Week 5

On checking the weather and after coping with 4 nights of rain we decided to skip Yamba and go straight to Tweed Heads. It wasn't that much further from Nambucca and we arrived at 4pm on Monday and again with rain forecast we opted for a cabin. This proved to be one of our best decisions of the trip given that it rained heavily nearly every night we were there.

So in case you didn't realize the Tweed heads stop coincided with Stewart's 40th birthday. Through some amazing organization we were joined here by Carol, Ben, Chloe, Olivia, Betty, Mum, Glenn, Janine, Pam and Caitlyn. This meant we were surrounded by family. Especially since Granny and Uncle Paul still live in Tweed Heads also.

This meant that despite this being our longest stop it was also the busiest. First off there was swimming in the pool at the resort where Carol and family were staying. (Peppers kingscliff fantastic if you can afford it!) Then there was Sea world with both Glenn and family and Carol and family. I must say I was really pleased how the day turned out. (Apart from the monorail breaking down at the station and not be able to get off for 10 minutes) We were all able to do our own things and managed to catch up at odd times to enjoy some fun together. It was particularly fun spraying kids on the pirate boats with water guns! After that exhausting day we took a day off and with the help of a babysitters (mum and Carol) Stew and I were able to got out alone which was nice. Saturday was Stews birthday and we celebrated firstly by going to Mt Tamourine and walking in rainforest. Again the rain held off until the evening so we had a lovely time. I even managed to pick up a new bird (Emerald Dove). My intense fear of snakes has been confirmed by my reaction at seeing snake cross the path at the waterfall. I tried not to panic the kids so I didn't say anything out loud but I did flap my arms alot. That night we had stews celebration dinner at a Thai placed near Peppers resort. The best part was the Grandmas were able to take the kids back to Carols apartment while we finished our leisurely meal. Sadly Sunday brought us to goodbyes. With Izzy probably the saddest at having to farewell her Sydney cousins until Christmas. This was followed by a lovely lunch at the Salt Bar finaly catching up with Granny, and Uncle Paul and his family. Followed by more goodbyes as Monday morning we were off again. The question now is will we get to Cairns???

Week 4

Ok ok so I've been a bit slack but it was school holidays and we were VERY busy. First of all 4 nights in the camper at Nambucca Heads. We loved Numbucca Heads, it was another smaller location like Mallacoota in a Big 4 park. One thing we've come to appreciate is that you can rely on the standard of a Big 4 park. The Canberra park was like an American 'trailer park' completed with tattooed residents. Big 4 parks have a playground, bouncy pillow and quite often a pool - like at Nambucca. Unfortunately the rain was still falling but we didn't let that stop us. The first day we drove inland to Dorrigo National Park for the tree top rain forest walk. That was lovely for me and Stewart but not so interesting to the kids who made it very difficult to do anything but the shortest walk. I still managed to pick up a new bird though :)

In return for enabling Stewart to go for 2 one hour bike rides I was able to take a walk through the forest that backed onto the caravan park. I picked up 3 more new birds but also a hitching leech. Salt is effective in removing leeches from knees but it is no longer the recommended method. It didn't hurt but kept bleeding for 2 hours. Let's just say I'll stick to the path from now on and the next chance I get will be purchasing  some gaiters.

For another day trip we took the kids to the butterfly house followed by fish and chips at Coffs Harbour for dinner. Isobel especially enjoyed the butterfly house but at $45 for the family I am not that sure it was worth it. She was particularly disappointed that no butterflies chose her to land on despite siting quite still with her hand out. The proprietor was very helpful and gave both kids few butterfly wings to take home. Goodness knows what condition they'll be in by the time we get home. I didn't think much of Coffs Harbour it was like a big Victor Harbour but it was night time and raining hard.

Again as it was in school holidays the kids were able to make friends with our park neighbors. Note if you make paper airplanes in the playground make sure you take enough paper for at least 6 others. The pool in Nambucca Heads was warmer than Canberra. We all enjoyed a quiet swim -  although I had to rescue Isobel a few times again. Hopefully she'll be swimming properly by the time we are home...

Week 3

Happy Easter everyone!

It seems strange to be in Sydney for Easter. We are usually home for this celebration - well at least Easter Sunday. Fortunately the Easter bunny still found us and the kids were able to enjoy an egg hunt with their cousins.

As for the Canberra leg of our trip it was so good we extended it by a day. The kids really enjoyed Questacon although the AIS was a bit over their head. The truth is I couldn't face setting up the camper for 3 days in Kiama. So we spent an extra night in Canberra with Loraine which the kids loved. Then came to Sydney early. Now that school holidays have started the kids enjoyed making friends with kids of similar age from Melbourne. They would met in the mornings in the playground (while we did breakfast dishes) and then meet up again in the afternoons while the parents cook dinner. Very convenient really.

Actually I really enjoyed Canberra, I love catching up with my old 'house mate' Loraine  - and Cheryl of course the woman with the best laugh I know! I particularly liked sneaking out of an evening to enjoy cable tv on the couch while stew got the kids to sleep in the camper

Driving in Canberra is a dream compared to Sydney (and even Adelaide) As we were in Queanbeyan we had to drive to the city to do anything and the 80km per hour roads and round-a-abouts made it quite simple. A good sat nav system makes it much easier - especially when you miss your turn off! The sat nav is proving to be indispensable for the trip providing us with direction and an ETA. What is does not do is give you any idea of what towns are coming up and where to make lunch stops. The good old fashioned road atlas is still required for that - although google maps on the tablet would work just as well. The iphoneapp for 'play grounds of Australia ' is also useful for sanity stops. So after Sydney it is up to Nambucca Heads for our next long stop. Until then enjoy those chocolates!

