The rains started our last afternoon in Byron Bay and followed us for four days and 450kms. Not pleasant trying to cook dinner in lay-bys and tramping off to public toilets at 1am in a thunderstorm... We saved some more money parking up at 'rest areas' overnight at the side of the road and as a result looked and smelled like something the cat dragged in.

Highlights of the four days drive included:

1) Waterfalls and rainforest scenery near Coffs Harbour

2) Watching our first film at the cinema for 6 months (Death Race with the lovely Jason Statham)

3) Visiting a Koala Hospital at Port Macquarie

4) Stopping at the town of Bulahdelah where every man sported a very bushy beard (is it a rule of citizenship there?)

Finally reaching Port Stephens the rains eased, the sun came up and we had a much needed shower! Staying the town of Nelson Bay we visited the Stockton Beach sand-dunes (nice but not a patch on Namibia or Mui Ne, Vietnam), enjoyed a few beers and climbed 361 meters up to a lookout with spectacular views. We were also stalked by a nice but overenthusiastic bulldog who tried to accompany Kim into the showers and got in the campervan with Mark. We were tempted to dognap him but figured it'd be a bit cosy in the van.