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Published: November 1st 2006
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After three action packed days on Fraser Island we drove down the East coast. The first stop was an incredibly expensive tourist town called Noosa. The campsites were expensive, as were the pubs, cafes, restaurants, parking, shops, etc.. So we left, after all we are scabby backpackers on a budget, why ruin our reputation?
The next few places on our ludicrously unpredictable itinerary were: Surfers Paradise, Byron Bay and the strange hippy town/colony/looney bin of Nimbin.
We drove through the immensely busy city of Brisbane (the capital of Queensland) down to Surfers Paradise. Upon arriving, ‘Surfers’ seems like an unfinished toy-town with plenty of building sites, tacky shops, and heavily crowded beaches. We were disappointed with the seemingly lack of surfers and more importantly, waves! Nevertheless, Matt, Carly, Ally and I decided to stop for a quick swim. This proved potentially deadly, after about 30mins swimming all four of us managed to get swept out of the markers straight into a ‘rip-tide’. This was seriously terrifying, none of us could get back to shore (even though we had two body boards), we screamed for help, but no-one could hear… Luckily, we eventually managed to reach the shore. So, an
The Hippy Museum
...shame i didn't have my camera when it was open!! Waht a freak show!! important lesson was learned here, always check your position in the water, and always wear arm bands!
Feeling knackered after swimming for our lives, we left Surfers and drove to Byron Bay. We arrived at night, parked up the beach front, and then went for a few deserved beers! Like Nossa, we found Byron fairly expensive. Also, I expected to see more of a hippy culture, Byron Bay has a reputation for being ‘the forgotten land of the hippies’, where cannabis grows on trees, hairy people walk around in the buff, and left-wing-lesbo-vegans dominate the ‘anti-everything’ debate! But no! Nothing! Not even a vegetarian! Byron has been taken over by corporation, food chains and globalization.
However, we knew exactly where the hippies were: Nimbin. Apparently visiting Nimbin is like being smacked out yer brains on acid at a Hungarian midget circus…wicked!! And so our bold and valiant voyage took us there…
The 100km drive inland to Nimbin was beautiful. We passed through the Queensland/New South Wales border over the Great Dividing Range with spectacular meandering country lanes. The scenery here is similar to the Yorkshire vales, ie, hilly, green, hedge rows, oak trees and relatively old buildings
Nimbin Hemp Embassy
...a self expanitory title (or old in Australia’s heritage books)…The roads get thinner and worst quality...eventually...dirt track.
It is at this point that you start to notice odd looking multi coloured houses and vehicles! Then the sign for Nimbin. It says(amusingly): “Welcome to Nimbin, no smoking please”, below it has a picture of dude dressed in proper-flower power gear smoking a fat boy!!
Nimbin -or- 'Looney'bin
The town of Nimbin, nestled in the sub-tropical foothills of the eastern edge of an extinct volcano in the rainbow region of Northern New South Wales, is known as the 'Alternative Capital of Australia'.
The picturesque ‘alternative’ village is watched over by the sacred Nimbin Rocks, and is situated one hour west of Byron Bay, at the foothills of the world heritage Border Ranges, and Night Cape National Parks.
Nimbin has been revitalized since the Aquarius Festival of 1973 by new settlers from around the world, and today is famous for its alternative culture, bush foods, Hippy museum, proper weirdo’s, lots and lots of herbal / hallucinogenic drugs, heeling shops and the annual Mardi Grass.
We drove through the main street past multi-coloured herbal drug stores, backers, smoking cafes, heeling shops, and
'Bring-a-Bong'
heeheheeheeeheeee crazy hairy people. We parked the vans, and then walked along ‘the strip’. Every person sales some sort of bush weed, skunk, truffles, and probably everything else…we politely declined the offers!
It was soon apparent that the majority of Nimbinonians are not your average hippy stoner; they are a seemingly bizarre horde. After a long conversation with an old hippie, I learned that many Nimbinonions are addicted to harder drugs (than weed), and that they call themselves ‘Freaks’. Many hippy (or ‘alternative’) people around the world make a pilgrimage to Nimbin, and many stay behind. The town had even declared their identity as ‘The Rainbow Tribe’.
Despite a bad reputation, Nimbin was full of cool little shops, great cafes, friendly people and a very odd museum. We enjoyed our time there, and would probably never go back!
Love to ALL
nick & Ally
xxx
p.s. Pics will follow soon, as i'm writing this in Java, hence, no card readers, or broadband....cheap swill though ;o)
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Guy
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The best comment ever!
"we politely declinedthe offers"....................yeh right! Remember drugs are for kids (and pets)! Sounds super Nicholi and Squirt Mobil keep it coming it sounds brilliant. G to the U to the Y x