Part 13
19th of December 2021
We arrived at the Tweed Holiday Park, in Tweed Heads around midday, to score a lovely site at the end of a row beside the river. So we quickly got perfectly set up and ready for a great time here!
20th of December 2021
Up early for the Covid testing crazy line up. To get into Queensland for a border pass we had to get a test, and wait two days for the results. I’ve put this on here as hopefully this will all be a distant memory. They put these Covid testing places in silly places. As this one on the main road, had cars lined up for a kilometre down the road, causing many upset businesses. As people are blocking driveways and entries to other businesses, these times are seriously crazy.
After our Covid test we went shopping in Tweed Heads. Peter got a really bad haircut! I was in the supermarket when he found me, he was seriously distressed! As the lets say European hairdresser put so much product in his hair, he looked like some kind of old rocker. All I could do was laugh my head off, in a crowded supermarket, the look on his face I will never forget!
21st of December 2021
Peter up early and off for a big paddle board down the Tweed river.
Today we walked over the border to Snapper Rocks to meet Sam, Ana and Kirstie, illegally Covid Crazy times! My favourite walking track here along the point, on a beautiful day does not get any better than this. We piled into Sam’s car and had a nice catch up lunch at a Japanese restaurant in Kirra.
Peter had a late fish near our site and got literally eaten alive by Midges! The lovely site we thought we had, we hardly sat outside as we both got smashed by midges.
22nd of December 2021
This morning Kirstie woke Peter at 6am for a paddle board down the river. Then later we went for a drive to show Kirstie, Kingscliff then we ended up at Casuarina for a beach session and lunch at a cafe near by. Our nicest weather day of the week.
23rd of December 2021
This morning we went to Sam and Ana’s apartment for a home cooked breakfast, which was really nice! Glen called in for a catch up too. Sam showed us all around the building, and ended up playing a few games of pool.
Kirstie and I went over for a last Christmas shop, at Pacific Fair. Sam and Peter played some more pool and went out for lunch.
24th of December 2021
Today we made it our mission to Chill out at the caravan park, and stay away from the madness outside! So Kirstie and Peter had a float session down the river.
25th of December – Christmas Day 2021
We had a lovely Christmas Day with Ana’s generous family, once again. Peter and I stayed the night, due to all the Cocktails ect!
26th of December 2021
Waking up at the Lukac family home, your always in for a delicious breakfast cooked by Nes. He makes a scrambled eggs with turmeric, chilli and vegetables, very nice. Kirstie stayed at Sam and Ana’s and partied on, so was a little fragile today. I woke today with a very sore back, put it down to a bad move dancing the night before.
We dropped Kirstie back at Tweed Heads and then went back over the border to Peters Aunty Pat’s house, to catch up with the rest of her family. We met Peters cousin Janet and her three boys, their partners and kids. It was a really nice afternoon catching up, with little kids running riot through the house! Pat was really happy we called in, she actually had happy tears.
27th of December 2021
The weather has been terrible since the day before Christmas, so we’ve been a little stuck in the van and in need of getting out. So we went for a drive to try and go out for breakfast, everyone around has the same idea. We tried to go to Cubby three times while we where up here. The line to get a coffee was crazy. So we kept driving and stumbled on Tropical World, which lucky for us on goggle it said it was closed, but not so! We ended up having a super nice breakfast crowd free on a busy public holiday!
Onwards through the hinterland down to Fingal Heads to show Kirstie this little Gem of a place.
A quick stop for a coffee at the quirky little cafe at Fingal Head. Then on to Kingscliff to walk the Main Street, as it’s raining again!
28th of December 2021
My back was extremely sore this morning, I tried to get into a doctors with no luck. So Peter took me to John Flynn hospital emergency, which was really good. As I had a CT scan, blood test and got some pain relief. Lucky the weather isn’t that great as I’ve laid low with lots of pain the past few days. Peter went in the afternoon to catch up with Peter Mitchell in Burleigh Heads, ending late! I had to pick him up at Tugan as the Uber’s can’t or won’t go over the border, another wtf is this country coming to!!!!
29th of December 2021
Starting our morning with a long walk today. Stopping for a really nice breakfast at Baked, then walking over to a kind of island off Tweed Heads with gated communities, really nice! Again the weather is not great, note to self don’t go north for Christmas!
We bought this seafood platter from a fish shop on the way back from our walk.
30th of December 2021
Highlight of the day was getting a pedicure with Kirstie, as it’s been a while! While we did that Peter had a very uncomfortable massage! Later we dropped Kirstie off at a friends in Palm Beach, while we called in at Elise and her new partner Peters house for dinner. We where back at the caravan park and in bed by 12pm!
