Lismore

On our way north to Brisbane we decided to stop in Lismore, the only reason was to go to the lantern festival.  We had read about it and it sounded great, and it was.  We followed Dan and Kaz and the kids the whole way, kinda arrived a bit late, it was dark and not so easy to set up the van.  It was great fun travelling with another family, we entertained ourselves annoying them on the UHF all the way.  Mark even resorted to playing his ipod through the UHF!  We are finding that the showgrounds in smaller towns are often the cheapest places to stay.  So we set up for two nights.  Ended up being four vans as Kaz's parents and Uncle are also travelling at the moment.

We got up in good time and headed to the Lismore produce market, conveniently located right at the show grounds.  We stocked up on some lovely home made and home grown produce, gotta love that.  Then we went in to Lismore.  The first thing we saw was the kids craft area, needless to say we spent ages and ages there, the kids had a ball.  They even got to make these gorgeous lanterns for the festival.  Dirt Girl even made an appearance.

Charlotte of course had to have her face painted.  The kids lined up for ages, but they were so good.  Charlotte got this gorgeous pattern on her face, but Jake being Jake lined up for all that time to then only get a red dot and a red line on his arm!  Apparently he is a super hero and that's his laser!!!!

The gallery window.

Kaz's mum Pat, Zakey, Sam, Charlotte, Will and Jake all had a ride on the miniature railway.

Our little super hero.

Will, Charlotte and Dirt Girl.

We had a picnic lunch at the park and playground.  The kids went on the train.  Then we spent the rest of the afternoon looking around town, checking out the markets and listening to some great live music.  I even got to have a wander on my own to the market and the gallery.  Only a small gallery but they had some lovely pieces on wood.  Then of course we headed to the river bank for the lantern festival.

Gosh it was a fantastic evening, so pretty and magical.  I think the whole town turns out for it.  I have never seen such huge and gorgeous lanterns.  We just kept looking and looking, there were so many.  We had a great spot up on the hill and set up the chairs etc.  Was nice to sit and have dinner with a view.  They had some great music playing and then a performance was played with the lanterns, was lovely.  They even had this huge artistic board that they used as a projection screen, that at the end they burnt, as the fiery finale, the embers went so high that they were higher up than the fire works.   And of course they had the fire works, and they were so pretty.  It was just one of those fabulous nights, if you've never been to a lantern festival and you get the chance you have to do it.

The kids had a ball with glow in the dark bubbles.

Coffs Harbour

We decided to stay at the show grounds at Coffs Harbour.  It was pretty central and the nice lady didn't charge for the kids, so was only $26 per night.  A really good show grounds, nice amenities and this fantastic outdoor eating area and games room.  It was so wet underfoot though. 

Went for a drive around the area, thunder and lightning.  Had a look out to the point and watched a few kids surfing, then noticed a pod of dolphins, was lovely just hanging around watching them.  Kids had great fun checking out the swell of the waves crashing over the break water.

It was still raining the next day so ended up heading to the indoor play centre.  Kids had a ball running a muck, they were the only 'big' kids among a lot of little kids, as all the older kids were at school.  They even had indoor glow in the dark mini golf and foam balls and crazy guns.  Mark was happy to sit and watch the kids and read my kindle (that he has stolen, so I have now bought him one!) so i went to the movies.  Was so nice to have some peace and quiet and alone time.  It can get a bit hemmed in at times in the van with Mark and the kids all day every day.  I saw Bridesmaids, funny light hearted chick flick, just what I needed. 

We had a bit of school work to get finished as we didn't get it all done last semester so we spent a fair bit of time working on that.  Mark finally got his eyes tested, after me nagging him for months and he now has glasses, much to his disgust!

