@travellingwiththeateam

On the move again today, but it’s another short drive, this time heading north back up to Bangalow for a weekend stay in the hinterland.

Before we made our way back up the coast, we headed to Shelly Beach in East Ballina and a coffee at the beach cafe before walking down to the North Wall trail.

We found our way down to the coastal path and got chatting to a local about a memorial for a surfer who was taken in a shark attack along the coast.

Pete was a former teacher and surfer who seemed keen to chat and happily gave us tips about places to visit down the coast. It turned out that Pete was 75yrs old, although he looked a good 10yrs younger!!

The walk took us to the end of East Ballina break wall from where we had great views up and down the coast.

We enjoyed a lovely walk along Lighthouse Beach in the morning sunshine and came to the conclusion that this is the type of morning walk we love and are keeping our fingers crossed that the sunshine will welcome us on our return to the UK in a months time.

Our guesthouse stay on the outskirts of Bangalow is a dream – it sits on the top of a hill with views over the 99 acre estate. Our lavish bedroom, kitchen, lounge and drawing room and not forgetting the outdoor pool make this an unforgettable place to spend the weekend.

Our latest home for the next 2 nights – pure bliss.

All dressed up and ready for dinner and a couple of glasses of rose – a proper Friday night.

Tomorrow we plan an early mornings trip to the local farmers market and a walk to the nearby rainforest before we continue with our enjoyment of the weekends guesthouse stay.

Our latest stay in Byron Bay came to an end today, but we weren’t going far, with a 20min drive down the coast to Lennox Heads before a further 15mins south to East Ballina.

Our first port of call was Lennox Heads, a place we’ve previously visited at the start of our road trip back in early January. It’s a counter balance to Byron, quieter and more serene with a fantastic sandy beach and nearby cafes with a friendly and relaxed vibe.

The beach was so inviting and beautiful, and being outside of holidays aside from a few locals, we had the whole beach to ourselves.

With most of the morning caught up in the sunshine reading on the beach, we had worked up an appetite and made our way to an expresso bar, two coffees and a white chocolate and raspberry muffin later we were back walking down the beach trying to work off the calories.

Michelle was keen for some beauty treatment and whilst she had her appointment, Andy sat around in the park and took in the wildlife and nature.

Mid-morning we made our way down to our latest apartment ‘Studio Birdsong’ in Ballina, a neo Scandi affair, with loads of space, a real find at just £60 for the night.

After dropping off our stuff, we made our way into the centre of Ballina and went for a coastal walk that took us along the Richmond River and up to Missingham Bridge Beach.

After an enjoyable saunter along the water front, we had worked up an appetite and stopped at the local RSL club for dinner. We indulged in a drink and soaked up the vista looking out over the river.

Dinner was a real treat with salmon for Michelle and a light chicken curry for Andy – almost like being on holiday!!

Before we started our meals, at 6pm we all stood and listened to the dawn chorus acknowledging those Australians who sacrificed their lives during the various conflicts.

Tomorrow we head back up the coast and inland for a couple of days away from the beach in Bangalow where we intend to get fully immersed in the hinterland and explore the rainforests and do some nature walks.

We woke this morning to torrential rain, a major change to the sun-kissed weather of yesterday.

As a result we decided to go and explore the hinterland and made our way to nearby Bangalow.

The town’s name is thought to have been derived from a Bundjalung word in the Wibadhabi dialect, ‘bangalla’, said to mean ‘a low hill’ or ‘a kind of palm tree’.

Bangalow has become a pleasant stop for holiday-makers and day-trippers like ourselves as its main street is lined with cafes and boutique-shops. Organic produce grown nearby is a regular feature in the cafes and at the monthly farmers market. The village is home to a number of heritage buildings with many of these built in the Federation style architecture.

Bangalow A & I Hall above was built in 1911 to be used for the annual Agriculture and Industrial show but it has been used since for many events; including as a cinema, a hospital during the 1919 Spanish flu and, in wartime, to farewell and welcome home soldiers.

We were really taken by the laid back friendly nature of the place, along with the plethora of cafes and boutique stores. So much so we have booked a couple of nights in a nearby guest house over the coming weekend.

The town has a rich agricultural and architecture history which was self evident as we walked around the town centre.

