Explore the waterfall way...
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BEST KEPT SECRETS
No5 “Welcome to No5, a trending, truly unique café restaurant born in the picturesque town of Bellingen With its heart & soul being what Bello is all about, No5 offers a dining experience beyond explanation. This place is like no other - a community that loves to love by accepting and embracing everyone. When it comes to food, No5 will impress with its selection of earth-enriched meals crafted with local fresh produce. From spicy, sweet, vegetarian, vegan or organic, all tastes and delights are catered for. Supporting local is the way to go and will always be at No5. When it comes to drinks, No5 likes to surprise, offering a diverse selection that you’re unlikely to encounter anywhere else. Try their brewed Chai; it’s like no other. And their chips - the challenge is, can you find better! To add to the atmosphere, Live@5 offers musical talents from around the globe to those who call Bello home. Be sure to check out who is playing, from soulful ballads to gritty ska/blues, from lyrical honesty to charming melodies, whatever the genres of music, gifted people find their way to No5. This place stands alone ... A testament to what makes Bellingen, Bello.
Kombu In a time where many small businesses seem to be struggling, it is great to be able to celebrate a healthy Coffs Coast success story. Kombu Wholefoods is an affordable organic grocery store which first opened its doors in Bellingen in September 2004 - and has been growing ever since. The store has always had a policy of utilising local chemical free and organic fresh produce and working with local growers and the community to further develop a sustainable local produce market. The aim of the store, however, goes beyond local produce, as Lowanna explained to FOCUS: "We have always worked hard with local growers and suppliers to ensure that not only were they getting a living wage for their produce, but also that we could retail those products at a price that was as affordable as possible. Healthy food should not be a luxury only available to those with money to spare. As a mum with four hungry children, I know only too well just how much food they can get through, so need to be able to source really fresh local and organic produce at a good price. This is what we work hard to achieve with the store." Kombu is open in Bellingen from Monday to Saturday and can be found at the end of Church Street, next to the lookout.
Affordable Healthy Living | Organic Groceries | Local Produce
Open Monday through Saturday @ 1 Church Street Bellingen 02 6655 9299 www.kombuwholefoods.com.au Coffs Coast focus 49
BEST KEPT SECRETS
Waterfall Way Gallery This month, Waterfall Way Gallery hosts Destination Dorrigo: Painting the Dorrigo Plateau. In 2017, eight artists from across the Waterfall Way region booked themselves into a local B&B. Their days were spent exploring the plateau and painting “en plein air”. Come dusk, the painters gathered to enjoy supper and critique each other’s work. The result is a vigorous, inspiring collection of fresh, new artwork by some of the region’s best painters. Alongside beautiful landscapes, there are paintings of architectural landmarks, portraits of local identities, and even a watercolour of the Harley Davidson bike tours that travel up from Coffs Harbour each weekend. The Gallery is home to the Dorrigo Plateau Music School and transforms into a teaching studio and intimate chamber music venue. The School was founded by classical pianist Dr Sheila Guymer (pictured above) who grew up in Dorrigo. After 25 years performing and teaching internationally, gaining her PhD from the University of Cambridge, Sheila returned home in 2016. With Amber Davis (a violinist with Sydney Symphony and a plateau newbie), Sheila directs the Waterfall Way Concert Series.
