Picnic on the Rous River

“Tumbulgum” means “Meeting place of the waters”.  It’s where the Rous River runs into the Tweed before flowing out to sea. 

On Saturday morning we collected the picnic prepared for us at Drift cafe. Their menu includes some South African items, Jan having lived there for some time.  Michaela's family come from South Africa, too, and it transpired that Jan had worked with the wife of one of Russell's friends in Capetown!  While they chatted about mutual aquaintances, we crossed the road to stow our things on board the picnic boat we'd hired for the day.  The boat's owner, Mick, suggested taking her up the Rous River.  He pointed out that most of the Tweed can be seen from the road as you drive from Tumbulgum to Murwilumbah, whereas the Rous flows through stands of rainforest and farmland away from any roads.  Water skiing and aquaplaning are not allowed there either so there is usually very little traffic apart from the odd fisherman.

It was a lovely day and we were more than happy with our little vessel!   Built in the style of a 1920s river launch, she had a timber deck, comfortable seating and a canopy to provide some shade. We putted along at a leisurely pace, enjoying the warm air and the beauty of our surroundings.   We had thrown in some lines but although we saw many fish jumping they didn't show any interest in our lures.  The children were very excited- climbing all over the boat, dragging their hands in the water, nibbling at the cheese and boerewors snacks and calling out enthusiastically every time they spotted a bird along the banks.  We saw many birds including terns, egrets, herons and spoonbills, beautiful blue kingfishers and an osprey in its nest high in a power pole.

At lunchtime we moored to the bank and spread out our lunch beside a sugar cane field, on a patch of grass grazed short by cattle. We then continued up the river a little way before turning back downstream. 

I should have asked for wholemeal bread, but the sandwich fillings were delicious! Chicken and avocado, egg and lettuce, ham and tomato...

On the return journey we needed to pull over once more for a toilet stop. As the boat nosed into the bank, Michaela's dad caught hold of an overhanging branch with the boathook, but the bow began to drift away. He clung on to the boathook and performed a slow and graceful arabesque before slipping into the water. His wife tried to haul him out by the seat of his pants and when between them they got him safely back on board, wet but unhurt, we all had a good laugh.

After this little interlude everyone relaxed and started feeling drowsy. Arthur made himself comfortable on the floor of the boat with a cushion and a throw rug and was asleep within minutes. The girls snuggled up under a big towel and pretended to sleep, too, while the adults talked quietly, listened to the chugging of the engine and watched the clouds drift by.

We talk to a lot of people who come and go at the Mount Warning Rainforest Park where we're staying, and we've been recommending the Classic Picnic Boat as a relaxing day out while staying in this area!

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On Sunday we took our friends to see Natural Bridge and have lunch at the cafe there before spending a quiet afternoon back at the camp. 

Can anyone identify this bird? Tim?