Healing reflections

Lake Ainsworth, near Lennox Head on the north coast of New South Wales, is known locally as 'tea tree lake' because it's completely encircled by them, coloured by them, fragrant with them. The water is amazingly soft and dark, and in early autumn is still warm. A perfect end to the day after being buffeted by the waves at Byron Bay.

The leaves of Melaleuca alternifolia were known and used for centuries by the Bundjalung people for their healing properties. They called it buhlam, according to
Margaret Sharpe. Joseph Banks named it the tea tree after he and Cook drank a brew of it. The rest is history.