Our first stop was Sawtell, where we caught up with long
time friend Robo and his parents. We chatted and enjoyed each other’s company.
Robo’s dad is 90 and still doing well.
We continued to Belligen, where we wandered the main street
and had lunch. It was a very pretty town and shops decorated in an olden style.
We followed the ‘Waterfall Way’ to Dorrigo., stopping at a
few roadside falls along the way. We pulled into Dorrigo Mountain Camp for the
night. It was a pretty setting
surrounded by paddocks and cattle.
24 SEPTEMBER 2020
It was a cold night and morning.
We drove to the Never Never Picnic Area in Dorrigo National
Park.
We followed the Rosewood track. It was quite a long and in
parts steep hike through rainforest.
We started on the Tallowwood track.Along the way, we saw a lyrebird and diverted
down to a rocky creek. It was very pretty with water cascading over the rocks
into a deep pool. We continued onwards and diverted on the Rosewood track.
After a while we came to another track leading to the base of Red Cedar Falls.
It was a steep and long walk down and back. The falls were awesome falling over
a drop into a pool before continuing over and between large boulders. We sat
there for awhile enjoying the solitude. It was a long steep hike back to the
top. We continued onwards to the much easier accessible Coachwood Falls. The
water flowed shallowly over the rocks before cascading over the edge to a rock
pool below. We hiked on but now we were pretty tired and though we enjoyed it
we weren’t taking much on it in.
Back at camp, we enjoyed a hot shower and a restful late
afternoon.
25 SEPTEMBER 2020
A cold night.
The day was sunny and we were soon back to Dorrigo National
Park. This time we did the Wonga Walk.
The hike started at the National Parks Rainforest Centre.
The first stop was the Sky Lookout. This was a walkway and platform which was
high above the trees we a view of the denseness of the rainforest below and
beyond. We continued along the Lyrebird Link Track. No, we didn’t see any
lyrebirds. The track joined onto the Wonga Walk. It was an undulating track
through rainforest. There were many birds and some we managed to see up close
... nice! There were two waterfalls along the way. The Tristania Falls was a
short but pretty drop which then cascaded over the rocks and continued down the
gully. A suspension bridge traversed over the gully in front of the falls. The
second falls was Crystal Shower Falls. This was awesome! A short side track
lead behind the falls. A great experience form the inside looking out. It was
like ... a crystal shower. We hiked further along the track seeing more birds
and the diversity of the rainforest until we were back to the start.
Another long hike which was worth doing.
26 SEPTEMBER 2020
In the morning, we packed and drove back to Dorrigo NP. We
were hoping that by getting there early we would be able to see more birds.
Well, we did see a few birds and an echidna so it was worth it.
We gradually packed the van for a trip over the next three
weeks.
On the road and the first stop was Bennett’s Beach at Hawks
Nest. The surf was messy so we continued towards Myall River Camp just before
the Myall Lakes National Park.
The camp had changed a little with a site office at the
entrance. It was $30 per night. The camp has toilets and drinking water. We
camped a little back from the river in the partial shade of a tree. The river
has a relatively wide white sandy beach – excellent for swimming and launching
a kayak.
I took the kayak for a paddle amongst the channels and along
the river. At one stage, I saw a large stingray lazily drifting its way through
the river weed.
We spend the rest of the day sitting on the river beach and
swimming.
There was a large bushfire to the west. There were water
bombing planes flying to and from the fire. This carried on through most of the
day.
2 January 2019
We decided to stay another night at the river camp.
I started the day with an early river swim. The water was
salty. It was refreshing.
I took the kayak for a paddle. The tide was high and the
wind increasing.
The planes were continuing their water bombing of the fire
which was looking closer.
After breakfast, we drove to Bennett Beach. We sat on the
beach and swam. The surf was still messy but the water was clear.
We drove to Tea Gardens for coffee and apple pie on the
river frontage. Nice.
We checked a few of the campsites in Myall Lake NP then
headed back to the river camp.
