Very sad to leave Ralphy and Minnie and their lovely home but it was time to move on with our journey around Australia. We had wanted to go to the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary which was south of Brisbane so that's where we were going to spend our last day in the Brisbane area.
The sanctuary was a small place where koala live out their days due to illness or accidents and they cannot survive back in the wild. I still hate to see animals in cages or pens but at least these animals were safe and being cared for. Due to us now heading for the Gold Coast we found that camp sites were getting really expensive and it was school holidays for Queenslanders. We found a really nice free camp in Beenleigh about 20km outside Southport, the start of the Gold Coast. The coast line is beautiful along here but very touristy and over priced. We got parked just back from the beach so we didn't have to pay and by now I'm used to walking everywhere. We spent 2 days at Surfers Paradise but one of the days it rained, really nice atmosphere on the street due to it having a street performing acts competition. We headed out of town to park up for the night, in a side street close to a McDonalds for the toilet and a morning coffee off course. Southport had a really nice aqua center so we headed there for a swim and our morning shower as no matter where or how we sleep we always manage to find a shower the next day. This day wasn't so good as it rained again so we spent some time in an outlet shopping center before we headed out of town and into the national parks. We stayed in a small camp site in Advancedtown as now away from the coast the sites were back to normal prices. We drove to Mount Tamborine NP where the town is perched on its plateau and hand gliders fly from its mountain side. Within the park is a pretty little street called Gallery Walk where you find your cafes, fudge and ice creameries and off course souvenir shops. We did the Curtis Falls and Cedar Creek walks which were quite hard on the legs. That night we stayed at Canungra show ground before heading back to the coast and Broadbeach to continue further down the Gold Coast. The next night we stayed at Burleigh Heads right on the beach front which was great, we sat and watched the sun set over the coast line of high raised hotels along the Gold Coast. That night we chatted with a Dutch couple who were just starting out on there trip around Australia so it was nice to help them with lots of advice and places to visit and stay.
As the sun was out the next day we spent it at the beach but mainly in the shade and only popping out for a dip or an ice cream. In the camp site someone recommend that we visit Mount Cougar NP as it had lovely rock pools to swim in. Currumbin rock pools were large but the water didn't look very inviting so we just sat and watched others.
Our next inland place we drove to was Natural Bridge, there we stayed in a church owned camp site so the usual rules apply, no drugs, alcohol, smoking or pets. Great place as wallabies were out and about and in the camp kitchen were skink lizards. That night we went to the natural bridge to see the glow worms in the cave, very dark walk down to the cave and water fall. On the 5 minute drive there was a carpet Python moving across the road so I stopped for a photo of this huge snake.
The next morning while we waited for our washing to dry we headed down the track to another rock pool and this one was inviting but we didn't carry our kit with us to swim. We now headed back to the Natural Bridge to see it in daylight and what an amazing place. It's a cave full of bats and glow worms with a waterfall that cascades through a huge hole in the cave roof which forms a natural bridge. We are now only a few kilometers from the border back into NSW but we were not going to cross just yet as we wanted to visit Springbrook Mountain. This mountain range again is on a plateau and on route are lots of look outs and walks. We walked the 10km to the Twin Falls which takes you through the rain forest and on route are lots of little falls and amazing rock formations. That night we stayed at Austinville, another small town inland so cheaper than the coastal sites. Now we are on the last stretch of road down the Gold Coast and the NSW border, the border town is Coolangatta and a really nice place. We spent a couple of hours messing about on the beach as the sun was shining today. That afternoon we drove to a small town called Billinudgel where they have a pub that allows you to camp in their garden for free. Great idea but very busy with campers but we managed to find a small patch to pitch our tent, we got a shower as well for $5 There was a great atmosphere in this pub, the building itself was lopsided and it made me feel funny walking around upstairs where the $5 shower was.
The first place we go to in NSW is Byron Bay, everybody we met all raved about it and it's hippy culture. It is a great place but expensive to park but we still had two great days there, even hired a surfboard for half a day to mess around with and no still can't stand up on the bloody thing. We stayed a little bit outside the town in a show ground site and the town had yet another great pool. That night we just managed to cook dinner when our gas bottle run out so no morning cuppa for me.
