Gordon is extremely welcoming, and what he has hand-built is extraordinary.
It’s not surprising as he is an experienced world traveller and filmmaker, but Gordon knows exactly what a campsite requires to feel at comfortable and homely. Whether in Borneo, Sumatra or Topanga.
The facilities are more than you’d expect. Air conditioning, a kitchen, fridges, hot shower... It is still camping, it’s still in the wild, but with WiFi, a hot shower, a coffee grinder, and a selection of herbs in the kitchen.
I normally struggle to sleep while camping, but the tipi was cool and comfortable. The area is quiet, so we got to enjoy the sound of two horned owls flirting with each other. We saw a few lizards and beetles on site, and in the morning as the sun was shining through the canopy, lots of tiny birds were happily flitting about. We even saw our first wild dolphins nearby at the coast.
We only live 30 minutes drive away in LA, and only came for two nights, but we arrived home as if we have been on a proper vacation. For the price, it is an absolute steal!
Top tip - go to the local bistro, watch the band, and play a game of celebrity lookalikes. Then realize some really are the 1960s rock stars they look like.