3 January 2019
We left Myall River camp and stopped at Mungo Brush Camp for
the start of a mountain bike ride. We rode along the Tomboi and Brambles Green
Tracks. A fun ride along an easy track with a few raised walkways. The
boardwalk was a bit narrow with a guide rail so it was a concentrating ride
with a metre drop to the bush below.
We continued on to Booti Booti National Park. I missed the
turn off so the journey was a little longer than anticipated. Anyway, Booti
Booti camp was full so decide to head to Wallingat River Camp.
On the way, we stopped at Boomerang Beach. The surf was poor
but the sun was shining and the water was clear though chilly. We spend a nice
morning swimming and reading under the beach umbrella.
We continued our drive to Wallingat which also took a while
as I took the wrong turn off. The camp was hot, windy and dusty on arrival but
we setup in a relatively grassy area in partial shade. The rest of the afternoon
was swimming in the river and reading.
4 January 2019
I woke and had a paddle up the Wallingat River. It was
quiet, pretty, reflective and quiet.I
followed the main river upcreek and it divided into two sections. I could only
follow the tributaries a short distance due to huge trees which had fallen and
blocked the waterway.
The rest of the day was spent swimming, reading and reorganizing
the van.
There was an occasional okay looking wave. Out for a surf!
The water was cold due to the dredging up of lower ocean currents. I had a few
good waves, a flogging on one wave and smile on the dial.
We stopped near Forster for food supplies then wandered the coast
northwards towards Port Macquarie.
We stopped at the Fernhill Tavern for a drink then drove
over to meet John, Jacinta’s cousin. We then drove over to the town centre and
caught up with Carmel and Gabby. Back at John’s place we tidy ourselves up and had
a great dinner and chat.
6 January 2018
In the morning, I had a walk along Lighthouse Beach.
Back at
John’s and all were awake and it was breakfast time. Later, we all drove to Port
for coffee at one of Carmel’s fav cafes.
We said our goodbyes and were on the road again to Swann’s
Crossing Camp in Kerewong State Forest.
It was a quiet and relaxing camp. Very spacious and fires
were permitted. There was a nearby river with a number of waterholes suitable
for swim/sit.
7 January 2019
We had an early hike along a track along the river. It ended
at a very pretty cascade.
Back at camp it started to rain. The rain got heavier so we
decided to spend another day here.
The day was spent reading, doing puzzles and chatting. Meanwhile,
the rain kept coming in and off and on way throughout the day.
8 January 2019
We woke, had breakfast and departed Swann’s Crossing. We
stopped at Kendall, a pretty country town for a few supplies and water. Next
stop was petrol then off to the back beaches of Crescent Head.
We drove to Delicate Nobby in Goolawah National Park to the
Waves Camp Area.
We set up in a nice location of the small park and wandered
over to the beach for a surf.
The surf was small and looked like it was going to get worse
but very inviting, cool, refreshing, salt, ocean wave water. I had one okay
wave and a disproportionate number of not so good waves.
Back at camp, we have been … that’s right, reading, doing
puzzles and chatting.
9 January 2019
The surf looked not so good so we had a relaxing day around
the camp and the beach.
10 January 2019
We departed Waves campground and drove along the dirt road
to Big Hill.
We had a warm and pleasant hike around the Big Hill track – ocean
views, changing vegetation and a couple of goannas.
Back at the van, the surf looked not so bad, so I paddled
out for a surprisingly fun and okay surf.
We stopped in at Crescent for supplies then drove along the
coast.
At Hat Head, it was nice but very crowded, so we continued
along a dirt side road to a NP camp area south of Hat Head. It was really
pleasant. There were only a few people there and we got a great flat spot under
the shade of the tree.
I went for a walk to the beach along a sandy track through
the sand dunes. The sand was so hot I was racing to get to shady spots. I
didn’t get very far.
Later in the afternoon, when it cooled down somewhat,
Jacinta and I hiked to the beach. The sign said 3 minutes but it was more like
20 minutes. We sat on the sand amongst the tyre marks off the four-wheel drive
cars.
11 January 2019
In the morning, I had a pretty kayak at Hat Head.