Dotted around the streets were some beautiful and colourful trees and we soon settled in at a nearby cafe for our daily mid morning coffee and cake fix.

After enjoying our time in Bangalow we drove down the road to Newrybar, a place we’d briefly explored when last in the area. Notably it’s the home of one of the Hemsworth brothers.

Later on in the afternoon we returned to Byron Bay and walked up to the Lighthouse summit to take in the views and enjoy some fresh air.

On our way back we came across a possum snoozing in the trees, which sadly was our only wildlife spotting despite the signs suggesting koalas were in attendance.

After a spot of late lunch, we found ourselves back at the beach, but due to a shark being spotted off the main beach we were unable to return to the ocean.

This evening we’ve enjoyed the benefits of our wonderful stay at Sunrise Guesthouse where we’ve had the use of a fantastic kitchen and a lovely dinning area.

Tomorrow we are off again but only a short distance traveling down the coast to just south of Lennox Heads for one night before moving in land for the weekend and a hinterland experience at Bangalow.

We left Brunswick Heads this morning and drove just 15 miles south to the infamous Byron Bay. This was a revisit after dropping into the place some 4 weeks ago, at the most southerly part of our road trip up the East Coast.

After spending the first hour down on Main Beach we headed into town for some brunch stopping at Dip Cafe for banana bread & cream and the best coffee in BB.

After a wander around the centre, taking in the wonderful boutiques and restaurants, we returned to Byron Bay Beach and found ourselves up close with the life guards and the recommendation to swim between the flags….

Andy was so impressed he went to audition for a role and stood proudly next to the NSW Surf Life Saving Club stand!

Around the centre of Byron we came across numerous murals that are emblazoned on the walls of restaurants and shops highlighting what a wonderful place this is.

With a full days sun in the offing we found ourselves returning to the beach after a bite to eat and took full advantage of the cloudless skies.

We relaxed on the grassy bank near the surf club where we found ourselves amongst the young and the beautiful of BB, many of which being travellers as we heard voices from Spain, France, Germany and of course England.

Late in the afternoon we went for a long walk along the beach dipping in and out of the surf and found ourselves in the most amazing of spots with the glow of the sun reflecting off the ocean. It truly is a stunning place and blessed with natural beauty.

We also checked into our latest accommodation a guest house on the outskirts of Byron which has proved to be a wonderful find. We have a communal lounge and kitchen which are so lovely and of high end quality, along with a bedroom that feels so comfortable and homely. Added to this the body washes and shampoos smell amazing and that’s before we mention the fantastic outdoor pool area. We’ve got two nights here and we are going to make the most of it!!

Tomorrow we plan to take a visit to the hinterland to Bangalow and a cellar door vineyard, as well as a walk up to the lighthouse in BB and drop into the Stone & Wood Brewery.

The weather is due to be a little mixed on Wednesday, but we hope it will clear up in the late afternoon as we plan to head out for dinner and a night out on the town!

It was goodbye to Casuarina this morning as we drove south on the coast road, with a stop off at Hastings Point, down to the laidback town of Brunswick Heads.

We spent an enjoyable hour walking along the Cudgera Creek where we met a friendly pelican who was hanging around looking for fish handouts.

Andy was given some fish guts by a local fishermen and fed a very ‘snappy’ pelican who gobbled up the snack in a second.

We ambled out to Hastings Point Lookout and took in the views back over Maggie’s Beach, a wonderful sandy affair.

We arrived into Brunswick Heads around midday and went for a wander around this fashionable little town with its funky street art and great restaurants and boutique stores.

We then found our way to Brunswick Heads Main beach and Andy performed his star jump for old times sake!

The beach locals have sculptured an arch way out of drift wood and it seemed only right we should grab a photo, akin to those taken in Bali & Lombok back in March last year.

Michelle was keen to take in the views from the Brunswick headland, close to where locals were fishing.

After exploring the beach we checked into our Brunswick Heads motel where we settled into a spot of pool time.

After a relaxing time, we returned to the beach for a late afternoon walk across the Simpson’s Creek pedestrian bridge and on to Harry Hills Beach.

The sunshine made a late return this afternoon, so we enjoyed a dip in the ocean then finished our beach wander with the countless dog walkers.

Tonight we plan to have a quiet affair catching up with our plans for the next few days in Byron Bay and Lennox Heads.