1st of January 2022
We went to Rebecca and John Stewards new unit in Palm Beach for a catch up and bbq lunch. Callum, Montana,Sam and Ana joined us late all with shocking hangovers from New Year’s Eve. Lots of laughs as always with this lot! Later we went out in Kirra for a Thai dinner with Kirstie, our last night on this holiday with her. (Terrible weather all day torrential rain all day)
2nd of January 2022
We packed the van up early and had a quick coffee down the road from the caravan park. We left the caravan at the caravan park, while we dropped Kirstie of at Varsity lakes railway station. Kirstie took the train to Brisbane, then we picked the van up and went to Iluka. So we arrived around midday and soon got the first call from Nick to say he had Covid, followed by Sam telling us Ana has Covid! Yay we saw them yesterday! So feeling very nervous we stayed very low. This caravan park is the friendliest one we’ve been to, and we are playing snobs as we don’t want to spread germs! Can’t see Carole and John, so annoyed at this whole crap!
3rd of January 2022
We went for a drive around Iluka to watch the crazy surf conditions causing damage to the beaches.
We went around to Carole and John’s house in Iluka for drinks and a home Covid test they had, we tested negative. We had a really nice catch up.
4th of January 2022
We met Carole and John down the street for breakfast, then Peter shopped with Carole for a new toilet seat, as you do! We then all piled in our car to go to McLean for some chores, printing plans to quote. Later in the afternoon the boys, Peter, John, Adrain Smith and Brett Fasso caught up got a session at the pub. Of course it ended ugly. As the smart pub owner said he would drop them home! What could possibly go wrong? No dinner and lots of alcohol does not work for anyone. If only our Peter Pan’s would grow up!
5th of January 2022
Weather ok, finally got some washing done. Walked up the Main Street got a few things and Peter worked on the quote. Later Peter, Carole, John, Adrian Smith and Kerry went off for a paddle down the river. As my back is still not great I stayed back at the caravan and later met them at Adrain and Kerry’s for happy hour.
6th of January 2022
Today the weather is miserable again, so it’s a good excuse for Peter to work on a massive quote. Carole and John came over to the caravan park for happy hour, by the river. Lovely evening!
The past few days I haven’t felt completely well, with worry over the whole Covid going through the family and the fact we had only seen Ana and Sam the day before they came down with it.
7th of January 2022
Waking not feeling great, but onwards up upwards! We went for a early, really tranquil Rainforest walk to Bluff beach. it was so nice and peaceful walking through the sounds of the rainforest to the beach.
After the most beautiful morning walk through this Stunning Rainforest walk, with birds and insects going off. We got picked up by John and Carole and headed off to Ulamrra pub by the river for a lovely lunch. Followed by a walk around the cute shops in town.
pub, Very Covid strict!
Then fish and Chips watching the sunset near the pub. Later we walked along the beach back to the caravan park.
8th of January 2022
Fishing day for Peter, bit of book work and walk up the street for me.
Tonight we had a Mexican night at Carole and John’s with Bear, Kerry and an older friend of John’s. Nice fun night, laughing at poo experience’s, a change from the doom and gloom of Covid conversation!
9th January 2022
This morning Peter went for a short paddle board out the front of the caravan park, before breakfast. Then we caught the 10:15am ferry over to Yamba. We had a nice day walking the shops, lunch at a very trendy cafe. And walking to the front beach under the hotel. After lots of walking around the town, we got the 3:15pm ferry back to Iluka. Not long after Brett Fasso and his partner Mandy called over for happy hour, by the river. Dinner at the van, before Peter went off again for another crack at fishing here! Time for me to blog away!
10th of January 2022
This morning Peter up bright and early, a fish out the front of the caravan park, then a SUP with Carole and John across the other side of the river. Then breakfast at our caravan together, uh lovely morning at last! After we walked up along the beach to the bakery for a coffee.
Later we met Carole and John, down at the Bluff beach. As it was a little crowded, we headed down to Frasers beach. Who would we bump into but Brett Fasso and Mandy, just had a surf there. Brett kindly borrowed his Mal board to Peter, to have a go. So off John and Peter went for a surf. Peter kind of liked it, just needs a little more practice! We had just another nice day down at the beach.
Unfortunately I think, I had a little to much sun, as I felt very unwell in the evening!
