Having spent quality time with family in southern Queensland we headed well away from the busy highways and threaded our way through the green hills behind the densely populated and busy Gold Coast and explored the stunningly beautiful Numingbah Valley.
We then crossed over the breath-taking Border Ranges and dropped down into the lush green valleys of northern NSW below. The narrow roads wound through delightful valleys and tiny quiet townships, shady and green in their steeply hidden pockets. This is the famed Rainbow Region of the 70s and 80s where the alternative lifestyles have now transformed into a more mainstream form of lifestyle. Gone are the wild bush hippies of yesteryear, with the notable exception of Nimbin. There the colour and bloodshot eyes still thrive.
We called in on an old mate who has a remote property, but unfortunately he was busily battling bureaucracy in town so we amused ourselves chatting to his lovely old dogs. This was theraputic for us because we had recently lost our own poor old dog.
Following scenic backroads we travelled through lovely countryside, avoiding the busy highways and traffic and eventually stopped in Grafton.
Tomorrow we head up into the magnificent Mann River valley.