We have left a lot more socialised, a few kilos heavier (bound to happen when you have 15 days straight of lunch and dinner out) but tired and wanting the freedom of our travelling life. However, it was truly great to catch up with so many friends and family members and meet the new additions.
Sydney, one of the best cities in the world (not that we are biased) , has one of the most picturesque harbours too. Our reason for stopping back in Sydney again, the wedding after 17 years of courtship for Kellie and Dean, was aboard a boat.
The happy couple- finally!
The lights of Sydney provided the backdrop as we cruised the harbour and soaked up the familiar sights of our home town. The images and fun time we had will certainly last us for the next leg of our journey.
Having left Sydney we stopped on the Central Coast to catch up with my brother and family. With 3 little girls the visit was fun, but full on!
Kayla, Leisa & Aneika (nieces) having a tea party in the camper
Monday morning , time for kindy and school and our goodbye. As the road headed north of Newcastle, the buildings thinned out to be replaced by scrub and open pastures. We were ‘home’ once again. The sun was shining and we soon reached one of our favourite spots- Diamond Head Camp Ground in the Crowdy Head National Park. Nestled in the shadow of the Three Brothers Mountains, metres from the ocean the campsite is always grassy, with a smattering of Paperbark trees to provide shade. Mind you, it is a wonder that so much grass abounds, as the number of kangaroos that hang out all day is amazing!
Joey, playing near our camper
I wasn’t so enthralled by the HUGE goannas, but it was entertaining to see Dave leap ten feet in the air as one tried to jump for our rubbish bag.
During WWII, the author Kylie Tennant lived in a small timber hut on Diamond Head. She was taken with the beauty as we too are. It is not just the prolific wildlife, but the sweeping beaches (with pods of dolphins!), rugged headland formations, rainforest pockets, wetlands and coastal heath that has us so entranced.
Author Kylie Tennant's hut
Edging further up the coast, it appears the ‘scenery with personality’ is not unique to the Crowdy Head area. As we passed through North Haven, Bonny Hills and Lake Cathie we were similarly impressed. But our destination was Port Macquarie, to spend a couple of nights with Helen and David. Neither of us can remember holidaying at Port Macquarie, but we were certainly impressed. The foreshore is dotted with secret bays, giving many beach options depending on the swell.
Secret bay near lighthouse, Port Macquarie
The town is in a growth phase, complete with ‘The Glasshouse’. A state of the art theatre centre, it actually sent the council broke. Administrators were called in and for a time, Port Macquarie had no representatives at any level of government. However, like the Opera House, it will no doubt be appreciated in years to come.
Getting cosy with the locals, Port Macquarie
Our host Helen volunteers at the Koala Hospital and we found ourselves joining her tour to meet some of the ‘inmates’. Barry sat on his cushioned bough, ignoring us like the grumpy old man that he is. Birthday Girl is older, but she delighted in the attention- well why not, she looks very good for her age. Kaylee was asleep, drunk on a feed of leaf, but Bea was my favourite- lapping up her special milk, she had a playful look in her eye.
Bea having a snack
The rain persisted night and day, and we were glad to be in a house. It is still raining now, but we have moved onto Trial Bay, near South West Rocks. For now we are cosy in the camper, but are looking forward to exploring the 1886 gaol and National Park areas.
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