Coincidentally while we were in Coffs the annual caravan show was on.  Mark has been wanting to go to one for ages but I have been hesitant as I knew we would end up spending money.  It was good to go and have a look though.  Mark got a great deal on an electronic winch and recovery kit.  Bought car matts and a vacuum sealer kit for food.  We were having a wonderful time until we lost Charlotte.  Pretty scarey for a couple of minutes.  We had all headed to some stairs but Charlotte for some reason hadn't followed.  Luckily she didn't get far.  But scared her and us.  She didn't let go of her Daddy for the rest of the day.  We saw a reptile show all about crocodiles and snakes.  Kids found it fascinating, and loved getting to touch them.  Guy doing the show was a bit of a character!  We have this big fancy 4wd but haven't actually done any 4wding yet, until the caravan show.  It had rained that much that the parking area was very very boggy.  Other people had left and had torn up the road.  It was pretty deep sticky mud.  We slipped and slided a bit, thought for sure we were going to get bogged, Mark even resorted to chanting "go landcruiser go" but all was okay and we got out, just a bit muddy!  Fun though.

We found a really cool playground and had a picnic lunch, kids played for hours.  Had all sorts of older kids climbing and spinning things.

The Butterfly House was our next stop.  Was a great place, bit expensive for what it was but we really enjoyed it.  Was basically a really big warm glass house, with the most amazing and beautiful butterfly's.  I had such a great time photographing them.  The kids were amazed as the butterfly's kept landing on them.  Especially Charlotte who had on a pretty flower had, that attracted them.

Mark was really creeped out when they latched onto his ear.

Inspecting the eggs

Jake had to bring his own binoculars to spot the butterfly's.

The maze.

We went down to the water front and had a lovely lunch at a cafe over looking the ocean.  Mark had a whole flat head and I had calamari, yum!  We then went for a walk along the breakwater, the marina and up to Mutton Bird Island.  Was a rather steep climb but an amazing view from the top. 

Spotting Dolphins

We had met another family travelling like us while we were in Canberra.  We had arranged to catch up with them in Coffs but they were a few days behind us due to the flooding.  They finally arrived to much excited from kids and adults.  It was great to catch up and hear stories of what they had been up too.  Kids spent hours running around making up games, whilst the adults chatted and sorted out the camp.

Charlotte, Zack, Jake and Sam.

Sam helping Charlotte with her school work.

We took our kids with Karen and Sam for a big bike ride to the beach.  A great ride through the bush.  Then we had a fish and chips picnic and some fishing on the jetty.  Got to see all these fishing boats heading out to see. 

Before our friends arrived we decided to find a fire pot so we could have some warmth at night.  But of course we couldn't take it with us, as we have too much stuff already.  We headed to the tip for a scrounge.  Managed to find some bits and pieces, and also got a metal bucket from Bunnings.  We did try to take apart a washing machine but to no avail!!!  We had some great times by the camp fire, yummy marsh mellows.

Charlotte, Sam, Jake and Will

Charlotte and little Zackey.

Coffs Harbour was a great place but felt like we didn't spend enough time seeing it, oh well next time.  We found out about a lantern festival at Lismore and ended up travelling convoy style with the Ellis family, but were a little late arriving, oops!

  

Grafton

We started our journey to head the four hours from Kingscliff to Coffs Harbour nice and early so we could be there just after lunch.  It had rained a little over night where we were but nothing too bad.  We got as far as Grafton before being told we couldn't get any further, very frustrating.  We had come back down south mainly to get some work done on our van.  It was booked in the next day.  We headed to the visitors info centre and were told it could be 24 hours before the roads would be passable.  Bugger!  We had to ring up and cancel our van booking but couldn't get in now til end of next week.  We booked into a caravan park in Grafton for the night and spent a lot of time checking the RTA site. 

We got up early and got the weather and the road report.  More wet weather was expected in the afternoon, but they had one lane open on the Pacific Highway.  So we decided to give it a go.

