I say, second week, but it’s just under a month now that we’ve been on the road. I’m only writing when I get the chance, which is maybe once a week, if that! Life is busy when there’s sightseeing to do and adventures to be had!
Shoal Bay Holiday Park – Port Stephens, NSW – 3 nights
The caravan park had been recently renovated and the bathroom and kitchen facilities were top notch. Like to the point that there were wicker basket chandeliers in there. The boys were amazed at how fancy it was, and insisted on having ‘fancy baths’ every night we were there. We also snagged a powered site right next to the playground. There was also a great playground just outside the caravan park, a lolly shop on the corner, a beautiful beach across the road, and coffee shops, fish and chips and cocktail bars all within a short walk. Big Boy and Crazy Cat had a go at jetty jumping while we were here too. Such a brilliant location!
Shark and Ray Experience
We visited the Shark, Ray & All Creatures Rescue and we all loved it! To be honest, it’s a little run down but the people running it are passionate about taking care of the animals and you can get really up close and personal with them – the animals that is! There are walk in pools with rays, gummy sharks and eels. You can pat them underwater, some smooth and slimy, others rough like a cat’s tongue. We enjoyed feeding them, watching their little gummy mouths slurp up the squid strips was so cool. Included in our experience was lunch – hot dogs for the kids. Oh and we fed the Macaws too, which was pretty amazing. What beautiful birds they are. So worth it just for this. They also bring around all sorts of reptiles throughout the day that you can handle. Pythons, pygmy bearded dragons, skinks. Not a cheap day out, by any means, but definitely recommend for a once off.
Here’s the link.
Just the Big Boys
Crazy Cat and I returned home for the weekend, flying out of Newcastle. We left Big Boy and Middle Man with Dad and they got up to a bit of mischief without us. Bet you didn’t know that Crazy Cat was a pilot in his spare time!
Swansea Lakeside Caravan Park, Lake Macquarie, NSW – 1 night
The sites were fantastic with concrete slabs large enough for the van to park on and cover the annex area. This place also had a huge swimming pool, waterpark and ninja playground. There were also 47,000 ducks of different varieties, very friendly who made themselves very at home under the van. Of course this was the case, as the number 1 duck-lover of the family was away! Great spot to stay, according to Hubby.
Here’s the link.
Redhead Beach, NSW
Because, when you’re a ranga, it’s a rite of passage to explore such places. Yes, it is an actual place.
Sydney Lane Cove Caravan Park – North Ryde, NSW – 4 nights
Discovery Parks run this place and as expected it’s got playgrounds, a family room, laundry and bathroom facilities. The new cabins look quite nice too. The boys had a fun time exploring Sydney, accidentally stumbled across a Dachshund Show with hundreds of sausage dogs in costume, saw the new Minecraft movie at IMAX and went go-karting. Winning!
Here’s the link.
Sydney Royal Easter Show
Crazy Cat and I flew back into Sydney, just in time to explore the Sydney Royal Easter Show on our last day staying there. What a day it was! We arrived at 9AM, and left after the fireworks at 9PM! Absolutely jam-packed with animals, rides, pavilions, side shows and entertainment. I am a huge fan of the EKKA, Royal Queensland Show, and this was like the EKKA on steroids! Absolutely mammoth! Our highlights from the day were the duck slide show, chickens on quad bikes, haunted house, ferris wheel, animatronic dinosaurs, buttered corn-on-the-cob, and, of course, show bags!
With Family – Canberra, ACT – 2 nights
We were very fortunate to be able to stay with family in Canberra, parking up in their driveway for 2 nights. It was so wonderful to visit my Uncle, Aunt and Cousin, with her 2 boys. The boys all had an absolute blast playing together. It was really sweet to see the instant bond between the eldest cousin and Middle Man, who are only 9 days apart in age. It was their first time meeting, but they played as if they’d been best friends for years. It’s a shame we don’t live closer to them, but I felt so much gratitude for us being there while we were. We’ll definitely plan another catch up again soon.
While in Canberra, we visited the Royal Australian Mint, and the kids enjoyed designing their own coins to show on the screen, and getting a real dollar coin made for keepsake. We also visited the National Museum of Australia, which everyone enjoyed. These were both free activities, apart from the cost of souvenirs, parking and lunch at the museum café.
Wiki Camps – Dixon’s Camp – Kialla West, VIC – 1 night
We’d decided at the start of the day that we would smash out 500-600 kms, making our way to Victoria, and pull up somewhere by dark. But, as it got closer to 5PM, I was done with being in the car, so with some very quick research on WikiCamps, I found this roadside camp. We made it just south of Shepparton, VIC (511 kms from Canberra). I was hella nervous as we pulled in, as it was thick bushland and only single track in and out, with very few turn around spots. Fortunately, Hubby is a good driver and was able to maneuver us into a beautiful creekside spot for the night. Even though there were a heap of other campers raging on into the night, we were happy to have found a spot to park up, and I was even happier still that I hadn’t royally screwed up and got our van stuck in the bush!
Here’s the link. Better for smaller rigs or camping.
With Friends – Near Geelong, VIC – 5 nights
We spent the Easter long weekend at our very good family friends’ place near Geelong. Their two kids and ours had a blast, throwing yabby pots out at the dam, hanging out at the shed, making delicious damper, riding their bikes, cleaning up the abandoned house, and having an epic Egg Hunt on Easter Sunday.
Oh, and I got to have a night out with the girls in Geelong, where we drank delicious cocktails, danced our hearts out to a Keith Urban look-a-like, and asked for seniors’ discount at the local night-club, for being over 35 (which they disappointingly declined!) So much fun! Hubby had an afternoon at the driving range too, and a bit of a quieter night out than the girls.
Off to Tassie tomorrow!
That’s it for now. Tomorrow we board the Spirit of Tasmania at 6AM!