Treehouse in the Clouds

At the very last tip of Northern NSW you can find yourself on a populated stretch of coastline driven by surf culture. The majority stick to the white sands and venture no further. We decided to explore beyond the beaches and find a new space to enjoy the golden sunshine that this area boasts. The overlooked hinterland behind these beaches are filled with rainforests, fast-flowing creeks and giant trees. We felt drawn to new opportunities and new adventures. We took the unfrequented 4x4 track and climbed reaching the top of the treeline along the highest ridge showing off its million-dollar views to the coast. Finally, we arrived at our own paradise for the next few days, 'The Den'.

The Den is nestled in the uncrowded community of 'The Pocket' and perched amongst the trees. It's timber exterior matching the historic red cedars that surround the area. It's positioned facing east with 2 x large windows in both the bed and dining space that open over the valley, we knew this meant that we were in for a sunrise view the following morning. The beers were cracked which we picked up earlier from a trip to the nearby Red Earth Brewery, and we played a couple of the provided board games as we watched the last light hit the mountains. The sky turned to dark and the serenity sunk in. We went to sleep smiling, excited for what tomorrow would bring.

We woke with the sun and watched the early golden light reflect on the ocean from the comfort of the bed. Dreamy. Hot coffee and cooked eggs from the host's chickens, we were fuelled for a day of adventure. But first, a hot outdoor shower with sweeping views. Everything was right on our doorstep, and we couldn't wait to discover it. We took the steep trail next to The Den, deep into the valley and traversed alongside the creek bed until we arrived at a pristine waterfall on the nature reserve which we had all to ourselves. After a picnic lunch and an icy swim, we made our way back up the mountain. We had one last burst of energy and took a side trip along a hidden track crossing the ridge-line to reach the giant cedars. Here we admired the sheer size of these natural giants allowing us to feel insignificant amongst them. Our legs were jelly once we arrived back at The Den in time for sundown. The perfect space to unwind, rest and reflect on a beautiful day.

The next morning we started slow, admiring the ever-changing view. It was our final morning, and we wanted to soak up every last bit of it before we head off to explore some of the beaches we had been eyeing off from our window. The Den was a space we found to disconnect from the outside world and reconnect with the nature that lay upon our doorstep.

Built with love and consciously for nature lovers, the kind hosts who live on the property have created it with everything you need to relax, adventure or do both. The remote and rural setting of The Den tucked away in The Pocket left us feeling recharge and greatly enriched after our visit here.
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Things We Did

  • Waterfall
  • Food & Drink
  • Hike
  • Sunrise
  • Walk
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    We took the steep trail deep into the valley and alongside the creek bed to arrive at this remote, pristine waterfall which we had all to ourselves...
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      Sample some fruity local beers with a tasting paddle from the rustic Red Earth Brewery in nearby Cudgen. Our favourite was the Tangello IPA!...
      We took the hidden track to the giant cedars and felt insignificant as we admired the sheer size of these beautiful trees...
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        The alarm was worth setting for this one! Wake with the sun and watch the ocean turn golden from the comfort of your bed...
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          Watch the power of the ocean crashing on the rocks after a short walk to Fingal Head Lighthouse...
          After our walk to Fingal Head, we headed to the nearby Salt Milly for a damn good caffeine hit at Salt Mill cafe...

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