I had planned 4.5 hour cruise along the Tweed River as a surprise for my daughter, from New Zealand. We would be drifting slowly through the lush, farmlands. Surrounded by the gentle green landscape of this area.
Embrace the soothing surrounds of the resource-rich Tweed River, the lifeblood of an ecologically diverse former volcanic region known as the Green Cauldron, with the riverbank lined with sugar cane fields and lush rainforest. Under the watchful gaze of the ruggedly imposing Mt Warning, you’re treated to a sumptuous on-board seafood or BBQ lunch.
That does sound so good, and I was looking forward to the leisurely cruise.
Unfortunately they rang and cancelled the trip at the last-minute.
So we went for a road trip instead.Following the Tweed River, across the Queensland border and into New South Wales. In the heat of the day the distant Border Ranges rise above the landscape in a blue haze.
Nestled on the banks of the Tweed River is the charming village of Tumbulgum. The historic Tumbulgum Tavern is the perfect place to stop for lunch. Established in 1887 it is now the oldest pub still in operation in the Tweed district.The food was delicious and across the road was a glimpse of the imposing Mount Warning.
At 1156m, Mount Warning dominates the Byron Bay hinterland landscape. As Byron Bay is the most easterly point of Australia, Mount Warning is the highest point in the region and this is where the sun first hits mainland Australia. Named by National Geographic as one of the 10 Best Mountain Climbs in Australia, a Mount Warning climb is a must-do for visitors to the Byron Bay region. Whether you choose to climb the 9km, four-hour return hike at sunrise or during the day, the experience is guaranteed to be unforgettable with the summit offering 360 degree panoramic views. Here, the mountain’s volcanic origins are apparent with Mount Warning the central vent of an ancient volcano.
The landscape in this part of Australia is not dramatic or even awe-inspiring. It is soothing scenery, tranquil and a calming vista to drive through.
This week it is Amy’s turn to host the “Len’s-artists photo challenge” and with a theme of “landscape” the world is wide open.
Aaah – how wonderful to see photos of Mt Warning. I was talking to my son who lives in Uki on the weekend and wishing I could see that mountain again sometime soon. I shall feel content having seen it virtually for now. Not sure when I’ll get there ‘in the flesh’. Your road trip sounds great.
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Uki is such a charming village. They have a great market.
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Yes ir is pretty spot.
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🤗
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I always enjoy this area especially when it includes a visit to the pub.
Nice photo of Jackie and me enjoying our selves.
Good food and good company and a cool river breeze is as pleasant as it gets.
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It was a good day out. Perfect weather
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The Tweed most certainly is a delightful escape. And the pub is terrific!
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The pub was very busy too. Have you been there?
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Yes, Pauline. It is a very relaxing spot midweek. Weekends in summer tend to get a bit too frantic. A good spot to take visitors:)
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Everywhere around here gets frantic on weekends. We tend to stay home and only go out during the week.
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Wow, somehow not how I imagine Australia
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It actually looks more like New Zealand. Very green and clean
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Ah, OK!
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What an unexpectedly bucolic landscape. It could almost be the Scottish Tweed Valley without the sugar cane of course, or the warmth. A good day out by the look of it.
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Bucolic is a perfect word for this landscape. It was a lovely day out
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What a green and serene landscape, Pauline. Mt. Warning has such a unique shape to it. It looks like you had a very relaxing and enjoyable day with your daughter. 🙂
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Mt Warning looks like a giant face and the Aboriginals have many dream time stories about it and it was a significant gathering place for all the clans thousands of years ago
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Wow, it sounds magical and mystical, with the Aboriginal stories surrounding it.
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Not many Aboriginals live in the area now though.
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Beautiful photos of the soothing scenery; tranquil and a calming, indeed. Love the last sunset photo.
Thank you, Pauline, for the wonderful tour. 🙂
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An interesting theme Amy. Bringing lots of responses.
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Appreciate your support, Pauline.
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Mount Warning looks so big in the pictures, but it is not so big as Mount Hamilton, and is not much bigger than Mount Umunhum. Things look so much more impressive in Australia, and in your pictures. However, I have no doubts that wallabies are as dangerous as they look.
