So, my first introduction to the hinterland of the Coffs Coast, encompassing areas such as Bellingen, Dorrigo, Upper Thora and Nana Glen, was on a mushroom picking journey. Nope, not the kind I was going to eat.
The area with reportedly the highest rainfall in NSW, and a sub-tropical climate, is home to many varieties of fungi, one of them being the Psilocybe cubensis, or magic mushroom. It is an hallucinogen, but it is also poisonous.
It's become a little bit of a (slightly inappropriate) sport of mine, to spot the gold top, and just like the look-but-don't-touch advice I pass on in regards to deadly weapons, liberal politicians and the like, I explain the facts to my kids and don't pretend these things don't exist.
Nope, don't think so
Not quite a fairy house like we saw in Sweden
Belle thought she spotted something…
She might be right!…
(NOT dinner! Just a white backdrop)
We always make sure we visit the Never Never River, when we are in the area, though I've never never experienced the water being anything but never never warm!
We had a yummy lunch there, but I didn't spend long in the bracing water!
Brought the boogie boards with us and
Left the leeches behind…
The Never Never River flows into the Bellinger River which then flows through Bellingen. We hired canoes from an old mate of Sonny's and paddled our way upstream, where lizards swam across in front of us, and snakes snoozed in the sun, on the bank. It was idyllic.
We managed to find a local winery, of course!
An unusual combination of plants in a vineyard, I think…
It was the brandy creme that piqued my interests at Raleigh Winery…
And on the way home, past Coolongolook, Great Lakes Boutique Winery had the Sparkling Lily NV, that I enjoyed at the Salty Dog, as well as some delicious cheese for our road trip…
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