July 2014

As we had 355 kms to travel today to Yamba we were on the road by 9:00 am. Our trip today was made worse by very long sections of road works on the Pacific Highway with speed limits of 60 and 80 kph. We started with about 25 kms of road-works between Nambucca and Urunga, the more than 30 kms north of Coffs Harbour and Woolgoolga.

We had our first stop at a rest area near Kempsey, before continuing on to Coffs Harbour where we refuelled. We stopped for lunch in Woolgoolga and eventually arrived in Yamba mid afternoon and checked into the Blue Dolphin Caravan Park. We were given a couple of grass sites near the back of the park where we could stay hitched up for the night.

It was just as well that we were not going to the Gold Coast today as the Pacific Highway was closed in both directions at Wardell just south of Ballina because of at truck accident. The detour was via Casino and would have added about 90 kms and more than an hour to the trip.

Overnight at the Blue Dolphin park in Yamba

After breakfast we drove into Taree for papers and a coffee, as well as a walk around the town centre, before visiting the supermarket for a few supplies as well as a visit to the Woollies servo for fuel. We returned to the caravan for lunch and planned the rest of our day.

Manning River Times in Taree

Taree jetty

Looking up river from Taree

Looking down river from Taree

After lunch we drove to Harrington which is located near the mouth of the Manning River, then on to Crowdy Head. From the early 1830s the Manning River and the area around Taree were the centre of a timber industry based on Cedar. The entrance to the Manning River has a shallow and dangerous bar-way, however the risks must have been worth it to get the timber. In the 1850s and the 1860s one of the largest shipyards in the southern hemisphere operated on the Manning River near Harrington, with ship up to 300 tonnes being built.

More than fifty ships were lost over the years between 1824 and 1941 trying to cross the bar-way into the Manning River. In 1856 a Pilot Station was established at Harrington, a Lighthouse was built at Crowdy Head in 1878, and plans were developed for a breakwater to be built at Harrington in 1885. Harrington is now becoming an up market area for retirees with Harrington Waters being developed around a golf course, with a Lodge and other facilities.

Crowdy Bay from Crowdy Head

Crowdy Head Lighthouse

Diamond Head and Point Perpendicular from Crowdy Head

Crowdy Head fishing fleet

Small cemetery at the site of the Harrington Pilot Station

Harrington from the Flagstaff Hill Lookout

Manning River barway

We were packed up and on the road by 10:00 am for our 308 km trip to Croki which is just north of Taree. After and hour or so we stopped in a rest area for a morning coffee before refuelling at Ourimbah. At about 12:30 pm we stopped again in another rest area for lunch and eventually arrived at Croki Riverside Caravan Park at about 3:00 pm. Just south of Taree we passed through the small town of Nabiac where we gave the Two Cow Cockies a wave. Ron and Cortina live up the road at Krambach and have been keeping an eye on our blog since they spotted us on the highway last year.

Croki is a very small town on the Manning River about 15 kms north east of Taree. The caravan park has about 40 sites and is located on the banks of the river. We booked in for two nights to give us time to explore Taree and the surrounding area.

Just another Semi at the rest area

Set up on drive through site 33

Manning River from our Site

View of the Manning River from our window

Buildings across the river from Croki

As this was our last day in Sydney we began the task of packing up our belongings and returning them to the Caravan Park at Lane Cove. The plan was to spend our last night in Sydney at the caravan park so the we could get away early on Sunday morning. During the afternoon Di and Jan went for a walk and a coffee, while David and Andy watched AFL Footy and Rugby on TV.

In the evening Di, Jan and Ange, a friend of Jans walked to Chatswood and had an early dinner before going to a concert called the Magic of Musicals put on as one of the regular performances by the Willoughby Theatre Group. Beautiful solo voices and music. David and Andy went to the Bavarian Bier Café at Chatswood where the enjoyed a couple of Munich Blondes (beer) with fish and chips.

No Photos today.

Today we went to the State Library of NSW to see an exhibition entitled "Life Interrupted" showing a collection of personal diaries, photographs, maps and other memorabilia from World War 1. The exhibition includes a collection of photographs of mainly NSW soldiers taken prior to embarkation. The exhibition provides a stark reminder of the horrors of World War 1.

Old Sydney Hospital

NSW Parliament House

Statue of Matthew Flinders outside the Mitchell Library

Matthew Flinders cat Trim

After viewing the exhibition we moved on to the Sydney Museum which is located on the site of the original Government House in Sydney. A feature exhibition focussed on the contribution of Chinese immigrants to life in Sydney since about 1850. Other exhibitions included contemporary Sydney architecture and the early settlement of Sydney.

Model of Sydney's original Government House

Model of the First Fleet Flagship Sirius

Model of the Lady Penrhyn