After spending 5 nights at Southport it was time to move camp once again.We had decided on Hastings Point NSW, yep we are finally going to cross the border.We found the longer you stay in a park the harder it seems to get out by 10am.You go and say good bye and good luck to fellow travellers, than you have total strangers dropping in for a chat and to give a little bit of advice, or let you in on a few pointers or top spots which they have come upon while travelling.Rounding up your children and getting them into the car is also no small feat!? (Both of us covered in sweat from packing up all morning while they ran around playing!)The girls were really unimpressed on this morning as they had been really enjoying the company of their new friends Maddie and Locky. However we eventually won that battle and said our goodbyes and set sail down the Pacific headed south.

Hastings Point was only a short drive, totalling 53Km. Hey, we've got all year!? Only doing such a short distance we had decided on not using the sway bars.Up until this point I had been (not so much sceptical) but wondering if after my suspension mods if they were still necessary?This question was answered for me in not one but two parts.Without the bars fitted it was immediately apparent to me that the car was moving around more than usual. Not in a bad way but none the less different.After a little while Kylz made a comment to this same apparent conclusion. Then to seal the deal we hit a piece of highway just over the border that really bought it home to both of us. The road seemed to be made in sections and as we travelled across each section we were hearing a strange bumping noise? After a few minutes we pulled over to investigate. It was at this stage that we noticed the extra inch of lift that the bars, when fitted give the rear of the wagon. The newly fitted "Fraser Road Rockstopper" was bumping on the ground as the car travelled over this piece of road.The source of the noise discovered I vowed to use the WDH every time the van is on.There are some reports of issues with these devices such as towbar failure.These seem to relate more to chronic overloading or incorrect setup.You can't engineer for every idiot now can you?However, removing them for manoeuvring around caravan parks does seem to reduce the binding affect at the hitch.

The weather upon our arrival at Hastings Point was spot on! "What a great spot" was our joint comment, after setting up our camp and wandering across the road to the beachside. This park only has a two star rating!? These star ratings can be misleading. Sure this little van park looks more basic than your over the top Big 4's, but like they say with all good real estate "location, location, location". Straight across the road is the mouth of Cudgen creek where it spills into the deep blue waters of the Pacific. It provides the perfect little swimming area for kids and adults as well as fishing area all around its banks and sand flats. A short stroll across the water and the surfers are right on top of a lovely strip of beach.The usual playground gear and BBQ's and huts make up the rest of the area and are put to full use on the weekends, as we found out. It had it all, less the hustle and bustle of more well known areas.

While the kids and I took on a quick combat nap, Kylz rode off in search of the nearest Bowling club. Now one thing we have noticed that are more common than underarm hair on German backpackers, down these parts of the country, are Bowls clubs. This one at Pottsville was a busy, well set up little club. It had a great kids club, which was fully supervised and stocked to the eyeballs with all the good gear for kids of all ages. We would say the best one we have ever put the kids into.Needless to say Kylz handbag was chockers full of painted shells with googly eyes and other pieces of priceless treasure the girls conjured up in a couple of hours of total heaven for them both. We packed a pretty Spartan supply of toys for the trip and the girls love every opportunity to cut loose on a pile of "never before seen" toys.After enjoying a well prepared and presented meal and a few after dinner beverages, Kylz and I hailed the free courtesy bus ( the same one that picked us up at Hastings Point for nothing)and were delivered back to our home by the sea only 4 clicks back up the road. Overall a good night was had by us, and another "great place to stop if you are down this way" was found.

Talking to the park owners we found out that Kingscliff had "THE WOOLIES" (as named by the girls), so with the van in serious need of a refill we headed to Kingscliff.This place was happening, people everywhere. (Saturday morning mind you) We were so glad that we had chosen Hastings Point to stay. After getting some groceries and a quick stop at the bottle-o, we did a fly by of the beach Markets.Kylz does enjoy a good market!? After the markets we thought we would head on back to camp. It was then we remembered we were out of chemical for the s***ter in the van. Now this is a very important item when living in a 20' box on wheels.With two kids using the toilet constantly, this is something you cannot run out of!A quick u turn and back into Kingscliff we went.In desperate search for a BCF or camping shop of some sort. We found that there is nothing in town and that we had to drive to Tweed Heads to get it. As we reached South Tweed we spotted a caravan shop on the side of the main road. Another quick u bolt and we were pulled up in front of R'n'V shop. Much to our relief it was a very well stocked caravan repair and spares shop.As I had wanted to get some levelling chocks also I headed in for a quick stock up.What I had not been expecting was the amount of help and advice I would be receiving inside this shop. The manager and one of his best customers had me bailed up for over half an hour discussing every imaginable detail of caravanning and I must admit most of it was real good stuff!(James does make friends quickly and doesn't mind a chat.) Lucky for us we had just been to" The Woollies", and had some food on board.The kids had two hot cross buns, water and bananas before James had returned.After loading 6 litres of Toilet chemical into the Nissan we made a mental note that we are not to run out of this at any stage as not every town has a BCF or camping shop that you can just pop on into.

The highlight of our weekend in Hastings Point was a drive out through Murwillumbah to Mount Warning.Aptly named by Captain Cook for the "warning" it gives of the dangerous off shore reefs in the area, it rises right up to cloud level and is very impressive as you approach from the sea level of the Tweed River.We only walked part way towards the summit as it is a 5 hour hike with some climbing up chains required to reach the peak.The girls were keen though I must say, for some reason?, and did make it up some very steep steps on the part we did do.The view from the top would be spectacular and it is something both of us noted we would like to do "one day"!?

James had also decided on doing some fishing.So off he headed into the local fishing shop for some tips, bait and a fishing licence? WTF?, for the both of us ($12 each for a month). Hopefully it goes to a good cause like better amenities for fishos, but I doubt it.Then off to the bridge to get our $24 worth only to return empty handed, they say the thought counts!

The rest of our stay consisted of bike rides with the girls to Cabarita Beach and a trip to the skate park to let the girls show off some of their new "tricks" they have been "learning" on their scooters? WTF?I think Kylz and I had just as much fun racing around the smooth concrete trying not to break an arm or a kid's scooter!

Rain had been predicted for about 3 days.But nothing had really come of it.We had run out of drinking water.Another trip to The Woollies was needed.Then there it was rain, what perfect timing.We quickly dropped the annex and caught about 30L of fresh rainwater, best drinking water ever, and at the right price!

We had also spotted a name on the map - Mooball?Now this we had to see! Only about 15km Inland from Hastings Point, this little town has everything from the telephone poles, petrol pumps and even the local cafe painted with black and white cow patches.It was an eye opener.A good Kodak moment.

We really enjoyed our stay at Hastings Point, a great little spot for the whole family!