Sydney to Brisbane Part 1

Adelaide to Kauhan

We started our road trip at 6:30 am – driving to the airport.  Took the early flight to Sydney and headed to the luggage carousel.  Typically this is the easy part of the trip, but for some reason there was only 1 carousel running and four flights allocated to that carousel.  On top of that included on one of the flights was a school group – so you had all of them plus everyone else piling around the carousel.  The best part was when one of the students would try and pick up their luggage, but it was too heavy and he started getting pulled down the carousel with the luggage – and no one was helping him.  I felt bad for the kid, but there was no way I was going to get involved in that.  Helen and I waited patiently until the crowds went down, but by the tenth time our bags came around we figured we would just have to go for it.  

We got our bags and were off to pick up the caravan.  They gave us an introductory video which was very informational to watch.  One hiccup was that the van turned out to be a manual…and Helen can’t drive a manual…woops.  Looks like I’ll be driving the whole way.  I thought it was a perfect time to teach her, but she didn’t seem too keen (we even had full insurance so it wouldn’t have mattered what happened). 

It took us a good hour to get out of Sydney – I swear I don’t know who anyone gets around that place.  I did not enjoy driving in such traffic – but only curbed the van once, which I thought was pretty good.  

Our first stop on the road trip was a little down called Gosford, and it seemed like a ghost town.  Although it was a Saturday afternoon, there seemed to be nothing open.  We found a food court which has some Asian and a Maccers, but didn’t say long due to the number of sketchy people in attendance.  Instead we ended up at Subway (which I have never been to in Australia and it turns out they don’t sell single bags of chips…it was weird).  We found a nice park by the river to eat at – we could just tell this was going to be a great trip.

Then of to Port Macquarie (or so we thought).  Took a detour to checkout New Castle as it is the oldest town in Australia.  Got to the shore front and took a nice walk.  Really pretty out there with beaches and the waves.  Looks like it would be so fun to swim in during the summer.  Well the sun started to set so we thought it best to get somewhere to stay for the night.

Since we weren’t going to make it up to Port Macquarie (another 200kms) we found a caravan park in our book and headed there.  When we go there it looked like the beginning of a horror film.  It was just off the highway, there were very few lights, there was an old broken down fish and chip shop that hadn’t seen a customer in years, and it there didn’t seem to be many people around.  So we kept driving. 

Made it to Kauhan and called a park.  The lady there was lovely.  She cam and met us and got us situation and even gave us some tourist tips for the morning.  We quickly used the restrooms and were out for dinner.  Went to the local pub – which was a RSL (returned from service league).  I ordered the special of steamed barramundi – and when it came out it was an entire fish (eyes, head and everything).  I was a little freaked out, but he tasted sooooo good.  I ate pretty much everything (left the head and tail) and thanked him for the good meal hoping that he had a good life up until the point of my dinner…yeah I’m one of those people.  Helen had a steak sandwich which she said was just like the one that she would make at home.  Then back to the caravan ready for another day.

Kauhan to Port Macquarie

Today we work up and I was freezing!!!!!  Turns out one of the comforters fell on the floor during the night and considering there was frost on the ground out side it did not make sleeping this morning very comfortable.  I slept in and after I made it up, Helen and I walked down to the jetty to try and see some turtles and dolphins (Helen is an early riser so had already taken the tour this morning).  Unfortunately there was nothing there for us to see…

We got backed up and headed out.  Made it to Taree a few hours later and got some food.  Went to Wooly’s but had a bit of trouble parking as our van would not fit in the underground garage, so we were forced to reverse up the ramp, while making everyone else stop and a cabbie just sat there shaking his head like we were the biggest idiots he’d ever seen.  Didn’t really faze us though – just get out of my way or I’ll hit you…

Grab the necessities in the super market, chips and salsa – the usual.  Then we headed to Port Macquarie.  I started for what was called Lighthouse beach (as Helen has a thing for lighthouses) but turns out that one was really far away.  So we just walked along the beach and took some photos on the rocks.

Then we headed to the city centre.  Found another beach to walk along which then took us to a path.  The path was lined with rocks that were painted.  Our deductive reasoning told s that pretty much anyone could pain on the rocks, but I was amazed there wasn’t any graphite painted over other people’s paintings.  Some rocks were dedicated to loved ones who had passed away.  Others to remember best friends and family and some that just represented the people painting.  There was some I really enjoyed.