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Being an old country all our mountains have eroded away so the few that remain do look big compared to the surrounding landscape. It seemed quite big when I walked up it many years ago now though…
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The higher mountains around the Santa Clara Valley are so far away, that they do not seem to be as big as they are. The most prominent ones are actually not the tallest. I have been to the tops of them only a few times. It is too far of a drive to do it frequently.
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Australia does not have many mountain ranges. Being an old continent they have mostly been eroded away
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The Santa Cruz Mountains are still being built up as fast as they erode. We feel it occasionally.
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I can not identify the tree in the lower right of the last picture, but it does seem to be a species of Araucaria.
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I did not know the name Araucaria, so looked it up. You are correct. I know it as Bunya Pine, Araucaria bidwillii. https://permaculturenews.org/2013/11/27/the-bunya-bunya-pine-araucaria-bidwillii/ I found some interesting information about it.
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Yes, we alternatively know it as bunya bunya. They were rare, but planted in some of the fancier gardens during the Victorian period. There are not many left. Some at the Winchester House have been cut down over the years. After people realized how big they get and how difficult they are to work with, no one planted anymore.
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Not a common tree around here. The huge nuts can be a danger
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Yes; when I graduated from Cal Poly in 1990, the lawn adjacent to the stadium was roped off because the bunya bunya trees happened to have cones in them at the time, and someone in Santa Barbara had just been clobbered with one.
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I believe they taste good too
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Yes, but there are not many seeds in each of the huge cones. Ours may not be as productive as yours are because there are not many other trees to pollinate them. A nursery in Washington that specializes in fruit trees actually markets them as a nut tree. However, the trees do not produce cones until they are quite old, and even the biggest of trees make only a few cones, and each of the huge makes no more than a few seeds or nuts.
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About a 3-4 hour drive from here is a Bunya Mountain and national park, quite spectacular. We have camped there and have to tell you were visited by lots of wallabies… Here is a link you may be interested in. https://bunyamountains.com.au/about-the-bunya-mountains/ I’m surprised they market them as nut trees and for peoples gardens!!!
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Gads! That sounds like a campground to avoid!
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Tumbulgum could only be in Australia 🙂
Lovely scenery, I must have seen that mountain, but not knowing what it was as we passed through the Tweed valley and stopped overnight in Currumbin. Australia has such diverse landscapes, you could spend a lifetime exploring. A shame that many Australians don’t seem to bother.
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I agree, so many types of landscape, a fascinating country, (with many strange names!!!) and though we spent so long exploring there is still lots we missed. Currumbin is just down the road from us.
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We got caught out by the half an hour time change and arrived at the Wildlife park too early!
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It is 1 hour difference now. Very annoying. Currumbin is worth a visit if you get back this way
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I shall have to ask my son if he has taken his boys there.
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Well worth a visit to see all the Aussie animals
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Sorry they canceled your cruise but it sure looks like you made up for it!
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We plan to go another day, but, unfortunately my daughter will miss out.
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😦
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As someone already observed, that could almost be the Scottish (if you disregard the big mountain!) Shame about the cruise, but you still had a lovely trip.
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I think you have bigger mountains I Scotland. We can always do the cruise another day, but Jackie (daughter) will miss out.
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And it’s all so green and pretty. We always enjoy a visit to this area.
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One of our favourite day outings
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Beautiful, tranquil landscapes, Pauline. Mt. Warning has such an unusual shape. 🙂
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My warning is a special place for the aboriginal people. Thousands of years ago it was a gathering place for all the clans in the area
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Makes sense. I love how the native population paid attention to all the geographical details of a place.
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Oops just noticed Google changed “Mt Warning” to “My warning…”
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Hmmm….it’s lovely Pauline, but what happened to the cruise????
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They said the boat needed maintenance. I think they didn’t get the numbers. Oh well we may go another time. But we still had an interesting day
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Shame about the cruise but you still made the most of your time, hon. Looks quite English and not unlike ‘our’ Tweed Valley, but Tumbulgum…? Where do they get them from!
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It is a lovely green area and one of our favourite day trips. The name is believed to be an aboriginal expression meaning “the meeting place of waters”
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🌞🍹💕 xx
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That last photo is fantastic Pauline!
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Thanks Gilly it was the end of a beautiful day
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Gorgeous snaps 🙂
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Thank you
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Wow this is stunning 🙂
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