Evans Head, 16th May, 2025

 Woke up to fine weather after  all the rain we had yesterday. The sun was barely up and PT said let’s go and see the area while it is fine. It was really way too early for taking good photos but off we went. Just locally as not a big place.  Did our walk down each breakwater. Spent time watching the dolphins surfing under the water and the waves rolling in crashing through the entrance. A lot calmer today and no wind not like yesterday with bigger waves pounding in, hence why we didn’t walk out on the breakwaters then. We were back from looking around the place by 10.00am and just relaxed for the rest of the day.  We hope to get away between 8.00am - 8,30am tomorrow. So hopefully getting up to Tweed  Heads between 9.30 to 10.00am. Stopping at Viv and Ron’s place for a quick catch up then going on to return our rental, ending up near the airport overnight to organise ourselves to fly out midday on Sunday 18th. I think I said all that yesterday. 

We took off from our cabin and walked straight out to one side of the breakwaters. Above taken straight into the sun. Started our walk out onto the first breakwater looking over to the other side which we will walk next.

Standing out at the end looking back along the beach. Our camp goes right up behind the trees. It’s such a big camp but it is really split into two different areas.The riverside where we are and the ocean side. 

Looking back up river through the entrance.

Looking back down up river back to our cabin which is under the big Norfolk Pine trees in the middle.

Now walking down the caravan side of the camp. It’s a lovey well kept holiday park.

 

At this stage we took the car and drove round over the bridge to walk out to the other breakwater. So calm today after yesterday, although while writing this. the rain is back just before 6.00pm  just as they predicted it would be.. I think it will go all night, so we could be in for a wet drive tomorrow. It’s unreal the rain we have had this time of year.

Although it looks calm the waves are still rolling in at the end.

This is as far as I am going.

Looking over to the other breakwater where we came from. Main beach in the background.

The two videos below show this boat coming out trying to get over the bar.

Took this video to show how they get over the bar. Looks so dangerous and this is a calm day. This chap came rushing out thinking he could find that moment to get out through the waves, but he suddenly realised he had left it too late and put the boat in reverse to get back quickly to try again. I cut the video at that time,  then  he took off at full speed  to catch that moment. He made it this time. Imagine watching that when the waves are big.

Now looking over the other side where the waves  rolled in under the cliffs.

Still out at the end, looking back down the breakwater.

We have now driven up to the Razorback lookout to have another look as we went up there yesterday morning before the rain hit.

View from the lookout today 

View yesterday in that terrible weather.

Looking straight out to sea yesterday.

Down off the hill driving back to camp looking over the river to our cabin under the Norfolk Pines.

Zoomed in can just see the cabins under the trees.

Stopped at the fishery’s.  Bought prawns and oysters for lunch

Boat Harbour behind the fishery’s

There were a large group of Pelicans on the river beach. I walked up to them to take a photo of the group, thinking that they would be tame like all others I have seen. Before I got the photo they all flew off and stay up on the street lights over the bridge. 

One of the small beaches up river.

Looking over to the bridge.

Nice to have the nice weather so could open up all the doors. But late afternoon the rain came back and it is now pouring down.

From the cabin looking over the river.

This is the set up. All the premium cabins sit on an angle all facing straight down the river to the entrance. Our one is the first one on the right. We are one bedroom but some are two and three bedrooms,

This is one of the river beaches just along from us looking up river.

This shot looking across the river showing how glassy it was early this morning.

Looking down river to the entrance.

Fishing boat just coming in. He gave me a big wave when he saw I was taking a photo of him. 

Guys are fishing up and down the river bank.