Week 2

Well our 5 nights in Mallacoota are long over and we've started our Canberra stop now. I really enjoyed Mallacoota - it was one of the stops I've specifically added for bird watching and it didn't disappoint. We stayed away from the busy lake shore at Shady Gully caravan park which turned out to be a real winner. Set right next a reserve I had a new bird in 5 minutes dropping the guy ropes and picking up the camera to chase a couple of wonga pigeons into the bush. Everyday I walked into the reserve and nearly every time I found a new bird. (The time I took the kids with me I didn't see much) Thursday morning I had great views of a lyrebird up a tree! Unfortunately having broken my zoom lens the day before no evidence of this tree climbing can be provided.

A part from the birds the scenery around Mallacoota is just spectacular. We took this kids on a cruise on lake ( their first time in a boat apparently) The captain threw out fish for the local sea eagles to pick up which made for some great photos. The lakes go back so. Far inland they are huge and they seem so pristine.

The kids probably didn't enjoy Mallacoota as much as I did but it was very relaxing. We were even able to solve our leakage problem with a strategically placed tarp. The wildlife were everywhere one night while watching a DVD I had a close encounter with a possum. Another morning the kids were excited by choughs under our table seemingly looking for a way into the camper.

The only issue there was the disintegration of my binoculars and the breaking of my zoom lens. Oh well maybe I'll find some replacements here in Canberra. Until next time.


Terri

Week One

Well the first week is over and I can safely say we all enjoyed Phillip Island apart from the appalling weather yesterday. I highly recommend Phillip Is. For young families there was plenty to do. Koalas, penguins, old fashioned  farming, pirate mini golf, indoor playgrounds and the illusions of 'Amazin Fun'. I just hope that the kids don't expect every week to be like this.

I've learnt something new about my kids this week. Isobel will volunteer first for anything in the 'would you like to have a go' category. For example she was the first person to volunteer to milk the cow on Phillip Island.  Chris, I've learnt is scared of chickens. He tried to climb up me as 2 chickens came near us.

The birds on Phillip Island were pretty good. For a start the peguin parade was amazing. It wasn't just watching the groups of penguins waddle up the beach. Once walking back on the boardwalk we got great views as they waddled past on their way back to their burrows within a meter of us. Then the next night I went to 'swan lake' at sunset. Supposedly the many holes in the hillside  were short-tailed shearwaters burrows. Just on the dot of 8pm as I gave up and started walking back one then 2 then more and more birds started flying in. I got some great views with the torch as birds flopped in left and right. On the way back to the car I saw possums and wallabies all in all an amazing experience.

The only other thing i'll mention about our first week is the weather. Whilst  it rained every day except Tuesday it wasn't that bad really - until Friday. We managed to get out and do something every day without getting wet. Unfortunately Firday had the trifectta wind, rain and hail. Poor camper trailer just wasn't up to it. I felt like a wimp but we moved into a cabin for our last night. Mind you after seeing how wet Chris's bed got I don't regret it one bit.

Tonight we're in a cosy 2 room motel in Lakes entrance tomorrow on to Malacoota for 5 nights.

Trip Eve

Yay it's finally  here the night before we leave surely nothing  can stop us now? The camper trailer has been serviced and packed despite the dealer asking if I could come back Monday to pick it up! The car is all packed too although some help from my bro Glenn was required to figure out how to install roof rack pack given it came with no instructions  and was not designed for the type of roof basket they  sold me with it.

The kids are excited I think. They didn't have any trouble  getting to sleep. Not sure Chris understands though - he asked me if he was going to school tomorrow.

Well the alarm is set - now if I could only go to sleep...

Flood fears

Well as we really start the count down until the start of our trip - on the 18th of March - I am starting to get anxious about the weather. Remember a camper trailer is essentially just a fold out tent as I well know from many washed out childhood trips to Port Elliot. Add to that my careful planning has already booked and many cases paid for our stops. Including Gippsland and the south NSW coast both of which are under flood watch in the coming days.

I feel really bad for people affected by flooding I do - but when it comes down to it there is selfishness as well. This is a 'trip of a lifetime' and by that I mean I've dreamed about doing a trip like this for all of my adult life. So when the dream starts to almost become realized I find myself looking for things that are going to stop it from happening. Floods, cyclones, illness you name it my vivid imagination has thought of it...

Oh well 11 days to go (not that I'm counting).

The dilemma

OK so I've planned the whole trip out. Our goal is to reach Cairns and explore the east coastline to get there. Now after proudly showing friends and family my tour that includes 26 different towns with most stops 3 nights each it has been suggested I may need a major rethink. Especially since we'll probably get tired of opening and closing the camper after the first 7 or 8 times. So maybe I need to go back to the earlier plan of 2 days traveling and 5 nights camping for our 10 week trip. Argh!

Then there is the cost of a powered site in QLD and NSW coast caravan parks. Over $100 a night in some places! I feel some National Park camping may have to be included. Oh well back to the maps...