Bits About Us Together

We went into the centre of Port Macquarie and had a wander around and a walk along the foreshore. As we were back in koala territory it was fun looking at all the painted koala statues all over the town. So much work had gone into painting them...

We then went to the koala hospital for a quick look. Most of them were sleeping so it was great getting to watch this one climb down and munch on some gum leaves. The staff do a great job caring for and rehabilitating the sick and injured koalas...

Painted rocks along Port Macquarie foreshore

We took the dogs for their first run on a beach on the east coast. They were pretty happy to see the beach again!...

Next day we went to Lighthouse Beach for a walk...

And checked out the cutest little lighthouse called the "Tack House"...

These fellas were on the beach waiting to take people for a ride...

Stretching out our legs

Spotted some more decorated koala sculptures on our travels...

From Port Macquarie we continued on to Kempsy. There were huge roadworks along the Pacific Highway as they extend and widen hundreds of kms...

We stopped at Macksville for a rest...

Then onto Nambucca Heads. We stopped for lunch by the river then walked out on the breakwater to where the river meets the sea. Once again many people have painted the rocks...

We then admired the view from the town lookouts...

We drove onto Urunga - it was a slow trip with all the roadworks. Urunga is a sleepy little fishing town. It has a very long boardwalk (over 1km) to where 2 rivers meet the ocean. We decided to walk it even though it was a bit hot and bumpy for the dogs. But with a bit of carrying for Lucy we made it to the end...

End of the boardwalk

We eventually made it to Coffs Harbour. Next day I got up at dawn and could hear the bugle playing for the ANZAC service. We decided to go to the mid morning service. It was a special year marking the 100 year anniversary of the landing in Gallipoli...

After the service we went for a walk along Coffs Creek...

Next up was a visit to the "Big Banana'...

And of course a chocolate coated banana had to be sampled...

Followed by a stroll out on the town jetty...

This is the widest jetty we had ever seen!..

We went back to where the ANZAC ceremony had taken place and had a look at the wreaths...

We then drove out to the edge of town to visit the Forest Sky Pier at Sealy lookout. The views were spectacular looking over Coffs Harbour and also looking down at the forest...

We went to the Marina to watch the sunset...

Then took turn running over to Muttonbird Island (dogs not allowed) and enjoyed some more great views...

Next day we moved on and first stop was Grafton. Grafton is renowned for its abundance of Jacaranda trees. We were visiting at the wrong time of year to see them in flower but sat under one for a while and took a photo of a picture hanging in the info centre...

We continued onto the Scottish themed town of Maclean. These poor people had run off the road with their caravan and were about to be rescued by the tow truck...

Scottish mural

Even the lamp posts in Maclean had been painted in tartan...

Our stop for the night was Yamba on the mouth of the Clarence River. A little town based of fishing and tourism. We went for a walk around the lighthouse, Clarence Head, Turners Beach and along the South Wall breakwater...

We camped just out of Yamba at Fishing Haven park which was mainly occupied by elderly people living by the tides and fishing...

We left Yamba and drove onto Woodburn where we stopped for a walk. I loved seeing this elderly couple all set up with their tablecloth and cushions etc enjoying their morning tea...

We arrived in Ballina and got lost looking for our caravan park. Eventually we found it and set up next to Wayne and Sue who had decided to meet up with us again. We had some lunch then went for a drive to Byron Bay - Yay we had reached our holiday destination!!!