It was a pleasant drive through rolling hills from Gloucester to the twin cities of Forster and Tuncurry on the coast in the Great Lakes Region. Quite a few rain showers had cooled everything down nicely.
I had booked into the Big4 Great Lakes Holiday Park in Tuncurry. It had high ratings on Wikicamps and also had a stall at the Caravan & Camping Expo I had visited in Newcastle. It is a very large park with the full gambit of permanent structures, short term cabins and many powered caravan sites. Big4 parks tend to be on the expensive end of the caravan park range, but offer extra features (usually appealing to families with children). This one has an extensive pool area, spotless and repeated amenities, its own boat ramp and an above average on site cafe and shop. Most of the vans appeared to be regular holiday makers with a high proportion of fisher folks, including many boat owners. Most kids were back at school. A bonus for PJ.
A bit busy for my liking, but as usual an excellent location in a popular to visit area. One of the extras provided by the park was "The Marriage Saver"
On Wednesday I continued my morning walks with a long one (about an hour) along the Tuncurry waterfront, right out to the breakwater, which is at the entrance to Cape Hawke Harbour, the link between Wallis Lake and the Tasman Sea. Across the channel is Forster.
Plenty of keen fishermen at Tuncurry.
Such a beautiful morning. Looking toward the breakwaters and the sea.
Tuncurry Rockpool. Netted, protected swimming beach right next to the breakwater.
Strong tidal flow in the lake entrance channel.
The view across the channel to Second Head and Forster.
On Thursday I did a bit of exploring across the bridge in Forster.
Lovely protected waterways at the edge of the entrance to Wallis Lake next to Miles Island and close to the old(er) Forster Town Centre shopping and cafe strip.
Looking back to the Forster Tuncurry Bridge.
I also checked out the quite large suburban shopping centre and went to a Doctor's appointment I had previously set up. Very busy practice, with many customers. I had developed a series of skin features on my arms, which I thought were sun related, but a very pleasant Filipino Doctor diagnosed as either dermatitus or insect related. She prescribed a strong steroid ointment, which seems to be doing the trick and clearing up the irritated skin patches.
On Friday (23 Feb), I did some touring around to the South of Forster. First to Seal Rocks and Sugarloaf Point Lighthouse.
The point is rugged on a cliff top, with an impressive lighthouse and keepers cottages, with a very steep walk up to the light and signal station.
The light is sturdy, but not tall as the cliff is relatively high. It was built in 1875.
On the way back to Tuncurry, I stopped at Boomerang Beach (below)
Saturday 24 February 2018
I packed up in the morning and moved further up the coast to Port Macquarie.
The City has a long and interesting history, going back to early days in the Colony of NSW, when it was originally set up as a settlement for re-offending convicts from Sydney. A few of the older buildings, including The Garrison, Courthouse and Warehouse still survive.
There are nice grassed areas and walks around the waterfront and a large caravan park near the entrance to the harbour.
On Sunday I did a bit of exploring around the City and suburbs.
Nice beaches either side of the breakwater entrance to the harbour.
Yet another "Nobby's" Point with associated beach.
At Tacking Point, named by Matthew Flinders on one of his voyages on the Investigator there is another "cute" lighhouse. Really tiny because the headland is quite high.
A popular spot for tourists and visitors to the City.
On Monday, it finally rained quite heavily, blissfully cooling everything down nicely and I had a quiet day, followed by a good sleep on a cool night.
Tuesday I did a bit more looking around, including a visit to Sea Acres National Park. Located on the coast, close to town, it is an area of preserved sub tropical rainforest, with a great boardwalk trail through the forest. There is an excellent National Park Centre and Cafe on site, which is popular with both visitors and locals. I had a pumpkin and fetta tart with salad for lunch which was extremely good.
The walk is self guided with an information sheet and signs along the way, but there are also a number of volunteers, who offer a more detailed commentary and a manual with lots of pictures and information.
The forest was impressive, as was the open air classroom, set up for visiting school groups in the middle of the boardwalk area.
One unusal feature was this tree that had grown with a hole in the middle of its trunk. No definitive answer as to why?
Wednesday 28 February 2018
On the move again. As I migrated up the A1 Pacific Highway from Port Macquarie I took a trip back to the coast to have a look at Crescent Head. It had been recommended to me by Luke Morris as a great holiday location.
Fantastic golf course up above the town with a huge beach and Surf Club located close to the small village and sporting club. A very large caravan park is right next to the beach.
