http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Ballina/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Oceania , Australia , New South Wales , Ballina en-us Fri, 24 May 2013 00:44:21 +0000 Fri, 24 May 2013 00:44:21 +0000 We started today with a trek inland that took us up into the hills while passing through stunning grazing pastures and macadamia plantations. The countryside was lush green in the morning sun and we weaved up through narrow roads that had no sunlight due to the thick canopy of trees overhead.Our first stop of the day was Nimbin in the Northern Rivers area. It has a reputation for being a hippy hav http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Ballina/blog-741331.html Two weeks have passed and we are still in the northern rivers what with the heat exchanger coming out of the car and various other committments keeping us in traction we felt like sam wise having never left farmer maggots corn patch it seemed we might have a case of shire envy like a newly freed captive animal not wanting to leave the comfort and security of the cage. But i feel bilbo and ba http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Ballina/blog-720842.html The first thing we saw when we drove into Ballina was The Big Shrimp.ltspangtltspangtltspangtltspangtltspangtltspangt Arghltspangt I refuse to take and post photos of these monstrosities as I simply hate them.ltspangt Before finishing up my job in Melbourne a colleague asked whether we would be doing the big things on our trip.ltspangt I replied yes thinking http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Ballina/blog-715288.html I39m sitting here eating fake Aldi nutella with a spoon while trying to remember what we have done since the last time I posted. This should be easy but the reality is that I struggle to even remember what day it is much of the time.Yesterday we went to visit Ryan39s Uncle and Aunty who have a house south of Ballina at Pimlico. It was our first visit there and both agree that it is in a mag http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Ballina/blog-689090.html I forgot my joggers. They are sitting at the front door of the house. That39s a really stupid thing for someone attempting to rediscover waistline to do. My solution is to walk in my hiking boots not only are they heavier they make me look like I have cankles Guess that39s punishment for forgetting my joggers.Tonight I39m sitting at Ryan39s computer typing in a vain attempt to st http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Ballina/blog-687940.html The drive from Tenterfi was just beautiful but the road was a little rough but the scenery made up for it. Checked into the Bellina Headland Caravan Park very nice park one of the best we have stayed in 32 pn but disc for Top Tourist member. Lennox Heads is just down the road and the scenery over the ocean is just amazing. Lennox Heads is very touristy but a lovely little town with amazing vi http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Ballina/blog-686223.html Staying at Tab39s parents house helped keep refreshed for the journey on to Ballina. Only taking us a few hours we drove into Ballina at about 2.30pm. Having no idea where to go I rang Mark who directed us to his work. It was good to see Mark as it had been two years since he left the UK to live with Heather. I39ve known mark for around ten years and we started chatting like we had only s http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Ballina/blog-677919.html Had ten days in Ballina at Shaw39s bay caravan park on a waterfront site which is very pretty but very breezy as well. The park is very well looked after is in a prime position with a pub good takeaway food shop next door.Ballina is a nice town with lots of good shopping handy to the scenic drives along the coast hinterland. We went to Nimbin but did39nt find the cookie lady so we ha http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Ballina/blog-673934.html In case you missed the memo we are in AustraliaWe spent our first week in Sydney car hunting and doing a bit of sightseeing. We found a little Mitsubishi hatchback within our budget with low milage kilometerage and jumped on the offer. She39s a bit old and shaky but runs great and fits all our bagsWe left Sydney early yesterday morning and headed north to Ballina a 9 hour drive that http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Ballina/blog-658433.html On 17 May 2011 we drove from Brisbane to Ballina to take delivery of our Mercedes Sprinter motorhome. We had been looking at motorohomes for several years and finally decided to buy one ready for retirement travel.Ballina Campers and Motorhomes is a small manufacturer who make simple reliable and eccofriendly motorhomes with accomodation for 2 Sorry grandkids you will need to sleep in a tent. http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Ballina/blog-617107.html On Thursday 28th of April we arrived at dads uncle Johns place at Medowie just north of Newcastle. Some of Dads cousins and their kids came over for dinner. The next day John took us four wheel driving on the sand dunes at Stockton beach. We drove to tin city about five houses that people had built among the sand dunes. We then visited Kat Jembe and India at Smiths Lake for a ni http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Ballina/blog-611037.html I was determined to see some of the inland areas as I had been told how pretty this region was so I gave up a day of beach time in Byron Bay for a trip on The Happy Coach to Nimbin a rather sad little outpost in the hills that probably doesnt bear much resemblance to the original hippy communes that settled here in 1973 after holding the first Aquarius festival then stayed on wanting to prac http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Ballina/blog-521830.html Well the day has finally come for our trip. All siutcase are ready. Everything is done only to get ourselves ready. 4 hours togo.Next blog will be from the States. Talk to you all then. Pete Lil http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Ballina/blog-521199.html Have heard from some people that have received our travelblog just seeing if anymore of you have received it.send a message back on my hotmail account lilijanecucilovic1hotmail.com http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Ballina/blog-520758.html just trying this out before we go on Friday please reply if you have received this message at lilijanecucilovic1hotmail.comThanks Lili http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Ballina/blog-520629.html Heading out in the wilderness for 3 nights to South Ballina Beach. Not too far from home but we are looking forward to trying out the Camper and all our new camper gear. Went and checked out the campsites today and they are nice and shady and quiet. Our long weekend is going to consist of fishing swimming and hanging at the beach. http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Ballina/blog-489342.html I love the drive from the border down to this Byron BayBallina area. The hills rising above the coastline are green and lush and the beaches are long and tempting. Driving beside the Tweed River and seeing Mount Warning rising above the cane fields is always a thrill. From Murwillumbah we made a little diversion to the rather hippy little town of Uki then continued on our way to busy backpacker http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Ballina/blog-443140.html This morning I somehow found myself missing the 9.55 bus I blame the really nice shower I had earlier for that so ended up on the 11.25 instead. First port of callhe said sounding like a cruise liner was the Travel Info Centre to inform them about their incorrect advice yesterday...there is NO Greyhound Australia ticket office at the Big Prawn Restaurant After browsing the shops for a while http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Ballina/blog-377737.html I surfaced once again at 7.45 and witnessed the usual morning departures from Horizon Drive Station. With breakfast coffee and a bonus two hours sleep hehehe I took an amble up to the shops for a quick browse and on my way back got absolutely soaked. Having dried out and changed I realised that I forgot to sort out my Greyhound ticket to Brisbane whilst out earlier so as the weather had impr http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Ballina/blog-377734.html I woke up at eight o clock just in time to flag the kids off to school before then readying myself for the short bus ride into Central Ballina. Upon arrival I proceeded first to the top end of town where the Tourist Information Office is stationed and picked up a few useful leaflets of potential places to visit including Nimbin an old hippy town fuelled by drugs and Ballina driving range to ma http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Ballina/blog-377732.html