YAMBA - 20 TO 21 FEBRUARY 2023

20 FEBRUARY

We drove north and visited Bron and Tony in Lawrence for a short while. A chat and a few cups of tea.

Next, we drove to Yamba to visit Julie. An old school friend of Jacinta’s. A fun afternoon and evening where we also caught up with Johnny, Zane and Tully.

21 FEBRUARY

Eventually, we woke and drove north to Lennox Head.

MYLESTOM - 19 to 20 FEBRUARY 2023

 

MYLESTOM

19 FEBRUARY

Our first stop was Nambucca Heads. We checked a few of the lookouts and drove further north.

We stopped at Urunga for coffee but decided to go a little further and stay at Mylestom.

We settled into the camp area and had an easy afternoon.

Later, we caught a courtesy bus to the bowling club for dinner. The food was good and the beer cold. We won a small tray of meat which we gave to an elderly couple and play a short while on the poker machines.

20 FEBRUARY

I woke early and walked down to the beach to watch the sunrise and have a dip in the ocean. The surf was very small.

Back at camp and we decided to move onwards and visit a few people. Before leaving Mylestom, we had a mountain bike ride to the beach, along the river path and a play in the short mountain bike course.

 A coffee break and we were back on the road.

GRASSY HEAD - 17 TO 19 FEBRUARY 2023

 

17 FEBRUARY

We drove south to check out the surf at Plumer beaches. There were some wave but very random. Next, we stopped at Crescent Head for coffee and continued driving north along the back road to South West Rocks. We pulled into the beaches which were glorious. No waves, mirror surface, various colours of blue, clear water … Jacinta went shopping and I had a swim around the rocks.,. so many fish and so many types.

We continued onwards to Grassy Head campground. We settled in and had a walk to the beach. Spectacular! Back at the van and old friend Paul and Ingrid passed by. They were staying a few sites down from us.

I had a mountain bike around the area and along the beach south of the camping ground. A short ride but pretty.

Later, we had drinks and nibbles with Paul and Ingrid.

A great day full of surprises.

18 FEBRUARY

I woke early and wandered down the beach to check the surf. It looked okay with no one out. I went back for my board but returned to five guys just about to paddle out. Anyway, I had a few okay sets and some mid-sized waves. The crowd increased to over thirty by the end of the session. Time for breakfast.

We booked another night here but had to move to another site. The new site was better. Once we settled in, I went down for another surf. Once again, a few okay waves but no crowd.

Later, I had another mountain bike ride along the beach at Grassy Head.

Jacinta came down to the beach. I joined her and after enough sun, we walked back to our camp.

19 FEBRUARY

A dawn ocean dip, breakfast and we continued onwards.

DELICATE NOBBY - 15 to 17 FEBRUARY 2023

 

DELICATE NOBBY

15 FEBRUARY

Our first stop was Crescent Head. We pulled into the point carpark and ran into Ian, a surfing mate from home.

I had a surf at Crescent. The waves were a bit sluggish with long lulls and a small crowd. I had a few okay waves towards the end of the session. Getting into to shore, I slipped on a rock and cut both legs on the barnacle shells and dislocated a finger. A lot of blood but more annoying than painful.

We continued onwards along the back roads to Delicate Nobby. We settled into a great site with shade and calling birds.

Later, in the afternoon we had a wander along the beach.

16 FEBRUARY

A rough sleep due the cuts and finger from yesterday’s fall on the rocks at Crescent Head.

We woke to a clear blue sky and birds’ calls.

I wandered down and along the beach to watch the later moments of the sunrise. It was a nice walk along the beach watching the bird life, the sun rising and the swell dropping.

After, breakfast, we wandered down the beach and lazed in the sun or under the beach umbrella. Jacinta had a few dips in the ocean.

Back at camp, there was loud base music playing. Very annoying! The office was closed so it was quite a while before camp staff arrived and quietened them down.

Back at our camp site for a relaxing afternoon.

17 FEBRUARY

I walked down to the beach pre sunrise and watched the start of a new day.