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&
Crafts on the
Dorrigo Plateau
Dorrigo is home to a vibrant community of artists and artisans, writers, musicians, and actors. Here’s a guide to exploring the arts and crafts on the Dorrigo Plateau in 2018. njoy a concert of traditional Italian folk music at 2pm on Sunday 14 January with acclaimed Italian accordionist Salvatore Rossano and friends. Held in the Old Gazette Theatre, the ticket price includes a selection of Italian fingerfood by local chef Dina Luciani. The Dorrigo Plateau Music School is led by classical pianist Sheila Guymer and violinist Amber Davis. Both have performed internationally, and in 2018 the duo is launching a series of classical music concerts. Visual Arts Named after the area’s postcode, Gallery 2453 promotes artists and artisans living on the plateau, while the Waterfall Way Gallery exhibits painters and photographers from across the Waterfall Way region. You’ll also find a great selection of art for sale in local cafés. If you’re keen for more, the Arts Council of The Dorrigo runs the annual Creative Mountain Arts Exhibition each Easter, and the Fine Arts Section of the Dorrigo Show (November). The plateau is home to several artists of exceptional standard. You can pay high prices for their work in Sydney, or snare a bargain at one of their open studio days in Dorrigo. Sculpture Metalwork sculptor Sandra Pitkin creates large outdoor pieces and exquisite miniatures. Her work is featured in Gallery 2453’s summer exhibition. You’ll also find delightful sculptures in clay by local potter Jenny Parkin. Mountain Metal Art features steampunk-
and chat. The standard of both groups is inspired jewellery by local blacksmith high, with prize-winners of the Royal Sydney Steve Viola, and silversmith Katiuska Cruz. Katiuska’s pendant designs include a delicate Show amongst their ranks. Their work is for sale at local shops. Dorrigo Waratah in silver, Thor’s Hammer Drama (a nod to the plateau’s numerous summer The brightly coloured mural on the Old thunderstorms), and a stylised “map” of Gazette Theatre will catch your eye! The Waterfall Way. Woodwork charming 99-seat theatre is home to the White settlement of the Dorrigo Plateau Dorrigo Dramatic Club (founded in 1955) was founded on the “red gold” of Cedar and Plateau Film Society. Both run an annual and Rosewood logging, and Dorrigo is well calendar of events. Just across the road is known for its master woodworkers and Components Café, perfect for a pre-theatre carpenters. Place an order for some bespoke meal - or check out the café’s summer furniture by line-up of musical Gordon Buchanan performers. Literature or Logan Thomas, The Waterfall Way or browse A Touch The Dorrigo Folk & Bluegrass Gallery hosts readings of Country or Festival is lauded as one of the and book launches Frock and Wood best boutique music festivals by plateau writers to find that perfect in Australia. The Festival throughout the year, gift carved from is held in late October, while the Grassroots local timber. but the organisers stage Writers’ Festival returns Alan Williams‘ concerts throughout the to Dorrigo in April 2018. hand-carved boxes year. Google their website for have been given what’s on in January. to international visitors by the Australian Federal Government - you’ll find a selection of Alan’s boxes at FoodAngel Café. Return to Dorrigo in early October for the Woodworkers’ Guild Exhibition. Textiles The spinners and weavers of the Plateau Fibre Group meet each Thursday to make their gorgeous hand-spun and hand-woven items. On Mondays, the local needleworkers knit, crochet, embroider, tat lace
BEST KEPT SECRETS
Spirit Spa Paddock to Plate Nestled on top of the escarpment is the quaint, little Canopy Café. Canopy Café caters to both locals and visitors to the Dorrigo region and World Heritage Listed National Parks. Born and bred local Sue Doyle took over Canopy Cafe 18 months ago, adding her own flair and knowledge of local produce to the café. “With so much quality local produce available from the Dorrigo region, I wanted to make this a feature of the Canopy Café. People can come, experience and enjoy the best of what Dorrigo has to offer in both food and atmosphere, overlooking the beautiful World Heritage listed Dorrigo National Park.” Helping Sue achieve this is Booma Family Farm, the only farm on the Dorrigo plateau still owned by the original settlers’ family. Booma Family Farm supplies Canopy Café with all their free range beef, pork, lamb, goat and eggs and vegetables sourced from other local producers - truly paddock to plate. Booma Family Farm also supplies a number of other motels and restaurants in the region and runs a home delivery service of meat and vegetables to 11 different locations. All their products are traceable and free range. Canopy Café and Booma Family Farm - working together to provide full paddock to plate traceable free range food.
Hi Maggie. Tell us about your connection to Dorrigo. I actually came through Dorrigo eight years ago on my way to a job interview in Byron Bay! However, I fell so madly in love with these beautiful mountains and the sacredness of this land that I packed up my life in Noosa and moved here within weeks. After living and working all over the world, I would rather be here than anywhere. How long have you been a practitioner in the wellness industry? I am from Scotland and originally trained in the UK 25 years ago. I was very fortunate to work in amazing locations as a beauty/massage therapist, including on The QE2, Richard Branson’s Necker Island in the Caribbean, Hong Kong and many more, before coming to Australia, where I became a Wellness Consultant for lots of beautiful spas and health retreats. How would you explain the kind of work you do now? Although I still do some Wellness Consulting, I love having a small business in Dorrigo to provide my holistic and luxurious therapies. I combine many modalities, including beauty therapy, massage, stress management, flower essences, vibrational healing and lots of good, old fashioned care! I provide a beautiful, sacred space for people to come and receive treatments that are ultimately designed to make you feel good and soothe the soul. Whether you’re having an eyelash tint or a hot stone massage, I appreciate that people need to de-stress and feel special. I have incorporated the Australian Bush Flower Essence Products into all of my treatments, which also help release tension and negative emotions, therefore supporting clients to leave feeling more balanced. What is your inspiration? My inspiration is to make the world a better place, by believing in the power of kindness. When people feel loved, they naturally want to pass it on!
