Day - 51. Port Macquarie (2)

Port Macquarie was a penal settlement which was established in 1821.  It is named after the Governor of NSW, Lachlan Macquarie.  The older buildings were built by those convicts.  Australia's 5th oldest church is located here and still in use.  

The area is renowned for its oyster beds, seafood, fishing and boating.  

We walked along the marina today, and visited a shopping centre for dinner supplies.  By using our own kitchen and eating at "home" we save many $.  Tonight was lobster tails cooked in garlic, lemon juice and butter, plus vegetables.

Not far from the marina we saw a pod of dolphins frolicking in the water.

School sport activities included kayaking today.  The teacher was drenched by the students splashing him - same tricks by teenagers as in all schools !!!

This was the plane that could have taken us high above Port Macquarie.  Next time maybe !

The rock wall along the river at the caravan park.  Painted and decorated.

Many beaches in and around Port Macquarie.

This is where we are staying, on the top floor with the corner Windows.  It is a good location near the beaches, shops and restaurants.

Day - 50. Port Macquarie (1)

Left Coffs Harbour accommodation as quickly as possible, after we were fortunately able to arrange for an extra two days in our Port Macquarie apartment.  The Coffs Harbour room and surrounds was awful.

It was a three hour drive to Port Macquarie, but we made leisurely progress and diverted into Nambucca Heads to look around and have a delicious lunch looking over the sand and the river.

We have stayed in Port Macquarie before, and much about the city and surrounds is familiar.  There is much for us to do here.

View over the Nambucca River as it enters the ocean.

Nambucca Heads Tourist Park, which is clean and well planned.

Cabins overlooking the lake at the Nambucca Heads Tourist Park. 

Lunch overlooking the river at Nambucca Heads.

Day - 49. Coffs Harbour

Departed Ballina at 9.45 for the drive to Coffs Harbour, which is only about 250 km away.  Plenty of roadworks along the way, and we saw a decimated burnt out caravan loaded on the rear of a tow truck with police supervising.  Stopped at Grafton for a light lunch on the way.

We are now at Pacific Bay Terraces in Coffs Harbour, where we have a very average room with no cooking facilities.  Instead of the planned 3 nights here, we are only staying for one!  The photos below appear to show very glowing scenery, but in reality this place is very disappointing.

Daybreak at Ballina as we are up and getting ready to move on.

Reagan, Sandra and the two girls leaving to start their long journey home.  Photo taken from the top of our apartment about a kilometre away.

Restaurant at Pacific Bay Terraces, Coffs Harbour.  

Lakes and lawn dominate the resort which is built around a golf course and borders the ocean.

The apartment block with a view over a "lake". (actually a murky large pond with some lily pads and ducks)

Day - 48. Ballina (7)

This is our last day at Ballina.  In preparation for the travelling tomorrow there was washing of clothes, shopping for dinner, refuelling of the vehicles, rearranging our clothing ready for packing, and some more walking along sandy beaches.

Fresh snapper fillets from the seafood outlet and ready for the BBQ.  Very large pieces.

The scenery along the Ballina coastline never loses its beauty.

We will miss our view across Shelly Beach.

Day - 47. Ballina (6)

Spent the morning at Bangalow market before heading to Byron Bay for lunch and a look at the lighthouse.   Then back to Ballina and a walk on the beach with all for several hours and then a look at the Ballina lighthouse.

Weather great. Warm enough to swim and get a suntan !!

Bangalow market this morning and it was crowded, worse than Eumandi at Noosa !!

Byron Bay back beach seen from the lighthouse road.

Lunch at the Byron Bay Pub, great spot, good service and cold beer.

Byron Bay front beach, worth a look.

Reagan seemed overwhelmed with this car, thunderbirds were always his thing.

Reagan and Sandra on Bryon Bay front beach.

The lighthouse back at Ballina.

Day - 46. Ballina (5)

Another quiet day in Ballina getting organised for Reagan and Sandra.  Whale watching again and then back to the seafood shop to get more oysters and prawns.

Reagan, Sandra, Jasmine and Ruby just arrived from Maroochydore, great to see them all.

We needed a selfie stick to get this one in.

Day - 45. Ballina (4)

Today is sunny with a clear blue sky, although with a top of only 18 degrees.  It is becoming cooler as we move further south.

We drove to Shelly Beach for a close-up view of the waves at sand level, and then to see the big prawn near Brian's favourite store (Bunnings).  Next was the shopping centre to top up our provisions for the next few days.

Shelly Beach in front of the apartment.  Our apartment building is being painted a terra cotta colour, which you can see just to the left of the pine trees.

The "Big Prawn" which has been repaired and relocated  to the car park of Bunnings at their expense.  It is 12 metres high, and $400,000 later it is rather awe-inspiring.