Michael's father Athol loved the Dorrigo plateau, just inland from Urunga on the coast by about half an hour, driving through it as a logger on many, many trips, back in the 70's. Michael first saw it as a little tacker riding with his Dad and fell in love with it too.
So to back track a bit, after our initial seven day stay with friends and family in Urunga and environs, we left Mylestom beach to head further North, visiting family both inland (Inverell), and across the border (Queensland).
Check out this little beauty in perfect nick, parked outside my Dad's apartment in Surfers!! Even me as a non-car person was taken by this vision. And as for the surfboard on top? Well, seems an iconic photo moment not to be missed.
WARNING: Gratuitous photo of gorgeous niece Lucinda at Surfers Paradise, on the very beach itself:) Yes every blogger should be so blessed with such a gal in the fam.
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| Daddy is coming up in the background ready for sand castle construction. |
Ah, but then after a wonderful break in Inverell and the Gold Coast, before returning to Melbourne we were "forced" to return to Mylestom to retrieve Mr Michael's fishing rods, left behind in the "glamping" beach tent. As my mother always says, when you want to return to a place, you leave something behind when you go. :)
So poor us we had to head back Bellingen way, and re-visit the gorgeous place we had stayed at three years ago on our road trip and fallen in love with: North Farm. North Farm is a B&B and so much more, run by the lovely Gai Stern and Jen St Clair. It is a lesson in living simply and sustainably, connected to the earth and the community. You could not hope for more lovely hosts in a more lovely setting. However to get to Bellingen from Inverell you need to go via the Dorrigo Plateau and let me tell you that name just has just a magical ring to it and I have to share (and possibly gush a little) about this special place.
I am tempted to rave about it and then tourists will flock there and spoil it's charm, so let me crank it down a notch or two. It's ok. Pretty average really. Nothing special.
Ahem.
It's not a warm climate all year round, so they grow great potatoes with great success and guess what great potatoes make? No, not hash browns (yummy though they may be) but VODKA!
A big yay for all those folk out there intolerant to other alcohols for various causes, but able to partake of the pure potato vodka made at the famous Red Dirt Distillery. Ok so particular friends of mine are giggling smugly to themselves about how apt it is to find me writing about vodka -hmmmm yes YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE .....Ellllllisss!. And if you are very nice to me I will let you try some of the vodka we bought :)
But seriously I am pretty glad we stopped here. David and Sue were ex- Bellingen locals who moved away from Bello for the cool of the mountains and found the Red Dirt Sebago Potato just one ingredient that makes a great alcohol.
They also make a fine Lime Gin (Mr M attests to this as I cannot drink gin, sadly) and shelves stacked high with an award winning range of condiments showcase many other great local ingredients.
Definitely worth a stop if you are up in that part of the world. (and damned lucky you if you are) Check out their site for more information Red Dirt Distillery.
Now I didn't get a photo passing through Ebor (home of the lovely Ebor Falls), thirty minutes west of Dorrigo, but forever embedded in my mind is the picture of two white haired fellas, outback hats firmly in place, sitting comfortably on the verandah of the Fusspot Tea and Coffee shop, as we whizzed by.
I am regretting not stopping to this day.
A few photos of roadside gorgeousness as we drove on into Bellingen:
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| Helichrysum Paper Daisy |
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| Wild Raspberry |
North Farm
Just a five minute drive from the centre of Bellingen and you are in a world of Kookaburras, British Alpine goats, magpies and chooks, with a panopoly of edible plants surrounding you and a gorgeously relaxing view across the trees to the mountains.This is the amazing North Farm, topic of my next post as it is time for bed for me! We are off to the Kyneton Lost Trades Fair tomorrow and I need to pack!
Nighty night all. :)
