DAY 285 - 28/11/2010 - Port Macquarie, NSW & Coffs Harbour, NSW

Communal pancakes in the camp kitchen for breakfast. We are not ready to leave till almost an hour after check out time, being 11am. Adam is also leaving and heading home to Sydney. He's finished his jobs yesterday and stayed with us another night.

All packed and hitched up ready to head north towards Coffs Harbour.

A quick stop in Kempsey for some Fredo Pies.

North Haven pies are still the best and hard to beat. Not too fussed with the old Fredo Pie and can't say I will stop again. Wasn't too impressed the last time we had one either but thought it may have been a one off or bad choice of flavour. This time we went for the faithful and one of our favs, the pepper pie. It needed way more pepper and a bit scabby in the meat department. Our friends also thought North Haven pies crapped all over these ones. We live and learn.

We took a short detour through South West Rocks. Our friends wanted to see the historic Trial Bay Gaol and we've never been so we decided to follow them.

The fugitives trying to escape

We arrive in Coffs Harbour and stop in at the tourist information centre for some info on dog friendly parks for our friends and 4wd tracks around Coffs. Apparently Coffs has some of the best 4wding in the country and we've seen it advertised on many travel shows like the Getaways and shows of that nature. The lady who serves us is not informative at all and doesn't know much about 4wd attractions in Coffs. She instead refers us to a bookshop instead. She also gave us a number of a good B&B after we had told her that we are in caravans and need caravan park accommodation. Who knows what was going through her head. We eventually got information of a local caravan park that allows dogs but no info on 4wding.

The campground is adjacent to the showground but is part of the caravan park next door. People with pets set up in the showground side and people without stay in the van park. We opt to join our friends on the pet friendly side and camp side by side.

The owner of the van park gave us some good information and directions regarding 4wding in the Coffs hinterland areas. The boys are going to The Jeep dealership tomorrow to speak with a guy who organisers Jeep rallys in the area.

Early bed for all.

DAY 284 - 27/11/2010 - Port Macquarie, NSW

The day began quite overcast and a little windy. By mid morning the day had improved so we decided to drive down to Crowdy Head to see the Gap and have a swim.

Half way there I had realised I had forgotten my camera which annoyed me but luckily I had my video camera, so all is not lost.

We follow the signs to Crowdy Gap and walk through a track onto the beach. Here we discover there isn't a gap here and after speaking to the local ranger on our way back to our cars we are informed that the gap is called "The Split" and its way back at Diamond Head.

So off we go and return the way we came and head for Diamond Head. As it turns out we wouldn't have had to do the unsealed road if I had done my homework first. I just assumed Crowdy Gap was named after the gap in between the two rocks but the name is misleading and as mentioned before its known as "the Split".

The Split looks different and not as big as it looks in the travel brochures. Nevermind we came to see and we conquered. Alicia, Taylah and Warren climbed to the top of one of the rocks which make the split. Its a steep tricky climb but they get up there quite quickly.

I downloaded this picture off the internet

We sat on the beach for a bit while Josh and Taylah went in for a boogy board. The wind has really picked up and is blowing a gale. Its making it really uncomfortable for us to sit here for too long as we can taste sand in our mouths and its whiping our bare skin. We cannot take this any longer and leave.

Back at camp for dinner and drinks. Waz and Adam stay up the latest tonight and witness these young locals theiving the schoolies grog esky's. Waz and Adam took control of the situation and chased them down the street. The kids dropped the esky's and bolted. Then they came back pretending to be residents of the van park and acted like they wanted to know what was going on. We played along with their charade and asked them to help us find these kids while I suggested calling the cops. They shit themselves and made excuses and walked off in a hurry. Very funny. They wouldn't have been older than 13 or 14 on the hunt for some free grog. Funny enough we never saw them again.

DAY 283 - 26/11/2010 - Port Macquarie, NSW

We intended on going to Crowdy Head for a day trip but as it turned out, Adam's car broke down on his way to work and he was stranded at the service station near by. Waz went out to help him and took some time to get back.

