The Crossing Place - Bhutanese Gardens
Cache #178
The Crossing Place is a new 5.1 kilometre trail on Gateway Island near the Murray River. It is the site of the original crossing between the colonies of New South Wales and Victoria. Today there is a walking trail featuring sculptures by local First Nations artists. More information can be found - here. Hopefully a few caches will be placed here - we certainly enjoyed the walk the first time we did it.
As you walk the trail near the Myee statue you will be next to a community garden. This is the Bhutanese Community Farm and was established in 2015. The initial farm enterprise was an organic market garden, producing vegetables and herbs not commonly available locally. One half of the farm is dedicated to a single community garden with many beds. This area provides volunteer opportunities, hosts social, learning and community events, and produces vegetables to be sold direct to the community as they are harvested. The other half consists of single allotments leased at a very low cost, allowing individuals and families to produce their own organic vegetables.
Access to the gardens is from Lemke Road. There are a couple of gates allowing access across the floodplain. The gardens were inundated by the 2022 floods, but walking past when I placed the cache they were thriving. You will not need to access the paddock to to obtain this cache but you will need your own pen here.
The trail can be very busy so stealth will be required. Snakes may be present in summer. And depending how high the river is the site may not be accessible - please do not access the trail if flooded. Cattle also may be present around the walk as well.
Enjoy!
FTF - Congratulations weirdobiker