The Plateau Café The Plateau Café is one of Dorrigo’s oldest established cafés. Whilst it has had a few different names and operators over the last 40 odd years, these days it’s a family run business operated by mother and daughter team Lyn and Darlene, along with great local staff. Located in the main street of Dorrigo, the café has a vintage/ retro diner feel decorated with interesting memorabilia from yesteryear, which makes for a delightful and compelling experience. The café is quite well known and loved by locals and visitors for its homestyle cooking; their made in house variety of pies served with locally grown mashed potatoes, gravy and mushy peas are a real hit, along with 12 different types of burgers, homemade cakes and slices, fish and chips, milkshakes, ice cream sundaes and much, much more. Seating 35 indoors and outdoors, it’s a must stop in location - whether you’re travelling through or spending sometime in beautiful Dorrigo, be sure to put the Plateau Café down as your first stop. Open seven days a week, from 8am to 4:30pm.
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BEST KEPT SECRETS
Discover Gondwana
he park comprises nearly phascogale and the long-nosed potoroo. The 12,000 hectares and is part most commonly seen mammals are pademelons, of the Country of the Gumwallabies and possums. baynggirr Aboriginal people. It The rainforest is also a bird watchers’ paradise, is also part of the Gondwana with the sub-tropical rainforest providing rich Rainforests of Australia World habitat for ground-dwelling birds that feed on Heritage area and is one of the most accessible the abundant animal life within the leaf litter. sites in this series of remnant rainforests stretchFruit-feeding birds occupy the canopy of the ing from Main Range National Park in Southern rainforest, often undertaking long-distance or Queensland to the Barrington Tops National Park local migrations to ensure a year-round food in New South Wales. supply. Perhaps one of the most popular birds These hot spots of in the park is the superb biodiversity give us a lyrebird, fooling visitors window back in time to by mimicking many other the ancestral continent birds and offering a spectacular courtship display of Gondwana, some 80 Gondwana Rainforests of for those lucky enough to million years ago, and the Australia protect the most encounter this treat. breaking up of the contiextensive areas of subnents into what is present The Dorrigo Rainforest tropical rainforest in the day Australia, India, South Centre is open seven world as well as large America, Antarctica and days a week, except for areas of warm temperate Africa. Christmas Day. Friendly rainforest and nearly all of Gondwana Rainforests information staff in the Australia’s remaining Antarctic of Australia protect the rainforest shop can help Beech cool temperate rainforest. most extensive areas of you plan your walks and sub-tropical rainforest in other excursions in the the world, as well as large area. The famous Skywalk areas of warm temperate rainforest and nearly is just a few metres walk from the shop, with all of Australia’s remaining Antarctic Beech cool easy access to beautiful views over the rainforest temperate rainforest. By visiting Dorrigo National canopy to the Bellinger Valley in the distance. Park and exploring some of the walks and waThe Rainforest Shop offers a fascinating range of terfall tracks, the visitor can see both sub-tropical quality books, local crafts, postcards, souvenirs and warm temperate rainforest. Staff at the and educational toys relating to the rainforest centre can also give visitors directions to the cool and the environment. The Canopy Café serves temperate rainforests of New England National breakfast, lunch and morning and afternoon Park. teas, with great coffee and delicious treats. Other The plants and wildlife of Dorrigo National facilities include an interpretation and exhibition Park include many rare and threatened species space, picnic areas and barbecues. found in few other places in the world. These The cool plateau rainforests provide a refreshing respite from the coast - a perfect summer include the rarely sighted spotted-tail quoll, retreat! the red-legged pademelon, the brush-tailed 52 Coffs Coast focus
Photo: Niek van Duijn
Situated on the Dorrigo Plateau, 60 kilometres southwest of Coffs Harbour and 125 kilometres east of Armidale, the Dorrigo Rainforest Centre is the gateway to the World Heritage-listed Dorrigo National Park.
at the DOrrigO rainfOrest centre Be welcomed by our friendly staff at the information and gift shop. Enjoy spectacular views from the Skywalk. Explore World Heritage rainforest on easy walking tracks, where waterfalls and wildlife abound. Follow up with a relaxing coffee or lunch in the Canopy Cafe.
Open daily 9am to 4:30pm Dorrigo Rainforest Centre 02 6657 5913 Canopy Cafe enquiries 02 6657 1541 Rated 5-star on Trip Advisor
BEST KEPT SECRETS
Dorrigo’s Iconic Heritage Hotel sits grand on the corner of Waterfall Way and Hickory Streets. A local icon, the hotel was built in 1925 and has belonged to the Feros family for three generations.