Well that’s our holiday nearly over. So I will finish off from my blog tonight. Thanks to everyone that  came along on our trip with us. It all started on April 22nd 2025 flying out of Auckland to Melbourne. Had amazing weather in Melbourne sunny and warm for four Days, Then we went to the coast and had three more days in Victoria before we crossed over the boarder into south east NSW. Now getting a mixture of weather that continued up the coast. More rain than we expected. Five days up through NSW coast via the Sapphire coast as far as Bulli beach. Then we left the coast travelled up into the Blue mountains for three nights, one night in Bathurst to do a couple of laps of Mt Panorama racing circuit. Continuing up north over the hills and through the valleys  over six days, Then left the inland hills and back down to the east coast coming out at Coffs  Harbour. Then up to Evans Head for a three day stop, more to unwind before we go up to Brisbane tomorrow for one night. Then leave behind another great adventure through Australia and fly out on Sunday 18th May. 2025. Signing off now until next time. 🇦🇺 🤞

Dorrigo to Evans Head, 14th May & Evans Head 15th May 2025

 After a very wet day in Dorrigo yesterday (14th) we decided to get away early 8.00am and not attempt to do the Dorrigo National Park walk. Just too wet. We have had rain all day today. (15th) But a good chance  for us to slow down.  Just heard on the news that this rain is not going away until the middle of next week. They have had such wet weather.Getting back to yesterday. I didn’t do my blog last night as it was a long day for us as I will explain. We had heard that due to heavy rain there had been a slip on the main highway coming down to Coffs Harbour from Dorrigo. Our host yesterday tried to get us to take the higher inland route which would take 30mins longer as the highway has been closed. As we wanted to spend a little time in Coffs Harbour we thought that the detour shouldn’t be too long. Wrong, bad move, this so called detour was around 30kms long but when we turned off had no idea how long it would be. Started off on sealed road, and as the road started to get narrower PT said hope this doesn’t turn to metal surface for the rest of the detour. Right, that’s exactly what happened but we had no choice but to keep going. It was such hard driving conditions for PT so much concentration not knowing what’s coming around the next corner. The Aussies don’t slow down and it was quite dangerous as we had rain as well. A lot of traffic on this little narrow back road with all the highway traffic on it. Finally we got on to sealed road just before the Town of Bellingen back on the main highway.  We stopped just outside of Bellingen, had a coffee and scones in the building of the original old Butter Factory. It is now a restaurant and museum with all the old machinery lying around the garden. Then back on the road to have a look around Coffs Harbour. About two hours later got back on the highway and headed for Evans Head where we are staying at the Reflections Holiday Park for three nights. Leaving here on Saturday Morning via a quick visit  at Viv and Ron’s place, then having a night at a motel near the airport to fly out on Sunday. Although we weren’t driving all day it was very tiring having to cope with the big detour, hence no blog last night.

As we were leaving Dorrigo, just down the road from where we were staying was this area full of abandoned old trains. Some looked so old that they had collapsed in the middle. There were rows of them. They were all fenced in so couldn’t get close to them. Probably too dangerous for people to climb over them.

Going down over the Dorrigo Mountain before our detour. That wasn’t the easiest drive as very twisting. Our host told us to look out for two small waterfalls right on the side of the road.

Terrible day weather wise. A lot of low clouds. Some were very low right down in the valley. We seemed so much higher than the clouds. Didn’t have a chance to get a photo now where to stop going over the mountain,

Second waterfall went under the road down into the valley. As did the top one.

Just took a photo out of the car window of the cloud in the valley as we couldn’t stop.

We have now come to the detour off the main highway. At this stage we didn’t have a clue how long it would be and in what condition it would be in buy PT did ask them but they weren’t going to tell much just said you’ll be right mate just take it easy.  Little did we know , oh

gosh after the twisty road  going over the mountain then this, about 30km nightmare of a road. 

We started off on this not bad but narrow country  road thinking not too bad.

Then it got narrower.

But very pretty.

Then this fast bugger coming towards us wasn’t going to slow down  making us stop right over on the muddy verge. 

Then hit this rough, unsealed, and narrow section probably for a good twenty kms. Still can’t believe we shared this with the highway traffic. 

