Stop. Pause. Listen. A Hidden Estate Emerges in the Tweed Hinterland

WORDS: Steve and Estelle Hunt PHOTOGRAPHY Supplied and Brian Usher - [email protected]

A secluded 400-acre sanctuary at the base of the Border Ranges invites guests to disconnect, reset and rediscover the wild beauty of far northern NSW

Somewhere in far northern NSW, between the majestic Border Ranges and the frantic life of Southeast Queensland civilisation, lies a piece of ‘middle earth’ few have had the opportunity to access.

Traipsing through the pristine rainforests and rolling hills at the base of an escarpment that links to the Border Ranges near the small Tweed town of Tyalgum, Melissa Usher remarks: “You really can visualise dinosaurs walking amongst these hills so many years ago.”

It really is that type of terrain. It’s not hard to imagine a giant T-Rex bounding over the hillside, a Brontosaurus grazing from the fruits of the wilderness or a Pterodactyl flying through the air, soaring along the updrafts of the ranges manifesting the freedom and energy that being in this part of the world evokes.

We are at Selah Valley Estate, an untapped, private and exclusive farmland property nestled so desperately close to civilisation but so exquisitely as far away from it.

An estate of 400 hundred acres of paradise which provides a gateway to thousands of hectares of ancient volcanic caldera and which in turn stretches out to some of the most beautiful national parks in Australia.

Selah Valley Estate acts as an access point to the hundreds if not thousands of hectares of pristine wilderness, waterfalls and rock pools that can’t be accessed from anywhere than the exclusive labyrinth of hiking trails snaking their way up the range from the property.

This is no national park. This is privately-owned and exclusively-accessed property that very few have had the opportunity to see. Until now.

Selah in Hebrew means pause – and if you are looking to stop, pause and reflect, you will find that moment at this incredible property which is the brainchild of former Melbourne and now Gold Coast based businessman Milton Young.

Formerly a camp owned by the exclusive Gold Coast school The Southport School (TSS), Selah has been transformed into, firstly, an upmarket farmstay experience. But to call it a farmstay is to do it an injustice. Its motto is stop, pause, listen! We can add, turn your phone off, take a deep breath and take in the views, the ambience and the serenity. “What we are offering here isn’t just a farmstay, it’s an opportunity to switch off and reset in one of the most pristine farmland you will ever see,” says Milton, who purchased the property in 2021. “Our guests come here to find that spiritual connection,  a space they can instantly relax, where stillness and adventure co-exist.” “Personally, I feel I was called by God to come here – it is where I was meant to end up.” “What we’ve created here are contemporary facilities that enable our guests to experience that same vision. “It’s a place to come as an individual, or as couples, or with friends to really connect with each other and take the opposite path of life which these days is so hectic. “It is something a lot different from a traditional premium luxury experience and is tailored to switching off from our busy daily modern lives and stopping to reflect and engage.”

Less than an hour from Gold Coast Airport, a small right-hand turnoff on Youngs Road just a few kilometres south of the village of Chillingham, you enter the small, gated estate via a private gravel driveway. The drive is truly spectacular, and offers a unique perspective of the ruggedness and steepness of this part of the Border Ranges which can’t be seen from anywhere from public roads. Here you have Mt Warning on one side and the Border Ranges on the other. As one observer said, “it’s like driving through Jurassic Park into a mini Yellowstone.”

The central focus point to Selah Valley Estate is the Pavilion, which fronts the creek that snakes its way across the property from a waterfall above in the rainforest which is visible from the estate. If the surrounding rainforest are the lungs, the Pavilion is the beating heart which hosts anything from short stays, corporate retreats, private functions, wellness retreats, elopements and weddings.

The Pavilion has a large indoor and outdoor deck surrounding a beautiful feature tree with festoon lighting overlooking the pristine creek, which runs all year round, and includes a chef’s kitchen, chiller room, bathroom facilities, fire pit and outdoor deck which can cater for up to 100 guests at a time. The jewels of the estate are the range of quaint, spacious cabins which offer panoramic views from the southern hillside of the estate, including Creekside suites and hillside cabins.