P
eter Feros has been lovingly restoring the heritage-listed building, and most renovations are now complete. The hotel is a classic example of Australian architecture, with the spirit and glamour of the 1920s. The exterior retains the original 1925 tiles and generous, wrought-iron verandah. Internal features include leadlight windows and stained timber ceilings. Both the verandah and windows feature art deco stylised floral designs, and several of the guest rooms have original art deco furniture. All rooms have the high ceilings and ample size of a bygone era. Six guest rooms have direct access to the hotel’s verandah, and two have new spa ensuites. There is disabled access to the downstairs rooms, and single-storey motel units at the rear of the hotel. There is plenty of parking for cars and buses.
Downstairs, the Fernery Family Bistro features fresh produce from the region: the salt and pepper squid is a particular favourite. Menus change weekly according to the season, and the Bistro is open seven days. The Bistro is furnished with the original 1925 dining room tables. The table tops are made of Dorrigo Hoop Pine and the legs from Queensland Maple. There is also a club room for private functions and a classic bar area. WiFi is available throughout. The hotel is ideally located for exploring the friendly country charm of Dorrigo itself. Stroll around the retail centre and discover an old-fashioned sweet shop, a heritage bakery, antiques and bric-a-brac shops, excellent cafés, and a range of galleries and craft stores. You’ll fall in love with Dorrigo’s crisp, mountain air, misty days, and starry nights, and want to explore more.
Hotel
Dorrigo
Travel up the beautiful Waterfall Way, hailed as one of the world’s most scenic drives, and marvel at World Heritage listed natural wonders. You’ll see majestic views over the treetops and down the Bellingen Valley from the Sky Walk and Griffith Lookout. Stop for a while at the Dorrigo Rain Forest Centre and learn about nature’s secrets. Choose shorter or longer walking trails underneath towering trees intertwined with vines and adorned with tree ferns, stag horns and bush orchards. Walk behind gentle Crystal Falls, or view it from the new suspension bridge. Keep quiet along Lyrebird Link and spot the abundant birdlife. If you’d like to explore the plateau further, don’t miss the mighty 800-year-old trees in the Norman Jolly Reserve. Meander the forest
drive via the picturesque Platypus Flat picnic area and Cascade. Return later in the year for our regular Community Markets on the first Saturday of each month (except January). There are also the Made In Dorrigo street markets three times a year: Easter Saturday, 14 July, and 8 December. You might like to book in for our Christmas in July celebrations, or see the prime cattle and horses on display at the Dorrigo and Guy Fawkes Agricultural Show in November. Or register for one of the Misty Mountain Getaway quilting workshops held throughout the year. The September weeklong workshop attracts quilters from across NSW and includes a display of quilts in the Community Hall. Check local websites for a host of other events held throughout the year.
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BEST KEPT SECRETS
Minky’s Thai Kitchen. Lookout Mountain Retreat. The Lookout Mountain Retreat is an award winning accommodation, dining and conference venue situated upon 16 acres on the edge of the Dorrigo Plateau with expansive views across the Bellinger Valley to the ocean. Purpose built with 26 luxuriously appointed motel suites, equipped with all you could want for a short or long stay. All suites have recently undergone a huge transformation and now provide travellers with luxury accommodation at an affordable price. Surely the jewel in the crown, the iconic Lookout Mountain Retreat dining room showcases local timber beams within its rustic designed interior spaces, with the huge open stone fireplace as the focal point. The stunning landscaped gardens with manicured lawns provide an ideal backdrop for large garden weddings and outdoor events. Located just a short drive from Coffs Harbour and situated adjacent to the World Heritage Dorrigo National Park, come and immerse yourself in everything Dorrigo has to offer. We guarantee you won’t want to leave. Packages start from just $220 per night inclusive of lodging, dinner and breakfast. Email: info@lookoutmountainretreat.com.au Webpage: www.lookoutmountainretreat.com.au https://www.facebook.com/lookoutmountainretreat/
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Minky’s Thai Kitchen, creating the best, authentic Thai dishes in the Coffs Coast region. Minky, who originates from North-east Thailand, learnt her culinary skills from her parents, who owned and operated a traditional Thai restaurant in Thailand. She moved to Dorrigo after marrying local pharmacist Brian Curran five years ago, bringing her passion and knowledge of authentic Thai dishes to the mountain. Minky began cooking and selling her amazing Thai cuisine in a street stall at the local Made In Dorrigo Markets. Impressed by her cuisine, Minky had requests to cater for private functions and as her reputation increased, she was offered the tender to run the kitchen at the Dorrigo RSL.
