“The Most Naturally Gothic Dragon Castle Fantasy Structure Ever Created” - Stab Mag
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The rediscovery of the assumed to be extinct Lord Howe Stick Insect on Ball's Pyramid is yet another reason to protect sensitive wildlife habitats. Photo by Trent Mitchell.

“The Most Naturally Gothic Dragon Castle Fantasy Structure Ever Created”

Ball’s Pyramid is the native home of ‘tree lobsters’ and the weirdest place Dave Rasta has ever surfed. 

cinema // Mar 3, 2024
Words by Ethan Davis
Reading Time: < 1 minute

Shooting vertically out of the Pacific Ocean between Australia and New Zealand, Ball’s Pyramid is the 572-metre high, Kubrick-esque basalt monolith that once formed part of a shield volcano plug. Today it stands naked and afraid and alone 600km off Australia’s mainland in a submarine canyon formed by hardened magma. 

Dave Rasta described the islet home to the only endemic population of ‘tree lobsters’ (AKA Lord Howe Island stick insect) and a very burgery left, as “the most naturally gothic dragon castle fantasy structure ever created”.

According to Patagonia: When Dave and Lauren headed out to marvel at this natural wonder, their boat driver Azza quietly suggested, “Maybe you should put the boards in the boat.” Later that morning they were surfing what Dave describes as, “The weirdest place any of us have ever stood on a wave.”

KIN is directed by Lauren L. Hill and Andrew Buckley( @short_films_) and features Dave Rastovich and family on Australia’s spectacular World Heritage-listed Lord Howe Island. The film is being released in a bid to activate communities to take steps to protect Australia’s marine ecosystems and call for full protection for 30 per cent of Australia’s ocean by 2030.  

You can find out more about the Protect Australia’s Ocean for Good campaign here.

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