The cabins range from one to two bedroom cabins and a  bungalow homestead that sleeps six and are fully equipped with airconditioning, fireplace, comfortable beds with linen bedding, well stocked kitchen with full sized fridge, coffee machine, home harvested honey and eggs, ultra modern funishings, books, outdoor daybed and private fire pit.

On the first night we were treated to an amazing late afternoon tour of the property with the use of the estate’s all-wheel drive Polaris, the perfect off-road vehicle in which to explore the diverse terrain; elements of which face the ranges and other aspects peering back toward Wollumbin (formerly Mount Warning) to the south.

We were treated to  lovely lamb cutlets that were cooked on the outdoor hot plates served by none other than our amazing host, Milton, and as the sun disappeared behind the hillside and we were greeted to a littany of stars that just can’t be seen from the city. And it was so quiet…

After dinner and a few wines, it was off to our cabins – to sit on the balcony and strum a few tunes on the guitar while taking in the night time beauty of this place.

At dawn, we were greeted to an array of native birdsong as a spectacular sunrise concealed itself until the mist that had gathered in the valley overnight burned itself off while enjoying our cups of tea to reveal a majestic spring morning Selah style.

The estate is segmented by a range of paddocks for horses (yes you can take your own) and cattle, including one of the symbols of Selah the Highland cattle from Scotland – which can only be described as cute.

One area is a purpose-built luxury off-grid campground which is located away from the cabins to ensure privacy; a favourite for families looking for a pristine back-to-nature experience – what camping should be.  Each site includes its own fire pit so you can unwind under the stars, and enjoy the serenity of the outdoors.  There are four designated campgrounds which can accommodate individuals as well as large group bookings.

Adjacent to the pavilion is a favourite for the kids, where farm dogs, goats, cows and chickens roam freely – you can even collect your own eggs for breakfast. There is no preferred time of the year to stay at Selah Valley Estate, with summer offering the coolness of private swimming holes and warm breezes, and spring and autumn offering their own sense of changing seasons – winter offering the cosiness of the cabins with indoor fireplace and outdoor firepits.

“You can be as private, relaxed or adventurous as you like,” says Milton. “Selah Valley Estate is a great starting point to explore the hectares of rainforest adjacent to the property. “We’ve had guests hike for hours through the network of tracks and return to enjoy the relaxing facilities of the estate after a day in the wilderness. One group hiked to the waterfall that towers over the property.” We decided to take our own bikes, and enjoyed the ride along the gravel driveway, quiet Limpinwood Road and even discovered our own private rock pools known by the locals only.

Milton says the Selah experience is whatever you want it to be and caters for all guests. “We’ve spent a considerable amount of money to create high-end accommodation and facilities that provide the comfort and class that makes Selah Valley Estate a high-end leisure experience,” he says. “We’ve carefully curated the estate to offer more value in the experience than just being in a resort. “We’ve taken a very holistic approach to the experience; we have our own water source, our own solar, we have our own sourced beef, eggs, honey and fruit trees and other produce. “I’m a city boy originally and the most unlikely of farmers, but through developing this property I have learned about the land and have created something that gives guests a perfect entry into farm and country life. “They can do it at their own pace and their own level of comfort, whether they just want to watch the animals from their cabins or immerse themselves in the creeks and rainforest walks.”

Selah Valley Estate is also a great base to immerse yourself in the magnificent Tweed Valley, with a range of tourist attractions nearby, including the Northern Rivers Rail Trail, Wollumbin, Nightcap National Park, Mount Jerusalem National Park, and the quaint Tyalgum Village.

Additional experiences and attractions nearby include the Husk Farm Distillery at North Tumbulgum, the Tweed Regional Gallery and Margaret Olley Art Centre in Murwillumbah, Tweed Regional Museum, Tweed Eco Cruises and Tropical Fruit World.

Click here: www.selahvalley.com.au