And yet another "Little Nobby" next to the Head and the golf course. Very scenic on a perfect day, with not even one cloud in the sky.
The panorama of the bay was also impressive.
My journey continued for about another hour to Hat Head, which is not far to the North and an even quieter holiday destination. Another reasonably large caravan park located between river and the beach, but quite a bit smaller village and community compared with Crescent Head.
The Caravan Park and the community is a rare remaining example of the old style holiday place, without the new mansions from those who have migrated from the Sydney Metro area.
The park had been recommended to me by Mark and Michelle who were managing the park where I stayed in Port Macquarie.
Thursday, the forecast was for a hot day, so I did the washing early and then set up the awning. Shortly afterwards an early sea breeze, or stiff Southerly change came through, and as I write this, I am hoping that my guy ropes will be strong enough to prevent the awning from destroying itself in the gusty conditions. Sometimes, you cannot get it right. Has been a good time to get the blog up to date with a cool breeze blowing through the van.
On Thursday I had a walk around the local area, creek and beach.
A nice calm, protected beach at the edge of the Head and the mouth of the Korogoro Creek.
An old footbridge survives over the creek not far from where it meets the ocean.
On Friday morning (2 March) I took a drive to South West Rocks to have a look around Trial Bay. Some of the area was a little larger and more suburban than I expected, with a "small" shopping centre, including a Coles Supermarket. However, I could understand the attraction with the area.
Horseshoe Bay is very pretty, with a Caravan Park right next to the bay and Cafes, shops and other accommodation just across the road.
The nearby Gaol was built as a base to allow construction of a breakwater and allow Trial Bay to be used as a safe refuge during storms. It was later used as an Internment Centre for "Aliens" during World War I, before falling into disrepair. It is now managed by NSW National Parks and there are some nice camping spots around the Gaol, a restaurant and a boat ramp next to the breakwater.
The front of the Gaol is quite impressive, built by the prisoners from local stone.
Inside, kangaroos gaze on the lawns.
The ruins of the cell blocks looks like it must have been pretty bleak when the roof and first floor were still intact.
The breakwater was originally planned to be much longer, but never quite got finished to the original design. Now nice camp sites around the headland.
A few kilometres away is Smoky Cape, site of another lighhouse and more stunning views.
Next to the lighthouse is another "Captain Cook Lookout" with great views to the North. The Cape was named during one of Cook's voyages.
The Smoky Cape Lighthouse is on a prominent headland with more spectacular views at the end of a steep climb to the base of the light.
The wind dropped during the afternoon, so I was able to retract the awning to caravan safely. The guy ropes did their job.
Late in the afternoon, I had a shocking telephone call from very old friend Frank Aquino. His wife Joyce had died that morning. Quite a shock when one of your contemporaries and old friends dies suddenly. Very sad and no doubt it will be a very challenging time for Frank.
I decided that I would make a trip home to attend the funeral and was able to make flight bookings from Coolangata (Gold Coast) Airport next Tuesday, as well as arranging storage for the Landcruiser and caravan nearby.
Saturday 3 March 2018.
Today I made the trip to Coffs Harbour where I had booked several days at Park Beach. I cut the stay short by a couple days, so that I could get to Tweed Heads (Twin City with Coolangatta) on Monday. Dawn on Sunday morning was quite spectacular (below).
Yes, it is true that the "Big Banana" is still there on the Pacific Highway, but seems to have morphed into a larger amusement area, including rides and an Ice Skating Rink.
The day was dead calm and very humid, with rain forecast for later. The Marina was very pretty with Muttonbird Island at the end of the Northern Breakwater of the Port.
The Southern Breakwater completes a large, well protected Harbour.
Monday 5 March 2018.
Today I drove from Coffs Harbour along the Pacific Highway to Tweed Heads, by-passing Ballina (which I had orginally planned to visit) and Byron Bay. I checked into Pyramid Holiday Park, close to the Highway and the airport. I took a drive to have a look at the (very nearby) van and car storage place and had a brief tour around the town and headland. I had been here previously on an outing with the Howies in 2016.
Tuesday morning has brought steady rain and cooler weather. Glad I was able to hitch up the van last night, but I still need to empty the "portaloo" and finish up my packing before storing the vehicles and flying home today.
Next chapter in a few weeks time if all goes well, with a short drive North to catch up with Gordon & Edith, Dan and the rest of their neighbours in Arundel, near the Gold Coast.
