Northern New South Wales

  

It is said, what goes around comes around, and this is true in our case. After eleven months of travelling around the coast of Australia we have made it back around to where we started our journey. The northern part of New South Wales boasts some of the most beautiful beaches and countryside in the whole country.

After crossing the border we spent a few glorious days in Tweed Heads and went straight to the beach.

There were plenty of surfers out trying to catch the perfect wave, and although we were tempted to join them we decided to play it safe and stuck to surfing on dry land. We then headed further south to Mullumbimby, Brunswick Heads and Grafton. Every November the town of Grafton hosts their annual Jacaranda Festival.

The streets are lined with Jacaranda trees showing off their beautiful, colourful foliage and folks come from near and far to witness this annual event. Bob and brother Ray took us on a trip down memory lane where they visited their old homestead in the country. The old house is still in pretty good shape and the current occupants invited us for a look around the place. Although there have been a few changes the place was pretty much as they remembered including the old "swimming hole" where they used to while away the hours on hot summer days.

Just outside the town of Mullumbimby is an amazing place called the "Crystal Castle". It is a place of rare beauty and tranquility with its many gardens, maizes and resting places where one can sit and meditate.

They specialize in crystals and gemstones of every shape, size and colour imaginable and is truly a place worth visiting. And so, as we come to the end of our amazing adventure around Australia we will take back home memories and photos of a trip of a lifetime. As someone famous once said, no matter where life takes you always remember that the "joy is in the journey".

Rockhampton &1770

The flora and fauna in Australia is absolutely amazing. These cute little rainbow lorikeets are always looking for a treat and are very friendly. The unusual looking camp stove was made out of an old propane bottle and you can almost bet that Bob will try and make one when we come home.
The city of Rockhampton is know as the beef capital of Australia and this is no "bull"! In fact they are all over town. While there we visited their amazing botanical gardens and wildlife sanctuary where we saw this handsome dingo.  On the way down the coast we spent a couple days bush camping on the banks of a river.
Bob found this cute little old house and thought we should buy it but, it needed a bit of work so I had to say no deal! We then went on to the town of 1770 which was discovered by Captain James Cook in 1770, hence the name. We spent a week with family in the town of Woodgate, where we spotted several Emu foraging in the cane fields. Although we didn't take any photos there are always heaps of kangaroos around feeding on the neighbourhood lawns. Bob also tried a bit of fishing on the beach with brother Alan but all they netted where a few bait fish. Now we are in the town of Maroochydore in a lovely campground on the beach. We had a cute little visitor last night who found himself a cozy little spot in one of our skylights. He got a little camera shy after I took his photo and scurried off up a tree. You never know what you are going to find here.

Whitsunday's & Airlie Beach

Things just keep getting better and better as we go along. Airlie Beach is the sparkling jewel and main centre of the Whitsunday coast. The hills surrounding the town offer views to die for and are peppered with four star resorts and accommodations. Our gorgeous and delightful niece and nephew showed us around town and encouraged us to take a sailing adventure aboard the famous racing yacht "Ragamuffin". Maxi Ragamuffin launched in 1979 as Bumblebee 4 started her racing life with outright line honours in that year's Sydney to Hobart race. In 1983 she was renamed Ragamuffin and set about making her mark in Australia by winning race after race many years running. She is a spectacular 80ft (24 metre) racing yacht and is Big & Fast!
We boarded the yacht early on a beautiful sunny, windy day and headed out to Whitehaven Beach for a picnic lunch on the beach. Stretching like a pure-white ribbon beside a sea of crystal turquoise water, Whitehaven Beach is stunning and considered one of the top 10 beaches in the world. After being shuttled ashore by tender we spent two glorious hours lounging ashore and swimming in the crystal clear waters and then enjoyed a yummy picnic lunch. Then it was back on board for the journey home under full sail. What a thrilling ride. It was one of the days that we will always look back on and smile. This laid back tropical lifestyle is definitely addictive and seducing.

Bowen &Whitsundays

After spending a week at Kurrimine Beach we headed south back to Townsville to spend a few days with cousin Stephen and family. Stephen is the owner/skipper of a huge prawn boat and kept us supplied with some of the biggest and best prawns we have ever had. Him and wife Leanne have a lovely big property outside of Townsville. Even the local peacocks like to come for a visit and the "big puppy" doesn't seem to mind them coming around. We stopped for a few days in the town of Bowen which has a huge shipping jetty and is blessed with beautiful beaches and great fishing. Today Bowen has been placed firmly on the international map following the filming of the epic movie, "Australia", starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman. More than 700 head of shorthorn cattle and 33 stock and quarter horses also featured in the film.
They learnt their moves at the Bowen Turf Club grounds. The area was transformed into a 1930's town through the addition of tonnes of red dirt and temporary buildings. The film attracted over 22,000 visitors from all over Australia and world wide. The film generated casual employment of 98 volunteers and 600 people cast as extras for the movie. The film was released on the big screen in late 2008.