Lakes Entrance

Lakes Entrance is a tourist town and also a fishing port in East Gippland in Victoria. This is once again a town that's population increases dramatically during the holiday season. The normal population is around 4600. I have been to Lakes many times over the last 40 years but this is the first time we have been her in our van "Myrtle". Lakes Entrance is about 320 kms from home so we should be home tomorrow afternoon sometime. So that brings our Aussie Adventure 2 to an end. I will certainly miss travelling but it will be nice to be home for Christmas.

Time to patch up the fishing nets

Along the Esplanade are several of these wooden life size sculptures created by the chainsaw artist John Brady. Originally these trees were memorial Monterey Cypress trees, planted in 1924 to honour the districts servicemen who fell in World War 1. Twenty-six trees were originally planted for each serviceman whose name is commemorated on the memorial stone near the wounded soldiers sculpture. 

Mallacoota, Victoria

With our Aussie Adventure 2 almost at an end we are now back in Victoria - our home state. We are having the next few days at the small fishing village of Mallacoota. With a permanent population of around 900 it is quite a peaceful place to stay, but during the holiday season it would be a much busier place with a holiday population of over 8000. We are staying on the foreshore and as I stepped outside of Myrtle this morning I was greeted by a lovely river view.

My morning view from Myrtle

The neighbours getting ready for their day

This morning we drove out of town to have a look at the WW11 Operations Bunker Museum. The Bunker was a major Advanced Operations Base used by the RAAF during WW11. The Mallacoota bunker was never actually used as an air raid shelter, but was used as the headquarters of RAAF coastal intelligence activity in the region. 

WW11 Bunker

Later in the afternoon we headed down to the wharf for some fishing. There were some small fish but it was pretty quiet, so I pulled out my camera and took some shots of the early evening view I was enjoying. 

My evening view

Mallacoota Wharf Mural

My Bateman's Bay Family

Tomorrow ends my week with my amazing son Shane, my lovely daughter in law Stacey and my two adorable  grandchildren O'Shea (4) and Finn (2 this month). Because we live around 800kms from each other we don't get to catch up all that often, but when we do it certainly makes my heart smile. The week started with the ritual of putting up the Christmas Tree with O'Shea having the honour of placing the star on top.

Finn enjoying the Christmas Tree decorating

O'Shea felt very special putting the star on the top of the tree

The rest of the week consisted of lots of fun, lots of mango eating and lots of Granny Dave (me) spoiling her boys. 

Finn Loves mango.......

Just about as much as O'Shea loves mango!

Then today on this beautiful sunny Sunday, the two Shane's, O'Shea and I went out fishing in Shane's (son) boat. Unfortunately O'Shea got sea-sick, so we decided to head to the beach, where Stacey and Finn joined us for a bit of a fish and a play. Almost everyone caught some fish (we didn't keep them) but the best thing for the day O'Shea caught is first and second fish ever! He was so excited, almost as excited as his daddy was. 

O'Shea with his first fish ever 

O'Shea with his second fish

Finn enjoyed just being Finn

Christmas is coming

We are now having a couple of lazy days in a suburb called Toowoon Bay, situated between Sydney and Newcastle. Once again we had to stock on a few grocery items so headed to the shopping centre down the road. After lunch we wondered into a Christmas Pop Up shop. I looooove Christmas, I love decorating my house inside and out so this shop was a little bit of heaven. It wasn't a very big shop and it was absolutely jam packed with Chrissy stuff. I have never been in any sort of shop so full of stuff. I may have to go back tomorrow as the amount of stock overwhelmed me a bit and I didn't buy anything. 

Slim Dusty Centre

While driving last week we heard on the radio about the opening of the new Slim Dusty Centre in Kempsey. We both like country music and Shane really loves Slim Dusty music so seeing we are sort of in the area we knew we knew we had to head down there. So this morning we headed of early for Kempsey. I would think the majority of Aussies and quite a few people outside OZ would know of Slim Dusty. Born David Gordon Kirkpatrick in 1927, he changed his name to Slim Dusty at the age of 11. His career  continued until his passing in 2003. In his long and fantastic career Slim and his wife Joy McKean released 102 albums (her was working on 103 at the time he passed), was the first Australian to get a Gold Record, the first Australian to have an international hit with "A Pub with No Beer". He was the only artist to win 36 Golden Guitar awards from 72 nominations at the Tamworth Country Music Festival. In other words he was a pretty impressive artist. This new centre I. a multi purpose facility that includes the Slim Dusty Museum, the Columbia Lane Theatre, a Travelling Exhibition Gallery ( at the moment it visited of Aboriginal art - but I wasn't allowed to take photos. There is also a function centre, cafe, general store and visitors centre. The Museum features all of Slims Gold Records, Golden Guitar awards and so much more.