Next stop was SW Rocks. We checked Stewarts Point and Grassy
Head along the way. At Scott’s Head, we ran into Ed (friend from Terrigal) had
a chat and continued.
We camped at the SW Rocks NP camp. A bit expensive for NP
being about $50 for a non powered site.. We had a swim at the beach and took the
afternoon easy.
12 January 2019
We started the day with a loop hike along a pleasant track
with monuments, ocean views and great views back to the Trial Bay Gaol.
Before leaving SW Rocks we visited the gaol. It was really
good with well signposted information and heaps of intact remains.
We drove to Sawtell and stayed at the holiday camping camp
for two nights.
I called long time friend Robbo and drove around the Robbo’s
parent’s place (Faye and Morrie). Long time friend Beacon and his family
(Meryl, Lexy and Chelsea) were there passing through to Queensland. It was an
afternoon/night of food and drinking and laughing.
13 January 2019
We called back to Faye’s and Morrie’s in the morning to say
our goodbyes to Beacon, Meryl, Lexy and Chelsea.
Afterwards, Robbo, Jacinta and I sat down at the beach and
swam and walked around. The beach area was very pretty with a creek of clear
water running into the ocean.
Into town for lunch, dropped Robbo at parent’s place then
relaxed for the afternoon.
We caught up with Jacinta’s long time friends Kevin and
Kerrie for dinner at Latitude 30 restaurant at Coffs Harbour. Good food, pretty
food and great company.
14 January 2019
We woke and I was a bit weary from dinner the night before
and the night before that as well.
We drove out to ‘Cows with Guns’ mountain bike trails which
Kevin recommended to me. It was a little difficult to find – down a tarred road
which turned dirt and eventually through a gate. The ride was sign posted with
heaps of tracks. The tracks were firm and fun. I did about 12 km before I
finished but there was lots more to follow.
A bit wearier, we drove to Lawrence to visit Bron and Tony
(family) at Lawrence. We had a great afternoon looking around the place –
paddocks, waterway, birds, lizards, the big shed (filled with six boats) and the
orchard – and chatting.
15 January 2019
Tony and I had an early morning kayak around the river
island behind their house in the MacLean River.A beautiful morning with some interesting kayak discoveries – swallow
nests under bridge, abandoned barge covered with vegetation, old sugar
machinery, water dragons and lots of birds.
We drove to Yamba to catch up with Jacinta’s long time
friend, Julie. We visited her shop then drove out to her place off the Angourie
Road. Her place was so different – in the bush, very eco, bits of family
history all over the place.
The girls went out for dinner but I stayed back (very tired)
and had an early sleep.
16 January 2019
We woke said our goodbyes to Julie and headed off towards
Angourie.
I surfed here when I was very young and it hadn’t changed
too much. We had a walk down to the beach. Such a pretty place.
Next stop, Lennox Head after a swim on a river beach. Not much in the way of surf but the
lake was cool and refreshing.
17 January 2019
A lazy day wandering from the beach, to the camp and to the lake.
We sat on the beach but no lake swimming due to a dangerous algae bloom.
18 January 2019
We drove to Duck Creek Mountain bike tracks. The tracks were
excellent but I found the easiest difficult in parts. I need to improve! Ha ha
Back to Lennox Head and later we caught up with Jacinta’s
old school friends Con, Angela, Ann and Barn and had dinner at the pub. A fun
night!
19 January 2019
We said our goodbyes to Lennox head and headed off to Grassy
Head.
We had a hike to the lookout and the monument. The track was
overgrown and in parts slippery on the thick grass-like plants.
Most of the day was hanging around the beach and when it
cooled down we had a walk on the southern side of the head
20/21 January 2019
We drove to Booti Booti National Park. I even had a surf
that was okay but the lack of waves over the last week left me a bit surf unfit.
The waves weren’t bad and I was the only one out.
22/23 January 2019
Our last stop was back to the beginning at Hawks Nest at the
Myall River camp. I had a bit of a bike ride and a couple of kayaks.
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