FoodAngel Café. “It’s easy to overlook how much better we feel when we eat great food. We work better, feel better and love better”. FoodAngel Café runs on this belief. Add in friendly service and a spacious dining area, and the ingredients are coming together for a food adventure that nourishes on many levels.
Minky’s Thai Kitchen has been operating from Dorrigo RSL for the past three years and is one of the Best Kept Secrets in the region. They use locally sourced fresh ingredients, along with imported Thai ingredients to create wonderfully flavoured traditional Thai dishes.
FoodAngel takes pleasure in sourcing all produce locally, organic if possible. Cakes, scones and morning tea treats are baked fresh daily. Access to fresh, seasonal produce is reflected in FoodAngel’s daily blackboard menu, with a wide range of dishes to suit all dietary needs.
A specialty of the restaurant is “Pad Char Queensland Mud Crab” using green peppercorns, Kaffir lime leaves, onion, garlic, green beans, wok fired to create a mouth watering thai dish.
No café experience is complete without a supreme coffee or tea experience. FoodAngel has been partnered with Vittoria Coffee and Tea By Birdie since 2016. Vittoria “Oro” coffee delivers a consistently full flavoured espresso coffee, and locally blended teas from Bianca at Tea By Birdie are some of the freshest flavours around.
They offer a set priced Thai banquet with a variety of Thai dishes, along with traditional Australian dishes of tender mouth watering grilled rump steak, salad and chips, battered Barramundi, grilled lamb cutlets and handmade pizza to make your mouth melt.
FoodAngel café is open for breakfast and lunch Monday to Saturday. Also available, takeaway gourmet frozen meals, and we welcome specialist cake orders or catering enquiries.
BEST KEPT SECRETS
Dorrigo Wholefoods Iris & Elm FLOWERS + BOTANICAL + GIFTS Iris and Elm is located in the beautiful town of Dorrigo NSW. Situated on Hickory, we stock a magnificent array of fresh flowers and an eclectic range of giftware, including jewellery and women’s accessories, fragranced candles, homewares, indoor plants and botanical accessories. If you’re looking for a unique gift or flowers for any occasion, then call in and see us at Iris and Elm. Come and enjoy our beautiful mountain weather and make a day of it. We look forward to seeing you soon! Open Monday - Friday, 10am - 4pm; Saturday 10am - 2pm. We are always open online! Visit us at www.irisandelm.com.au Use the code FOCUS10 for a 10% discount on online purchases. Address: 47B Hickory Street, Dorrigo NSW 2453 Phone: 0438 664 860 Email: fiona.irisandelm@gmail.com
At Dorrigo Wholefoods you choose the quantity of produce you wish to purchase from the bulk bins. We provide recycled paper bags, or bring your own containers for shopping convenience and save on packaging. Food is Medicine, and at Dorrigo Wholefoods the vast range of dried fruit, nuts, pulses, mueslis, gluten free flours, grains, super foods and organic fruit and vegetables are guaranteed to give your day an amazing start. Join the tribe and make a conscious choice … Get back to basics and ignore commercial food fads and supermarket domination by putting fresh, local, organic foods back into our bodies. With commitment to good nutrition, Dorrigo Wholefoods has grown into a mini-department store which also offers breakfast, lunch and dinner. With such an extraordinary pantry to draw from, the food could never be ordinary! We recognise that people with conditions such as Diabetes, Coeliac Disease, Lactose Intolerance or Crohn’s Disease have special needs. We offer quality flavoursome alternatives to supplement a balanced diet. Our gluten-free range for home cooks and client-conscious restaurateurs is extensive. Our products are sourced straight from the producers and delivered to us in bulk - at Dorrigo Wholefoods freshness is a real experience.
Red Cedar Emporium. Red Cedar Emporium is a beautiful boutique store located in the breathtaking village of Dorrigo. We offer an eclectic mix of products, a wide range of women’s and men’s clothing, a truly gorgeous collection of leather bags and leather products and a great mix of lifestyle products and gifts for ladies and the lads. We love being able to provide a space for our amazing customers to enjoy; it’s extremely rewarding to see people enjoying the business you have worked so hard to create. We have recently launched an online store to allow our wonderful customers from out of town the opportunity to shop whenever they like and well ... Who doesn’t love being able to shop in their pyjamas with a glass of wine! Dorrigo is truly a magnificent part of the world - the perfect spot for a day out or for that much needed holiday. There are so many beautiful places to explore and gorgeous boutique stores up here, and we are always happy to see new faces!
