In 2001, city landscape designers, Richard & Rosemary Jones, became farmers at Cloudlake, their 65 acre organic agritourism property at 2000 feet in a sheltered hidden valley near Ravensbourne National Park.

The red volcanic basalt soils support huge old trees – red cedars, flooded and blue gums, black beans and figs with 1/4 of the property remnant rainforest along Oakey Creek. Large tracts of lantana were cleared to plant a1000 tree olive grove, small vineyard, lavender and orchards and to create a more park-like landscape. A series of terraces, enclosing garden wall and hedges create a sheltered formal garden with rose arbours and a fountain which overflows into Cloudlake. Vegetable gardens, chickens and sheep are raised on organic principles and two guest cottages, Mother of Ducks Cottage with an edible garden and The Boathouse with a native garden, as well as the main garden and orchards use waterwise plantings, waste water recycling, compost and mulching to be sustainable.

Oakey Creek,part of the catchment for Toowoomba's water supply, with its remnant rainforest vegetation snakes its way through our valley, providing wonderful habitat for animals, insects and birds. Richard has created mown tracks around the property and crossings over the creek so that visitors can enjoy leisurely walks and picnic spots.

There are some truly magnificent trees in the rainforest and small tracks lead in so you can go and visit them and pick up some ancient wisdom.