Shane outside the new Slim Dusty Centre

Just one of Slims Gold Records

How many Gold Records can an artist win!!!

This is just half of the Golden Guitar Awards

Slim and Joy travelled all over Australia in Old Purple and their caravan 

Sunrise and the Big Banana

For some reason I woke very early this morning and looking out my window noticed the sun had not yet risen for the day. So up I jumped and walked all of 50 steps to get this beautiful greeting to my Friday. There were about 5 other people walking along the boardwalk but I was the only one with my camera in my hand.

Urunga Boardwalk at sunrise

Good Morning

Looking down in the water I noticed a school of about 30 fish swimming about in the shallows, a couple were a pretty good size. Of course I didn't have my fishing rod with me!!! 

Later in the morning we decided to go for a drive into Coffs Harbour which is only about 20 minutes up the highway. I haven't been to Coffs Harbour since I was in my 20's and it certainly has changed. Australia is known for lots of towns having a big statue/structure of something relevant to the area. Well seeing Coffs Harbour has alway been a banana growing area, what else would be here but the "Big Banana". So yes I had to get a photo of it. After doing some much needed grocery shopping we had a little road trip around the town. 

The Big Banana - Coffs Harbour

While in town we stumbled onto a fishing tackle shop that claims to be the biggest tackle shop in the world. Now I don't know about the world but it certainly is the biggest fishing tackle shop I have ever been in. There were so many fishing rods and other stuff I thought Shane was going to hyperventilate!!!

The biggest tackle shop in the world ??????

We were going to head off from Urunga tomorrow but have decided to have another night here as it is such a lovely spot to spend some time. 

Urunga - Coffs Coast

After another very short drive we have arrived in Urunga, another delightful small seaside village. Once again we are positioned between the ocean and a river. Often described as the place where the rivers meet the sea, it is here where the Belligan and Kalang rivers flow into the Pacific Ocean. Only a few steps from where we are camped is the Urunga boardwalk which extends 1 kilometre out to the ocean between the Urunga Lagoon and the Belligan and Kalang rivers.

This regions attraction is not only the beaches but the hinterland is something to behold. Today we ventured inland along the Waterfall Way to the villages of Belligan, Dorrigo and Ebor. Belligan, affectionately referred to by the locals as "Bello" is quite an arty village with galleries, handmade arts and crafts as well an edgy music scene.

After driving up the spectacular mountain road we reached Dorrigo, which is situated on the Dorrigo Plateau. Two of the attractions in this area are the World Heritage listed Dorrigo National Park and the Dangar Falls. The Dangar Falls is a 30 metre high cascading waterfall across the Beilsdown River. 

The last village on our road trip was Ebor which is a tiny hilltop village with a population of only around 160. This beautiful location is where you can watch the Guy Fawkes River plunge 100 metres over two waterfalls that are the Ebor Falls. 

Red Rock

Once again we didn't have a very big drive to get to Red Rock this morning! We drove a whole 76km and it took us just under an hour. As the crow flies it is only 12km from Wooli - but we aren't crows!!! Red Rock is once again a small seaside hamlet on the banks of the Corindi River with a population of around 270 people. Once again the caravan park we are staying at has the river on one side and the ocean on the other. This location had also been recommended to us by several other travellers and once again I am glad we have taken their advice. There are quite a few houses in the town but most are empty for most of the year and then full at Christmas, New Year and Easter.

We will give the fishing a bit of a go in the morning, weather permitting. Hopefully we have better luck than we did at Wooli. Shane got a couple of fish but they were undersized. 

Unfortunately this area has a sad history. The headland is reputedly the sight of a massacre of Gumbaynngir indigenous people in the 19th century. A memorial has been erected at the base of the headline to commemorate this. Aboriginal woman tend to avoid the area. The massacre is reputed to have started at Blackaders Creek when mounted police entered the camp. They started shooting and then pursued the survivors to the Corindi River where they continued shooting. Legend has it, some people were then driven off the headland. 

