Marina Resort Nelson Bay

... we found the place where we stayed and it certainly was very different. There is a huge marina right in Nelson Bay now and it is very busy. I am not sure if our boys will remember this holiday, but I will have to test their memories out when we get home!!!<br><br><br>25/8/09 - KIAMA - Home Sweet Home - until we head off again next time!<br><br>Kevin &amp; Carol<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><b r><br><br><br><br><br>

... natuerli. beides het denn noed so ganz klappt. churz ade one mile beach go skimboarde, frisbee spiele unds ebe ide welle versueche isch denn de raege, de kolleg essig, dem schoene sunnige tag en strich dur d raechnig go mache. gstraezt hets wi nuet und so simer halt ines shopping centre mit internet cafe gfluechtet. de raege het nacheme wiili ...

... to look for this reserve where there were supposed to be Koalas.. but never found it. On the way back, it decided to pour it doown with a hailstorm thrown in for free. And that was the weather set in for the rest of the day and into the night. And we were worrying if we would get cold in the tent, let alone think about major flooding! So yea we were glad to be tucked up nice and warm in our cabin watching Borat! High Five!

... come from!). L*ter it w*s * trip to the loc*l RAAF *ir b*se, where we w*tched the jets t*ke off *nd l*nd. It's gre*t popping down to the be*ch in the morning or l*te *fternoon when the sun is *t its less strongest *nd h*ving * gre*t time 'body surfing' the w*ves, the strong smell of se*s*lt *nd the rel*xed *ttitude everyone h*s - its no wonder m*ny people w*nt to retire, work *nd live the lifestyle ...

... the local bus drivers, who were all extremely helpful [even if it made them late for their next stop], we had a new route planned. A little longer than the usual but nonetheless, by 11:30 we had arrived at Nelson Bay! A lovely marina village with a small beach area. Caroline had suggested that the Dolphin tours were a 'must see', and I could not agree more! After a quick lunch we went to investigate our dolphin options ...

From the beginning the trip seemed like an adventure. Apparently, the bus that was to pick us up broke down. So the large group I was in was shuttled by car and SUV in Indian caravan fashion. After an hour drive we got to the lodge, had a few bruskies, and passed out. First day was really cool. Learned to surf in a relaxed environment surrounded by beautiful beaches, cliffs and a ...

... walked up a headland over looking the Port Stephens peninsula. Later, we found some amazing sand dunes (35km in length) which you can slide down on boards if the sand is dry. We had to make do with jumping down them, but it was fun none the less.

... overcast. And then a days diving - which I have to say wasnt as good as the diving we did in Egypt, but the bright colours and coral never ceases to amaze me. Airlie beach is far enough North to have saltwater crocs - they can be very big, and "take" tourists occasionally. They seem to be partial to Germans in this part of the world, although not sure they are that fussy! In fact from here north there are plenty of deadly animals both in and out of the sea. In fact to go in the ...

... the recipe of gnocchi is two things, a glimpse into the life stream of our family and secondly, a tie to the feminine world where generations of women are woven together through chatter. With each flick of the thumb my technique improves and slowly the end result transforms from mangled puffs of potato to almost perfect indented dumplings. Indenting the dumplings is part of the secret, the indentations allow the sugo -sauce- to soak into the gnocchi giving it ...

... tour of the building, all the while his head bobbing up and down in a mesmerising fashion. upon finally escaping Roto House with its tremendous 100 years of HISTORY we made it to the koalas. there were two in an enclosure in front of us chewing on some leaves looking very content, we were glad they didn't look too sick esp as they were in hospital. behind us an older lady whose life clearly revolved around these furry little things got herself in something ...