Staying at a fantastic caravan park with plenty of room for each space, wildlife roaming around and heaps of etertainment for the kids. Darlington Beach CVP has been a very relaxing place to stay enjoying the swimming pool, spa, tennis courts, BMX track, go-kart hire and wildlife right at the beach on a bush block there has been endless entertainment for us all.

Coffs Harbour on Sunday for a look was nicer than first impressions, with everything you need that a large town can offer. We found some markerts that were well priced and good quailty. Spent a few hours here stocking up on fresh fruit, veg, Christmas presents and a yummy lunch; then onto the beach for a swim and a walk.

Monday was school work followed by an afternoon at the Big Banana. Here we all had a go at ice-skating with lots of laughs and a few falls, after our 1.5 hours was up we were all ready for a rest. Sure to be stiff tomorrow. We then headed to the tabogoning for a fast ride.

Tuesday another school day, watched the Melbourne Cup in the bus, a run along the beach and Lotte and Archie found some friends and hung out with them nearly all arvo. The afternoon topped off with another game of tennis.

After extending our stay at this great CVP until Friday (an extra 3 nights) we enjoyed a couple of relaxing days doing not much except school, tax returns, cooking and Tim's buliding study. Also experiencing a fantastic couple of thuderstorms we thought it best to stay put on solid ground, this gave us the oportunity between showers to explore Red Rocks. Friday was time to move 80km south down the road to Valla Beach, where we set up in another large CVP. NSW is growing on us with so many of these pretty, quiet seaside towns that have both the beach and bush with not huge distances to larger towns/cities. We started our stay by a bike ride along the beach and collecting shells much to Archie's delight.

Saturday we put the boat in (long time since she has been in the water) up the river at Valla Beach and within 1/2 hour Tim had hooked onto a huge falthead. We continued up the river hoping for some more all the way up to crossing under the M1 hwy only on the back in a similar place Tim caught another flathead this time to small to keep. We headed back for a late lunch and some takeaway chips to go with the very delicious fresh flat head. Lotte and Archie were keen for a canoe hire so Fidge, Lotte and Archie went out latter to be met by Tim. Pleasently surprized at how easy they are to manoover confirming that a canoe would be another addtion liked for our big rig!!

Sunday was an exploring day, we drove to Nambucca Heads and found some inspiring writing on the break wall. A beautiful sheltered bay behind the breakwater added to the areas beauty and potential place to live one day. Onto Southwest Rocks an obvious popular place for hoildayers with many units and short stay accomodation. This area has many canals and waterways as well as Trial Gaol and Smoky Cape Lighthouse both with interesting history and great views. Back to our home where Tim was in bed before Lotte and Archie with a nasty cold.

Tomorow we move to Bonny Hills to stay with our freind from Tom Prices parents Rod and Julie Page.