Placement: Australian Farm

About the Placement

At the back of my farm in the mountains, I can offer rustic accommodation. Firstly behind the house is a converted dairy, rather like a Granny flat. It has mains electricity, a kitchen and a bedroom, wood stove, sink with tank water and a septic toilet. In fact it is very comfortable and over the years several different people have stayed there, including children, for years at a time. A conventional car can be driven right to it. About a 10 minute walk into the hills is a small self contained hut. It has a wood stove, a single bed, and a desk and chair and not much else. Water is drawn from the nearby gully. It is situated in a clearing in a forest I planted about 20 years ago close to a piece of rainforest containing some large trees. Into the rainforest and up the hill is the most natural and basic of all human accommodation, a cave big enough to camp in. The facilities here are almost non existent. A platform to sleep on, a fire place, a chair and not much else. Things are crude and rough but I’ve even has someone visit from far overseas just to experience the rawness of nature. In the past, I’ve had the very occasional visitor who has appreciated these unique rustic experiences but I’d now like to make the offer more wide spread. On the farm here, I grow forest trees and have successfully planted most of the areas that were cleared for agriculture many years ago. I also have a few cattle and some fruit trees. The other aspect of my farm is for the appreciation of nature. I have made a circuit walking track connecting the places of interest. The swimming hole in the creek, the circular pine tree, the shrine, the lookouts, and the human face in the rock [suiseki] as well as the already mentioned hut, cave and rainforest.

My walking track is also with in an easy distance of the Noosa Trail Network where 100’s of kms of walking tracks are being built which also includes other huts, camping areas, bed and breakfasts and farm stays.

I wish to foster a closer relationship between humans and nature. The future of the humanity and the planet may even depend upon it.

An offer to artists, hikers, meditators, and hermits , in fact anyone who appreciates nature.

Role of Volunteer

I’m happy to host visitors who have a variety of interests.

Volunteers may want to learn about re-establishing forests or find out about the local environment. We are popular with artists, writers and nature lovers who enjoy the natural, aesthetically beautiful environment.

We have a range of accomodation types. Visitors can choose between staying in the main house, a converted dairy, rustic hut or even a cave in the rainforest.

The cost is negotiable. Volunteers can either contribute a little for food or even make a donation to our farm. We our open minded about volunteer costs.

Travel Information

Either get the train or bus to Gympie, a town about 160 km north of Brisbane, and I can meet the volunteers there. We are located about 20 km out of town in a south east direction going towards Noosa, a popular tourist destination on the coast. If someone has their own transport, they can contact me and we will them give them instructions as to how to get here whether they come from the south or north.

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