After leaving Byron Bay we headed for a place called Yamba where the camp site was based at a lovely river setting. After a quick visit around the small town we did a small coastal walk to keep my steps up, not that I'm losing any weight but I do feel fitter. Still moving south down the east coast of Australia we stayed at a beautiful camp site at Moonee Beach. Once again we were the only campers among the trees but we had a great view of the estuary and with the tide out it was so picturesque. The area had a headland walk which we did the next morning and as the tide was out we walked back along the shore line. To avoid an incoming wave I jumped onto a rock and of course I slipped, badly bruised leg and cut to the elbow but I'm sure I will survive. We left shortly after and drove to Coffs Harbour and did a nice walk around the harbour where there is a hill top walk which has a large rookery. From the top we got an amazing view of the coast line which stretched for miles.
Back in land again to another national park called Dorrigo where we stayed in a farmers field which backed onto Dangar Falls. Quite a steep walk down to the falls but they were worth it just a shame it's now too cold for a swim. Due to being quite high up the night was very cold in our tent and the sun was up early to warm our chilled bones. After breakfast we drove to the rain forest center which has a sky walk and a 6.8km walk to the Tristania and Crystal Shower Falls. Both were lovely waterfalls and a well deserved coffee when we got back to the center. Both Dorrigo and Bellingen remind me of old western towns and at any moment there could be a gun fight. At Bellingen we had a nice picnic by the river side before heading back to the Pacific Highway and onto Urunga.
The small coastal town of South West Rocks had a vintage caravan rally which were being towed by cars just as old as the caravans. The coast line is very rocky and we went for a walk to the famous lighthouse and Captain Cooks lookout hill. From there we watched two pods of dolphins moving along the shallows, I think they were feeding.
On route to Port Macquarie we stopped at Kempsey, a large town but of no interest but worthy of a walk around. At Port Macquarie we went to the koala hospital, this is where koalas involved in car accidents or are found. They are cared for and hopefully returned to the wild once fit enough to care for themselves. In the same estate is Roto House, one of the oldest houses in the area which belonged to a family that helped build the town up.
We got to Bonny Hills camp site on a very windy afternoon so a walk along the beach was out the question. We were told about the V Wall that is at the beach and it's where you can paint what ever you like, most people use it as a memory to lost love ones. We have just be booked for another house sit in Newcastle for a week looking after 2 Labradors (Max and Ben) and Koda the Dachshund. Before we arrived into Newcastle we drove to Tuncurry and Port Stephens for a quick look and to see if it was worth going back later on in the week.
Now heading to Charlestown, a suburb of Newcastle where our next house sit is. We are met by 3 very excitable dogs who are also very loving when they calmed down. The family take us out for a meal that night before they leave for their holiday to the Gold Coast. The next morning they leave early and we are left in charge of the house and dogs for a week. It proved impossible to walk all 3 dogs together so we walked Koda two laps around the block and then together we would walk a lab one at a time. Max proved the hardest as he managed to escape his harass but we managed to catch him and get him home, thank God. We booked a surf lesson down at Nobby's Beach as they said it was excellent for beginners but that day the surf was really bad and we both took some bad tumbles in the surf until the instructor said it had become too rough for us.
We were invited for a bbq with some ladies we had met up at Cairns on a dive boot. We had a lovely evening with them and we arranged to meet up later in the week. Newcastle is a coal mining city and one side of the town has big super tankers coming in and the other side has been renovated to stylist apartments along the foreshore. Along with restaurants and cafes is an observation tower which we had too climb for the view but got a bit dizzy climbing the stairs.
One day we went to Nelson Bay and had a walk around the marina and went and had a go on the toboggan run that's there. Also down that way is Anna Beach where at Birubi Point we did sand boarding on the largest mobile sand dunes in the Southern Hemisphere. The dunes measure 35km and move inland by 5 meters every year. Had a brilliant time in the dunes and was completely knackered after a couple of hours, didn't managed to stand on the board through.
Mitchell's took us boggy boarding on Redhead Beach one morning and I had a great time in the surf but Sally didn't go in as I think our previous surf lesson had put her off going into the sea.
Our family returned late Sunday night so we stayed that night and made ready to leave Monday morning. Bron took us for a lovely breakfast in a place called 3 Monkeys, very nice pancakes.
After leaving the house we had called home for a week we headed to Redhead to stay with Michelle and Pam for a few days. On Tuesday we spent the day at Hunter Valley which is another wine region and the oldest but not the best but it was still a nice day out.
Said farewell to Michelle on Thursday morning to start our journey down to Sydney and a house sit in Gerringong for a week.
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