Going down the coast

Just a few pictures and comments on our trip down the Queensland and NSW coast. Apologies to my Aussie readers, who have seen it all before and might find it boring. We still enjoy revisiting many of the areas you see below. We are also looking for a place to buy a house and settle down. Bobbie wants a surf beach where she can swim daily, and Bill wants a large bay where he can sail his yacht (a 24' keel boat), and not have to sail on the open ocean.

Rolling Stone Big4 camp site near Townsville with Green En-suite facility

Beach at Yeppoon - sunset

After Townsville we stopped at Hervey Bay, but found that there is little sailing, and the beach is a mud flat at low tide. Next was Agnes Waters where we re-discovered the wonderful ocean surf beach and relaxed lifestyle. Unfortunately there is little sailing with the channels behind Fraser Island quite shallow. On to Yeppoon, where there are ocean beaches and a good harbour (we used it on our way to the Witsundays a few years ago), but sailing on the unpredictable ocean would be required.  We did however enjoy cycling there, as it is mainly flat.

Water Park in Hervey Bay

Next stop was Noosa where we stayed with friends Jan & Lindley, and enjoyed sleeping in a house for a change. Sorry Noosa has no bay to sail in, although one of the best beaches in Australia.
From there we went to Maroochydore and Coolangatta to enjoy the beach life again. Nice cycling along the beaches and we remember stopping in the Rosslyn Bay harbour when we sailed a friend's yacht to the Whitsundays a few years ago. Unfortunately again there is only open ocean for sailing.

Beach entrance at Maroochydore

Moving down now to NSW we stayed near Cabarita Beach and visited a friend in Tweed Heads and had lunch with other friends from Queensland. Not surprising  they were almost an hour late for lunch, as Queensland is the only state not on daylight savings. We looked at new houses in a nearby beach-side development called "SALT". Very nice houses in our price range - but there is unfortunately not a bay in which to sail. BTW, we finally recovered from the flu, after getting some antibiotics from the clinic in Tweed Heads.

Bobbie's morning swim at Cabarita beach

On to Byron Bay (a mecca for alternative culture), just to relax and lay back. Jogging on the beach, cycling and swimming were excellent. Then to Yamba, at the mouth of the Clarence river. Finally a large river on which you can sail a yacht  Here Bill met some local Yacht club members, and we attended a house auction. Definitely a possibility for settling down again.

Cloudy sunset over moorings on Clarence River Yamba

 It is Melbourne Cup day and we just finished a pleasant afternoon in the South West Rocks Hotel. The beaches are fine although the weather is windy.

Beach at South West Rocks

On to Port Macquarie tomorrow, where we will stay in a house again with friend Tommo.
We are on our way back to Sydney to check out the real estate there on the northern beaches. We know that area has swimming beaches and both Pittwater and Sydney Harbour to sail on. We are not sure it is always relaxed or laid back.

Mona Vale beach