From Alpine Peaks to Forest Deep

Bidding farewell to our Ben Lomond haven, we rumbled back towards the park entrance, a pit stop at our previous campsite necessary to refill a thirsty water tank. Refreshed, we continued our journey, the promise of a delicious treat pulling us onward. Coffee and pie, a rare indulgence on the road, awaited at a stop nestled between Ben Lomond and the coast.

Our destination, whispered to us by the adventurous English couple we'd met, was the Evercreech Forest Reserve. Halfway to the coast, it promised a stark contrast to the alpine majesty we'd just experienced. While the allure of the ocean tugged at us, the call of the rainforest proved too strong to resist. Swapping asphalt for a dusty ribbon of road, we rumbled onwards, the bus kicking up a playful trail.

A chance encounter with a tiger snake on the path served as a thrilling (though brief) wildlife welcome. Arriving at the campsite, a sense of solitude washed over us – just one other nomadic couple, their truck a testament to their free-spirited ways. As the day surrendered to a cloak of twilight, conversation flowed freely in the crisp evening air, stories shared beneath a sky sprinkled with stars.

The heavens, however, weren't entirely cooperative. Clouds cast a veil over the sun, hindering our solar power ambitions. But luck, it seemed, wasn't entirely absent. We managed to squeeze in a wash cycle and a rejuvenating hike to a hidden gem – a picturesque waterfall cascading over moss-covered rocks, its symphony accompanied by the towering presence of the last remaining "White Knights," the world's tallest White Gums. Evercreech, with its untamed beauty and a touch of unexpected camaraderie, had begun to weave its magic.Läs mer