Tag Archives: Coffs Harbour

Wishing you a Peaceful and Happy 2020

30 Monday Dec 2019

Posted by in Happy 2020

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New years is the time for reflection for me, where I look back over the year that was and then think about the new year ahead.
My year started quietly in beautiful Coffs Harbour. It is always a good place for me to start my year in a wonderful part of Australia surrounded by family and friends
During the year I was fortunate enough to visit Coffs several times.

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Diggers Beach, Coffs Harbour

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In March, my good friend, Mary and I enjoyed a wonderful week at Kings Beach, on the Sunshine Coast of Queensland where we indulged in swims every day and many walks along the waters edge of the beach.

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Kings Beach

 

July saw me in Canada for a 5W gathering with members from around the world. My trip included a week in the Rockies, a week on Vancouver Island and 2 weeks in Vancouver.

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Driving through the Rockies, Canada

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West Coast Vancouver Island

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Horseshoe Bay, Vancouver

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Vancouver Harbour

After our gathering finished in Vancouver, 4 of us Aussies, took a week cruise up the inside passage to Seward, Alaska.

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Sailing from |Vancouver

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Hubbard Glacier

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Ketchican Town

 

September, I joined 25 women from around the world in Peth, Western Australia for another 5W gathering. Our 3 weeks in WA, included a week travelling up the Coral Coast on the Wildflower Trail, a week in Perth and a week in the fabulous wine and food region of Margaret River.

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Wildflowers Tour, Western Australia

And now I end 2019 in beautiful Coffs Harbour.

As I reflect I feel so grateful to have such a blessed life.
I wish you all a wonderful, exciting and safe 2020

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Christmas in Australia 2019

20 Friday Dec 2019

Posted by in Christmas in Australia, Christmas in Australia 2019

≈ 50 Comments

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Australia is the Land Down Under, where the seasons are opposite to the northern hemisphere.  It is mostly always hot here in Australia on Christmas day, so the heat of early summer has an impact on the way we celebrate Christmas

With the absence of cold weather and snow, many Australians spend Christmas out of doors, going to the beach for the day, or heading to camping grounds for a longer break over the Christmas holiday period.

My family’s traditional Christmas day always starts with exchanging gifts after breakfast and then we head to the beach for a short visit. In days past, we spent many hours in the surf at the beach before returning home for our late Christmas lunch.

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We often have friends join us for Christmas lunch which is always a very casual, easy going and relaxing affair and also includes a rest in the late afternoon for most of us.

Due to the heat, many of us no longer serve a traditional hot roast dinner.  In our house, cold turkey and cold chicken and ham, seafood and salads are served instead. This is followed by the traditional Christmas plum pudding with brandy custard, ice cream or cream and also fresh seasonal fruits.  Pavlova, a meringue base topped with whipped cream and fresh fruit, has also become a popular Christmas dessert. We all have a laugh with the pulling of bon bons which hold silly little paper hats and useless trinkets.

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Bon Bons

Whatever your plans are for the festive season, enjoy. Thank you for reading my stories and thank you for following me.

Happy Christmas, Lyn

mc

Easter in Coffs Harbour

20 Saturday Apr 2019

Posted by in Charlesworth Bay

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Spending time with my family for Easter is a must for me. Spending time on my favourite beach at Easter is the frosting on the cake.

After arriving in Coffs and settling in, I can hardly wait to return to this beautiful beach at Charlesworth Bay.

This place has it all apart from the crowds. And now that the local council has made the area taboo for camping it is back to it’s beautiful, pristine and serene place to enjoy.

This morning on the beach, apart from Buddy and I there were 4 paddle boarders out in the surf.

Wishing you all a lovely Easter break.

Swimmer’s Haven – Park Beach, Coffs Harbour

28 Tuesday Aug 2018

Posted by in Park beach, Coffs Harbour

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Park Beach is one of the many stunning beaches that you will pass as you walk the coastal walk on the Coffs Coast of NSW. The coastal walk is a 60km stretch between Sawtell in the south to Red Rock in the northern beaches, linking a string of long golden beaches, rocky headlands and lush rainforest along the Coffs Coast. It is certainly one of the most beautiful walks on the east coast of Australia.

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Park Beach is actually a suburb of Coffs Harbour, located in the north eastern part of the town. This calm and relaxed, water wonderland accommodates all comers. It is a great family beach close to town and amenities. A really lovely clean and tidy beach for both walking along and swimming. The beach is relatively well protected and suits family swimming. It is dog friendly and very popular. We always see many dogs there including my Buddy.

