Yamba on the Clarence Coast

In our travels and while watching travel shows on TV we had often heard about Yamba and how beautiful it was. So seeing we were in the area we knew we just had to stay here and are we happy we made this decision. Yamba is 670km north or Sydney and 279km south of Brisbane on what is called the Clarence Coast. Yamba along with Iluka are situated on either side at the mouth of the majestic Clarence River. The Clarence River is the largest waterway on the east coast of Australia travelling over 400kms from it's source in the McPherson Ranges in Queensland to the Pacific Ocean. In the past Yamba has been voted the best town in Australia by Australian Traveller Magazine due to its beautiful beaches, award winning restaurants and great atmosphere. We booked into the Calypso Caravan Park for a week and wanted to stay longer but are unable to due to the Yamba Rod Run being held this weekend, when up to 400 hot rods and vintage cars ascend onto Yamba for their annual show.

Myrtle all set up for a week in Yamba

Beautiful Yamba

We are camped within walking distance to the ocean and about 50 steps from the river and each night (if it's not raining, as the first few days did) we are treated to some amazing sunsets. 

A Yamba Sunset

We have been out fishing once but didn't have any luck getting anything into our fishing bucket. As we sat there just prior to the sun setting we noticed quite close to the shore a fin gently gliding through the water. It would submerge and then surface again somewhere else. At first we were not sure if it was a shark or a dolphin but after we saw the fin quite close, decided it was most probably a shark!!! After the sun had gone done, all of a sudden I had a huge jolt on my fishing rod that had so much force it actually dragged me a few steps along the beach toward the water. After only about 20 seconds of me holding the rod and trying to keep my balance the line snapped and I almost fell back on my bum!!! So that was the end of my fishing for the night, but we are heading back out tonight. 

No whiting at whiting beach!

One day when it was quite overcast we decided to go for a drive into MacLean which is only a short drive from Yamba. Due to its Scottish roots MacLean is advertised as "The Scottish Town in Australia". The Scottish settlers to MacLean (originally named Rocky Mouth) were mainly highlanders, driven from Scotland by the Highland Clearances and famine in the 1840's. At Easter every year the town holds a Highland Gathering where the town commemorates MacLeans Scottish Pioneers. Also situated on the Clarence River it is quite a quaint little village with some beautiful historic buildings. Some of the street signs are in Gaelic as well as English and there are over 200 power poles painted with Scottish clan tartans. 

Tartan Poles

I tried but I can't pronounce MacNaughton Pl in Gaelic!!

Check out this little groovie dude I ran into today

End Note: We just got back from a couple of hours fishing. Still no luck on the fishing front but we were treated to an amazing sunset sky, a sea eagle flying above, some sort of bid diving into the water to get our fish, pelicans and the joy of watching a pod of dolphins swim only metres from the shore. 

Another beautiful Sunset sky

This is the best shot I could get of our visitors -
the dolphins moved through the water so gracefully

A Glorious Day at Monkey Mia

This morning we headed off early to go and see the Dolphin Interaction (feeding) at Monkey Mia. I had heard a lot about it, both good and bad. But I was pleasantly surprised with how our day turned out. The dolphins have been coming to Monkey Mia for about the past 40 plus years to get fed. The amount varies but we were lucky enough to have a total of 10 dolphins visit the shallows. There were only four to be fed and they are the Mums with new babies. The rest of the ten were the boys playing around and keeping their eyes on their girls. They usually have 2 or 3  interactions daily, between 7.45am and noon. But it is totally dependent when the dolphins would like to arrive. They are only given 3 little fish each, each interaction as to not get them dependant on humans for their food and also so they don't take their attention away from their babies for to long.

Nothing quite like a Dolphins smile

As with most Dolphins with girl has had an altercation with a shark

The Pelicans decided they might try for a fish too

Then after having a yummy buffet breakfast ourselves we decided to go on a 2 1/2 hour cruise on the catamaran Aristocat 2. It was a beautiful calm morning - although the wind pick up a little, to head off and see the dolphins, sea snakes, turtles and dugongs in their natural habitat. It was the perfect way to spend a couple of hours enjoying nature at it's best. The colour of the water was absolutely stunning.

 

Aristocat 2

 

Dolphins playing beside the catamaran

We also visited Blue Lagoon Pearls which have their business on a pontoon off shore. They produce Black Pearls, which can actually be any colour. They are also the first and I think only pearl operator that have developed the process of combining Pearl Shell with Opal or Gold Nuggets. They have also developed another process of producing a pearl with a design embedded in it. Their work is amazing and absolutely beautiful.

 

Blue Lagoon Pearls

 

Right - Gold Nugget in pearl shell
Left - Opal in pearl shell



Dolphin design in pearl shell

 

The almost finished pendants



To top the cruise off we interrupted a couple of turtles in a romantic interlude.

Sorry to intruding!!
It's a wonder the poor girl doesn't drown!!