PUMBA and Sprout may not be able to grasp the concept of time–without–end or the hereafter – but they sure know they live in heaven on Earth.
This disparate canine pair (Pumba big; Sprout really small) actually live in Eternity and caper up and down the Stairway To Heaven and into Heaven, oh about 60 times a day.
Sound a little hippie?
But, of course.
Eternity is, in reality, a lush, sprawling retreat on 8ha of rainforest in the Northern Rivers hinterland haven of The Channon, just a few clicks down the track from Nimbin.
And Heaven, dedicated to community events, is a huge platform, two-thirds roofed on huge poles, on a large, grassy plateau overlooking wetlands, surrounded by rainforest and within a gurgle of a private waterfall.
There's a range of exotic accommodation at Eternity Springs Art Farm and B&B to suit all types and budgets but, if you're lucky like us, you'll find Lotus Cottage isn't booked out at the time you want.
Lotus is heaven on a stick; well, OK - poles.
We drive up from Ballina airport, turn in at the rainbow banner and enter another world.
Up a slope from the rest of the accommodation and surrounded by rainforest ferns, palms and lily pad ponds, Lotus is contemporary and fully self-contained.
It has a huge bedroom with massive robes and en suite, an open-plan kitchen and living room - and, best of all, front and back verandas.
We sling the luggage away, put on a bluesy CD, break open the crackers, cheese and pate, pour a mighty fine red and ensconce ourselves on the front deck.
It's twilight, the drizzle pings on the roof and fronds, and we're being serenaded by a ribbeting frog chorus.
Morning brings the same drizzle (no overflowing gutters but downchains channelling the water into storage), the frog chorus joined by crickets, cicadas and the staccato call of a whipbird's call.
There's milk in a doily-topped jug, just-baked bread wrapped in a cloth tea towel, free-range eggs and butter in a bowl.
That sets us up beautifully for a quick foray into The Channon, a pretty little village set amid hills and rainforest with its Heritage-listed Channon Tavern - an erstwhile butter factory, village store and tea house.
On the second Sunday of each month, The Channon comes to life with its funky craft market.
Around 10,000 people pour into the small village to sample the home-made cuisine and buy the produce and hand-crafted goods offered by some 250 stalls.
There's also the annual Opera at The Channon, performed in the natural amphitheatre of Coronation Park.
Then it's off to the nearby World Heritage areas - Whian Whian State Conservation Area and Nightcap National Park - on The Channon's doorstep and a mosey through Bangalow for lunch.
The 4000ha Nightcap is just a 15km drive away with stacks of scenic stops and a very doable 1.4km return walk to the stunning Protesters Falls.
Whian Whian, with its saved-from-logging Heritage rainforest, is another 15km on.
Here, you can take in its Minyon Falls from the top, with picnic area and viewing platform, or from the bottom hike trail.
On to Bangalow with its colourful heritage shop fronts, art galleries, antique and boutique shops and array of eateries.
We opt for Patrick and Kathy Hobb's raved-about restaurant, Fresca at the Bangalow pub, and we're not let down. Try the roast beetroot with Persian fetta, rocquette and pine nut salad and basil lime dressing, or the baked black mussels in a bag. Top stuff.
A few jars on the pub's back verandah and back to heaven. Tonight, owner Amanda has concocted a special treat: roo balls (ahem, minced kangaroo), some with lime and coriander, others with macadamia nuts. Bliss.
We chow down on her back veranda overlooking grottoes of hot tubs, outdoor showers and sub-tropical garden.
For Amanda, Eternity is an eco work - leadlight windows, permaculture orchards, vegie gardens, worm farm and chooks - in progress, begun in 2001 and ever-evolving with art and craft workshops on offer along with meditation, dance and yoga.
But don't get the idea this is rugged, unwashed hippiedom. The accommodation (bar the camping choice) comes with all mod cons and either ensuites or shared bathrooms.
And you can be as private as you want -- laze in your hammock, de-stress, chill out, smell the flowers and listen to the frog chorus. Or you can book when there's a workshop happening.
There's a heap of other forays on hand, with quaint hinterland villages, psychedelic Nimbin and the beach towns of Byron and Ballina just short drives away.
It's with real regret that we pack up and leave.
Pumba, Sprout and ring-in Smokey (Amanda's daughter's rescued pooch) make a show of farewelling, then scamper back up to Heaven. Lucky dogs!
The writer was a guest of TourismNSW.
The Sunday Telegraph
source :http://www.news.com.au
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