Could we top the excitment of yesterday? Perhaps it wasn't necessary because we had all slid into the vacation mode and felt very relaxed today!
We packed the tents, said goodbye to this beautiful spot then drove into Coffs to have a quick look around. We parked at the marina and wandered through trinket shops then stocked up on seafood and sushi before hitting the road north.
Lunch was at a roadside stop close to Grafton and Iluka was about an hour further up the road. We were booked in at Anchorage Caravan Park and the welcome was wonderful. Tents up, it was hotter than it has been so I took the kids to the pool while Terri and Gavin chilled...
When I got back, Gavin had gone paddling so I caught up and joined him. We challenged ourselves to make the seaward point which was quite a challenge because Gavin's kayak was taking on water. He struggled on and we were rewarded by a visit by five dolphins!!
Back at camp the kids had been relaxing with DS's and were now playing madly with a gang of kids on the playground. Terri was concocting an amazing feast with the seafood and we gratefully sat down to dinner.
Monday, April 5, 2010
April 4th
This was the day Amber had waited for. We were going to the Porpoise Pool where she was booked in to swim with dolphins. We were woken by Kate who had bee anxious to see what the Eater Bunny brought. They were both plensantly suprised. First up we managed to talk the kids into a early morning walk to the point where we had espyed a cairn of some point.
Across a wooden bridge and up along a windy ridge, and we came out on a grassy cliff. The sign appeared to be a survey marker adorned with ancient chains. In the wind, it was hard to keep upright and we kept our distance from the cliff edges. Back along a goat track which led to the beach, we stopped to skim rocks then arrived back at camp in time for delicious Easter pancakes cooked expertly by Terri.
We all jumped in one car and headed for the dolphin attraction for about 10.30. Amber had to check in at 10.45, so we wandered around seeing the various pools. There was less here to see than I had imagined, and the pools seemed awfully small for dolphins so I felt a little uneasy. The up side was, there was an almost endless opportunity for interaction during the day which we all enjoyed. From dolphin kisses and seal kisses to hand feeding opportunities, it was a wonderful place to connect with these amazing creatures.
Amber entered the pool with three other children at 11am. They met Bella the dolphin and stroked her tummy, fed her treats, brushed her teeth and even played ball. Amber was on the verge of squealing at every moment, and we were able to be only a few feet from her, watching the whole thing. Although the interaction was tame on an adult scale, Amber was absolutely estatic and it was a joy to watch.
Amber was on a high the rest of the day as watched the dolphin show, followed the baby dolphin around the pool and recieved numerous kisses. Although this attraction is old and a bit tired, the kids don't see this part, and it is well worth a visit.
We were all rather tired when we stopped at the Big Banana on the way back to camp. Perhaps it was this that gave us an impression which wasn't all together favourable. The attractions here certainly are varied... taboggan rides, ice-skating, walking trails, candy making demonstrations and the world's largest puzzle, to name a few...
Back home some of us hit the sack for a nana nap and Amber and I took to the beach. She played and I read my book... a beautiful stir-fry ended the day and it certainly was one we will remember for a long time!
Across a wooden bridge and up along a windy ridge, and we came out on a grassy cliff. The sign appeared to be a survey marker adorned with ancient chains. In the wind, it was hard to keep upright and we kept our distance from the cliff edges. Back along a goat track which led to the beach, we stopped to skim rocks then arrived back at camp in time for delicious Easter pancakes cooked expertly by Terri.
We all jumped in one car and headed for the dolphin attraction for about 10.30. Amber had to check in at 10.45, so we wandered around seeing the various pools. There was less here to see than I had imagined, and the pools seemed awfully small for dolphins so I felt a little uneasy. The up side was, there was an almost endless opportunity for interaction during the day which we all enjoyed. From dolphin kisses and seal kisses to hand feeding opportunities, it was a wonderful place to connect with these amazing creatures.
Amber entered the pool with three other children at 11am. They met Bella the dolphin and stroked her tummy, fed her treats, brushed her teeth and even played ball. Amber was on the verge of squealing at every moment, and we were able to be only a few feet from her, watching the whole thing. Although the interaction was tame on an adult scale, Amber was absolutely estatic and it was a joy to watch.
Amber was on a high the rest of the day as watched the dolphin show, followed the baby dolphin around the pool and recieved numerous kisses. Although this attraction is old and a bit tired, the kids don't see this part, and it is well worth a visit.