Plans changed. We went to visit Aunty Jen and Grandma Trish at Aunty Jen's place in Bonny Hills. She lives directly opposite the beach in a highset home and has some great ocean views. It was very nice to catch up with them. I've never really sat down with Aunty Jen and she's a really lovely funny lady.

Back in time for a late afternoon swim in the pool. I got the kids racing each other and swimming relays in the hope of tiring them out.

Its a tie between Alicia and Caleb

Lilly racing no one

Tonight we had another huge communal bbq for dinner in the camp kitchen. Thats 2 nights in a row of excessive eating.

The caravan park is very quickly filling up with schoolies either in tents or in cabins. They are louder tonight but there are no dramas and they don't bother us at all.

DAY 282 - 25/11/2010 - Port Macquarie, NSW

Waz and Rod popped out for a bit this morning to run some errands and returned with new wheels for Taylah's rip stik and a new scooter for Lilly. She was stoked. She kept thanking him over and over again.

Hanging out in the camp kitchen

We packed a picnic lunch, heaps of water, snacks and headed for Elands to see the Ellenborough Falls. Its apparently the second largest falls in the southern hemisphere with a drop of 200m.

As soon as we get to Elands we have lunch and then we checked out the top lookout and then made the decent down to the base of the fall.

The walk was easy going down but can't say the same for the return trip. I nearly died of exhaustion a couple of times. I did the walk in my thongs which really isn't the appropriate footwear either. Love the thongs.

We can see the waterfall thru the trees

Uncle Adam arrived this afternoon and is staying with us for a couple of days.

Tonight we feasted on a communal baked dinner fit for a king and then had a late night drinking session in the camp kitchen. We got in trouble for making too much noise and the caretaker had to shoosh us. Its schoolies at the moment and apparently we are noisier than them.

DAY 281 - 24/11/2010 - Fingal Bay, NSW & Port Macquarie, NSW

We arrived in Port Macquarie today and found a great little caravan park near Flynn's Beach called Flynn's Beach Caravan Park. The guy at the information centre put us onto this place.

We are really happy with this location. Its a koala corridor so theres lots of tall trees around and to top it off, its very peaceful. I am sure there will be a lot of relaxing going on here.

Other than driving here and setting up we don't do much else except for taking the kids down to the beach for a play and a late afternoon dip.

I wouldn't let them go too far in because it was pretty rough, the lifeguards had finished for the day and I was not interested in doing any rescuing.

A quick stop at the bottle shop on the way back to get some wine, cooked and had dinner, then kicked back for the rest of the evening playing cards with friends.

DAY 280 - 23/11/2010 - Fingal Bay, NSW

We got up early because we are going for a walk this morning to the top of Mount Tomaree.

Taylah and Lilly are not too impressed with being woken up early.

It was a steep and very tiring climb to the summit of Mount Tomaree. I realised today how unfit I am. We eventually make it to the top and the views are beautiful. There are little islands scattered everywhere. Our friends said that it reminds them of Hamilton Island.

The views over Shoal Bay

After our walk it is time for lunch. No one brought any with them so everyone retreated back to their own place to organise and eat lunch. We organise to meet up again this afternoon.

We drove out to where our friends are staying which is called Samurai Bungalows. Not far from here are the Stockton Sand Dunes and One Mile Beach which we havn't seen yet. We left the Bungalows and were on our way to the dunes when Rod suggested we first check out Samurai Beach via the off road track.

We were following Rod and Chris along the track and things started to get a little rough. So much so that Rod's roof racks suddenly slipped of his car causing panel and window damage. I don't have any photos of this but I did manage to capture the whole thing on my video camera. The board and the canoe were still attached to the racks. We couldn't believe what had happened.

