It was a very long flight here 14 hours, since we had not had much sleep we were very tired and just hung around the hotel for the day. We went swimming and we also went on a walk to target, it is amazing how big it is compered to ours, IT EVEN HAS FOOD THERE!
After a very long day we went and had an early dinner at Denny’s then we went back to the hotel for the night. A busy day tomorrow Disney Land here we come😁🎡.

Holly

Had a huge day of driving today woke up early and headed off towards home. Kids travelled so well that we made it past Gundagai which was initially where we were going to stop. Holly jumped out of the car for a quick pic of the famous Dog on a Tuckerbox.

We made it to Albury shortly after. Because it was dinner time and dark we treated ourselves to a motel stay at the Commercial Golf Club Motor Inn. Adam hit the jackpot the lady was so helpful and friendly, rooms were so clean and quite large, all the kids getting their OWN bed which Max was happy about after sharing with Sam for so many weeks. All round great value for money. We had a delicious meal from the local Thai Restaurant. If we weren’t so tired we could have headed into the golf club and had a dabble on the pokies.
Exhausted and everyone slept extremely well. 😴

Sadly our time was over at Coffs Harbour and we said our farewells to Tam, Melissa and families. What an awesome relaxing week we all had. It was nice to just relax and catch up. We stayed at the park for the free pancakes and a Coffee then hit the road to Port Macquarie. We arrived just in time for the footy. 😢😁. What a terrible performance from Sydney, Hawthorn worthy winners playing so well. (Hope you had a great day Traits!).
Holly and Sam hired a Go Cart and we also played some netball, finally a park with a ring.
Me and Holly took a trip into Port Macquarie to get some lunch. The beach looks beautiful hopefully tomorrow we will head down there and check it out.
Our Park is ok not kept all that well, but backs onto the Hastings River with a jetty perfect for fishing. Straight after the footy match Adam did some fishing and caught a really good sized bream.
Early to bed tonight.

Would have been a much better day if we had finished winners…😔

Today was our last day at Coffs Harbor. While Harry, Romero and I went looking for lizards we heard commotion back at the caravan. My younger cousin Kaine had caught a Eastern Water Dragon, it was a big one. He was crazy picking it up. As he was showing everybody it went nuts and tried to get away but because Kaine didn’t let it go it bite his arm and wouldn’t let go. Everyone was freaking out except Kaine. Dad tried to get it off by blowing on his face and hitting it with a ruler. Then dad told Kaine to lower his arm to the ground and when he did that, the lizard scattered away.
He has a bite on his arm but it was ok. Romero fainted when he was watching it happen. Kaine will never pick up a lizard like that again I think.
We then went looking for more reptiles and we saw a lace monitor, more water dragons and a snake. We don’t know what kind of snake it was it was yellow and black.
We played water balloons in the afternoon but I didn’t because I didn’t want to get wet.!! Holly hired a
Go kart and shared it with Christian and Sam.
That night the park had a movie on the big screen it was ‘Frozen’ I didn’t go because it is a girls movie and I don’t like it but Sam and Holly love it.

Today was a rainy morning so we lounged around in our pj’s and started the day pretty slowly.
Adam went fishing and caught some good size brim off the surf. He had the walkie talkie so we all rushed down to see him. The kids ended up going for a swim and because we hadn’t prepared ourselves some swam in their clothes, some in undies and we even had one butt nude which was very funny. They all had a great time in the surf. We also saw some dolphins swimming right by in the shallow waters. The beach backing onto the park is beautiful.
After lunch we went for a drive to Woolgoolga, we went to the point which had a beautiful lookout over the ocean. We saw two whales about 30 meters from the shore which was the closest we have seen them on this trip. It was amazing how quickly they passed by. We ended up seeing quite a few over the afternoon but they were more in the distance.
On the way back through Woolgoolga we saw a ‘White Salt’ fish and chip shop so we pulled over. And to our surprise it was the same owner that opened White Salt at Cape Woollamai, he had moved up to Northern NSW and after seeing a write up in the local paper he has a very successful business, right opposite the beach and caravan park. It wasn’t opened but looking in the window we could see him working in the kitchen and he looked exactly the same (😍😜).
Another relaxing day and early to bed.

Today it was Holly’s 10th birthday so it was an early start at 5:40am she was very excited. After opening her presents we all drove into Coffs Harbour to the Dolphin Magic Marine Park.
It was excellent, we started with a seal kiss and a dolphin kiss. The interaction with the animals at this park is pretty amazing so up close. We were very lucky for the presentation as we were right up the front/middle couldn’t have got any better seats.
The dolphins and seals are super intelligent animals doing everything that hey were told. There was a dolphin pool were the dolphins were free to do as they like between performances and this one dolphin just wanted to play and kept throwing the ball to passing people who would throw it back. He was playing fetch for a couple of hours.
Holly got a pretty cool tattoo of a dolphin on her arm.
After the park we drove into Coffs Harbor our timing was perfect a big fishing boat arrived and we watched them unload huge Marlins, yellow fin tuna, Wahoos and other fish.
When we arrived back in the park we had an afternoon game of Lawn Balls and then we celebrated Holly’s birthday with a chocolate cake.
We had a late night swim in the pool which was another request from the birthday girl. I enjoyed the hot
Spa instead it was very relaxing with Sam back in the van with Adam after a big day.
Everyone slept very well. 😴😴🎉

