Tranquil Trip.

Mt Warning across the Tweed River from Tumbulgum.

A Tranquil Trip.

Another view of Mt Warning from Tumbulgum.

For our friend June’s birthday we decided to take her and her husband for a scenic drive and lunch. That is what we did for Rex’s birthday and we all enjoyed that. Pauline did the organising, we are fortunate having Pauline and living in the midst of a scenic wonderland.

A tree on the green strip between the river and the road at Tumbulgum.

It was a perfect day but that’s what they say about this area one day sunny the next day perfect. We headed south across the border turning off the highway to drive beside the Tweed River to our first stop at Tumbulgum.

Looking from the river the Tumbulgum Tavern.

The Tumbulgum Tavern was established in 1887 it was the regions first unlicensed grog shop providing for the Red Cedar timber cutters. It is now licensed, still serving up refreshments but to far different type of person.

Photo displayed in Murwillumbah regional museum.

This is not to be missed.

Passing the fields of sugar cane and the processing plant is a beautiful drive. The steam billowing from the chimney of the plant in puffy, white, swirling clouds against the clear blue sky is a fascinating sight. We parked at Murwillumbah Visitors Information Centre, this is one of the best Information Centres in Australia and they are all good. On our trip around Australia the first thing we would look for was the big blue ‘i’ leading to the local Visitors Information.

From the Information car park, note steam from sugar processing plant.

My photos only give you an idea of how good the Murwillumbah visitor’s information centre is.

There is a 360 view from Mt warning covering the 4 walls of one room.

What makes it special is the Caldera Art Gallery. You may not be able to visit but I urge you to click this link.

http://calderaart.org.au/gallery.html

We were fortunate in having the resident artist to show us around. He was a busy man but I got him to pose with his latest painting.

Then we had a leisurely browse around. Watching the videos and soaking up information on the area, it is really a wonder-land.

The Hippies icon and we are not far from Nimbin.

https://jacksjottings.wordpress.com/2013/04/25/nimbin-no-alcohol-needed/

We enquire about places to have lunch.

Information with a smile.

If one had more time a hike to lunch at the Rainforest Cafe in Mt Warning National Park would have been enjoyable.

Walkers working up an appetite at the entrance to café.

The cafe is in 6 hectares of rustic gardens where you can sit at secluded tables by a calming stream. That makes waiting for your meal a pleasure if I did not have friends for company I could quietly meditate here.

The fruit is about half ready.

We each chose different meals and savoured the delicious taste and enjoyed the whole experience. The authors of the book ‘The Happiness Hypotheses,’  did a survey and found that having a meal with friends is one of the most enjoyable things we can do. With this exquisite food in natures tropical garden we feel the ‘Force’ is with us or perhaps we are blessed.

One can dine by the stream.

I thought we will have to bring our next visitors out to this cafe there is so much to enjoy around what is referred to as the scenic rim. Link to the café,

http://www.tripadvisor.com.au/Restaurant_Review-g1162426-d3618615-Reviews-Rainforest_Cafe_Mount_Warning_National_Park-Uki_New_South_Wales.html

Ordering lunch to be served in the garden.

It was all formed by volcanic action 23 million years ago. The bubbling lava formed geodes that can still be found in the streams. These gem stones are known as Thunder eggs and can be cut with a Diamond saw and polished.

Thunder eggs on display at Murwillumbah museum.

Back to sightseeing, we visited the Tweed Regional Museum back in Murwillumbah. I found some interesting things about the past history of local people.

This was not much recognition for the original owners.

Insightful of how life was for those pioneers and the indigenous people.

We do not know what pain is.

We enjoyed walking once more in Murwillumbah as it is one of those towns that has not been swallowed up by the modern trend. It is a reminder of our childhood and youthful days. And appropriate for our generation to have a birthday outing.

Lovely old house and magnificent tree.