Waterfalls around Rosebank - NSW

On a Sunday off, I had the pleasure of being shown some of the local watering holes (not pubs) by Dave. It's one of the great things about travelling and meeting so many great people.

First stop, Marom Falls. Pulled up on the side of the road, walked across a field or two and came to this beautiful water fall and swimming pool.

I have to say, it was too chilly for me, but looked like a great idea...

Next stop was Dalwood Falls.

Similarly hidden and just as impressive

also, with a great swimming hole!

and apparently some really really high jumps... which I didnt' investigate!

Final stop for the day was Victoria Park.
Jingi Walla Widjabal Na Jogun Ba La
Welcome to the Land of the Widijabul

Fragments of Forest

Until one hundred and fifty years ago a tall sub-tropical rainforest covered over 75,000 hectares in the area now encompassed by the towns of Lismore, Ballina, Byron Bay and Mullumbimby.
'Discovered' in the 1840's by the cedar getters, the Red Scrub, as it was sometimes known because of the magnificent red colour trees which grew here, was almost entirely cleared by 1900.
Today only 11 major remnants of sub-tropical rainforest survive, a mere 0.1% of its former grandeur! in 1975, a project to double the size of Victoria Park's rainforest commenced which continues to this day.

Over 150 tree species have been recorded in Victoria Park Nature Reserve, including fine examples of trees such as White Booyong, Red Bean, Moreton Bay Fig and Strangler Fig.

Gala Jali Djagi Na Mala Dirrahngan Ba
The trees that are sacred to the Dirrahngan

Within the lands of the Widjabul Bunjalung there are many bean Jali (trees). All bean trees are Djagi Na (sacred) to the Dirrahngan (women of supernatural powers), but there are some special sacred places where the bean tree flourishes best of all. In these places no one must touch the trees or take the beans. The Black Bean was a reliable food for Aboriginal people, but only after extensive preparation to remove the poisons from the bean by soaking, leaching and roasting.

Slow death by strangulation

A Strangler Fig seed, carried by a bird, will drop in the fork of a tree, develop roots, which grow downwards around the host tree in their quest for food and moisture. Unable to compete for sunlight, water and soil, the host tree is eventually 'strangled' and rots away, leaving a hollow within the mature Strangler Fig.
Aboriginal people used the leaves of figs to polish wooden tools and implements to a smooth finish. A milky sap which comes from the leaf stems was used for healing wounds.

Bangalow Palms

the Widjabul people made water bowls from the curved leaf sheath of the palm. There were used in many ways because they were strong. The plant was also used for basket weaving.

On the way back we passed Olivia Newton Johns House!!!