• Your Trip Here.Our part of the Mid North Coast is beautiful and wild. We love it, but please be advised you won’t get phone reception around the house, or in Kalang as you drive out. I would recommend saving or downloading the details of your road-trip, important phone numbers, information, and house manual, just in case you find yourself in a bit of trouble. Once you get to the house, we do have Starlink Wifi, so do turn on wifi calling.

• Getting Here — from Sydney Take the Pacific Highway (M1) heading north towards Newcastle.

  Continue on the Pacific Highway. Follow the M1 through Newcastle, then merge onto the A1 (Pacific Highway) near Hexham. Continue along the Pacific Highway, passing towns such as Taree, Kempsey, Macksville and Nambucca.Turn onto Waterfall Way (B78)

  Approximately 10 km north of Coffs Harbour, take the exit for Waterfall Way (B78) towards Bellingen and Dorrigo. Follow Waterfall Way for about 33 km to reach the town of Bellingen.

• From Brisbane Follow M1 to Pacific Hwy/A1 in Glenugie. Merge onto M3. Continue onto M1. Keep right to stay on M1. Entering New South Wales. Keep right to stay on M1. Continue on Pacific Hwy/A1. Take the exit towards Giinagay Way. At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto Giinagay Way. At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto Waterfall Way/B78. Continue 33km to Bellingen

• Getting Here — From Bellingen. Click here for google map link.We are located 12km from Bellingen township. From Bellingen, head south on Church street and continue straight up the hill (Church street becomes Bowraville Rd). At the roundabout, turn right onto Kalang Rd and follow for 12.3km. Keep left and take your time - the road is winding and narrow in places.

  Turn left just before Baileys Bridge at the Rainbow Creek sign.

  Continue straight across a small bridge.

  Keep coming straight and go past the concrete tracks to the right and across a second bridge.

  Take the lower left hand driveway around and follow up to park on the grass in front of the open shed space.

  Parking & House Key Follow the gravel tracks around past the edge of the verandah and up to the shed. There is plenty of gravel under the grass for wet weather traction. The key is in the door on the large verandah and the house will be unlocked.

  We may come out and wave you in the right direction if we are home but we won't pop over unless you have arranged a greeting prior

The area around the house at Rainbow Creek including the large yard, firepit and semi covered garden is exclusively yours to enjoy and will always be private. There are also trails heading up the hill and along the creek for explorations and wandering. The area in front of the first residence is private. Please be mindful that the walking trails are old logging trails and some disappear into the forest. We try our best to check trails and maintain as possible but please use caution when out off track walking. We recommend the Alltrails App so that you are able to navigate back to the house should you become lost.

• Enquires & Emergencies:For any questions or emergencies to do with Rainbow Creek, just text to let us know. For any other emergencies, please call the police at 000.  

• Wood Fire:Kindling, firewood, and firelighters are all supplied for your stay. You’ll find firewood in boxes on the verandah, with additional wood, an axe, and a splitting block located in the open shed.

• Lighting the Fire: The wood fire has two damper controls. Open both before lighting. About 30 minutes after ignition, close the door damper control slide. Use the top damper slide for all further fire control.

Tip: Don’t skimp on the firelighters — we recommend using at least four.

There is a fire extinguisher under the sink and a fire blanket.

• Power & AC: Our home runs on off-grid solar power, but for most things, you won’t notice any difference from regular electricity. The reverse-cycle AC can be used as normal.

• Water: All the water is collected from rainwater but we have several filtration systems in place. All water is safe to drink from taps around the property and inside but we do have additional UV filtration systems in the kitchen. This is from the smaller tap on the left hand side. The hot water in the kitchen is gas heated - pull the right hand lever towards you and wait a few moments.

• Toilet: We use a composting toilet. After each solid use, please add a scoop of sawdust . Toilet paper is fine, but please place other items like pads or wipes in the bin provided. The toilet has a urine diverter at the front — just sit as usual. If standing, you can use the toilet or feel free to wee outside if you're comfortable — the paddock or treeline are yours to enjoy.

• Clothing storage for longer stays: clothes can be put in the wooden cubicles of the open cabinet in the bedroom and there are three large drawers in the library under the couch for storage. There is space for empty suitcases in the loungeroom under the floating bookshelf.

