The time had come we were on the road to the much talked about Blue Dolphin Holiday Resort at Yamba.This park was recommended to us many times from other travellers. Every time Yamba was mentioned it was followed by "you must go to Blue Dolphin Holiday Resort, it is a great spot and the kids will love it".So we thought we had better check this place out and see if it is as good as everyone reckons.

Yep, what can I say this place is a kid's heaven.It has everything you can think of, so we booked in for a week straight up, very well priced also.One of the cheaper spots we have stayed and has the most activities, from pools to playgrounds to TV rooms, kid's playroom and much more including weekend activities such as movies on the big screen, arts & crafts and organized activities.This is a place to come to get away, very relaxed atmosphere.It was here that our little Charli started riding her bike without her training wheels, big thumbs up!Chels had told Charli that she was "awesome" and done a "great job".So I happened to mention that Chels should get on and have a go, to which she replied "No way mum that just freaks me out not having training wheels, I will stick to my scooter", kids say the darndest things aye?

We took a short drive to Angourie about 5km south of Yamba to check out the Blue and Green pools, one was signed not fit for swimming (some blue green from the long dry, but looked pretty good after the rain of late?) but the other had some swimmers in it.This water was crystal clear, beautiful to look at and you could see the fish swimming around.These pools were manmade with the rock excavated and used on the new break walls for the Yamba/ Iluka heads. I doubt if in this day and age you would be allowed to "rip up" rock off the pristine coastline, to use for back fill!? We did not stop for a swim as Chels was already a bit wet from attempting to cross over to get to one of the pools.She had a real barry blow up! Loves to swim, but to get her clothes wet is just unheard of and caused several tears. Rather amusing (bad mother!).Back in Yamba we took a drive along the front.Beautiful beaches, great places for fishing, even though we never actually threw a line in.

On a bike ride one morning, down to the mouth of the Clarence River with the sun just coming up, I stopped to take in the view.There were fishermen and walkers out on the South Wall, to my right fishermen were silhouetted by the rising sun against the Clarence Headland, and in between surfers catching that perfect wave at Turner's beach.If only I had my camera, this would have made that perfect photo.One of those moments money just can't buy!

The one thing that is a must if you come to Yamba is pack plenty of BUSHMANS and MOSQUITO COILS!We wake up and light the coils. It's not that there are huge mozzies everywhere but the sly little midge is around especially on the best days when there is no breeze.Really, only a small hassle, in such a nice part of the coast and something you deal with normally up our way.

The thing about this place is that it has so much stuff to keep you entertained, that it is hard to get motivated to go beyond the park gates. With a couple of those relaxed days under our belt and the weather seemingly turning for the worse, we set off on our bikes to catch the ferry to Iluka.Iluka is basically the twin town to Yamba and is situated on the northern shore of the Clarence river mouth.The ferry runs seven days a week and as well as basic transfer between Yamba/Iluka it also runs sightseeing tours on the Clarence and a Sunday Booze cruise with a live Jazz band!With the weather as mentioned before turning south it was a bit of a gamble to take the bikes for the day but that we did!?The girls were rapt in the ferry ride and really enjoyed riding up on the bow watching the world glide by.I was having a hard time keeping up as they both fired questions at James and myself at an incredible rate. (probably because this was their first real boat ride!)

We set off into Iluka under heavy skies and found the town bakery that had been recommended to us by another couple.As smoko was fast approaching we decided to feed and water the kids as you get a bit more out of them when they aren't "starving to death" as they will tell you every five minutes. (those with children say amen now) James was quick to run the card over the bakery with his curry pie not a patch on the Walkerston bakery and potentially the worst pie he has ever had! (except Mrs Macs of course. She could f#@k the Lord's Prayer that woman! (She should probably be deported for what she has done to pies in this country!)) (so James reckons)Ryan would be able to back him up on that one I am sure.

The girls were playing in a very new and well built pirate ship playground on the waterfront when the first rainy scud appeared on the horizon.We headed (on our bikes) along the waterfront trail and came to a park shelter just as the rain started!A short break and rest stop later we were riding along looking for the Iluka Bluff.We stopped off at the break wall VMR tower and were nearly blown back down the road! It was pretty hard pedalling into the wind but was a very useful tailwind when heading home! We made it out onto Iluka main beach but the very strong winds and drizzle meant that we were almost alone except for a couple of very hardy tourists who had made it down to the water (for a sandblasting) and one clearly disturbed lad on a boogie board!?

Our ride back was a dry one except for the quick stop at the local inn for a couple of snappy ones!Although we only spent a few hours in Iluka it would be a very nice spot for a longer stay.The caravan park is right on the water and everything is very close.The two towns seem to feed off each other as far as tourism is concerned with plenty of people taking the ferry in both directions just to see what is on the other side.

With the girls spending our last day in Yamba soaking up the kid's room with art and craft on the go today for only $5 each due to the weather it has been a good chance to type a few pages on the blog.

Our progress down the coast may seem to be pretty slow but one thing we have come to realise is this country is truly a big, wide land and to see it all would take a long time.It is a fine line between rushing to see everything or just being happy to see what we can while taking into account each other's particular interests as well as two small girl's attention span. The beautiful Northern Rivers districts wonderful relaxed pace and beautiful scenery have not been helping to speed us along.Shane, Jo and Chris W will know what we are talking about.

Writing these little tales is something we are both really enjoying. (as a small distraction to travelling Australia for a year?)Not only does it provide updates for friends and family but also a nice logbook of events for us to look back on.So hang in there with us (hopefully the writing will improve with practise! Speak for yourself Kylz!) as we head off down the coast tomorrow to get this show on the road! (well, another 100k's anyway!)