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BEST KEPT SECRETS
Andrew F
U
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Fuller Fresh is a local familyowned store that not only retails grocery products, but grows their own organic fruit and vegetables, as well as having a café. They take great pride in providing “paddock to plate” food for the Bellingen shire and the Coffs Coast.
fullers i Andrew. What’s your relationship to the Coffs Coast? I was born and raised in the Bellingen Valley and have fond memories
to source quality Australian made goods as
you work with?
that!
best we can. We source fresh produce locally
We supply and work with the majority of
and interstate. We are also growing our own
foodies in the Bellingen Shire. We also serve
loads from the fields and seeing the crops
organic vegetables and fruit. We also provide
clients in Nambucca Heads, Urunga and
come on in stages. “When will they be
LPG and fuel services to the Bellingen Shire.
Coffs Harbour. I get a real kick to see them
ready?” we frequently get asked.
Fuller Fresh is a family run business; how
doing well when I go to their establishments
of growing up in the ‘80s and ‘90s. I was
long has your family been in business in
and see a full house. For me, it’s a privilege
schooled in Bellingen, and many of my close
greens used in the fresh salads and cooking
the area?
to serve and work with them. Knowing the
also gives you a sense of pride. The
friendships to this day were formed during this time. The stunning beaches and unique river
owners personally
My great grandparents were dairy farmers on the
and seeing how hard
Dorrigo Plateau and my
they work - they do
valleys of this area captivated me from a
grandparents were dairy
young age. I loved the stories of past and
farmers in the Kalang
present local characters - I’ve seen and met
Valley during the ‘50s,
quite a few over the years. There’s seriously
‘60s and ‘70s. My parents
been some colourful identities in these parts.
established Fuller Fresh in
I miss the ones who have since passed or
the summer of 1987.
moved on.
How has the area
What are some of
changed in the time
the advantages of
had a brief stint as a professional Rugby
Fuller’s has been in
being involved in
League player. I always knew I would be
business?
each stage of the
I spent some time in Sydney working and
drawn back to the Bellingen Shire. In my
I think the customers love seeing us haul loads from
the fields and seeing the crops come on in stages. ‘When will they be ready?’ we frequently get asked.
In the time we have been in business, there
a great job, and I respect them a lot for what they do. You are growers, retailers and you also have a café.
process? As a grower you get a greater respect
I think the customers love seeing us haul
As a café owner, to see your organic
customers also respect you for this: “From the paddock to the plate - perfect!” What’s one of your favourite things about what you do? The people! I get to meet and interact with so many different kinds of people, from the local school teacher to national politicians. Through the holiday season we get a lot of people holidaying or passing through, so I really enjoy hearing their stories and passing on some local knowledge, sharing my love of the area with people who are sometimes experiencing it for the first time or returning because they wanted to see more of it!
twenties and early 30s I travelled extensively
has been a decline in the banana, timber and
abroad, and it made me realise how special
dairy industry. Tourism seems to be getting
for the other producers for being at the
What do you see happening in the future
stronger every year. We’ve seen the rise of
mercy of so many outside factors, but when
for Fuller Fresh?
to other parts of the world.
the blueberry and avocado industries locally.
everything comes together and you produce
Can you tell us a bit about your business
It seems the housing sector here just goes
a really quality product, it gives you a lot of
clients with high quality local organic beef;
and what you offer?
from strength to strength. There were two
satisfaction. As a retailer, it gives you a lot of
I’m interested in starting to farm cattle here
abattoirs in the Bellingen Shire when I was
pleasure to see your customers happy and
on top of growing fresh fruit and vegetables
younger, but they have closed down.
returning to buy your produce. It’s a real
to add to our paddock to plate ideal.
Who are some of the local businesses
compliment; you can’t ask for more than
Thanks Andrew.
the Coffs Coast area is when you compare it
Our business offers a broad range of imported grocery products, as well as local and regional made grocery products. We try 56 Coffs Coast focus
I would love to supply our customers and
BEST KEPT SECRETS
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PALATE & PLY S MERRY XMA
The Palate and Ply team would like to wish you all merry Christmas and thank you for your support in 2017! We have had an amazing year serving you the finest coffee from Artisti Coffee Roasters.
Daybed. $2195
Cargo Lane - Authentic Home Bellingen www.cargolane.com.au
W
e are so excited to serve you our house Signature Blend, which has just won a bronze medal at Australia’s largest roasting competition, the Golden Bean. With a bronze medal earlier in the year at the Sydney Find Food coffee show, we are so proud to be recognised for our consistency. With so much to offer, including our full range of speciality beans for you to enjoy at home and the largest selection of coffee brewing devices, including Aeropress, Syphons, Nanopresso, V60 and pourovers, we will excite
your inner coffee geek! Our head roaster has a weekly single origin if you want to step out on a tasting adventure! Visit our online store www.artisti.com.au so you can enjoy Artisti coffee at home, with FREE NATIONAL DELIVERY. We welcome you to experience the Palate and Ply difference, as we make you your custom coffee on the latest coffee equipment on the market. Our friendly team will make your day, every day with smiles and the caffeine kick your body is screaming for! See you soon, and bring on 2018!
