The Promised Land

Yes, there is a Promised Land. It is about 12 kilometres outside Bellingen near a place called Glennifer. There is a ringroad, dirtrack, through it and from that you can look out on a land of milk and honey, somewhat Swiss, somewhat English. The lowlands are comprised of large verdant pastures inhabited by healthy looking stock and horses. Large mature trees are scattered throughout this vista, parkland style. We could be looking at a great English Estate. Nestling, as all literary houses do, in this park are clapboard style bungalow houses with large overhanging roofs, tin, and beneath them wooden balconies/decks. Not a soul to be seen. We have seen very few people at large in the countryside or outside houses. What are they all doing? The birds seem to have the place to themselves. And what birds! Parrots, Rosellas, Black Cockatoos, Australian Magpies, what looked like Peewits and many many little creatures I have never seen or heard

The backdrop to all this lushness are substantial mountains thickly wooded with rainforest which is thousands of years old with a few great waterfalls within. As we circled on the loop the sun was setting and sending out heavenly rays as seen in end of the world Victorian paintings of John Martin and others. At times we passed through green tunnels of trees and crossed the Never Never Creek which is a lazy upper Dargle like river concealed in the overgrowth.

So that's one aspect of Bellingen. A vision.