Really hard driving especially when one should be on the main highway.

Someone had to pull over and wait as nobody else was going to.

Finally came back out on the main Highway in the middle of Bellingen. Didn’t see much of town just went straight to the old Butter Factory, as I said now a restaurant, museum pieces everywhere and a few little shops.

The Old Factory building 

This was one of the small shops on the complex. The owner. of this shop made all this beautiful wood furniture etc. especially some fantastic big dining  tables. Unfortunately it wouldn’t fit in my suitcase so ended up with a wooden plater board.  That’s all I bought in Oz. Too busy to go shopping.

Some of the gardens around the old building.

Seen that name somewhere……looked like a big old hot plate cooker. 
 

Hi…my friend

PT sitting back waiting for his coffee and scones. Very yummy.😋 we sat outside terrace area of the old Butter Factory.

I used the restrooms and this is like the old washing tubs like our grandmothers had in their laundry in the days when they did all their washing by hand. 

Inside the restaurant in the Old Butter Factory.

Outside of the Old factory. Time to get on the road again to head down to Coffs Harbour to have a look around.

Arrived in Coffs Harbour and spent a couple of hours there. Drove around the little inner Boat Harbour.

Then went out to the huge breakwater at the harbour entrance I just love the colour in these big boulders you see them everywhere in these areas, a little big to take them home🤔

Just approaching the breakwater which protects the harbour to walk to the end to be at the entrance of the mouth of the river.

Looking over the water to where the entrance is on the right.

 Just amazing how big and wide this breakwater is. The big golden boulders on the inner side and these huge big concrete blocks protecting the outside where the big waves come in crashing against them. They all have big rings of steel on top of the blocks which would have been used to lift them up in to position. We noticed that these rings are now all corroded so they wouldn’t ever be able to be lifted  again. Walking along to the end which is 500m long each way.  The open sea on the other side of this very high wall was coming in with these huge swells crashing against the concrete blocks. I didn’t seem to get a photo of it only this below video.

Looking back to the beginning of the walk

Looking back.

Looking out to the point.

Right at the end now looking over the entrance to the other side.

Showing how these big blocks have been stacked up on top of each other to the make this high wall.

We are now back at the begging of the walk looking over to the island, we are now back on shore where it is very calm.

OK  Dave and  Jen took me back 39 years ( I think) hasn’t changed but I notice the business is up for sale, we have just left Coffs Harbour now straight to Evans Head Reflections Holiday Park.

I don’t remember this little guy but you may.

Had a pit stop at a Roadhouse off the highway. Not many people would take this photo, but I did. 

Finally arrive at Evans Head. After a lot of rain the sun shon on us as we entered town.

One of the best cabins  in fact the best cabin on a par with Grace Cottages in the country at Uralla. The difference is this cabin is very modern and the cottages were more quaint and traditional  but both as good as each other but in different ways.

Open the door and saw this and said Wow

Note the kitchen inside and the outside kitchen on the balcony. BBQ on the left.

Looking from inside back across the patio area.

Doesn’t have the best view in the park some are closer to the water. They are built on an angle to the river so you can get a view of the river looking out of the kitchen as well. You can see the river looking from the balcony. 

Looking out from the balcony. Not sure why the lawn is so bad in front of us the rest of the lawns along the front row of cabins look good

I was lucky not long after we arrived here the sun came out long enough for me to get these photos just as the sun was starting to go down.

That’s the end of what we did yesterday. Hence didn’t have the energy to do my blog last night for the first time on the trip.

As it rained most of the day today we went for a quick drive to see where we were. Had a spell with no rain but still no sun. Took a couple of photos  but hope to see the area better tomorrow if we get a glimpse of the sun. So hopefully I can post some photos of Evans Head tomorrow.

Finished the day with a BBQ on the outside kitchen. The wind had dropped so made it a little more comfortable .

Cooked by PT