9. Ballina, Evans Heads, Broadwater to Yamba

Stayed: Yamba

Broadwater van park was nice, although close to the highway and noisy at night. There was a koala reserve next door, filled with mozzies. We only found 3 fake koalas; teddies strapped to the trees. Good for a laugh.

We departed Broadwater for south, again no set plans.

We went into Evans Heads. We parked the van and went walking through town, down the the park and river and out towards the northern wall. The kids had a play on the playground (who says they are too big for swings). We grabbed two potatoes and a loaf of bread and departed. It was nice but didn’t like it as much as Brunswick.

We passed many rivers and waterways as we drove to Yamba. Easy to imagine how this part of Australia would flood after a night’s rain. We stayed at Big 4 Saltwater A little out of town but heaps cheaper than staying in Yamba itself.

The caravan park was ok. It had a very small playground, jumping pillow, games room, small pool and brand new waterpark; which is where the kids spent most their time. It was also on the river so we had a go at fishing and I caught a cat fish and a lot of snags. The kids and Rod also had a go at kayaking.

A trip into Yamba and we checked out the green and blue pools at Angourie. These were made after the holes the trucks were digging hit natural springs. When the workers returned in the morning their machinery was at the bottom of lots of water. We watched the many flies (surfers) try and catch waves and walked along the flat rocks which lines the ocean shores.

Back in Yamba the boys went for a quick swim in the ocean. There were no patrolled beaches here so it was only a shallow swim. We are all very paranoid of rips and all we have heard about are rips – so the kids are very aware of them too.

Rod and I walked out to the new lighthouse and looked, from a distance, at the old lighthouse. Also looked down on the bay where the SLSC was, which also houses the bathing pool.

We sat in the park and had lunch and then headed back to our van park.

That night we took advantage of the games room and free dvds and took Yogi Bear over to the games room to watch. Lovely lying on a couch, stretched out a little more than in the van, watching a movie.

We headed off in the morning for Coffs Harbour.

Photos: Ballina, Evans Heads, Broadwater and Yamba