March 20th-23rd, Valla Beach Tourist Park

Sunday March 20th had us packing up at Diamond Head and saying goodbye to our new friends, Rod and Denise Everingham from Wauchope. We got away around 11am and had a short travel day to Valla Beach just North of Nambucca Heads. Find on GPS Map at: http://fms.ws/4RPtB//-30.60536/153.00592  .We stopped at a rest area just South of Macksville for lunch. Valla Beach Tourist Resort is quite a large caravan park although the majority is permanents and permanent casuals. Caravan area was uncrowded with good size fully serviced sites and large clean amenity blocks. Sandra and I are both enjoying having unlimited water and power supplies again for a few days. The resort backs on to river which has foot bridge over for short walk to beach. We spent the afternoon getting setup and charging all our electronic devices. Sandra did a few loads of laundry in the caravan to test out the washing machine.

Monday morning saw us get an early start travelling the Waterfalls Way out to Dorrigo.Travelled via Bellingen which was beautiful and green. The road from Belligen was windy, hilly, and a number of construction sites. The highlight of the day was our visit to Dorrigo National Park. Find GPS Location on map at: http://fms.ws/4RhXV/-30.36339/152.72844 .We did the 2.5 hour 6km Wonga Walk through the Gondwana Rainforest. This is World Heritage Site and is an amazing experience which is surprisingly free. This would be our first must see site from our trip. Allow yourself at least the 2.5 hours and don't forget to pack some snacks and water. The track is entirely sealed which allows for trouble free progress but does have some fairly good climbs. Both Sandra and I both felt it in our legs by the time we completed. Highlights were Tristania Falls, Crystal Shower Falls, Bird life, and the amazing Rainforest trees. Day began overcast but was raining by time we completed walk.

We went into Dorrigo and had some takeaway lunch and a quick walk of the downtown. Given the weather we decided that we would begin our trip back to the caravan park. We stopped in Belligen and had a walk down the main street. Did a bit of grocery shopping and stopped at the Butter Factory on the way out of Belligen. Had a Barbeque Steak dinner and an early night.

Tuesday we drove South along the coast to explore. We briefly stopped in Nambucca Heads but will return on Wednesday to restock and see a bit more. We then went into Scott's Head. This is a beautiful little town and would be our pick of the Coastal locations we have seen so far. Not much for commercial services but a very nice location with some beautiful homes. Did a brief walk at lookout point between the Little Beach and the main beach. Got bailed up by a Magpie but eventually our superior strength and intellect won the day.

 From there we journeyed along coast to Stuarts Point where we had a picnic lunch by the water. We walked across the rather large foot bridge but didn't venture as far as the beach. Nice location but community itself didn't appear that appealing. From there we went back to the Pacific Highway briefly before we went into South West Rocks. A truly beautiful location but again very crowded at beach and caravan park located there. Sandra and I shuddered about having to get our caravan parked into a place like this. Had an ice cream snack as it was quite warm and moved on to the Trial Bay Gaol end of the bay. This was an interesting stop  but if Dorrigo Park was great value this was a bit of a rip off. Nice history but under construction and little value add from staff or information provided. Would not recommend!

Wednesday was an easier day with some shopping and cleaning. We are still having problems with the Fridge so had to rearrange and throw out some supplies this morning. Got on to 7th Street Caravans this morning and will have it looked at again early next week in Ballina. We then went into Nambucca Heads again and did a tour of the break wall where they have painted many of the rocks. Once again it is a beautiful location but is quite busy and would be crazy during school holidays etc I think. We prefer the quieter out of the way places ourselves. Once done with our tourist activities we stopped at a Woolies for food and diesel.

 Came back to the caravan park had lunch, washed the caravan, and did some laundry. Sandra broke out the hair clipper set I bought and gave me my first home away from home haircut. Paid for half the price of the clippers with the first haircut and I think it turned out pretty good. Sandra hasn't told me to walk 15 feet behind her so no one knows we're together so must be OK! Took a walk down and across foot bridge over river to beach this afternoon. Quite a rough section of water that appears to have some rips and not any other swimmers or surfers. We got our feet wet then wandered back to campsite and had a swim in the safe confines of the swimming pool. Having afternoon drinks under the awning surrounded by laundry drying. We'll pack up in the morning and think we will end up around Grafton for a night or two.