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BEST KEPT SECRETS
Gold Award for local State Forest The amazing Sealy Lookout in Orara East State Forest was recently award top honours, achieving the gold award for best Tourist Attraction at the 2017 NSW Tourism Awards. At Sealy, you can enjoy beautiful subtropical forest, amazing views, be part of an Aboriginal cultural experience, have a picnic among the trees, or just enjoy the tranquil sounds of nature.
that has the Coffs Coast first ECO-certification. This means visitors can be reassured minimal impact management principles are applied to the area, including protection of flora, fauna, forest ecosystems, Aboriginal and archaeological values. Managed by Forestry Corporation of NSW, Sealy Lookout (Niigi Niigi in local Gumbaynggirr language) invites visitors to get their bearings on the Coffs Coast while discovering this fantastic forest playground.
The Forest Sky Pier is the centrepiece - a majestic 22-metre platform delivering a breathtaking sweep of ocean, city and coastline. Adjacent Korora Lookout showcases Gumgali Track, an Aboriginal cultural interpretive experience telling the story of Gumgali, the black goanna. Visitors are invited to find the hidden goanna sculptures along the track. The story of Gumgali can be experienced at Korora Lookout sound bar.
Getting there: Travel north on the Pacific Highway from Coffs Harbour. Past the Big Banana, turn left at the Sealy Lookout sign. Drive through banana plantations and ocean views to The Gap. Turn left onto Scenic Drive and follow to Sealy.
Sealy Lookout is part of a protected forest area
Find out more: @visitnswforests #visitnswforests
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Dorrigo looks like a sleepy, country town, but it’s actually the busy hub of the whole Dorrigo Plateau. Discover Dorrigo this month and explore some of the region’s best kept secrets.
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Dorrigo. It has a viewing platform, BBQ facilities, orrigo specialises in “the and a walking path down to the bottom of the unique and boutique”. The falls. Pre-order a picnic hamper, download a plateau is home to a vibrant community of artists and bird-watching brochure, and escape to another artisans, festivals, markets world. Ringed by more than a dozen national and an abundance of farmers parks, Dorrigo has been called the “National producing delicious, local food. Parks Capital of Australia”. See gigantic Start your weekend by browsing the Hickory 800-year-old trees at the Norman Jolly picnic Street shops. Ever wondered why so many of area, spy for platypus at dusk at Platypus Flats, Dorrigo’s streets are named after trees? That’s or simply stroll along the Bielsdown River’s because white settlement on the plateau was walking path to see some Eucalyptus dorrigoenfounded on timber logging. Dorrigo still has sis, the white gum trees unique to this area. The some of the finest woodworkers and cabinet plateau’s fresh air and spring waters naturally makers in Australia. inspire wellbeing. If you Red Cedar Emporium need to unwind, walk and What do you Think, the meditation labyrinth Miss Wink both offer at the Dangar Falls picnic Waterfall Way, stretching from beautiful clothes and area, or book in for a Urunga to Armidale, is one of the locally-made gifts. If you massage with one of sevmost scenic drives in Australia. prefer something more eral local practitioners. Tai Dorrigo is halfway along off-beat, check out the Chi classes run on Friday the route, making it the preloved but on-trend mornings. Quality facilities perfect place to stop for fashions at The Hunter are also available for golf, lunch or stay overnight Collective. Complete your tennis, squash, and bowls. while you explore the new look with hand-made Dorrigo is blessed with plateau at leisure. jewellery from Mountain rich volcanic soil. Enjoy Metal Art or Opal & Amfresh, local produce at any ber. You can book ahead of the cafés or restaurants for an after-hours private in town. Try ‘Paddock fitting (while sipping champagne) with dress deto Plate’ at Canopy Café or Wholefoods, great signer Catherine Overgaard at Frock and Wood. chips at The Plateau Café, or bless your mouth Catherine made costumes for Opera Australia, with homemade goods from Food Angel Café. and films such as Moulin Rouge, before moving You can experience delicious Thai flavours at to Dorrigo with carpenter husband, Rob. Check Minky’s Thai Kitchen (in the RSL), or take your local websites to find out how to book for onepick of recipes from yesteryear or contemporary off and after-hours events at these stores. favourites at the Heritage Hotel Dorrigo. Waterfall Way, stretching from Urunga to The plateau offers accommodation options Armidale, is one of the most scenic drives in Austo suit all budgets, with choices including chic tralia. Dorrigo is halfway along the route, making B&Bs, the iconic Heritage Hotel Dorrigo, and the Mountain Top Retreat. The RV and caravan it the perfect place to stop for lunch or stay overenthusiast is welcome at three well-maintained night while you explore the plateau at leisure. camp sites: Dangar Falls Camping Ground, Dorrigo’s World Heritage Gondwana Rainforest is Dorrigo Showground, and the Dorrigo Mountain a must-see, with excellent walking trails and BBQ Resort Caravan Park. facilities. But you can also take a self-drive scenic Listed in 2016 in Australia’s Top 50 small tour across the plateau, or go trout fishing, towns - come for yourself and discover Dorrigo! white-water rafting, canoeing, camping, fourFor more information go to www.dorrigo.com wheel driving, or bush-walking tours. or www.destinationdorrigo.com The iconic Dangar Falls is just 2 km north of
BEST KEPT SECRETS
We sat down with farmer Justin Gilbert, whose Dorrigo property, Booma Family Farm, has been in his family for five generations - over 120 years! He fills us in on what’s involved in running a family farm, and why he believes it’s so important to supply the area with quality local meat and produce.
