A Tranquil Trip.
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.
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.
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.
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.
My photos only give you an idea of how good the Murwillumbah visitor’s information centre is.
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.
https://jacksjottings.wordpress.com/2013/04/25/nimbin-no-alcohol-needed/
We enquire about places to have lunch.
If one had more time a hike to lunch at the Rainforest Cafe in Mt Warning National Park would have been enjoyable.
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.
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.
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,
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.
Back to sightseeing, we visited the Tweed Regional Museum back in Murwillumbah. I found some interesting things about the past history of local people.
Insightful of how life was for those pioneers and the indigenous people.
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.
A most engaging article Jack; what a wonderful day out, and I love the ‘honour code’ – very amusing! 🙂
That is the kind of honour code, passed down, we feel in tune with. I have a little something extra for people that make kind comments.http://calderaart.org.au/
Enjoy it is so much better than I can do.
Wonderful Jack.. I so enjoyed my time in the museum and I have yet to click onto your art link.. but I will.. Such a wonderful place, those Thunder eggs just my kind of thing I hang my nose over 🙂 And Blue skies all the way..
Many thanks Jack.. Have a fabulous week.. Sue _/\_
Do click on the link Sue it is far better than I can do and you do deserve the best.
The week is going wonderfully and I hope it is all going well for you. _/\_
I did Jack.. I saw some amazing art work. xx Owls were especially my thing.
Loved the Tawny owl with attitude 😉 Such talented artists.. Thank you Jack..
A little more I want to share with you Sue and your husband as I know you appreciate art and natures wondrous gifts http://calderaart.org.au/ _/\_
Thank you Jack.. I will take a look.. 🙂
Oooh… I have to spend more time in there.. so I bookmarked it.. Thank you Jack _/\_
What a trip. Beautiful photos and great paintings 🙂
I have some thing more I would like to share, with you, as you were so kind to comment.http://calderaart.org.au/
Thanks, great art to see there too 🙂
Inside and out – fantastic!!
Thank you, I realise I am so fortunate.
http://calderaart.org.au/ and that is inland the cost and miles of beaches are only five minutes from my home.
I want to share it with everyone.
You said it Inside and out FANTASTIC.
Thank you for the link, the film is magnificent! Such diversity. I surprised to see so much looking like Florida.
Well does that take one back, having lived at Sth Tweed for a long time, it is all so beautiful, must go back there, thankyou Jack for the reminders
Thank you for letting me know you enjoyed.
http://calderaart.org.au/ link to another reminder.
Mt Warning, Tumbulgum river, and dining by the stream… Jack, you really seem to be moving from one paradise to the other, outdoors during all daylight hours. May the blessings continue…best wishes..
I thank you for your encouraging comments. I have it so good I want to share it with all.http://calderaart.org.au/ As well as all that I am a walk from the ocean and miles of golden beaches.
I do appreciate I am so fortunate Raj.
What amazes me is natural wondrous gifts are so close to the hustle and bustle and mostly free to enjoy but people are sold on commercial entertainment.
I chose to make my home here because to me it has everything.
I have travelled and found wonders everywhere that are mostly over looked, while chasing after possessions that distract from the reality of life in all its wondrous beauty._/\_
I think too many of us don’t appreciate that the most simple pleasures like time with friends, natural beauty around us and taking the time to breath deeply are the most important. Thanks for sharing this day Jack.
What a delightful day Jack! Thank you for sharing this piece of your world. Its beautiful. _/|\_
thank you you may like to see more.http://calderaart.org.au/
Thanks Jack! Wish I was in your hemisphere 🙂
What a great day out, but you vould only have fun with a plae called Tumbulgum!
I think the place names in the area all have a nice sound to them. Pleased you picked up on this.
Tumblegum! Who wouldn’t love to visit a place with that name!
Like a child ‘s fantasy, though that thought seems to belie its origins … And in the midst of it, your statement that we do not know what pain is. Stopped me cold. Thankfully, you are right, where comparisons exist, though it doesn’t invalidate one’s own learning curve. Great photos and words to reflect upon, Aloha, Jack.
The name has got that kind of feeling and these back waters places do remind us of those fantastic childhood days.
There are many well name places all over the world and Australia has copied many of them, as we are a multicultural land. Also the aboriginal names are really unique.
The caption ‘We do not know what pain is.’ was to remind me my minor pains are decreased by modern technology.
when I had muscular pains as a child my mother would say ‘they are just growing pains’. So I think of the pains I get to day as shrinking pains. Your comment has encouraged me rambling on a bit.
Aloha for now.
Haha, Jack – shrinking pains 😉 Be well.
[…] Jack has an interesting post about the museum and art gallery in Murwillumbah. Go to this link. https://jacksjottings.wordpress.com/2015/08/03/tranquil-trip/ […]
It looks so lovely!
Lovely post I was almost there , the old Tree is amazing .
Enjoy your lovely trips so very interesting.