We arrived here yesterday after spending 3 days at Port Macquarie. The trip there from Morisset probably took a bit longer than expected, as there are roadworks everywhere at the moment on the Pacific Hwy. They say in 4 years time when they are completed it will be dual highway all the way to Coffs Harbour and beyond.
Port Macquarie is a huge town. It is situated right on the ocean, and is probably a small version of Geelong. We went for a walk along the breakwater, right in the shopping precinct, and there are several hundred metres where the rocks have been painted, obviously by hundreds of tourists, all with their own messages. Some in memorium messages, and others of happiness and friendship. They
make a really cool addition to what is normally a boring breakwater.
After a quick stroll around the town, it was back to the van for a bit of R & R. It was actually quite hot, being in the mid 30s, so we both made our way to the pool to cool off. It was just as well there was a sign on the gate prohibiting the use of the water slide by adults as it looked so inviting. I can let you know though, that, even though it was a small slide, Deb still got up heaps of speed, ok, so did I, but just once........
The following day was a bit cooler, so we decided to go and check out the area. Our first port of call was to Tacking Point Lighthouse. It is a bit smaller than your standard, everyday, lighthouse but it is actually the 3rd oldest lighthouse in Australia. From there you do get a good view of the surrounding beaches, with most of them being surf beaches.
We continued along, and through the area known as the Camden Haven area. It basically consists of several small coastal towns being Lake Cathie, Bonny Hills, North Haven and Laurieton. They are all very pretty little towns, much the same as you would find along the Great Ocean Road. They all have caravan parks, motels and the like and are supposedly incredibly busy during the high season. We came across the Motor Cyclist Christmas toy run during our drive, with several hundred bikers taking part.
We stopped at Laurieton for a coffee, with the intention of going out and checking out the historical pilot station. The coffee was great but when we got to the pilot station it was closed. It is only open by appointment. Be nice if the tourist brochure told us that.
Next stop was to the little mountain town of Kew. We headed to the Information centre, just to get a photo of the BIG AXE. The Info centre had no information relating to the axe, but, being a big forestry area, I think we can work it out. We then headed up to North Brother Mountain Lookout. It was such a pity that the weather had deteriorated over the day, as the view from up there was just awesome. Would have been incredible on a clear day. That was enough for the day so back to base.
Up early Sunday morning, oh well, maybe 8.30ish, and the weather was a bit more promising. We headed up the main street and strolled along the park area near the foreshore. There are heaps of koala statues around the town, so of course, got a photo of a couple of them and also of a very cool mural in the town. I know you would be disappointed if I didn't get at least one photo of a religious nature, so got a snap of the St. Agnes church, which is in the shopping centre.
Our next mission was to check out the Koala Hospital. They had a guided tour at 3pm so we headed out there. What a great place it was. They run the hospital along the same lines as a regular hospital. They have an intensive care area, an operating theatre and other areas where the injured koalas can recuperate. They even have a board with all of the patients listed, including when they arrived. It is quite sad really, as several of the koalas have been there for years, and will never leave. Lots of them have a particular koala eye disease called Chlamydiosis, with several there as a result of car accidents and dog attacks. Several of them are totally blind and they can often be seen walking on the ground, in their safe enclosures. Koala Fact: They eat half kilo of leaves a day and sleep up to 18 hours a day. A must visit attraction if you are ever in the area.
We left Port Macquarie on Monday morning en route to Coffs Harbour. It is only about 150 k's, but there is just a huge amount of roadworks on the way. You are constantly going from 40, 50, 60 and occasionally up to 80 KPH. Will be good when it is finished. Anyway, we arrived at the Clog Barn Caravan Park in Coffs Harbour. This park is dutch themed, with a great little dutch village set up behind the office. The work that has gone into these models is fantastic. We were greeted by what looked like a scrub turkey, which seems to live in the vicinity of our caravan site.
Got up Tuesday morning and headed up to the little village, as I had been told that there are lizards there in the mornings. What a great sight it was. There were Water Dragons, lizards to the uninitiated, in the village, with several of them sitting on the roofs of the models. The longest one, about 1 metre, was attempting to camouflage himself in the flower garden. Of course, my imagination got away from me, and I could imagine the scene in a dinosaur movie of the lizards attacking a village. Godzilla all over again. Yes, I know, get back on track here.
Next on our agenda was a trip to the Butterfly house. It is about 12 k's from Coffs Harbour but well worth a visit. Apart from the fact that you feel like you are stepping into a sauna. Similar to the Melbourne zoo Butterfly house. I actually got a really good photo of the Ulysses butterfly. The only one in the enclosure. The brilliant blue is just so beautiful. I have attached a photo of it, just sitting on the leaf, when it is just another ugly brown butterfly, and then it flutters it wings and gives you that brilliant flash of blue. Awesome. I had one of the orange butterflies attach himself to my back in an attempt to escape from the enclosure, but Deb was onto him. I even got a photo of a new arrival at the enclosure, with its wings still wet and not totally flattened out yet. Butterfly fact:: They can fly up to 55kph, live from several days to several months, depending on the species and to improve your knowledge, moths rest with their wings open while butterflies rest with their wings together.
The town of Uranga was next on the agenda. I had to visit The Honey Place. There was a small beehive behind glass to observe, as well as a short video. I know what you are thinking, how boring was that, but it was actually really interesting. The life of the poor old bee is pretty tough. Newborn bees are put to work within 60 seconds of being born, and go through stages within the hive from cleaner, gatherer of pollen, cooling or exhaust fan bees and finally protectors of the hive from intruders. A pretty tough life. The honey tasted great though.
The town itself is really quite small, but typical of all coastal villages. It has a great 1200 metre boardwalk through the mangroves. We checked out a couple of crab habitats along the walk, with some really queer crabs with only 1 pincer. A couple were getting ready for a fight to the death, probably over the little girly crab nearby, but we just didn't have to time to watch.
It was then back to the van for a well deserved rest. Whilst sitting under the awning we saw a couple of really pretty birds just near the rear of the van. Of course, they wouldn't sit in the ideal photography position, so I just had to stalk them with the lens through the branches of the trees. A neighbour thinks they were a breed of kingfisher. Either way, they were very pretty.
Anyway folks, that is all for now. Yes, I know, I said I would try to make it shorter, but my fingers just do the walking on the keyboard. They have a mind of their own.
Barry and Deb.
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