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i Justin. What’s your relationship to the Coffs Coast? I was born on the Coffs Coast, and I have lived here for 31 of my 37 years. In that time I have been extremely active in sports in the area. Our business has always tried to promote were we live; we just love the area for its natural beauty and pristine environment. How did you come to be a farmer? As I grew up on the farm, it was a natural progression. When you experience the lifestyle on a farm (even though it can be quite challenging at times) it’s hard to imagine moving on to do anything else, and there would be nowhere else I would prefer to bring up a family. You’re the fifth generation of your family on the farm, with 120 years of history. How has the farm changed over the years? The property has definitely changed and is still continually changing. Over the years there have been many types of agriculture, aquaculture and horticulture on our property. With farming it is like every industry; you must continue to evolve. In recent years we have combined our farm with a meat processing facility in Dorrigo,
which has meant we are work together, helping The great thing about the able to grow, process to create a sustainable products we grow is that all of and distribute our own farm that produces them work together, helping meat products. This was quality products. to create a sustainable mainly goat meat until You stand by “from farm that produces recently; we are now paddock to plate”; quality products. able to promote all the how have you been Booma products. able to achieve this? How many people We are able to does it take to run stand by this as we Booma Family Farm? control all stages of production. This is very At the moment there are only three of us unique in the agriculture industry. We have - me, my father, and my nephew. However, moved towards this way of farming, because at different times of the year we have to get many consumers are wanting to know outside help to maintain everything on the where and how their food is produced. farm. We encourage school groups to come Meat isn’t your only produce; what are and visit our farm, as well as inviting our some other things you grow on the customers here for farm visits, so they can farm? all come and see how our products are As I said earlier, our property has produced and learn why it’s important to been involved in many different types of know where your food comes from. agriculture. By utilising the knowledge We try to give our animals a perfect stresswe have gained over the years, we have free environment for them to grow, in order decided to try and put this all together and to maximise productivity and quality. offer consumers the unique opportunity to We also provide a home delivery service, purchase a wide variety of produce, all from so we are literally taking our products from the one place. At the moment we produce a the paddock to your plate! You will still need range of products such as beef, lamb, pork, to do the cooking though! How important is the term “keep it goat, free range eggs, as well as a large local”, and what does that mean to you? variety of vegetables. The great thing about Local food is very important for us - both the products we grow is that all of them
enjoying it ourselves and making it available for our community means a lot to us. For a long time the Coffs Coast has not been recognised as an area that produces quality products. We are trying to change this view, not just for ourselves, but for all the tourists who visit this area. Bringing in products from far away when they are available here just does not make sense to me! By buying local you are getting fresher produce, being kinder to the environment and supporting your local farming families and businesses. Where do you see the farm heading in the future? As our customer base grows, we are looking to expand what we grow on the farm. Some of the things we have in the pipeline are dairy products, meat chickens, a larger orchard and also having farmstays. When you’re not out on the farm, what do you like to do with your time? My interest has always been sports. I am very lucky to have three children who enjoy them too. So, my time away from the farm is spent coaching the local Rugby and cricket teams, or playing sport with my kids! Where can we find out more about Booma Family Farm? www.boomafarm.com or Booma Meats on Facebook. Thanks Justin. Coffs Coast focus 59