comprehensively acquire knowledge regarding its distinctive historical , cultural and ecological nuances and avoid getting lost in its vastly dense terrain .
Tamborine Mountain
One of the most fascinating aspects of travelling in this part of the world , perhaps similar to most backpacker settlements is the sense of community that exists even among complete strangers . On the very first day of our trip , we met this very interesting character at the youth hostel in a small village called
Did You Know
Tamborine Mountain is a lush green platau that took form after the Mount Earning volcanic eruption more than 20 million years ago . Thousands of years ago , prior to white settlement this highland region was home to the aborigines of Wangerriburra .
Still hungry for exploring the unknown , a day before we were to fly back to Melbourne city from Brisbane , we made yet another detour to the rainforests of Tamborine through the third oldest national park in the world . It was a massive vintage-vibed , wooden house , built on a 6 acre piece of land that opened into the national park . We were treated with some home-grown avocado with toast ( That ’ s bread and butter for the Ozzys ), kiwifruits and macadamia nuts for breakfast . We then made our way into the woods , exploring the numerous skywalks and trails , lookouts and waterfalls while spotting native Australian must visit when you ’ re around the area . Tamborine is less than 1 hour away from Brisbane and Gold coast , and makes for a great day trips .
Byron Bay
Another hip little beach town , 89 km south of Gold Coast , Byron Bay is popular for its unique vibe of a more humble laid back city , while still boasting of spectacular beaches making it a frequented surfing destination . The tropical waters also make it a popular snorkelling and scuba diving destination for the backpacker community that resonates very well with the overall persona of the town . Even the nightlife is characterised by a chiller vibe that gives travellers a good break from the highly energetic posh cities of the Gold Coast . We had a short one night stub at Byron that gave us just enough time to enjoy lunch and a cute little roadside , head do the beaches for a swim and enjoy a couple of drinks at a buzzing local bar .
20 destination exotica | february 2017