Ramada Hotel And Suites Ballina

... the guy on the crane in the near construction site, suggested stepping back and making some room. A fan of 20-20 I guess! Anyway feeling under whelmed by the form of these Aussie youngsters, got to know they're not all budding Pontings or Lees, moved on and arrived back at the car. Now sky had been taken over by a couple of guys kite surfing. They were awesome, so watched them for a while, whilst I made a sandwich in my mobile kitchen. This was the ...

... to stop in a supermarket car park and consort with the best map I could find. This wasn't overly helpful, but figured it in the end and again by luck ended up along the main road of Ballina (River Street). From here I came along Central Ballina Caravan Park, so thought that was handy and went inside. Now it was all very confusing and signs said residents only, so thought that meant it was full (of course if you check in you become a resident, but I ...

... love the area here, it is just so beautiful and the beaches are pristine and the water the most amazing aqua, and the sand very white. The scenery, the little town itself and the caravan park here are all just amazing. I think I could spend a couple of weeks here quite happily. The owners of the park have morning tea for the guests every day, the staff are all really friendly and the park backs right on to the national park. We have ...

... about 1pm and straight to the beach for the second trip into the sea in one day - a bit colder as no wetsuit, but great waves and lots of fun trying not to get knocked over! A bit of sunbathing followed by a wander round town, crazy hippies everywere and smelling of grass, again lots of weird folk who'd spend too much time here! But as ever the beachfront was gorgeous with 100 percent clear blue skies and bright dazzling ...

... varieties including crocodile and ostrich. Late afternoon looking around Coffs Harbour
Stayed at Bellinger River Park, a great spot right alongside the river, shame about the night trains to the south and the trucks to the north.

Day 17: Wednesday 22nd July. Today was spent on a trip inland without our van ...

... the main street of Ballina.  There were so many people there and a flypast of one plane!  All the kids from the local schools seemed to be marching as well which was lovely to see. Ballina is really lovely - really like it. The coastline is beautiful.  I am going to run out of adjectives to describe what we are seeing. Today Sunday 26th April we went for a drive through Lennox Head to Byron Bay and then back via Bangalow.  I have fallen in love with Lennox Head - just ...

... and went for a few drinks, in a very strange way it was really normal meeting up with him after 7 months on the other side of the world - probably because Sydney and indeed Australia is so similar to home in many ways (apart from the weather!). On Thursday I took Frits on the City Sightseeing tour again as the tickets were valid for 24 hours, after this we met Stevie and took the most beautiful walk around Sydney Botanic Gardens to 'Mrs Macquerie's chair' (a rock where you can ...

... from the cabin). We then headed into town to the beach hotel for drinks and dancing, followed by a kebab on the way home...what a night. Next day we headed for the lighthouse: and hours walk from our hostel, along the coastline to the most easterly point in the whole of Australia. We took with us our new Swedish friend Sofya,,, we do keep meeting these Swedes. From the lighthouse, the view to the east on the this lovely clear day was sea sky and nothingness, twas fabulous. There ...

... 07:30 Uhr ging es mit einem kleinen Boot vom Strand aus in die vorgelag**ten Julian Rocks. Mit insgesamt 5 Tauch**n und ein par Schnorchl** gings ins Wass**. Und dies war noch einmal ein einmaliges und unbeschreibliches Erlebnis. Denn hi** sah ich meine **sten Stachelrochen. Bestimmt 15 an d** Zahl. Danach konnten wir noch einen Leopard Hai bewund**n. Ebenfalls beim **sten Tauchgang konnten wir Mantarochen durchs Wass** gleiten sehen. Ein ...

... week was our final afternoon when we rode the horses down to the river and took them in bareback for a swim - a great end to the week :) After being dropped back into town, my aim was to find some farm work after over-spending in Sydney. I ended up finding work at a place not far from Tamworth with three German girls that I'd met at Jillaroo school. Work included cattle work, irrigation and basically getting my hands dirty! It was long hours, hard work & not much fun ...