• TV & Entertainment: There is no TV at Rainbow Creek - the internet is usually fast enough to stream from your device and there is no download limit. We have set up a library space full of books you are welcome to read - please be mindful this isn’t a lending library, if you really love a book you are reading please reach out and we can let you know where to get it from. There are binoculars for bird and animal watching in the kitchen, a little green lantern hanging on the small front porch for night wanders and an art desk.

• Artdesk: We have set up an art space for guests in the library and we are excited to see what you create! You are so welcome to take home any art you make. There are little empty jars for collecting and grinding your own ochre pigments or fill them with nature treasures to take home as a memento of your stay.

• Firepit: Please enjoy the fire area responsibly in the summer months. There are firelighters and matches in the green trunk. There is a coiled hose in the shed next to the bin and a fire extinguisher under the kitchen sink for any fire emergencies. The hose gets attached at the tap tree near the house. Please put out any larger fires before going to bed on hot and windy nights in summer either by using the hose or by spreading the coals around the pit.

• Garbage: There isn’t a bin service here in Kalang. Place any extra rubbish in the bin out in the shed and please make sure the lid is secure because the goannas love a good bin rummage. Please put compostable items in the compost bin under the sink - our garden says thankyou!

• Extra Guests:Extra guests may be coordinated by arrangement.

• Smoking:There is no smoking at Rainbow Creek, in or around it. Please take any butts with you and take care to look after our little slice of paradise. 

• Eating and Drinking: Please keep food and drink out of the bedroom and out of the lounge area as much as possible. Stains and spills can be difficult on the delicate fabrics and large spills may incur an extra cleaning fee. We appreciate accidents happen and in the case of a spill, please just dab - not wipe - up any spillage and do let us know so we can clean the area properly.

• Broken Items: Broken items are all good and so understandable. Life happens. Just leave whatever it may be out so we can replace it. Please never stress about a broken glass at Rainbow Creek.

• Malicious Damage & Theft: On the flip side, any damage that is malicious or any theft will be reported

  to the police.

• Music:There is a bluetooth speaker in the bedroom in the cupboard. We love good music and just ask to please be mindful of our neighbours after 10.30pm if you are on the verandah by turning the music down or popping the speaker inside.

• SAFETY/ first aid There is a first aid kit in the cabinet in the bathroom that includes tick freeze spray and other sundries. Please call 000 in case of an emergency. There is also an AED defib machine at the Kalang hall, 5kms up the road.

• Bathroom Bar In the antique bathroom cabinet and on the wall in the bathroom, there is a range of shampoo bars, soap and other bathing items for your use. Please enjoy and we welcome suggestions on things we could add to spoil you!

• Garden: The large garden behind the firepit is in constant seasonal change. We love gardening and growing food, although we still have a lot to learn. If there is something growing you recognise, please help yourself and enjoy the harvest. We don’t come over to tend the garden when we have guests so you can enjoy the privacy of the space without worrying about visitors. There are also medicinal and edible herbs growing around the path to the house - all are for you to enjoy. Please only harvest what you need and leave some for the bees.

• Insects and Bugs:We are situated in a small gully off the main Kalang valley, so beautiful and wild and special — but being in the middle of nature, insects appear in changing seasons. We appreciate guests sometimes like extra insect protection in the form of repellants etc. and have provided some in the bathroom in the wooden cabinet. We recommend washing any excess off before splashing in the creek or river to help our aquatic friends stay healthy - our creek is full of sensitive glow worms and endangered frogs! We highly recommend a night wander!

We don’t have RAID bug spray in the house - it’s not great for beneficial insects or our house lizards. If you are worried about spiders, you can message us to come and remove it.

• Animals: There are small lizards living in the roof of the house and some little mammals called antichinus. You may hear them rustling in the roof and if you’re really lucky, you may see one pop out to say hi. They usually avoid coming in the house. We have manual traps for rats and mice but please do let us know if you think you spotted one so we can deal with it. Goannas appear often in the garden areas - leave them be and enjoy watching them, likewise with snakes.

• Checking Out: The general rule is to leave it how you found it. Key goes back in the front door.  If anything breaks, is empty, or if you have a note about any issues, repairs, gas bottle switches, or the like, please just leave that out on the kitchen table. It would help us out so much.  We love this little house so much and it’s such a pleasure to share it. We really appreciate any feedback you may have so we can be sure to make it even better for everyone who stays. 