We were all rather tired when we stopped at the Big Banana on the way back to camp. Perhaps it was this that gave us an impression which wasn't all together favourable. The attractions here certainly are varied... taboggan rides, ice-skating, walking trails, candy making demonstrations and the world's largest puzzle, to name a few...
Back home some of us hit the sack for a nana nap and Amber and I took to the beach. She played and I read my book... a beautiful stir-fry ended the day and it certainly was one we will remember for a long time!
April 3
What a fabulous day! I lie in my bed, with Amber snuggled up at my side and it was just one of those days I had to feel thankful. My best friends and I have been swapping stories around the campfire and we almost mae it to 10pm! That's extremely late for camping.. even though it's NSW time and at home it's only 9!
We woke leisurely this morning to the intermittent sound of the pump, punctuated by bird calls. After weetbix and tea we slowly packed adn picked the owner's brains before we drove away. Nimbin is only 15km down the road and none of us have ever been there so we bet each other how many time we would be offered illegal substances, and headed off.
We drove through colourful streets where the locals matched the shop facades. Parking just through town we wandered back to the info centre and received expert advice about what to do in the area with kids. When we asked "where's good place to eat with kids?" the answer was, "you can't escape the smoking... this is Nimbin!". The original Rainbow cafe was recommended for lunch and it didn't disapoint. Staff and patrons were very friendly and the food was organic and excelent. This establishment is a co-op and established in 1973. In the gardens, a sandpit awaits little ones and nachos and smoothies hit the spot.
Also recommended came the candle factory, in the old butter factory building. This was an unexpected treat. When we arrived, the owner was busily ironing his candles (yes really!) which gives them a shine and smoothes the edges... he volunteered to show us the other candle-making processes and we really enjoyed learning about parafin by-products and watching how the wicks are lowered in to vats of hot wax (with heavy drips adorning the outsides).
It was quite a drive from here to Coffs Harbour so we got a wiggle on through Lismore,Woodburn and Grafton. We were staying at Moonee Beach, just 12km north of Coffs and this turned out to be a hidden secret well worth finding. The beautiful inlet welcomed us just as Lawree the owner did (with kids' colouring packs). We picked a spot well away from others (suprising at Easter) under shady trees then took our foling chairs and a beer to the beach and watch the kids play. Gavin and I took a short walk out to the ocean which was lovely in the early evening light.
Meatballs, an open fire and roasting marshmallows wrapped up a beautiful day. Amber wrote a note from the Easter Bunny for Kate (who is a veliever, and we settled in for the night.
We woke leisurely this morning to the intermittent sound of the pump, punctuated by bird calls. After weetbix and tea we slowly packed adn picked the owner's brains before we drove away. Nimbin is only 15km down the road and none of us have ever been there so we bet each other how many time we would be offered illegal substances, and headed off.
We drove through colourful streets where the locals matched the shop facades. Parking just through town we wandered back to the info centre and received expert advice about what to do in the area with kids. When we asked "where's good place to eat with kids?" the answer was, "you can't escape the smoking... this is Nimbin!". The original Rainbow cafe was recommended for lunch and it didn't disapoint. Staff and patrons were very friendly and the food was organic and excelent. This establishment is a co-op and established in 1973. In the gardens, a sandpit awaits little ones and nachos and smoothies hit the spot.
Also recommended came the candle factory, in the old butter factory building. This was an unexpected treat. When we arrived, the owner was busily ironing his candles (yes really!) which gives them a shine and smoothes the edges... he volunteered to show us the other candle-making processes and we really enjoyed learning about parafin by-products and watching how the wicks are lowered in to vats of hot wax (with heavy drips adorning the outsides).
It was quite a drive from here to Coffs Harbour so we got a wiggle on through Lismore,Woodburn and Grafton. We were staying at Moonee Beach, just 12km north of Coffs and this turned out to be a hidden secret well worth finding. The beautiful inlet welcomed us just as Lawree the owner did (with kids' colouring packs). We picked a spot well away from others (suprising at Easter) under shady trees then took our foling chairs and a beer to the beach and watch the kids play. Gavin and I took a short walk out to the ocean which was lovely in the early evening light.
Meatballs, an open fire and roasting marshmallows wrapped up a beautiful day. Amber wrote a note from the Easter Bunny for Kate (who is a veliever, and we settled in for the night.
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