What attracted you to the Daintree Coast?
We moved to the Daintree to experience another beautiful part of Australia.
Where did you previously live?
Tasmania and South Australia.
What made you/your family move here?
We wanted to experience the `tropics’, especially the rainforest and feel what it was like to live here during a wet season! We searched around the tropical north for a place to live and build our `rammed earth’ home. We found Cow Bay! We loved the beach and the magnificent rainforest and views.
What do you like to do with your time here?
We always had a vision to provide eco tourist accommodation so that other people could experience this special place. We built a `rammed earth’ house and enjoyed the yin and yang of living off grid in the rainforest. It has its challenges but overall technology has improved and made living here easier over time. We thought the time had come to `share the space’ and finally opened our first bungalow `Mangosteen’ in July 2015 followed by the `Rambutan’ in July 2016.
We enjoy the beach, the beautiful boardwalks and creeks. It is also lovely to just sit and be at peace with oneself from our lovely place on the hill.
Jill’s other interests include – yoga – soap maker – gardening – catching up with friends, being a member of the Daintree Coast Art Society and cooking with local ingredients.
Peter has a strong interest in sustainable agriculture having worked in that field for 30 years before commencing our eco-style accommodation. He also enjoys spending time landscaping our property and reading.
What changes have you seen whilst living here?
Technology has improved greatly and enabled `working from home’ to be a reality for many.
Internet speeds and managing to do the `banking’ without the copper line dropping out is such a huge change and of great benefit. Of course `off grid’ systems have improved and become way more efficient which makes everything so much easier than it was years ago. Swimming at Cow Bay Beach was a great highlight in the early days.
What is something you wish you knew about before moving here?
A better understanding of what it’s actually like living `off grid’, managing water and sewage systems and the responsibility one has to be manager/operator. Having service suppliers for maintenance is really important and it helps immensely if you have some capacity to undertake these tasks yourself.
For more info on Wompoo Eco Retreat visit www.wompooecoretreat.com.au