The problematic area of the Pacific Highway at Black Adder Rd near Corindi

Mark was sure we should have chanced it the day before, he figured we had a 4wd but I figured we were towing a van and didn't think we should risk it.  We entertained ourself with having a good chuckle about all the people on the road, there were heeps.  Obviously everyone was doing what we were.  We encountered so many caravans that Mark and I started a running commentary on the types of waves you get.  You see all caravanners wave to each other, not sure why but gives us a smile.  Now Mark has perfected his wave.  He has to use his left hand (much to his annoyance) as he has gauges on the dash on the right side and you wouldn't be able to see him.  He does a nice big man wave!  And of course I giggle away....:)  We got through all okay and made good time to Coffs Harbour.  A bit of drizzle today but not too bad, but everything is very wet!  Now to spend a few days exploring Coffs Harbour.  We're hoping our friends will arrive soon, but they are stuck in Port Macquarie and the roads are still closed. 
We have been watching the news and the floods look devastating in some areas.  It's a sad time for those who are really badly affected.

Kingscliff

We left the Gold Coast and headed south.  Our dear friend Vicky let us know about the Coolie Rocks event at Coolangatta so we decided to stay somewhere close to that.  We would like to dedicate this blog entry to Vicky Harrison, a local who gave us lots of hints as to what to see.  We had heard that Kingscliff was a lovely place so settled there for a few nights.  A small older caravan park but right on the beach. 
We went to the local markets.  Had a nice shop, bought the usual relish and jams and Mark perused the tools.  Then we headed to Coolangatta.
Poor Mark has a desperately sore neck.  Maybe even whip lash, due to his inability to stop looking from side to side at the 1000 plus old 50s cars on display.  He was like a little boy in a candy store.  There were all these people in their 50's gear.  Oldies doing the jig together, far to much old lady legs and knickers on display.  The highlight was this pair of old birds dressed to the nines.  They had matching blue and white polka dot dresses, white under frill and bloomers.  White ankle socks, blue patent leather shoes, hand knitted cardigans.  One with a picture of Elvis on it and the other with Betty Boop.  And of course matching bows in their hair.  But was lovely to see them having so much fun.  It's a fabulous spot right on the beach, and here I was thinking that all that was at Coolangatta was an airport, sorry!  Was freezing though, we were rugged up in our down jackets.  The kids and I were very tolerant, Mark would have been there for days if we let him.  Charlotte was being a daddy's girl and loved looking at the cars too.  

1957 Chevy Belair

Ford Rodster

Mark's Dream Car 1957 Chevy Belair

Go Go mobile    "G.O.G.G.O."

"VICKY" car

We went and had a look at the biggest Elvis Exhibition in Australia.  Was great to see all the crazy Elvis things that were produce, apparently he was pretty popular!  Mark was a little devastated that we didn't see many Elvis impersonators.  We saw four but apparently that was not enough...... I thought it was!

Oh Crap I left a child in each state!!!

Had a couple of days that were a bit wet.  Still managed to get outside between showers.  Had a lovely walk on the beach at Kingscliff.  Went out for lunch to a local cafe.  Kids rode around on their scooters.
We headed back up to just past Coolangatta to Kirra beach and had a walk along the beach.  Watched the surfers and local fishermen.  Kids had fun drawing in the sand.  Charlotte had to draw a picture of the tooth fairy as she had just lost her other front tooth, and wishes to be called gappy!

GAPPY

Glitter Bell the tooth fairy

Jazzy Girl, Jake and Mum

Then we headed to  Rainbow Bay and had a walk around to Snapper Rocks.  A really beautiful place, lovely walk up to the look out.  Was crazy looking down at all these surfers, there were heaps of them.  They looked like a group of seals!

The Seals

We packed up the next day to head towards Coffs Harbour.  Before we left we got talking to the grey nomads beside us who were full of useful and useless hints.  They referred to themselves as "seasoned" travellers, and suggested that we carry a few empty beer cans with us.  Apparently if you park in a non camping area and the local coppers come you just point to the empties and say you can't leave as you've had a few!  Oh so many ideas and opinions!