Coffs Harbour to Crescent Head

As we continued down the coast our next stop was Coffs Harbour.  The kids were quite impressed with the huge sandcastle at the shopping centre.  It was Rally in the Sand and was to promote the Rally Car Event that was on that weekend.  It took 3 sculptors 300 hours to construct it.  It really was amazing.  We went to Pet Porpoise Pool where the kids got to see dolphins and seals up close and we even got kisses from them.  Haydan got to feed a seal and a penguin as well.  Emmalisa loved the dolphin show and sat there and clapped and cheered as they performed their tricks.  The dolphins were really playful and one even played ball with Glen.  Since we were at Coffs Harbour on a weekend we got to checkout the local markets, but again there were no doughnuts!!!  We then went for a big walk over to  Mutton Bird Island.  The views from here were spectacular.  The climb up the hill was a bit of a killer as we pushed the pram up!!! Haydan did the walk and only complained a bit.  We also visited the Big Banana as you have to do when you go to Coffs Harbour.  We then left for Macksville to catch up with friends who have a property just out of town.  The kids loved it here as there were cows that they got to feed in the morning and Emmalisa had a beautiful dog to play with.  Haydan spent most of his time digging on a dirt pile that was the closest thing he has had to a sandpit.  From here we also did a day trip into Dorrigo which is a town on the waterfall way.  The first waterfall we say was Dangar Falls which was at the outskirts of the town.  It was a long waterfall that fell from the creek that wound its way through the the landscape.  We then went into the national park and walked into Crystal Shower Falls.  This waterfall was unique as you could walk behind the waterfall, which we found to be a great place for morning tea.  We continued on to look at  Tristania Falls.  It was great to see some waterfalls again and get hiking on some big walks.  We went into Nambucca Heads a few times where glen played golf on Stuart Island.  This golf course is built on an island that is pretty much all that is on the island.  We walked along the V Wall, the kids had a swim at the beach and Glen had a go at fishing, but he reckons the fish are too small over here.  We then continued on to Crescent Head where the weather has been beautiful and we have just filled our days by going for walks and playing at the beach.  There is nothing like fun in the sun!!!!!

Glen playing with the dolphins

Sunrise at Macksville

Dangar Falls

Family Photo at Dorrigo National Park

Behind Crystal Shower Falls

Glen and Haydan at Crystal Shower Falls

Emmalisa refuses to walk any further along the V Wall

Awww, how cute!!! Kids go for a walk at Crescent Head

Laura and Emmalisa build a sandcastle at Crescent Head

NSW - Here we are!!!!

After leaving the Sunshine Coast we went straight past Brisbane as we have been there before and we chose not to do the theme parks at the Gold Coast as Emmalisa is still to little for almost everything at them.  So we just headed straight over the boarder and into NSW.  First stop was Cabarita Beach where we caught up with The Cook Family.  The Caravan Park we stayed at here was amazing!!!!  It was a 5 star park and it was AWESOME!!!!  They meet you at the gate with a tractor that takes your van to the site and parks it for you!!!!  They call it the marriage saver.  There was also an indoor play centre that was fully supervised and we were able to drop Haydan off  for some organised activities in there.  He loved it and loved playing with all the kids.  There was also a huge water park and a swimming pool that had 2 slides.  Of course the kids wanted to have a swim in there and it was FREEZING but they were having so much fun they didn't want to leave!!!!  We did manage to drag ourselves away from the luxury of the park and explore Cabaritia Beach and go for a walk up to the lookout.  Mostly though we spent time catching up with the family.  We then headed to Byron Bay and walked out to the most easterly point of Australia and visited the lighthouse.  We explored Byron Bay a bit and found it was very much a young surfers town.  The beaches and scenery were beautiful but we moved on to Lennox Head (or Lemon Head as Haydan kept saying)  We found this to be a quaint little town with again beautiful beaches and a lake right on the edge of town.  While at Lennox Head Glen went Hang Gliding.  The conditions were good and after quite a bit of consideration he took the plunge - literally off the side of a cliff and then up, up and away.  Glen loved it and said it was an amazing experience.  The instructor even let him fly the glider and said he was a natural.  The kids also quite liked seeing Daddy fly.  We also did a day trip into Ballina and had a look at the beach and breakwater there. We continue down the coast now, next stop, Coffs Harbour.

The Lighthouse at Byron Bay

At the most Easterly Point of Australia

Glen and the Kids at Cape Byron

Haydan conquered the walk to Cape Byron - He is yet to work out he now has to walk back up the hill!!!!

Emmalisa on the beach at Lennox Head

View from the lookout at Lennox Head

Before the flight - "Now Mate, I have a wife and 2 kids . . . "

Up, up and away - Glen Hang Gliding

Caloundra

Well after the first few days at Caloundra being very wet and miserable we got some good weather and were able to get out and about.  We stayed at Dicky Beach which meant we were just a short walk from the beach so the kids had lots of fun at the beach during our stay.  This beach is the only beach in the world named after a shipwreck and some of the wreckage is still on the beach.  The kids enjoyed the usual sandcastle building and even braved the water!!!!  There was a nice bike path that followed along the back of the beach and the kids enjoyed going for a ride along here.  Emmalisa got a bit brave at one stage and went down a hill a little fast and took the skin off her nose.  However after a few tears and a bit of a clean up she got straight back on the bike, but is a little more cautious now.  We also went on some lovely picnics with Nanna and Poppy John and saw more of the coastline of the sunshine coast from Coolum to Pelican Waters.  We also went on the Caloundra Cruise which took you up canals of Pelican Waters and we got to dream about living in one of the houses with a boat and private jetty out the back.  We learnt a bit of the history of Bribie Island and sailed around the foreshore of Caloundra. It was great to just catch up with family and we look forward to seeing more family as we continue down the coast. 

The wreckage at Dicky Beach - Sunrise

Haydan playing at the beach early in the morning

Dicky Beach

Emmalisa the BMX Bandit

Nanna and the Kids on the Caloundra Cruise

Glen and the Kids on the Caloundra Cruise