Without wishing to sound like a stuck record, we woke to another day of sunshine and decided to stay one final day in the wonderful surroundings of Oaks Casuarina Santai Resort. We’ve had 4 fantastic nights here, so decided to add a final one and make the most of a day at the pool and later to the beach.

Andy completed his 10km run to Cabarita Beach and after a healthy breakfast on our apartment patio, we went straight down to the pool to max out in the February heat & sun.

Around lunch we headed down to one of the nearby cafes before stopping off at a local boutique that was closing down and Michelle quickly swooped and purchased some funky sandals for just $10, a good buy given they were originally priced at $140!

The afternoon was spent dipping in and out of the pool and enjoying more R&R!!

Late afternoon we nipped down to the beach, and had a lovely walk along the long sandy beach – such a beautiful view and what a way to spend 5pm on Sunday.

It’s been a lovely day and a great way to finish our stay in Cabarita – tomorrow we are driving 45mins down the coast for a nights stay in Brunswick Heads.

After Andy’s morning daily homage to running was completed, we decided to take a short road trip to the Hinterland and a visit to Murwillumbah.

We’d been recommended to go on a Saturday as they had a flea market in Knox Park, along with Kat Harvey Cheese, selling the town famous cheese toasties.

Michelle was in her element and after wandering around a few stalls, she unearthed some real bargains and came away with a jump suit, dress, leather bag and belt.

We were really taken by the town and instantly felt welcomed. After a spot of retail therapy we found our way to Kat Harvey cheesier where we indulged in the finest cheese toastie – a real find.

The town had lots of character and Victorian & Edwardian buildings a plenty.

After relaxing for coffee at M-Arts Precinct, we moved on our road trip taking the tourist road to hamlets Crystal Creek & Chillingham and finally the quaint arts and crafts centre of Tyalgum.

What an amazing place, a real oasis within the hinterland of McPherson Range mountains. We walked up the Main Street, which comprised of only 7 shops/restaurants and reminded us of the tv show The Sullivan’s.

What a pleasure it was to walk in the shoes of the original 1870’s settlers who lived in these remote communities which have changed very little in the proceeding 150yrs.

After an hour spent in Tyalgum, we returned to ‘civilisation’ and the calm of our hotel pool and a couple more hours of sunshine and reading.

Being Saturday night we decided to venture to the hotel restaurant bar for drinks and reminisced about our travels over the last 15months since we left the UK. It’s been such an incredible experience and we have memories that will last a lifetime….

Tomorrow the plan is to enjoy the morning at the pool, before returning to the hinterland and a visit to Tumbulgum, a historic village awash with fishing and boating options.

Another day where we woke to rain and cloudy skies, but thankfully once Andy had been for his 10km early morning run, the skies cleared and usual sunshine service resumed.

Staying at such a wonderful hotel as the Oaks, we decided to make the most of the pool & the sun loungers and we caught up with some easy reading.

After yesterday’s successful walk along the northern Esplanade to Kingscliff, we decided to go south and head the 3 miles down to Cabarita Beach.

This was going to be a revisit to the Cabarita Surf Club, a venue we previously visited back in 2016 with our daughter Amelia on a roadtrip down to Sydney.

We both love getting out for a walk and the opportunity to chat as we wander, along with taking in the beautiful houses en route.

Alongside the magnificent homes and their pools, the local community have erected a number of sculptures and artefacts that make for a real conversation piece.

Andy found the first circular globe, before Michelle came across the ‘sea-horse’.

After an enjoyable hour’s walk we arrived in the picturesque area of Cabarita Beach, and came across the outdoor theatre wall we remembered from almost 10yrs ago. How time flies….

After settling into the cafe at the surf club, Andy treated himself to a low carb Blonde beer and Michelle her customary flat-white.

With time on our hands we meandered down to the beach, passing the lifesaver dressed palm trees….!!

As we made our way to the sandy beach, we came across signs warning of shark safety measures along the coastline.

We didn’t let it put us off and we were soon ensconced on the sandy shore where we spent the next hour lounging before strolling into the ocean.

It’s a stunning beach with the softest white sand and warm pools that lead out to the sea.

Late afternoon we made our way back along the Esplanade and the tree lined path that creates a bridge between the scrub and the manicured gardens that sit adjacent to the large white beach homes.

