Day 296 (Friday 26th September 08)

Following the guy's advice from the information centre as soon as we were up headed out to the Nightcap National Park. Pothole roads and then a 11km unsealed road. Very slow journey up to the Nightcap National Park. Getting the feeling that we are out in the middle of nowhere. Had to pass over a couple of bridges with water flowing over them and ended up in the car park. Noone else around so headed up the walking track to Protester Falls. Amazing to walk through the rainforest listening to all the sounds. Impressive waterfall once we arrived. A rare frog species lives in the waters so you are not allowed to swim. Once we took some pictures we made our way back to the Hoki Poki. Then along the long pothole gravel road back to civilisation. Following another suggestion from the information centre guy we then headed to a little village called Nimbin. He had said that it was an alternative place but nothing prepared us for what it was like. When we arrived went straight to the candle factory which was really interesting as they make all their candles with no added toxins so are meant to be a lot better for you when you are burning them. They are the only candles that you can burn in a tent as they are no smoke. Parked in the village and went for a walk around. A very different place and offered marijuana in the first 2 seconds. Had a look in one of the herbal shops and soon got an in depth talk from the guy behind the desk about the herbal alternatives to drugs. He seemed to have tried everything going and was in a very different world. Feeling a bit out of place here! Soon realising that everyone comes here just to do drugs! Everyone looked stoned and got offered a lot more marijuana. Moved on very quickly not really able to believe that a place like that exists! We imagine it must be what the 60 and 70s was like. Stopped just out of Nimbin for something to eat and then carried onto Casino. Didn't find much there so then onto Evans Head. After a look around the town parked up by the beach to read our books and then went for a walk along the beach. As we were cooking something to eat one of the locals walking his dog stopped for a chat. Very interesting, we asked about Nimbin saying surely it wasn't legal and he said no it wasn't and that the police do a raid every so often but he thinks the police up there are getting a bit of cash under the table. Ate our food and then went in search of a toilet which turned out being harder than we thought as they closed up early around here. Eventually found somewhere to park up for the night.