From there we walked into town and around.  For only 26,000 population there was heaps of stuff around.  We figured that it was to accommodate all the tourists who come during the summer.  We then got back into the van (Valda the Van) and headed out.  Stopped by the petrol station to fill up – definitely takes diesel and not unleaded like our introduction film indicated.  Then of to Coffs Harbour for the night.

When we got to Coffs Harbour I was asked to pull over and give a breathalyzer test – one of those we’re testing everyone who drives on this street set ups.  Instead of blowing into a plastic tube she made me count to ten.  It was really awkward so I said my numbers with lots of exhaling (e.g. whoone – twwwoh -  therrreee – fwwoouur).  I got to six and it beeped and the police woman told me to stop – I passed. 

Currently we are staying at an extremely nice caravan park, but there are heaps of kids running around – and we were lucky enough to get the site right next to the bubble trampoline which is the place to be if you are a kid in the Coffs Harbour caravan park.  

We started cooking dinner and realized that the van people forgot to give us pans to cook in…hmmm we have a stove but no pans.  I was trying to figure out if there was a way to cook our meal in the microwave, but Helen decided we should check the camp kitchen first.  It was a good decision and we found a pan to cook some Mexican chili.  Then a quick look a the maps to plan our day for tomorrow and ready for bed…yep only 8:00.

Coffs Harbour to Byron Bay

Today we woke up and took a walk around the caravan park – huge and very well maintained.  There was a fence down to the beach so we headed out – down the grassy knoll and straight into a swamp…muddy water everywhere!!!!  Our feet took the brunt of it.

But we ultimately prevailed and made it to the beach walked a long the rocks and found an even better beach.  Nice was to start the day.  

Then we were off to the clog house.  Yep the Clog House.  We weren’t really sure what to expect but since it was on three of our maps we figured it had to be checked out.  Turns out that it was a shop that made clogs…Yeah that’s exciting!

Next stop the Big Banana.  It was great – there was a whole theme park based around it.  We opted for the toboggan ride (king of like an alpine slide but not as steep).  The kid selling tickets said that we could get up to 60 kms an hour…AWESOME, but totally not true.  I’m pretty sure my top speed was like 5 kms an hour, but it was still really fun.

Then off to Ballina to see the Big Prawn – but turns out that the Big Prawn is not so much a major attraction like the Big Banana.  So much so that there was a big fence around it and no where great to park – we were just pulled off on the side of the road.  But we still go the picture (which proves that we were there and we saw it).  Had a quick lunch by the beach and took off for Byron Bay.

Byron Bay our final destination (at least for the next day or two).  Made it to the caravan park – right on the beach.  Got all sorted and took a walk along the beach into town.  Pretty much walked the entire town and made our plans for the next day.

Then it was to the pub for happy hour, a great Thai restaurant for dinner and back to the van for a good night sleep.

Byron Bay

This morning we had to get up early.  Got some breakfast and over to The Black Dog Surfing School.  Yep – surfing.  They claim that if they can teach a dog to surf they can teach anyone.  So we thought we should give it a go. 

Got our wet suits on and to the beach.  Had a quick lesson of the parts of the board and how to actually stand up.  This, to my surprise, does not consist of jumping.  We practiced a few dozen times and once we were good and tired we headed for the water.

We weren’t too far out – a bout waste high where all the waves break into the white water.  We lay on the boards and our instructors pushed us out and then yelled “UP.” which is when we are supposed to stand up.  Typically we all fell for the first few dozen times but just kept trying.  By the end of the day I was up more often then not and the instructor made me start paddling myself.  All in all really great fun and if you go to Byron I highly recommend their company.

We got back to the shop and the owners mom had cooked us soup and her dad had made us home baked bread.  It was awesome.  Pumpkin and potato soup – just what we needed.

Next was a quick stop a Wooly’s for some food for dinner and then to the Lighthouse.

The lighthouse is the most easterly point in Australia – a very nice place to visit.  We took a walk down the path and spotted some “dolphins” and a whale.  There were a few mums looking for their lost kids, but as there is only one trail I’m sure they’ll be found.

Then into town to the News Agency for some postcards and magazines.  Now were are back on the beach relaxing and watching the sun go down.  So far another great trip and we still have four days to go.  I love it when I’m already satisfied but yet there this is more to come…