August 2015 - Some friends of ours were on a bit of a trip down from Innisfail, through the western backblocks of QLD before crossing the border into no-mans land (also known as NSW) and continuing south along the coast.
We decided to catch up with them along the way and to spend a week or so recovering from the shock of returning to our home on the Gold Coast.
So, while Liz and Neil were eating bulldust and dodging 'roos out west we hooked up the 'van and headed south to Brunswick Heads where we stayed for a couple of nights.
Brunswick Heads is a beautiful place, just a few klms north of the much better known (but much more crowded and "managed" Byron Bay) and we found a spot in a local caravan park.
The whole of this Northern Rivers area in NSW is simply gorgeous, but like the rest of NSW it has rules and conditions and much of the freedoms you find in the western half of Australia is banned in this, the convict state. So almost no free camps to use aside from the odd overnight stop and van parks are the way to go.
It's not such a bad thing though as we found ourselves sitting in the local pub overlooking the river and enjoying a drink.
A short walk from the pub across the old footbridge (there is an even rickettier old road bridge) takes you to the beach where the Pacific wets the sands and the air is clean and clear.
This pic is of some gorgeous young thing that I found myself chatting to that day. Lucky bloke eh?
Of course, a trip to this area would never be complete without paying a visit to Byron Bay, so off we drove for the 20 minute cruise to Byron and found a spot in a crowded car park and paid our fees. It still comes as a nasty shock to have to pay for parking you know, and to have to find a spot in a car park and walk the rest of the way into town is just rude.
However, the Bay is simply breathtaking.
Yeah - that gorgeous young thing had to take a photo of this old fart, but at least he looks happy at the prospect of a beer in Strop's old pub overlooking the beach.
And here is the table we got to sit our beer and wine on while we enjoyed the atmosphere.
However, after two or three nights in Brunswick Heads it was time to cruise on further south. We were meeting Liz and Neil in Grafton so we headed on down to Brooms Head for another few nights.
This is a really quiet little place most of the time and the council run van park is right on the beach and only a short walk to the bar and restaurant in the bowls club. We have been here a number of times before and always loved it and this time was no exception.
This is the view from under the van awning - we were perched right on top of the dunes at the back of the beach.
And this is the early morning view from our bed at the sun just risen over the ocean. Simply gorgeous.
But eventually we hooked up again and caught up with Liz and Neil. We were going to meet them in Grafton, but they were running late (some Toyota issue I suppose :) ) so we toddled off to Minnie Water and Wooli to check out the van parks and surrounds.
We decided that one of the van parks just outside Wooli (but with its own pub and restaurant - very important points!) was the best with its views out over the river and peaceful atmosphere.
We met up with the Wasses and their travelling companions and enjoyed a thoroughly pleasant few days and evenings with them before they continued south and we returned home.
Below are a few pics of the area, starting with a couple of atmospheric evenings shots over the river. These were taken on my phone as we sat there, sipping a drink and just relaxing and chatting.
We decided to catch up with them along the way and to spend a week or so recovering from the shock of returning to our home on the Gold Coast.
So, while Liz and Neil were eating bulldust and dodging 'roos out west we hooked up the 'van and headed south to Brunswick Heads where we stayed for a couple of nights.
Brunswick Heads is a beautiful place, just a few klms north of the much better known (but much more crowded and "managed" Byron Bay) and we found a spot in a local caravan park.
The whole of this Northern Rivers area in NSW is simply gorgeous, but like the rest of NSW it has rules and conditions and much of the freedoms you find in the western half of Australia is banned in this, the convict state. So almost no free camps to use aside from the odd overnight stop and van parks are the way to go.
It's not such a bad thing though as we found ourselves sitting in the local pub overlooking the river and enjoying a drink.
A short walk from the pub across the old footbridge (there is an even rickettier old road bridge) takes you to the beach where the Pacific wets the sands and the air is clean and clear.
This pic is of some gorgeous young thing that I found myself chatting to that day. Lucky bloke eh?
Of course, a trip to this area would never be complete without paying a visit to Byron Bay, so off we drove for the 20 minute cruise to Byron and found a spot in a crowded car park and paid our fees. It still comes as a nasty shock to have to pay for parking you know, and to have to find a spot in a car park and walk the rest of the way into town is just rude.
However, the Bay is simply breathtaking.
Yeah - that gorgeous young thing had to take a photo of this old fart, but at least he looks happy at the prospect of a beer in Strop's old pub overlooking the beach.
And here is the table we got to sit our beer and wine on while we enjoyed the atmosphere.
However, after two or three nights in Brunswick Heads it was time to cruise on further south. We were meeting Liz and Neil in Grafton so we headed on down to Brooms Head for another few nights.
This is a really quiet little place most of the time and the council run van park is right on the beach and only a short walk to the bar and restaurant in the bowls club. We have been here a number of times before and always loved it and this time was no exception.
This is the view from under the van awning - we were perched right on top of the dunes at the back of the beach.
And this is the early morning view from our bed at the sun just risen over the ocean. Simply gorgeous.
But eventually we hooked up again and caught up with Liz and Neil. We were going to meet them in Grafton, but they were running late (some Toyota issue I suppose :) ) so we toddled off to Minnie Water and Wooli to check out the van parks and surrounds.
We decided that one of the van parks just outside Wooli (but with its own pub and restaurant - very important points!) was the best with its views out over the river and peaceful atmosphere.
We met up with the Wasses and their travelling companions and enjoyed a thoroughly pleasant few days and evenings with them before they continued south and we returned home.
Below are a few pics of the area, starting with a couple of atmospheric evenings shots over the river. These were taken on my phone as we sat there, sipping a drink and just relaxing and chatting.
Karen sitting on the breakwater wall.
Paddling time!
Karen and Liz heading off for a walk on the beach and a paddle. Driving on the beach was something we considered, but the fact that there was nowhere really to go and the effort involved in dropping tyre pressure and pumping them back up again made it seem not worth the time.
This was the view from under our awning and out over the river.
And finally, one of the totally unspoilt beach.
Bloody magic.
