Dec 2008

We decided to try and find Leanne & Ben, our old next door neighbours from Byers Road in Midland. We couldn’t believe that we had stopped just 12kms from their door! We plotted a course to their place and arrived to find Leanne doing her amazing makeover on a 60s lounge and completing the new covers for the lounge. These are the current “antiques” of the now Sydneysiders and she is making a living out of doing these up and selling them on ebay. We couldn’t believe the prices these things were fetching in Sydney. Perhaps we should go home now and start finding some to fix up and sell on ebay…

They had a gorgeous little old holiday house along the end of a quiet little point dotted with lovely canalside (on one side of the street) and lakeside (on the other side of their street) properties. At the very end of their point was a 1km walk right to the end of the point that was doggy heaven. We couldn’t believe the lovely relaxed lifestyle that could be had being just an hour from Sydney. The area is a mix of dodgy holiday homes, shacks, tacky 60s and 70s McMansions and a few new McMansions all jumbled in the same street. Its really strange that the last 50kms or so, this is pretty much the norm around this part of the world. I guess it’s a throwback from being originally a beachside holiday destination, to now being a place where retirees and commuters live due to the better lifestyle (if you do consider driving more than 1 hour to get to work a great lifestyle choice). But I guess that’s Sydney for you!

Leanne took us for a drive around the area and then out to the shop that they had a few kms away. Ben was working in the store and had had a good days trade despite it being Christmas eve. Leanne then took us through to Terrigal and Avoca Beach, both very pretty holiday destinations and trendy beachside residential areas.

We then went home to catch up with Ben, and to get ready for Santa’s visit to Chittaway Bay River. Midget had a ball playing stick and walking to the point, and we enjoyed a lovely drink or three on their jetty awaiting Santa to throw us some chrissy lollies!

We then enjoyed a lovely BBQ on the deck overlooking the water, listening to the crickets and the total peace and quiet. What a great lifestyle they lead!

midget was standing on Leanne while she was trying to fish midget's stick out of the water

Stayed off the highway as much as possible and kept close to the water, of which there is a lot around this neck of the woods. I can see why many eastern staters have never left this side of the country. Apart from the marauding crowds during the holidays, there is lots of bush, national parks and waterways to keep you wondering why they don’t have any water, but I guess that’s another story.

Arrived at Newcastle and were surprised how beautiful it was. Found our way to the old part of town, and the now refurbished wharf area. They’d done a fabulous job of restoring a few heritage buildings and building lots of high rise apartment buildings and lots of great looking eating places. It has a real Fremantle feel about it. What a happening place. Took a drive on out to the lighthouse and then through the amazing oldest part of town with their amazing terraced houses clung to the sides of hills overlooking the town and port. It has a real industrial feel, but still a cultured side with the venues, and facilities that lay along the waters’ edge. Enjoyed our wanderings around.

We then followed the endless lakes down to The Entrance. This place is a bygone era of NSW holiday destination. Now a very popular Sydneysider-Muslim holiday destination. The town has one or two remaining heritage buildings, including the lovely Entrance Pub, and the old original boat hire shop. There was one or two other classic 1930s period buildings including the Surf Lifesaving building, but everything else grand has long since been destroyed, and replace with a lovely photograph on a board at the front of the property with the abomination of a building replacing it slapping you in the face. Its quite depressing walking round seeing what the town would have otherwise has looked like. Now its filled with horrid 60s and 70s high rise apartment buildings with no redeeming features and generally making an eyesore out of the town. It was however on a lovely lake, and we drove further round the lake side to find a quiet spot to nestle for the night.

Had a relaxing day in Port Macquarie. Steve tried in vain to track down some heritage buildings but most are lost forever. Really sad. Left and went via Taree. The toilet dump points are getting few and far between in NSW. There are not many here at all. Arrived in Forster. We cant believe the endless towns perched up and down the coast. They all have the most amazing beaches, cliffs and views at every turn. I do have the say this coastline is an amazing place.

Decided to go and watch the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race depart from Sydney Harbour on boxing day... Better get a move on...

Got an early start and took breakfast at a lovely little café in the centre of town. Then wandered out to the markets down at the harbour. A great little spot under large shady trees. There was also a great Yacht Club and marina as well as dog beaches and a really friendly environment to all. Another nice spot.

Decided to move on to Nambucca Heads. Another great little spot surrounded by lovely white sandy beaches, lovely inlet and green grassy hills. A busy little holiday town.

Next we drove through Kempsey. Birth place of Slim Dusty. A sad faded little town with a pie shop professing to selling 50 different pies. I chose the beef burgundy which was really average. They did have kangaroo and crocodile but I didn’t pluck up the courage to try one.

Another 50kms down the road was Port Macquarie. A sad historical town where repeat offenders were first sent to manufacture lime. Apparently they were permanently scarred by the burns to their hands and eyes and most of the historical buildings dating from 1821 are gone. There is just one canon remaining from Goal Point as back then it was only accessibly by sea so it was a sad place with a bad history. But you have to look hard to find these signs to the past. Today it’s a thriving well designed metropolis with nice apartment buildings lining the grassy well treed hills and rocky outcrops lining the entrance to the heads. A very pleasant overall appearance and well made streets, manicured gardens and lots of trees around the town.

Had a slow and relaxing start to the day at our usual café. Boy what a busy place. Then we moved on to the new pie shop that opened today. Wow what pies!!! They are twice the size of normal pies and at under $6 are great value for money. We were stuffed after our Seafood Mornay and Lamb with Mint Sauce and Gravy – whew… need a walk now…

Needed to get on the way now as we were meeting Mum and Dad at Ulmarra a gorgeous heritage town just down the road. They are no their way to Melbourne to beat the heat in Noosa, and house sit their friends house in Melbourne. So we sauntered the 20kms or so down the road, and arrived a few minutes before mum and dad. Midget was really happy to see them. She bounded up and down the pavement and wiggled the bottom nearly off. We had coffee at the closest café and she partook of scones, jam and cream – wearing some of the cream…

So they were in a hurry to head off and get to their next destination, Coffs Harbour. So we wandered around the town. The pub was just gorgeous and they’d done a fabulous renovation to the pub and opened up the back out to the gorgeous shaded and grassy area that rolled right down to the river.

This is a really lovely spot. Great shops and art galleries. Really enjoyable to hang around here.

Decided to head on ourselves. Only 13kms from Grafton, we sauntered into the southern part of the town. Lovely tree lined streets and stunning old timber houses. Nice spot.

Next stop was Woolgoolga back on the coast. Lovely beach and coast. The beginning of NSW’s first Marine Park encompassing 80kms of protected coastline. Really windy but pretty. Decided we were only a few kms from Coffs Harbour and should catch up again with mum and dad and join them for dinner. Headed to their amazing large and fabulous RSL for dinner. They even had a Drivers License scanner to save you having to sign in. Wow what next! Had quite a bit of rain, so enjoyed the coolness and rugged up for a pleasantly cool night.

Clocked up 18,274kms according to Travellers Point.