Back at camp, breakfast and off on the road.

GLOUCESTER - 14 to 15 FEBRUARY 2023

 

14 FEBRUARY

At Gloucester, we made a few calls and decided to stay there as the drizzle had turned to heavy rain.

Later in the afternoon, the rain lightened so we had a bike ride around the district park. A pleasant ride past a variety of sporting facilities and gardens.

15 FEBRUARY

We woke to heavy fog. After breakfast, we decoded to head back to the coast.

BARRINGTOPS NATIONAL PARK - 13 TO 14 FEBRUARY 2023

 

13 FEBRUARY

BARRINGTON TOPS NATIONAL PARK

At Gloucester, we had coffee and decided to head to Polblue Camp in Barrington Tops National Park. The drive was longer than we expected with a lot of ascent and 30 km of dirt road.

We selected a nice campsite under the trees with level ground and a fireplace.

Later, we had a hike around the Polblue Swamp. About 2.7 km on a loop track. It was an easy hike along a good track with great views over the swamp. Along the way, we saw a lot of flowers, birds and butterflies. Halfway along, we met and chatted with another travelling couple.

The rest of the afternoon was resting around the campfire while enjoying food and wine.

14 FEBRUARY

We woke to a fog shrouded morning with a very light drizzle.

We left the camp for Gloucester. The drive was 25 kilometres of steep dirt road in heavy fog. We took our time and it was fine.

WOKO NATIONAL PARK - 12 TO 13 FEBRUARY 2023

 

12 FEBRUARY

The day was getting hotter. 

We drove to Woko National Park camp. We set up camp in the partial shade overlooking the river. We spent the afternoon having dips in the river (only waist deep water) and chatting with the only other campers.

Late in the afternoon, we had dinner and enjoyed a wine fest.

13 FEBRUARY

A good sleep.

We woke to a cloudy morning and much cooler temperatures.

Jacinta slept a little longer while I hiked the brush turkey track. We did part of this track a few weeks ago. There were a lot of birds at ground and tree level. I got fleeting glances of willy wagtails, wrens and fan tails as a walked. The vegetation was mainly eucalypt with sections of dry rainforest. A good easy track.

Back at camp Jacinta was awake and after breakfast, we headed back to Gloucester.

GLOUCESTER TOPS NATIONAL PARK - 10 TO 12 FEBRUARY 2023

 

10 FEBRUARY

We decided to head to Gloucester Tops National Park as the weather prediction was for strong onshore winds for the next few days.

It was time for an early lunch and coffee at Tea Gardens. Next, was groceries and petrol and we were back on the road.

About two hours later, passing through lush green countryside and over six weirs, we arrived at Gloucester River Camping Area.

After setting up camp, we walked down to the river and had dip in the waters. It was very cold which was great because it was a very hot day. We relaxed through the afternoon.

11 FEBRUARY

A beautiful day.

After breakfast we drove to the top of Gloucester Tops for some hiking.

The first hike was the Gloucester Falls track. Easy to follow and steep in some sections. The first event was a lookout with a great morning view across the mountain ranges in the direction of the coast. The next, was a lookout over Gloucester Falls, A good view but parts were obscured by vegetation. A little further along, we diverted off the main track and down to the falls. A nice place to sit, eat a snack, watch the water flow and the skinks darting out between rock cracks. We continued to follow the track back to the car park.

Feeling like a bit more, we drove to the first carpark and followed the beech track (short loop). It stated off in an open area, but we were soon enclosed by the rainforest. The upper canopy blocked most of the sunlight and the ground level was mostly ferns and moss-covered logs. A small creek bubbled along part of the track.

Back to camp for a late lunch on the edge of the Gloucester River. The water was very cold. Excellent for cooling the body down.

12 FEBRUARY

We woke to clear skies and warm temperature.

I had a hike along Sharpes Creek. A great 3 km return hike through dry rainforest, a number of shallow creek crossings and a lot of bird calls. All of this with morning sunlight filtering through the trees.

We packed and left for Gloucester, where we had lunch, made some calls and stocked up on food.