 

This ideal location is perfect for pool swimmers to get accustomed to open water swimming. If in doubt, ask a local for advice on swimming conditions (for that day). The large sandy beach awaits families wanting to build sand castles and play in the sand.
A renovated parkland is beachside and is an ideal place for picnics and family gatherings. There is enough grass space for ball games. New bench seats allow places to relax and watch the yachts out to sea, people running with their dogs or just take in the lovely views.
There are beachside showers on the boardwalk which allows folks to rinse off sand and salt before heading to the park or the many nearby eateries / cafes.

 

Adjacent to the beach park is the Coffs Harbour surf life saving club which is a community organisation run by volunteers protecting members of the public who surf and swim at the beach. Surf club patrols are conducted on weekends and public holidays during the surfing season from September to April each year.

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On the 2nd floor of this surf club is the restaurant and bar which is open for breakfast and lunch, and offers amazing views of the ocean and beach looking towards the north and down to the south. It also offers pretty fantastic food. I know I have eaten there many times.

 

There is a very popular Holiday park directly across the street which means visitors staying there can just easily walk across the road to the park and beach.

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As are all the beaches in Coffs Harbour, Park Beach is stunning. There is plenty of easy parking close to the beach with many amenities close by, including showers, toilets, picnic tables and benches and free bbqs and also cafes nearby.

Sun. Surf. Sand. Beautiful Beach in Coffs Harbour

01 Tuesday May 2018

Posted by in Diggers Beach, Coffs Harbour

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Just a couple of kilometres north from Coffs central is the iconic Big Banana, a banana-themed water park. It is at this water park where you turn right and head down to the coast and you will end up at Diggers Beach.

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The ever popular Diggers Beach is perfectly located and is a favourite among the locals for surfing, fishing and swimming and hosts several big surfing events throughout the year.

Diggers beach is a sandy horse shoe shaped beach with headlands at each end and good surfing, especially at the southern end where the headland track leads to the main beach at Coffs Harbour. At the southern end there is a track taking you over the headland and down to the main beach. At the northern end it leads onto a grassy area behind which sits the Aanuka resort in a tropical setting. There is a large car park at the southern end with covered picnic shed.

It is great for surfers, they love it, however it can be dangerous if you don’t swim well. Diggers is a patrolled by lifeguards beach usually during summer and holiday times. Be sure to only ever swim between the flags. Actually swimming between the flags is very important on all Aussie beaches. If you get in to trouble, you have more chance to be noticed quickly by the lifeguards if you are in fact in between the flags.

Diggers beach is part of the Solitary Islands Coastal Walk and is probably about half way between Sawtell and Red Rock.

At very low tides it is possible to walk through to Little Diggers Beach but be aware that it has a reputation as a nudist beach. They definitely have no inhibitions so go there with an open mind.

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On the rear of the beach on the southern end there is a shelter and fresh water showers for after you have been in the sea. Also next to the car park is a small grassed area with picnic tables and B.B.Q’s. and a very nice clean toilet block

Diggers is a must see on a Coffs visit. The water, the beach … it’s just beautiful. It is not overdeveloped and there are no big buildings.

Spectacular Coastal Walk – Australia

15 Sunday Apr 2018

Posted by in Coffs Harbour, Solitary Islands Coastal Walk

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About half way between Brisbane and Sydney, positioned on the East Coast of Australia in NSW is the area known as the Mid North Coast. The part of this area that I visit regularly is the Coffs coast, Coffs Harbour.

Over the years, I have walked parts of the Solitary Islands coastal walk many times including Sawtell, Jetty, Park Beach, Macauleys Headland, Diggers, Charlesworth Bay, Korora, Sapphire and Moonee.

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The Solitary Islands coastal walk is a 60km stretch between Sawtell in the south to Red Rock in the northern beaches, linking a string of long golden beaches, rocky headlands and lush rainforest along the Coffs Coast. It is certainly one of the most beautiful walks on the east coast of Australia.

Solitary Islands and Muttonbird Island are picturesque and make for perfect bird watching, so bring your binoculars. Little terns and white bellied eagles are often seen along the shores. Dolphins surf the waves of these beaches all year round and the headlands are ideal for whale watching throughout the winter months.

The tracks are well set out with the walks to various grassy headlands. While some of the tracks are steep in places, they are well maintained and always provide interesting sea and mountain views.

 

There are kangaroos among the rocks on the beach as well as on the grass on the headland. Along the way there are surfing beaches where you can take amazing pictures of surfers. It is a magical experience.

