21st March 2014-Down To The Coast

21st March 2014

We have moved down to the coast (circumnavigating Sydney for obvious reasons when towing a  caravan) and are heading north. Our first stop was at Taree...a nice little town and the caravan park was right on the river....spectacular!!!!

OUR TAREE RIVERSIDE CARAVAN PARK-We saw a dolphin going up the river and there was a fat goanna walking around...he was very suspicious of us

While here we went to the cinema and saw 12 Years a Slave....it was very good and I recommend it!

We also decided to drive the 140km round trip to visit the Ellenborough Waterfall....the second largest single drop waterfall in the southern hemisphere!!! And if that doesn't impress you then the drive there certainly will as the last 10km was narrow...winding AND unsealed!!!! And just for extra fun it turned out that following heavy rains, some sections of road had started to crumble away and had been temporarily repaired......hmmmm. Turns out a single drop waterfall isn't as interesting as a big splashy waterfall, yep...probably not worth the drive but we wouldn't have known that if we hadn't gone.

Next we moved to Sapphire Beach, this isn't really a town as there is only a caravan park, a café and some houses. But the beach was beautiful and there was a nice walking path through the bush. The big benefit was it is only 5kms from Coffs Harbour...........the home of the BIG BANANA!!!!!

We saw the big banana...
We ate a chocolate banana....
We bought a 'big banana' badge for my backpack........Yeah baby!!!!!

Sapphire Beach has sooooo many birds that you will be woken up at 6am unless you wear earplugs. I am an early riser so thought this was a fabulous way to wake up!!!!

COFFS HARBOUR AIR WALK LOOKOUT

We saw a sign for a Coffs Harbour lookout so headed up the hill. It was a 6km drive and wouldn't you know it......it was a narrow and winding road, but after the Ellenborough Falls road it was a piece of cake!! The lookout is a suspended bridge giving a massive panoramic view of Coffs Harbour and beyond!! It did sway a little if anyone moved too much which was a little spooky! Coffs Harbour was a great place for us to stock up on food and do a little shopping,  very enjoyable.

With Sapphire Beach and Coffs Harbour behind us we are now at Broadwater (still in NSW) Sugar cane area!!  We are at a bush site in the back of the caravan park so we feel very rugged when we look out of our windows and see bush, but unfortunately the other night we saw our first Cane Toad, and this morning little Sam the Chihuahua got bitten by a baby bull ant (she's all better now).  But you can't beat the view and the peace and quiet, and our little old neighbours are lovely!

BROADWATER SUGAR CANE FIELDS

We have driven to Evans Head (a beachside township 11km away) and been to Lismore for a look around (bought the most amazing Satay Chicken Schnitzels from a butcher!!) This afternoon we went to Ballina...had a walk around the town and ate a fantastic lunch.....mmmmmm I'm gonna remember that lunch for a long time.

EVANS HEAD LOOKOUT

We are here until Sunday when we will move to the Gold Coast in Queensland. Hellooooo theme parks!!!