The Road to Woodfordia
Join us on a road trip to the magic lands, as we head north for the famed Woodford Folk Festival…
Ah, Woodford! The name is enough to send sweet tingles along the spine, with almost two decades of lore gathering wind at its tail. But for many, it may seem a galaxy away… tucked inland, north of Brisbane, it sits on the faraway fringes of the cosmopolitan-cosmos. For those of us located in other states and cities (which, in Australia, sit spread like corners of a constellation), is it worth the trek? Piling into our old Toyota Spacia, humble bed rolled out in the back, we at Something You Said decided to jump aboard and soak it in – all the way from the southern point of Melbourne!
Clocking almost two thousand kilometres, the journey is a quintessential reflection of Australia’s undulating landscapes and sheer size. Passing stretches of barren, flame-eaten trees (in the wake of some of the country’s most severe bushfires to date), the hover of smoke in the air was a solemn reminder of the season. But in between, gems abound on the way to Woodford – from sparkling coves to thick rainforest, reaching palms and laden blueberry trees…
… and at the end of it all, we reach the utopic folk festival, where community and sustainability create a vision of gentle joy.
So, ahoy! Here are a few enchanted places you might consider dipping into along the way, on your east coast road trip to Woodford:
LITTLE BAY, SYDNEY
Amongst the madness of the holiday season, where beaches like Bronte and Bondi attract schools of rambunctious sardines, why not stop a little south at Little Bay? Nestled beneath a golf course and away from the houses, this bay is clear and gentle, hugged by beautiful cliffs.
SHELLY BEACH, NAMBUCCA HEADS
Turning off the Pacific Coast Highway onto a small section of tourist drive, Nambucca Heads hosts a cute collection of cafes and wholesome snack options. At the tip of town, the Shelly Beach Lookout provides epic views of the surrounding coast – and beyond it, a glorious swimming cove.
SOUTH GOLDEN BEACH
It would be easy to miss this spot, flanked on either side by Byron Bay Surfer’s Paradise but South Golden Beach is a small, jungly town which sits on a sweeping beach and surf break (hot tip – use an app such as Wikicamps to find rest stops and amenities wherever you may be headed, we found showers and barbecues at the local community centre).
LAKE GKULA, WOODFORD
Our final swimming destination is at the festival itself; open this year to patrons for the first time, Lake Gkula (pronounced goo-lah) is the largest all-natural conservation and recreation lake in Australia. Don your all-natural sunscreen and go for a refreshing paddle with over 400 diverse species of native, freshwater fish and 4000 plants. Dreamy!
Words by Chloe Mayne. Stay tuned for more Woodfork Folk Festival updates throughout the week!