11th of January 2022
Packed up early and wondered over to where the ferry leaves from, to catch up for breakfast with Carole, John, Kerry and Adrain at a cafe that just opened today, owned by a beautiful young Japanese family,
So today we drove as far down the coast as Tuncurry, and stayed at a Sports-club car park. Arriving around five o’clock, Peter sprinted to the bar after setting up. Bought himself a beer and some meat tray raffle tickets. He then made that an excuse to hang at the bar waiting for the raffle draw. One happy man, winning a meat tray, doesn’t get much better than that for him!
12th of January 2022
Today we started at the Tuncurry beach by the wall, for a very exciting morning for Peter swimming with the Dolphins. We then moved down the coast to our caravan park at The Sandbar, driving in was like a big surf camp! We set up and headed off to explore the beautiful beaches and villages around this area. Our first stop was Blueys Beach, lots of nice holiday rentals around the town beach. The village is super cute too, nice trendy shops and very cool motel recently renovated. Followed by Boomerang Beach, then Elizabeth beach, which looked like a beach in Hawaii with a mountain range on the edge. Just near Elizabeth beach, I saw lots of cars parked near a pretty track. We called into Smiths Lake, on the way to Seal rocks. We went past Number One beach, with a really nice caravan park (reflections) opposite, one to remember to come back too! Then onto Boat beach for a swim, and a little happy hour on the beach. Fomo again, one more attraction for the day, a walk to the stunning Sugarloaf point lighthouse, for spectacular views back to Lighthouse Beach, and Seal Rocks. Highlight of our day! After we bought some shells off a bit of a local character!
13th of January 2022
Today we started our day walking from the caravan park across the water to a beach, as we could see a lot of four wheel drives over the other side. Here it costs $60 for a permit to drive on the beach, for thirty days. As we where really only there for one day, walking over was an easy option. The cars where all lined up
14th of January 2022
Sandbar caravan park to Bowral
Tonight it’s time for a last treat of the trip! A stay at this beautifully renovated Berida Hotel! Pre dinner drinks in the gorgeous Whiskey Bar. We chatted with a couple of guys about cars and Western Australian travel! I loved everything about this motel, the interior designer has nailed every room!
Review of The Berida Hotel 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Perfect not to pretentious, just right! Perfectly Renovated, friendly service. Wall paper envy here!
15th of January 2022
Bowral to Jugiong
Breakfast down the street on a rainy morning, followed by a shop in the most gorgeous antique store going, Dirty Jane’s!
16th of January 2021
Jugiong to Yarrawonga
This morning we left Jugiong and got a text from our Tennent complaining about the Telstra internet being out. So for the next two hours we spent listening to the on hold music, which sends me crazy! We stopped at Holbrook for a coffee and to check out the submarine in the park. Peter went into the museum, which he enjoyed. I went grocery shopping as Dad has put the fear, for lack of groceries on the Peninsula! Our next stop was Rutherglen, wow what a lovely old Main Street. I could really see a girls weekend here, lovely shops! I bought a linen dress from a cute shop here, while Peter checked out the motorbike museum here. We had an expense pie from Parker’s Pies, we know why they are expensive, delicious!!!!
Onwards to Yarrawonga, to Leonie and Ray Mays new home. The boys had a big catch up afternoon sip session. After we had a bbq dinner at their home.
17th of January 2022
After a big night catching up, a little to much grog the night before! Peter went off for a big bike ride with Ray around town. A quiet day as the weather wasn’t so great, and Ray and Leonie’s dog wasn’t to happy with the thunder. We later went out for an early dinner at the RSL, which has recently been renovated and very flash! Ray has a new whiz bang massage chair, so after dinner I had my second massage for the day. While on the chair in the tv room, I heard the doorbell. So Peter came in telling me the Cops where here, checking Rays Firearms! Randomly calling in! Always exciting when we are around!
18th of January 2022
Today we where on our way by 8:30am for a 1pm appointment in Geelong to look at a new machine. Stopping at Nagambie for a quick coffee along the way.
So after the horrid Melbourne to Geelong traffic, we made it a little late to the appointment. I booked the ferry home as the thought of going back through Melbourne on peak hour did not thrill us at all. We made the 4pm ferry by a millisecond! Back to the land of reality!!!!!!!!
So just like that our fantastic trip of a lifetime is over. We have had an absolutely fabulous time away together and feel so lucky to have had the opportunity to go!!!!!
We’ve met the nicest people travelling, we’ve called into old friends and relatives along the way. We thank everyone for making our holiday special! Hopefully we have some life long new friends too. We would both do it all again in a heart beat. Thanks for following along the way. 🙏😘
