in the yamba hinterland …

CLARENCE COAST, NORTHERN NSW, AUSTRALIA

The rural township of Maclean sits beside the Clarence River, which is the largest river on the East Coast of Australia. With a population of 2,600, Maclean has a bustling village atmosphere with a genuine country feeling. The town centre is fully functioning, with schools, recreation facilities, and a hospital, and its main street still a series of small shops, including the oldest supermarket in NSW. While tourists visit and enjoy this picturesque heritage town with great cafes, it is not a ‘tourist town’.

On the edge of Maclean

beside the mighty Clarence River

close to the earth

nestled in the forest

we can walk to the shops

and drive (or sail!) down river

to swim and surf at iconic beaches

or stroll through the forest we’re helping regenerate

and watch magnificent sunsets from the riverbank

The Clarence River is 500 metres wide at this point, and is fully tidal with dolphins and plenty of fish! Pelicans, sea eagles, wedge-tailed eagles, and ospreys are a common sight flying high above the river and its open floodplains. The river also offers plenty of opportunities for sailing, canoeing, and rowing.

The magnificent surf beaches of Yamba, Angourie and Yuraygir National Park are a short drive away, so days at the beach are easy!

This area is ‘the real deal’ in terms of sustainable living, with a healthy natural environment, people still living traditional farming lifestyles, busy craft and farmers markets, community gardens, and more people interested in alternative life-styles each year. And new people are coming to the area with their skills and ideas.

Access to major cities is simple via bus, train and the Pacific Highway; with Ballina/Byron airport an hour’s drive north. Lismore is an hour north, Grafton 45mins south. You can sail from the port of Yamba to anywhere!

a hidden valley …

Above the Maclean township sits a forested hill (zoom in on the map to see it). This place is important to the local Yaegl people, who are Aboriginal custodians of the Clarence Coast region.

Viewed from the town, the green hill forms a gentle scenic backdrop, with grand eucalypt trees emerging, sometimes shrouded in mist. Approaching the hill, it opens out into a ‘hidden valley’ that some local people don’t even really know is there. It is a mix of pristine and regenerating eucalypt and rainforest.

A rural laneway - complete with horses, ducks and geese – is currently home to a neighbourhood of 9 families. This laneway forms the entrance to Jagera EcoCommunity.

At the very end of the lane, you find Foresthaven, an eco-retreat and learning centre, adjoining the Jagera property. Over 25 yrs of rainforest regeneration means it’s rich with native birds and animals!