 

Charlesworth Bay
Beaches along the way
Diggers Beach
Diggers Beach

This Coastal Walk is superb and can be done in stages. It is amazingly diverse – with long gorgeous beaches, steep stairs in suburbs, headlands, wildlife & estuaries along the way. Resting after walking at a pristine beach makes it even better

 

There is plenty of coast line to see with not a lot of bush restricting views. You are also able to get easy access to all the beaches and can then take a swim or just saunter along the sand.

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These are some of the prettiest beach coves along the northern NSW coastline, with plenty of lovely coffee spots or picnic locations en route. You can visit lookouts and headlands and join the walk in many different places.

 

The total distance of the walk is 60 km but you can choose to do as much or as little as you like.

Overall it is a fabulous experience, mostly clearly signposted and comfortable walking. I would definitely recommend it.

Picturesque Sawtell – Coastal Australia

02 Monday Oct 2017

Posted by in Mid North Coast NSW, Sawtell

≈ 34 Comments

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Situated on the mid north coast of NSW,  approximately half way between Brisbane and Sydney is the very beautiful  city of Coffs Harbour.  Coffs Harbour is where my family lives so I am lucky to visit this beautiful part of the NSW coast regularly and often. It is less than a 5 hour drive for me from my home in Brisbane.

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Safe Swimming Area for families

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Main street of Sawtell

About a 20 minute drive south of Coffs Harbour is the lovely seaside town of Sawtell.

With its idyllic beaches, chic cafes and a stunning coastal national park  Sawtell is a delightful destination for a seaside escape.  Its unspoiled beaches, rain-forest, wildlife, wetlands and estuaries, make it an ideal location for outdoor adventures.

Sawtell Beach
Sawtell Beach

We have stopped often for lunch at the Sawtell Surf club which is right on the beach. It not only offers great food but a gorgeous outlook.

20170926_123117Just about a few minutes drive or a 10 minute walk from the centre of  town is the Boambee Headland with its breathtaking views towards the north and down to the south.

Boambee Headland
Boambee Headland
Boambee Headland
Boambee Headland

If travelling south towards Sawtell this is an easy lookout to access. Be sure to drive to the second, higher car park where it isn’t even necessary to get out of you vehicle to enjoy expansive views to the north and also south toward Sawtell.  If you have time there are gentle paved paths down to the ocean. Also, timber stairs which offer easy access to the swimming beach.

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Looking north

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Looking north

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Looking north

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Looking north

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Looking north

Buy a picnic, take it up to the headland and just sit and relax looking out to sea. There are regular sightings of hump backed whales and dolphins.

Looking south
Looking south
Rock pool

Standing on the headland and looking towards the south the views are spectacular.

The village’s main street is adorned with enormous fig trees, which provide shade for boutiques and outdoor dining at cafes and restaurants. Stop in to one of the many restaurants and cafes for a coffee or great lunch or just stop at one of the many table and benches in the centre of the town for a picnic lunch.  The street, trees and cafes in the evening are decorated with lights giving it a fairy tale look.

Main street Sawtell
Main street Sawtell
Main street Sawtell
Main street Sawtell
Main street Sawtell
Main street Sawtell

Christmas in Australia

22 Tuesday Dec 2015

Posted by in Christmas in Australia

≈ 29 Comments

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Australia is the Land Down Under, where the seasons are opposite to the northern hemisphere.  It is mostly always hot here in Australia on Christmas day, so the heat of early summer has an impact on the way we celebrate Christmas

With the absence of cold weather and snow, many Australians spend Christmas out of doors, going to the beach for the day, or heading to camping grounds for a longer break over the Christmas holiday period.

My family’s traditional Christmas day always starts with exchanging gifts after breakfast and then we head to the beach for a short visit. In days past, we spent many hours in the surf at the beach before returning home for our late Christmas lunch.

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We often have friends join us for Christmas lunch which is always a very casual, easy going and relaxing affair and also includes a rest in the late afternoon for most of us.

Due to the heat, many of us no longer serve a traditional hot roast dinner.  In our house, cold turkey and cold chicken and ham, seafood and salads are served instead. This is followed by the traditional Christmas plum pudding with brandy custard, ice cream or cream and also fresh seasonal fruits.  Pavlova, a meringue base topped with whipped cream and fresh fruit, has also become a popular Christmas dessert. We all have a laugh with the pulling of bon bons which hold silly little paper hats and useless trinkets.

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Bon Bons

Whatever your plans are for the festive season, enjoy. Thank you for reading my stories and thank you for following me.

Happy Christmas, Lyn

mc