Yamba and Byron Bay

9-1-2010 (Tuesday)

After a rainy night again Zeb and Ruben went to watch cartoons in the kids club. Back at the van we had Frosties (according to the kids: Tiger Chips). We did the whole shebang: new water, toilet empty, waste water empty, van clean, beds into sofa’s , luggage in the shower, prams in the shower, kids car seats installed, sunscreen in, fold in chairs and table in van compartment and finally detach from power.

We headed for Yamba today, a nice coastal town in an area they call the Clarence Valley. We parked the car at main beach and first had lunch. At the beach we set up our sun tent for the first time, it unfolds itself. Few jellyfish in the sea, so no swimming for the kids. Off course we dug a swimming pool and the kids had an ice-cream.
We left the beach at around 3:30 and parked the van in the centre of town. We strolled along the little shops and did some grocery shopping.
All this towns or villages we visited are small, 63% of the people living in NSW live in Sydney

We did not decide on the caravan park before coming to Yamba, no need too in this time of year. We choose Blue Dolphin Holiday Resort because it had two waterslides (www.bluedolphin.com.au).
The park is a 5 minutes drive from the center on the banks of the Clarence River. Again a beautiful resort, with palm trees, playground, two pools etc. for kids these kind of parks are better then a five star hotel.
This time we took something they call a ensuite. We have our own shower and toilet in a little room next to our van. Stupid we had not done this before in other campsites.

Checked in we had a swim after which we had drinks. For dinner today on the BBQ: lamb. As with the fruits and greens, the meat is great. Beef, Lamb, Veal, Chicken, everything.

10-1-2010 (Wednesday)

Pancakes for breakfast. After breakfast we went to the river, the kids played in the water. Fishing is really number 1 hobby in Australia. Everywhere there are boat ramps. Also here on the Clarence river at our park.
A guy came ashore with 2 huge fishes, flat heads. He cleaned them on a designated table on the beach and gave the leftovers to 5 Pelicans, a nice scene.
After this we took a swim in the pool, we left the park at noon and set direction to Byron Bay.

Byron Bay is famous for its free spirit and not to be missed on a trip on the east coast of Australia.

It took us a little bit less than two hours in which we passed by the city of Balina and the town of Lennox Head, famous for its surf breaks.
We found a caravan park on the seafront and in the center, First Sun.

We put the kids in the prams and took a walk around town. Great beach, nice shops, nice restaurants but a lot of backpackers. This town is backpackers heaven.
We had ice cream, bought a bikini for Sharon and did some groceries. And off course we tested the seafront playground.

We had diner in a lovely Thai, Lucy Thai that was recommended by our favorite travel guide, Footprint. Back in the van we watched Happy Feet together.

(there is a sign in the park to be careful for snakes, there was a snake sighting not that long ago in the park. And we saw a snake patrol car driving by)