Whilst they were sorting the rack the kids played in the small sand dunes and Chrissy and I watched on. We were right near the beach entrance so I went to go for a stroll down to the beach but noticed a couple doing the deed in a hammock right near the entrance to the beach. They saw me see them and they didn't stop. I was so embarressed especially as it took me a couple of minutes to realise what they were doing. Once the penny dropped I quickly turned around and walked back to the kids. Chrissy also had a look to confirm my findings. Samurai Beach is a nudist beach which I wasn't aware at the time but now I am. Once the active couple had left I went down to the beach with Lilly. By this stage there wern't any other nudist about.

Waz and Rod spent a couple of hours putting the roof racks back on the car and once they were done Rod couldn't find his car keys. He eventually found them and we were able to leave.

It got too late to drive out to Stockton and One Mile so we decided to call it a day and retreat back to our vans.

DAY 279 - 22/11/2010 - Fingal Bay, NSW

Most of the day today was spent lazing on the beach. Carni's Rod and Chris joined us. The men went out for a paddle, the kids had a ball playing in the surf and on the sand and Chris and I chatted and sunbaked. I got pretty burnt because I forgot to put sunscreen on which I will suffer later tonight.

Fingal Beach NSW

Dinner and drinks was on at our place tonight. Carni's Rod, Chris and the boys together with Steve and Jacob joined us. We enjoyed yummy fresh local caught prawns, barbecued fish and lamb and Chris made a delicious greek salad. Had a fun night with good mates. Reminiscing about the good old days is always good for a laugh.

DAY 278 - 21/11/2010 - Sydney, NSW & Fingal Bay, NSW

Today we arrived in beautiful Port Stephens and are staying in Fingal Bay at the holiday park directly across the road from the beach. We didn't get here until 3 in the afternoon due to traffic on the F3 caused by a major car and caravan accident. Both van and car were on its side blocking 2 lanes.

An old friend of ours, Steve McPherson lives around here and Waz manages to get in contact with him.

I desperately need to go grocery shopping today so I drop Waz and the girls off at the bowling club to meet up with Steve and I go shopping all on my lonesome.

Early dinner and family movie tonight.

DAY 277 - 20/11/2010 - Sydney, NSW (Schofields)

We are supposed to be leaving today but it was not possible. We were absolutely trashed from last nights festivities. Neither feeling very capable to drive we decide to stay one more night.

Back to Mums to pick Alicia and Taylah up as they ended up staying the night. We hung around for lunch and more goodbyes and then we had to get home to pack and get organised for tomorrows departure. We also need a good nights sleep.

We quickly duck out to Roweys to say goodbye to him, Leah and the kids.

Home for an earlish night.

DAY 276 - 19/11/2010 - Sydney, NSW (Schofields)

Today I help some friends out with their tax returns. It takes us all day to get through it all but I manage to get it done.

Then off to Mum's house for a dinner in honour of our departure and Mums birthday. This dinner party goes right through till 3 in the morning.

I will miss everyone so very much. Our visit here has been great and I really got to catch up with my family. Everytime we come down we are always so rushed trying to fit everything and everyone in. It will be so sad to leave. I wish I could take all our family and friends with us back to Queensland so we can have everyone close to us.

DAY 275 - 18/11/2010 - Sydney, NSW (Schofields)

We had an awesome day today. Spent it with Rod, Chris and the boys site seeing around Sydney.

Caught the train in from Quakers Hill and got off at Town Hall.

Centrepoint Tower was our first destination. We catch the lift up to the lookout platform and take in the views of the city. Haven't been up here since I was a kid and its a lot more expensive to go up there these days.

Next we walk over to Darling Harbour and catch a ferry that takes us to Circular Quay.

Spectacular views of the city skyline and we sail under the Harbour Bridge.

Hungry Jacks on the Opera House steps. Very posh.

Then a ferry over to Manly and coincidently the surf festival has started today so there are surf competitions going on and we watch on from the beach.

A quick ice-cream stop then we catch the ferry back to the city, then hop on the train to Quakers Hill, collect our cars and then drive over to the Indian Restaurant for a banquet dinner. My sisters, Fran and Liv also join us for dinner.



Dinner was scrumptious and filling. We all return to our homes full as a boot and extremely satisfied.