Carindale’s hidden enchanted forest

Have you ever driven past Carindale and wondered if there was more to the area than just suburban homes, beautiful parks and roads? Well, it turns out that there is, and it's in the form of an enchanted forest.

Located on Belmont Hill, this section of private property covers a large proportion of the area and is home to a variety of flora and fauna that you may have only seen in the movies. During my recent visit, I was able to spot a yellow breasted robin, a black falcon, swamp wallabies, and even a net casting spider.

What's even more remarkable is that this forest wasn't always here. In fact, it was a former pineapple farm before Nancy Cramond and her family took it upon themselves to regenerate the land and create an oasis for nature to thrive. Since the 1960s, the Cramonds have been working hard to preserve the area between Ewer St and Scrub Rd and transform it into a beautiful reserve.