02 May 2011
Posted in Sights and Sounds

May 2, 2011

As I write this post, I am feeling a little over whelmed at my sudden realisation that it was 20 years ago now when I lived in Brunswick Heads for a little over a year. Last March, I had visited dear friends at this small coastal town on the far north coast of New South Wales. Bruns (its nickname) had shown me just how unspoilt this place still remains, but with a cut above from my old residing days with the towns expansion of quality eating places. Cafés offer their gluten-free foods and wholesome vegetarian dishes. There is an authentic Indonesian and Malaysian restaurant, and terrific seafood take-away where the worker has a bit of jive to the dance music  whilst preparing your meal...it is such a happy place!  I could have spent a week here just trying out all the foodie places with its extensive alfresco dinning, as all eateries look out at the mouth of the Brunswick River.

The Saturday of my visit had brought us a dim grey sky, but this hadn't stopped us from taking an early morning stroll down to the white washed beach that was occupied with surfers. Behind us sat the backdrop of Mt Chincogan and Mt Warning for a moody landscape picture; I had reluctantly left my tripod in the car so to be social with my current company. Next was our visit to the monthly market and the Bruns market displayed an environmentally and healthy ambience with its smorgasbord of local crafts and produce: recycled children's' toys and clothing; tropical smoothie and fruit juices which was perfect for our semi tropical day; salted and natural macadamias that are a product of this region.

The popular holiday destination of Byron Bay is only a 15 min drive away, but Brunswick Heads seems to have retained its seaside atmosphere with its fish market and a timber bridge that allows the public to commute from the river to the surf.

At 12 o'clock I set off from Brunswick Heads in time to arrive at my Queensland destination for 12 o'clock.There is no daylight savings in Queensland. My drive through this subtropical, hilly landscape was simply a stunning one, and I felt so lucky that  time just happened to stand still!

You may also like to look at the banana and macadamia recipe. Macadamias are a product of this region.