Temptations of the Tweed
As I stroll along the sand, my frazzled urban senses are soothed by the feel of sea foam between my toes and the rhythmical rolling sound of breaking waves. I sense my spirits lifting, like the sea eagle that glides silently beside me before wheeling and winging back to her nest. A few straggling surfers are out seeking a wave, their wetsuits glinting like slick seal skins in the winter sun. Up ahead, a grey-haired man wearing nothing but red and white polka-dot boardies strikes a yoga pose in the sand dunes and I know I’ve found a piece of paradise.
The Tweed Coast stretches between the Gold Coast and Byron Bay but couldn’t be more different from either. It boasts the same sandy beaches without the bustle. It’s home to several relaxed coastal communities and a scenic drive takes you through hinterland towns to the Border Ranges. Things move more slowly here — people have time to chat as they wait for morning coffee or sip wine in a seaside bar while listening to live music.
Looming over the region — and appearing intermittently into view like a mother checking on her children — is Wollumbin (Mount Warning). Standing at 1157m, Wollumbin is the remnant core of a shield volcano. Its lava flows covered an area of 5000 square kilometres. The elements have carved out a basin around the erosion-resistant core, forming the sheer escarpments of the Scenic Rim and lush foothills and lowlands of the Tweed Valley.
Coastal delights
The diverse geography
