May 9, 2013 - 2 days...counting down to takeoff!

Well I've booked everything that needs to be booked, the house is prepared for my absence, suitcase and things to go are ready; now with just a couple of days to go all I need to do is stop quaking in my boots from nerves and start quaking with excitement!!! No, seriously, I already am...but a bit nervy too. I never thought I'd do a trip like this so I feel very lucky. Hope you can all take the time to read my trip journal...and hopefully see some photos, if I can manage to load them on the tablet...hey, I'm a ludite and proud of...

Nov 9, 2012 - Coffs Harbour: The Big Banana

Coffs Harbour: 9 Nov 2012 A visit to "The Big Banana" could not be overlooked as we passed through Coffs Harbour on our way to Port Macquarie. Bronte & I could not resist the chocolate coated frozen bananas (yum yum) whilst Jesse & Sean devoured a banana split. The perfect break!

Sep 17, 2012 - Coffs Harbour

The Park Beach Holiday Park at Coffs Harbour is one of the better parks we’ve stayed at, although it is quite expensive. I asked for a deal and got 4 nights pay for 3 so it turned out okay. We must have gum leaves showing as we’ve been caught out a few times with advertisements and the real deal. The latest was going to the Park Beach Hotel Motel (just down the road from our park) that advertised in the Visitors Guide $7.50 Feeds lunch and dinner 7 days a week. When ordering we were told that there was no choice of menu. At the counter...

Jul 6, 2011 - Bus Ride #1

This morning we got up at five to leave at seven after breakfast. We had to load our suitcases into the bottom of the bus. I was one of the two people helping Jake, the bus driver, load the bus. Because I was nearly the last person on the bus, I really didn't have a choice where I would sit. I ended up in the second to last row next to some guy named Cole. As we drove, he listened to his music and I worked on an entry and watched Lord of the Rings. We stopped at a reststop for a bathroom break. Then we drove some more. Pieces of local trees...

Jun 24, 2011 - Coffs Harbour

Coffs Harbour – 11 June to 18 June (7 nights) The 106km drive from South West Rocks to Coffs Harbour started off with us retracing our route on the crappy road running next to the Macleay River, towards Kempsey. Just before Kempsey, we turned off on a side road and then onto the Pacific Highway, which in the main was a good road all the way to Coffs Harbour. On arrival at the van park, it started to rain and we had to make do with setting things up in between the showers, which was a bit of a pain, but hey – cowboys don’t cry. Later that...

Jun 14, 2011 - Floods Hit - Coffs Harbour!

Tuesday, 14 June 2011 6am and on a very, very wet morning, we ventured out from Smithtown up the coast on our way to Coffs Harbour. Unfortunately 25k out of Coffs we encountered severe flooding.... all roads north closed in and out of Coffs, hence were send back .... We then returned to Coffs to sit it out and wait for the floods to subside. Luckily my lovely newphew, Phil lives in Coffs and was able to put us up in his Church carpark...power and all... Don & Di...travelling back home to QLD in their RV joined us at the church. A lovely...

Mar 10, 2011 - Coffs Harbour Final Entry

We headed towards Coffs Harbour after our Balloon flight at Cessnock and stopped at Old Bar on the coast 12km out from Taree, we arrived in Coffs on Tuesday a 4 ½ star caravan park. This is a very beautiful park close to all the shops, beach and sight seeing. Thursday we went for a drive and looked at some of the many bays in the area, then Friday it was off to the Dorrigo NP. Sue was driving so I had a chance to sight see and take some photo’s. The drive through the hills and Dorrigo NP had some nice walks, rain forrests and up to a dozen...

Mar 1, 2011 - Coffs Harbour

We arrived in Ciffs Harbour on Tuesday Feb 22nd, and due to ill health Sue and myself have decided to call it quits. We have had a good 7 months and completed so much from our bucket list. We will be leaving Coffs Harbour on Thursday March 3rd after seeing a specialist on Wednesday, and hope to be home in two weeks. We will see you all soon.I hope to complete a final journal when we get home and add some pricing of the trip for anyones interest. Love Alan and Sue

Feb 11, 2011 - Coffs Harbour

Well sunburns almost healed and turning into a very nice tan :) We arrived in Coffs Harbour yesterday. Staying at the Big Windmill...very cool. Has a hot tub and is literally a big windmill very cool photos!! Weather is still gorgeous...late 20s today. We went for a tour on a beach buggy this morning it was hilarious!! The guy doin the tour was brilliant...very funny and typical aussie (favourite phrase was 'Life's a gamble, you never know what your gonna get') It was really good fun though. He brought us on to the most beautiful beach...

Nov 17, 2010 - Coffs harbour

17th November Coffs Harbour Woke up late and found out from the information desk that the wreck was inacessable unless you wanted to take a full days tour or walk 23km over sand dunes. We decided we would make do with viewing it from a distance and drove down the beach to an area where we may be able to spot it. Parking in resodential streets we found fences to the vegitation that the dunes were behind saying 'warning do not enter'. luckily further down we found a private track and followed that. Not sure if we were allowed in we just...

Nov 3, 2010 - Les australiens

Au cours des derniers jours (du 1 au 3 novembre), nous avons terminé notre visite de Coffs Harbour et en avons profité pour nous baigner à la plage dans le Pacifique Sud. Nous avons remarqué plusieurs groupes de jeunes habillés pareils qui venaient faire du surf ou jouer au ballon sur la plage. Il s’agit de Sport Class, une habitude des écoles locales d’amener les jeunes en plein air, en compagnie d’un professeur de gym, pour les inciter à jouer dehors (au lieu de rester collés sur la TV ou leur ordinateur!). Ils ont le climat pour cela,...

Nov 1, 2010 - Notre semaine

Au cours des derniers jours, nous avons visité la ville de Coffs Harbour pour y voir les coins intéressants. Pour faciliter nos déplacements, nous avons loué des vélos pour 4 jours et cela nous fait pratiquer la conduite en Australie. En effet, la conduite se fait à gauche et en vélo, il faut rester attentif quand on fait une manoeuvre car les autos arrivent de différents endroits imprévus dans notre cervelle de canadiens... On essaie de rester sur les pistes cyclables qui sont nombreuses et bien aménagées. Nous avons parcouru plusieurs...