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