We had a few days to get to Sydney so visited some of our favorite spots from last time along the way, and found a new spot. First, was Emerald Beach, just north of Coff’s Harbour. This is the caravan park we visited last time and met the Marsh family, who have become fabulous friends (who we visited in Perth earlier this trip), and Pam & Scott (who we will visit in Sydney). It is a mix of tropical bush and steps from the beach. I love the fragrant frangipani flowers everywhere, the palm leaves, and hibiscus plants. When we get home, I have to look into whether I can grow a frangipani plant at home. With a pool, bouncy pillow, and freedom, the girls loved it too. It’s somewhat comforting to return to the known, and yet, it will never be like the first time. While it was raining some while we were there, we enjoyed the kangaroos around our campervan site, the walk to the beautiful headland where many kangaroos hang out, and seeing that some things stay the same as you remember after five years. A nice memory.
Our next stop was Port Macquarie, getting closer to Sydney. It is a beautiful drive into the town – huge white-barked gum trees that are home to a large koala population. We found a caravan park next to the breakwater and a short walk to the local beach (where last time we had dolphins swimming around us). The breakwater is lined with huge rocks on which people have painted and left messages. It brightens the trail and makes for interesting scenery along the way. We came back here to visit the Koala Hospital. The hospital is the work of a local couple who started it 17 years ago, and today the many volunteers take care of injured or sick koalas. They are such cute creatures. We also visited Flynn beach – a great local surf beach where Lia and Kali enjoyed catching some waves.
Our third stop before Sydney, a new one for us, was Anna Bay near Port Stephens, about 180km north of Sydney – a hugely popular place for summer fun. While it was the end of the summer season, it was still busy and we came across our first full caravan park! We found another great caravan park on One Mile Beach so we spent a couple of days here - a quiet little place where a walk over the dunes leads you to, yet another, stunning beach. It has a tiny café/shop where the locals come in the morning for a coffee and the paper after their morning surf. Lia declared this beach might have been one of the best for surfing. I think it was also the fact that there were some local girls of the same age out there in the surf. On the other side of this beach, is Bigali Beach, miles long and backed by some of the longest and largest sand dunes in the country. The sight is really quite spectacular – natural and untouched.
Our next stop was Port Macquarie, getting closer to Sydney. It is a beautiful drive into the town – huge white-barked gum trees that are home to a large koala population. We found a caravan park next to the breakwater and a short walk to the local beach (where last time we had dolphins swimming around us). The breakwater is lined with huge rocks on which people have painted and left messages. It brightens the trail and makes for interesting scenery along the way. We came back here to visit the Koala Hospital. The hospital is the work of a local couple who started it 17 years ago, and today the many volunteers take care of injured or sick koalas. They are such cute creatures. We also visited Flynn beach – a great local surf beach where Lia and Kali enjoyed catching some waves.
Our third stop before Sydney, a new one for us, was Anna Bay near Port Stephens, about 180km north of Sydney – a hugely popular place for summer fun. While it was the end of the summer season, it was still busy and we came across our first full caravan park! We found another great caravan park on One Mile Beach so we spent a couple of days here - a quiet little place where a walk over the dunes leads you to, yet another, stunning beach. It has a tiny café/shop where the locals come in the morning for a coffee and the paper after their morning surf. Lia declared this beach might have been one of the best for surfing. I think it was also the fact that there were some local girls of the same age out there in the surf. On the other side of this beach, is Bigali Beach, miles long and backed by some of the longest and largest sand dunes in the country. The sight is really quite spectacular – natural and untouched.