Day 4 Monday 16th
Port Macquarie
Sundowners breakwater resort

In the morning we stopped at shoal bay for an hour or so as the weather was stunning. We enjoyed the beach and had a wander down the beach. We then drove south from Nelson bay to Newcastle to rejoin the highway. We stopped to get a bite to eat for lunch at a road side café. We arrived in port Macquarie at 5pm is. We went out for Thai and had a beer in the local pub and watched ladetletes to ladies Australia style

 Day 5 Tuesday17th February
Port Macquarie
Sundowners breakwater resort

Rained ALL night and day. We changed places as the other one was close to flooding. we headed in to town after spending all of the morning in the van watching Australia. We had tea and scones in the shopping centre. Had a look round the shops. Some places have had 700mm of rain! parts of the highway were closed due to localised flooding. Countless bridges are closed and many rivers have burst their banks. Spent all day in van…cabin fever is setting in. mum did fajitas for dinner which were really good and then we watched slum dog millionaire.

 Day 6 Wednesday 18h February
Byron bay
Broken head caravan park

We drove from port Macquarie all the way up to Byron bay. We left about 10am and it took us half an hour to get out of the town as one of the major roads into the town had flooded…the river Hastings had burst its banks. We stopped at Emerald beach, which is just north of Coffs s harbour for lunch. We couldn’t get into Clarke’s caravan park at Byron Bay so we stayed at broken head caravan park. This is a famous surfing spot. We arrived about 4.30pm after a good 5 hour drive. We had a brew then headed down the beach for a wander. Dad went back for a nap and me and mum had a walk down the beach. Lots of blobies on the sand. Lots of sea gulls diving for the shoals of fish in the sea. We got wet through walking home but dried up. We went into Bryon bay for dinner. We went to fresh and had some really good food. We went to the Rails for a drink afterwards. By the time we had retuned to the caravan park, most of the clouds has cleared. We saw millions of stars. We could see the Milky way, the Southern cross, Orion and Orion’s belt, Jupiter and all sorts. I love looking at the stars and they had been the first ones since leaving Sydney because of all the bad weather we have been having.

 Day 7 Thursday 19th February
Byron bay
Broken head caravan park

So finally we have sunshine. Woke up at 8.15am to full on blue sky and sunshine. I had a walk down the beach whilst mum and dad were snoring!! It was so busy, people running, doing yoga, surfing…mostly surfing. I spent a while just watching them. I had a bit of a walk down the beach and then headed back. There was a monitor lizard, bob, in the caravan park this morning . He had been in a lady’s tent. We spent all of the day down in Bryon bay. Mum and me went shopping. Mum got some shorts and I booked a surfing lesson for tomorrow..yipeeeeeeee. Cant wait for it. I am very excited!!! Dad went to the beach while we looked round the shops. Had some lunch in the van and then down the beach The waves were really strong and kept knocking us off our feet. Very hot and lots of sunshine! All good. Had a drive up to the lighthouse and had a quick look at the views.

 Day 8 Friday 20h February
Byron bay
Broken head caravan parking
We spent most of the day pottering about before mum and dad took me into town for my surfing lesson!!! Had a 4 hour surfing lesson over at Lennox head which is just 16km south of Bryon bay. Had such a good time even though I spent most of the time in the water and not on the board. Has such a food time. Very tired by the end of it though. At one point the instructor was helping me and he pushed me through a wave and just as I stood up I landed backwards on to his head. It was very much a bridge Jones moment when she come flying down the fireman’s pole and all you can see her bum coming towards the camera…I think that is what he what he would have seen…poor fella!! We went out for dinner into Bryon bay in the evening. Me and mum shared a massive and beautiful seafood platter and dad had steak. We had a homemade cheesecake for dessert which was amazing. I think we were home by 9.30pm and I went straight to bed…so tired from ‘surfing’ all day!

 Day 9 Saturday 21st February
Newmarket caravan park
brisbane

We set off early is to get to Brisbane. It only takes 2 hours. So we were here by 12pm…and the clocks go back an hour so it was 11am. Had a brew and a sarnie then headed into the city. We got sorted with a new camera for dad and then had afternoon tea overlooking the river before walking down the botanical gardens. Walked back into the town and caught the bus back. We have 2nights here then catch the plane to cairns on Monday.