Day 20: Never Never Land

It's a shame we're only at YHA Bellingen for 1 night, it would be good to hang out here and chill out, but we have to move on. Despite not getting to bed until 11pm 12.30 for Rob - really late for us these days), Tom awake and ready at 630am. While Rob and Sarah sleep on, we are down for breakfast at 7ish and have the hostel to ourselves. It's very peaceful though quite chilly at 10 deg after the clear night. For this regio, gateway to the subtropical coast, average daily temp in summer is 27 and in "winter" it's 19 deg, think I could quite happily live with that. Sitting out on the verandah, looking out over the trees below, it would have been lovely to hang out here for a few days. Think I am still on a bit of a high after the moonlight canoe trip, it was one of the loveliest things I have ever done. The water was so warm falling into it wouldn't have the same affect as falling into the Corrib in Galway in November. (In uni days, I joined the Canoe club for 2 months, not very successfully, had to be rescued after capsizing past O'Briens bridge!) People slowly begin to turn up and the kitchen gets busy with all sorts making their breakfast. There are all sorts, a London family with a girl of about 9, a chap with a silk shirt with multi coloured fishes, complete with hat with feather at 90 deg (really wish I could have taken a picture but that would have been rude, think Russell Brand), a really pongy crusty woman. I felt like a Jedi as I could sense her "presence", as they say Jesus wept, it takes all sorts, maybe she has some issue about soap being unethical, but she stank. Her boyfriend sat in the corner looking really miserable and never saying a word. It's our last stay ay YHA and I've really enjoyed staying at them, great people watching opportunities and each hostel had it's own feel. Apollo Bay and Bellingen get my vote.

Tom has taken an interest in chess this holiday and had laid out the board with all the pieces for a game with me, to my shame I don't know how to play so he had to wait until Rob showed up. The game goes well until Tom has been reduced to his last piece and storms off declaring he will never ever play chess again! Peace soon restored as Tom and Sarah take turns in a hammock and then it's time to bid farewell to our hippy home.

Along the way we stop off at Never Never Creek for a quick paddle, even Tom thinks it's too cold for a dip! it's about 12km from Bellingen along a windy (fun to drive) road. What a great name, we went along "Promised Land Road" to get here. Unfortunately we don't delay too long as the mosquitos are out in force. The kids haven't been affected much if at all this holiday but poor Rob has had a few nasty bites.










Bit more of a drive to Nambucca Heads and a picnic lunch with views over the river outlet/sand islands.







Looking down on this from a viewpoint




And around the corner from the "Captain Cook Lookout" viewpoint we spot this beach.



So drive down and spend the afternoon there on Shelly Beach. Tom as ever spends all his time in the water. Sarah tires more easily of the water and has a little nap on the beach. I actually get to read a few chapters of "The Slap". It's set in Melbourne so it's an appropriate read for the holiday.










Australia has got stunning beaches, golden sand, deep blue sea, nice breakers, peaceful. Anywhere along this stretch of coast you could happily stop and spend a few days. I thought we might make a few more stops, but we would just be exchanging one amazing location for another. The sand is so fine, it 'squeaks' when you walk on it, weird.

Along the drive we seem to cross river after, river. The waterways are really wide, no shortage of water here (you'd think). On to Port Macquarie for a nights stay and a giant steak. The town was tranquil, family friendly for late night eating (kinda like Spain if you know what I mean) and the perfect temp. Unfortunately we didn't find out about the lunar eclipse until it was too late. Pity really as it would have been the perfect night for it. By the time we got out of the restaurant it was all over. Needless to say the town had more beautiful beaches and seemed to be full of people taking it easy.

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