The Garden Of Light – Our Heartland Home
Nestled at the foot of the majestic Mt. Warning (Wollumbin), in the lush green folds of Northern New South Wales Australia, lies a hidden sanctuary we call The Garden Of Light. This is our home, our haven, our sanctuary and the grounding centre from which everything we do arises.
It is here that our journey begins and always returns. After months on the road, pouring our hearts into song and sharing stories across the world, we come back to this sacred land to restore, reflect, and reconnect. It is not only the physical soil under our feet, but a spiritual and creative foundation—where life is slower, simpler, and deeply meaningful. The Garden is also the venue of our yearly ‘Farewell’ and ‘Welcome Home’ concerts, each one seeing almost 200 people come for an afternoon concert with yours truly, as well as a local support act artist, food, wine and sunshine (something akin to a mini Woodstock).
The Garden of Light spans over 30 acres of vibrant gardens, native bushland, and lovingly tended spaces. Every corner holds the imprint of our lives lived with purpose and presence—where music is written under the open sky, animals roam in sanctuary, children have grown wild and free, and laughter echoes across the hills. It is here that we dream, create, and grow—quite literally. From the hands that plant our food to the hearts that tend the earth, this place is a living expression of care.
In the early days, Mummager (also known as our band manager, Drew Porter) began a homeschool cooperative here over 25 years ago, along with her own three children, helping to raise more than twenty children over the span of the schools existence, Kymrie and Reuben among them, in a truly unique environment. Together, we cultivated a living classroom among not only classrooms, but the trees, where wonder and creativity led the way – the ballance of both left and right brains, in the flowering of the true human possibility. Even though the school came to it’s natural end when all had grown and left, the spirit and echo of that original vision still thrives as the rhythm of daily life here – the creation of beauty, and spaces where one can come to rest and take a real breath from the stresses of daily life.
The land itself holds something beyond words. Visitors often describe feeling like they are letting go and coming to peace as they walk through the garden on curated garden tours. Time slows down. The noise of the world falls away – the kind of peace that speaks to the soul and reminds us of what truly matters.
Our animal sanctuary, too, is a central part of life here, home to rescued animals of all kinds, from alpacca and goats to birds and dogs. Each creature is cared for with tenderness, a living reminder of our deep connection to all life. And when we are not touring, tending the animals becomes part of daily life and a joy to care for these vulnerable animals.
Because we are into the magic and wonder of life, we often say that the Garden Of Light is not just a physical place, but a vibration, a feeling, a living current of love that moves through everything we do. We feel it and remember it wherever we are on the road and it brings joy and a remembrance of the importance of such places of sanctuary. It is also a space we hold open for all who feel called to visit, whether in person or through the music, art, or stories we share. And it has been a joy to welcome some of our newfound friends who’m we’ve met along our journeys, putting the garden on their very own tour schedules.
So as you can see, we believe in creating something real and special, something beautiful and enduring in a world that at this time feels chaoitic, stressful and disconnected. We continue to build this sanctuary, one day at a time, with open hearts and grateful hands, hoping it might stand as a little light on the earth for others seeking something deeper too. May all who come, even for a moment, be touched by the magic here.
All welcome! Send us a message and let us know if you’d like to visit
*Respect and acknowledgment of the traditional custodians of the land that The Garden Of Light rests upon:
We wish to acknowledge the Ngandowal and Minyungbal speaking people of the Bundjalung Country, in particular the Goodjinburra, Tul-gi-gin and Moorung – Moobah clans, as being the traditional custodians of the land and waters within the Tweed Shire boundaries.
We also acknowledge and respect the Tweed Aboriginal community’s right to speak for its Country and to care for its traditional Country in accordance with its lore, customs and traditions.
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