Last last two days have been really relaxing, haven’t seen much of the kids as they are riding and scootering around the park. Holly and Adam did a surf lesson this morning which was hilarious to watch. Holly did well catching a few waves and Adam improved throughout the lesson he took some big tumbles and managed to stand a few times but not sure he actually rode any waves. I’m sure his back will be suffering tomorrow.
The kids watch a reptile show this afternoon with lizards, snakes, frogs, turtles and a small salt water croc.
We all went out to dinner tonight for my birthday which was nice, just a meal at the park Restaurant. The big kids have taken to Table tennis this week it seems to be the big hit this holiday.
Lots of eating, drinking and relaxing the last few days which has been ace and even a sleep in this morning which hasn’t happened much. Think the late night swim/spa last night wore them out. Happy birthday to me !! Over and out !! 😴🎉

We arrived at Darlington Beach Holiday Resort. An awesome park. The biggest caravan sites we have ever come across. The park spans over 100 acres. It backs onto a surf beach has a rainforest and a 9 hole golf course. It also has heaps of kangaroos that just roam around. It’s now School holidays so there are kids everywhere, and no grey nomads. We thought it would be very noisy and hectic but because there is so much space at the park it has been really enjoyable seeing all these happy little faces.
We have meet up with Tam, Nick and kids, Melissa, Maximo and kids and our traveling buddies the Mollards. Kids are all having a ball together. We haven’t left the park yet, they are entertaining themselves in the pool, games room, jumping pillow and Sam and Jazz are loving the scooter.
Max’s foot is slowly recovering but
we are still pulling pieces of oyster shell from it so no wonder it is still hurting him. Thankfully for the antibiotics or I think we would have been in trouble.
It’s been a great couple of days just relaxing and catching up with the family. We had a game of lawn bowls today (also at the park). I think girls (Tam, Amanda, me) beat the boys (Nick, Adam, Gareth) if my memory is
correct ?!

Oh and Holly is loving getting cuddles from cousin Sienna! We think she is adorable !! 😍

Today was an eventful day. We watched the dolphins swim by as we were having breakfast. A perfect way to start the morning.

Max and Adam up early fishing.
Bear Grills made a home made bait trap and after placing it in the water cut his foot on an oyster shell on some rocks. He was very brave saying “he thinks he hurt his foot”. Adam and I nearly died when we looked and saw all the blood and the flesh on the inside of his foot. It was nasty….

We had to go to the next town Maclean to see a doctor as the doc at Iluka was not available on Fridays of course (country towns!). On the way we decided to look around the area. Iluka has a World Heritage Coastal National Park. This place is amazing and we can’t understand why it is so quiet. We drove along the beach which we have been trying to do all holidays but never having the right opportunity. It’s exciting putting the car in 4WD and clutching the dash, the kids were so excited. The beach was beautiful. It was a thrill and glad we survived it. If we had more time here we would have loved to do some surf fishing.

Arriving at Maclean it was a much larger town and really nice, Max’s foot was thoroughly cleaned, bandaged and his on antibiotics for a week because it’s wasn’t a very clean cut. He told the doctor he needed waterproof bandages as he had a bait trap to retrieve from the water!!!! She loved her fishing and listened to all his concerns 😄.
We stayed in town for morning tea. On the way back to Iluka we checked out Woody Point camping grounds in the Iluka National Park. It was so good right on the surf beach and so well maintained with perfect lawns, BBQ areas and wildlife everywhere. We definitely are coming back to this place.
We did a walk to Bluff Point lookout and so glad we did, as we saw 2 whales passing by. It was miles out so we couldn’t get a photo but we were excited. There were also heaps of Sea
Eagles flying above us.
Some more fishing in the afternoon and now watching the footy!!!
Go Swans !!!

This morning we arrived at a little town called Iluka. (Recommended by dad). Love it!! What a hidden paradise. Adam is in his element. Our van is on the river. Perfect world for everyone. I can supervise Max fishing on the bank while I’m lying on my bed relaxing.
Disappointed that we are only here for two days but we will make the most of it. It is so quiet.
We went for a walk into town along the side of the river which lead to the fish co-op for some fish and chips.
We have fished the afternoon away. We have seen a sting ray, turtle and Adam saw a dolphin. We are hoping to see more as supposedly they regularly swim by the park. It is nesting season for the ducks here as we have these tiny little ducklings visiting our camp site. They are so tiny and fluffy, I can’t believe Sam hasn’t tried to catch one yet.
We are still looking for that big catch only catching small bream and a tailor.
We watched a Beautiful sunset.
All we are missing is the boat so Adam keeps reminding me!
Coming back to this place in the future for sure!!!

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