So we arrived in Port Macquarie a few nights ago, and we were pleasantly surprised by the town, it has a lovely promenade along the riverfront and was bigger than what we expected. The first night we headed out for a couple of drinks after our 2 for 1 pizza special:) before diving back to the tent before a downpour. Day two and with the return of Mr Sunshine, we were once again awoken early and headed to the pool before venturing down to Flynn's beach. It turned out this was the same beach the Iain parked his campervan next to about 10 years ago!

Later that day we booked ourselves onto a sunset river cruise complete with sausage sizzle and BYO. We obligingly took a bottle of vino to enjoy as we sailed along with one eye open for dolphins. Once seated on the boat, it wasn't long before we got chatting to the couple in front who were from Middlesborough but are out here visiting their son (who's emigrated to Sydney) and another couple who were from Newcastle and Halifax and were out here traveling for twelve months. I think we all bonded when we discovered we'd all poured our first glass of vino before the boat had even departed!

An hour and a half later with a waterfront home selected for each of us we returned to shore and made our way over to a nearby bar, where one drink turned into several more:) we bid our new friends goodbye after discovering we're all heading up to Byron in a few days and returned to camp.

Next morning and check out day, we were up early, this is something we've discovered that is key - to get the tent down before it gets too hot and you start to feel like you are doing some sort of bickram yoga. In actual fact, yesterday we got the tent down just in the nick of time as there was some torrential rain only moments later.

We left Port Macquarie with the intention of moving onto Coffs Harbour via a couple of places, however we only got as far as South West Rocks and Trial bay before deciding to stay here for a couple of nights.

We headed up to Trial bay gaol and it's ruins which are perched on top of a hill overlooking yet another spectacular beach, the Gaol is where people of German descent were held during the war. From there, we walked up to the lighthouse to soak up more views of the coastline before heading back to the Big 4 campsite at Trial bay. Whilst we are unlikely to stay at a campsite to rival the one in Merimbula, this one comes a pretty close second. It is surrounded by bushland, with kangaroos galore in the campground, a tropical pool that would not look out of place in Port Douglas and the crowning glory is the fact that we are staying in a cabin, - yes that's right, an actual timber building with a roof, a door, windows and a deck! Even better is that we got a cracking deal and we are here for three nights.

After a lovely nights sleep, today we hired bikes and cycled into town.

Tonight I'm going to enjoy a cup of tea and my magazine on the deck whilst Iain will be watching the next round of the rugby.

We have no reception at the cabin, only up at reception which because of the timing makes it difficult to call overseas at the moment, so hopefully we'll speak in a few days

Xxx