As today was Valentine’s Day, we treated ourselves to a bottle of Rose and dinner from Coles and a night watching film classics like Notting Hill and Notebook.

Tomorrow is not predicted to be that sunny, so we intend to head to the hinterland a Saturday market in Murwillumbah, before moving on to Brunswick Heads.

We woke today to the sound of heavy rain. This didn’t stop Andy who headed out for his customary 10km run along the Casuarina Esplanade to Kingscliff.

Fortunately after breakfast the rain clouds were replaced by blue skies and we decided to venture out and walk to Kingscliff, a 3 mile jaunt past the great and the good of the residential godliness of Casuarina.

We arrived at Cudgen Creek, on the outskirts of Kingscliff and walked along the promenade that then took us to the beachfront.

As we walked the humidity levels increased and off came the shirt – our decision not to bring swim gear started to feel a little foolish.

The beach and ocean looked beautiful although the waters remained choppy and the currents challenging after the rain and winds earlier in the day.

We fortunately persuaded a local to take our photo on the Heads and the vista across to Kingscliff beach.

Once we made it to the main beach we stopped for lunch at Cudgen Headland Surf Club, a place we last visited as a family in 2016.

After coffee then lunch in Kingscliff, we spent a little time on the beach before starting our return walk back to our hotel.

By early afternoon the temperatures had risen to 30c so we were pleased to make it back to the Oaks pool and an opportunity for a cooling dip.

Returning to this wonderful hotel, we had a relaxing afternoon reading and made the most of the complex’s facilities.

In truth this feels like a true ‘holiday’ such is the welcoming feel of the hotel complex – we like it so much we have decided to stay for 2 extra days over Valentines weekend.

This evening we treated ourselves to a bottle of rose, an early Valentines present to each other and made plans to repeat for tomorrow, assuming the weather is as kind.

Back on the road today, with a 2hr 30mins drive to NSW and the coastal town of Kingscliff.

On the way we stopped off at Mount Tambourine, for a spot of brunch at a Japanese themed cafe before going for a wander around the Main Street of this arts & crafts hinterland centre.

Mount Tamborine was a mix of tourist shops selling themed goods from extreme places like Scotland and Germany (cuckoo clocks?!), slightly odd given we are 10,000 miles from both.

From there we found a fudge store and a large koala….we aren’t sure of the significance of either but it seemed to be sufficient to get a reasonable amount of tourists shopping!!

Our true destination was a couple of miles away, at the Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk.

This exciting new Eco-Adventure offered a unique and thrilling way to explore the beautiful rainforest canopies.

Set in a magical 30 acres of rainforest beside the crystal clear rock-pools of Cedar Creek on Mt Tamborine.

The entire walk totals 1.5 kms and is a combination of forest floor trails, 300 metres of high-tech steel bridges through the highest points of the upper canopy, and a 40 metre cantilever bridge that soars a breathtaking 30 metres above the creek and rainforest below.

It was a wonderful experience to walk amongst the canopy and get a real feel of being in the rainforest – it’s a memory we will both cherish.

The place was so unspoilt and we got a true feel of the scale and expanse of the rainforests that pre-European arrival covered over 65% of the country.

We spent a couple of hours in this garden of Eden, before moving on to another attraction in this part of Mt Tamborine.

From one experience to another, we drove a mere 2 miles onto Witches Falls Winery, for a spot of ‘tastings’.

The setting was another cracker, located in a quiet haven on the edge of Mt Tamborine next to one of the vineyards.

We quickly picked out 6 wines, to wet our tastes and we settled in for a hour of indulgence. We moved from white, to rose and finally finishing with two bold reds, a Cab Sav & a Shiraz. Wow what wonderful wines in a fantastic setting.

From there we had a 1hr 15mins drive into NSW and on to Kingscliff. Along the way we listened to a great podcast from Louise Theroux who interviewed Willem Dafoe. So interesting and such a diverse film career.

We arrived early evening at the Oaks Resort in Casuarina, on the outskirts of Kingscliff and our lucky was definitely in. Our room is stunning, a real find – so much so we are already thinking about staying a couple more extra days!

Tomorrow we plan to explore Kingscliff and enjoy this NSW beach town in the sunshine.