The headland may have been named Red Rock because the river went red from the blood of the indigenous people or the name may have been from the unique red rock formation. 

Tonight after yet another pretty heavy shower we were treated to an amazing rainbow. 

Wooli

Firstly I must just say how saddened I am by the events that have happened in Paris these past few days. How one human can be so cruel to another human is beyond my comprehension. Is there anything that me as one small dot in this huge world can do? Is there anything we as a country can do? Is going in and bombing them the answer? I don't know, all I know it is all wrong. My heart goes out to all in Paris, all in France and all my fellow humans who's lives will never be as innocent as we once were.

We didn't travel very far to get to our new location, I think we drove about an hour and a half!! I had never heard of Wooli, but another camper recommended we come and stay here and I am once again glad I took another travellers advice. Wooli is a tiny seaside village situated between the Wooli Wooli River and the ocean. Back on December 24th, 1861 when this area was declared a camping reserve it was called Wooli Wooli which means "two water". As the area grew in popularity houses, a public school, a hall and some small businesses were built. 

We were treated with a nice sunset on our first night in Wooli

The pristine Wooli Wooli river are acclaimed to be the most unpolluted river in Australia and its waters are  a haven for wildlife and the very yummy Wooli Oysters. The first oyster leases were established back in 1885 at a cost of 1 pound per year. These oysters are renowned as some of the best in Australia. I have eaten quite a few oysters (natural) in my time and must say after buying a dozen yesterday they are extremely tasty. 

The entrance to Wooli Wooli River was a bit choppy as the tide was going out!!

Off shore is the Solitary Islands Marine Park. The Solitary Islands Marine Park consists of five main island groups and other significant rocky outcrops and submerged reefs. According to information brochures there are over 280 different species of fish, four varieties of turtles and 90 different types of coral. During the colder months it is also a safe haven for the migrating Humpback and Southern Right Whales. It would certainly be a special place for any divers to visit although from what the locals say it is sometimes home to some large White Pointer Sharks!!! 

Windy, Windy Windy !!!

From what I can tell most travellers call into this village to do some fishing. We gave it a try yesterday and there were fish out there because something was doing a lot of nibbling on my line but alas I never caught anything. We were going to head out again this morning but the wind has picked up and it is a very strong 45km, so might wait to see what it's like this evening. 

The Gold Coast - Surfers Paradise

Last night we decided to drive into Surfers Paradise to the Wednesday night market. As I have mentioned before we love heading to any sort of market, but the only thing we ever seem to buy is some sort of food. I was a little disappointed with this one as I expected being such a popular location it would have had more original, unusual stands but most were your run of the mill stuff. But yes we did still buy ourselves something to eat.

I don't tend to head to the Gold Coast much when I am up in this area as it has become way to commercialised and touristy these day. But it is still popular as it represents Australia's sun, surf, lifesavers and theme parks to the internationals, young families and the schoolies. When ever I do head to the Gold Coast area it always brings back lots of past memories. When I was 20 I came here for my honeymoon, with my ex Paul. Then when I was 40 I came here when my marriage was at an end, then in my 40's I came up here with my two kids, Shane and Rachel for our last family holiday, that is before they didn't want to hang out with Mum anymore!! And in between those times I have been up here numerous times to holiday and catch up with friends. So last night gave me my Gold Coast fix for a few more years. 

Australian Stockmans Hall of Fame - Longreach

Longreach for me is the true Outback Australia although it is talked about in the tourist brochures as being the gateway to the Outback. It is quite a big town and doesn't have the dying town feel even though it has been in a severe drought for about the past 5 years. Driving around the area it's fairly obvious there is a drought, everywhere is so so dry. Rivers and creeks are just full of dust instead of water. Longreach's river the Thompson River only has an 18km stretch of water left. 

Yes there is a drought here

The Australian Stockmans Hall of Fame was one of the reasons we wanted to visit Longreach. This amazing attraction pays tribute to Australia's pioneering legends, the Royal Flying Doctor Service and outlines our Outback history. It includes some amazing artifices, electronic displays, films and photography. We paid a little extra to see an Outback show that included outback horsemanship, the way dogs work the sheep and general outback stuff. I would really recommend the Australian Stockmans Hall of Fame as it really gives us city slickers a glimpse into what the early Aussies had to go through to get this country it is as we know it today.