• Groceries & Supplies: We supply coffee, tea (herbal and earl grey), sugar, salt, pepper, olive oil, hot chocolate and marshmallows. We also have three long life single serve milk choices - oat, almond or

  cow. Enough for the first two days of your stay. For all other supplies, the local IGA is a great spot to pick up some produce, cheese, meats, and sundries. Opening hours vary from season to season, but generally it’s 7 am to 7pm, 7 days a week. We recommend stocking up as most of our guests decide they love Rainbow Creek so much, they don’t want to go back out again.

• Specialty shops: There is an old fashioned Chocolate and Lolly shop at the top end of town and a beautiful boutique Liquor store opposite the IGA - in addition to two regular bottle shops - one at the top of town and a drive through behind the memorial hall. We also recommend Thorns Butcher for beautiful meat and a gorgeous range of in house smoked products. The Gelato Bar serves award winning ice cream until 5pm most days and is also at the top end of town.

• Markets: There is a growers and produce market every Saturday 7.30 - 11am at the Showgrounds over the bridge - this doesn’t run on the big Bellingen Market day which is the 3rd Saturday of every month. There is also a little produce market every Wednesday from 2.30 - 5.30 pm at the Market ground near the tennis courts.

• Washing: There is a little laundromat next to the bottle shop at the top of town. The bottle shop will also change notes for coins. They have washing powder, too. It’s generally safe to leave your washing / drying while you explore town.  

• Cafes and shopping: Bellingen is home to some wonderful cafes and shops. Follow this link for a map of all our favourites.

• Swimming: To reach the river for a swim, you can either walk or drive to the end of the driveway. If you choose to drive, please park in the small pull-out area at the bottom of the ramp beside the steep grassy slope.

  From there, walk back towards Bellingen along Kalang Road for about 30 metres. Just past the end of the guardrail, cross to the other side of the road. Near the telephone pole, you’ll see a small path heading into the bush. Follow this path and go through the gate — you’re welcome to leave it open while you’re down there.

  Continue along the track until you reach the river. Once you’re at the water, cross to the opposite bank where you’ll find a trail that follows the river downstream to a couple of lovely small swimming holes.

• Walks and trails:There are two main walking trails to explore at Rainbow Creek. Both are short - about 1km return. We love them for the diversity of plants and ecosystems you can see as you walk. You will see the mown path heading up the paddock. You can follow this up and it becomes an old logging trail that continues through and up onto a ridge line. At the top, you can follow it to the left and it continues to climb up - this gets very steep - the trail eventually fades out. Please only go off track if you are experienced in navigating in the bush.

• Grandmother tree: There is another trail that explores the rainforest and goes past the grandmother tree. Walk across the yard and instead of following the path up the hill, veer left and follow the mown track into the forest. This trail follows a lower logging trail and winds up past a huge old growth tree (the Grandmother) and continues into the forest. This trail eventually fades too and becomes overgrown with lantana.

• Rainbow Creekaccess is directly in front of the house on the other side of the driveway. Go down the steep small hill and into the opening in the treeline to your left. This is a seasonal creek and has beautiful pools when rain is plentiful. The property is named after the Rainbow of Ochres that line the creek bed.

We recommend exploring the creek if your adventurous and dont mind a scramble as there is a mini fairy fall and pool up the gully. To find it, walk and scramble upstream - keep to the right hand fork when it splits - and keep going until you find the pool.

If you become disoriented or unsure when out walking, remember that Rainbow Creek is situated in a small headwater and if you havent crossed up and over any major ridges, heading back downhill to the creek then following it downstream will always bring you back to the house and front driveway. We highly recommend an app like AllTrails so you can navigate back to where you started. We are on 98 acres with the majority of it bush backing onto adjacent properties then forestry. There is a lot of bush if you head off the wrong way as the next valley over eastwards is uninhabited state forest. Please exercise caution when out exploring and only venture as far as your skill level and experience. Always take a waterbottle and snacks too as the water in the creek is seasonal.

• Glow worms and fireflies In the early summer months, there are fireflies in the little creek line that is directly in front of the house and glow worms all year. We recomend a night wander. There is a little green lantern on a hook outside on the bathroom porch - to the left of the entryway on the inside of the lattice. To see the glow worms, wander down to the creek and crouch down to eyelevel with the bank or in dry years, sit on the stones on the creek bed. Turn out the lantern and wait a few moments. You may need to wander a little to find the best spots. They like overhanging banks amongst the ferns where it stays damp. You may also see yabbies, frogs and fireflies in the right season. It’s truly magic. Feel free to message us if you would like a mini tour or for us to point out the special places on the property.