Days 56-59 – Woodenbong and Tamworth

Days 56-59 – Woodenbong and Tamworth

Was great to catch up with Aunty Sandra and meet husband Ian in Yowie Country, better know as Woodenbong. We were all spoilt by them and hardly had to feed ourselves. The girls had a swim in the local pool and it was off to Tamworth. Sadly Tamworth really didn’t have any appeal to us. The caravan park was one of the most expensive we have been to and it only had a small childs playground. We did however see the Golden Guitar.

Next stop, Dubbo.

Days 49-56 Brisbane (Helensvale)

 Days 49-56 Brisbane (Helensvale)

OMG! It's a Condor!

 Finally we arrived in Helensvale just outside of Brisbane. It was late so was a quick setup and feed and then to bed. The next day we got to check out our surroundings a lot more. We went to Australia Zoo and the girls tried Bindi’s Bootcamp, listened carefully to the Tiger show and the Otter show and we were all in awe of the main show in the ‘Crocoseum’. It started with a variety of birds, budgies, pink and grey galahs, parrots and macaws flying above and around the stadium and audience. They played Thunderstruck by ACDC while they all flew around it was incredible. The next animal in the show shocked everyone. They told us about this bird which sounded huge and then said it was a condor and on cue this massive bird flew in to the arena. We were totally blown away with how massive it was. It’s wingspan was approximately 3 metres (1 metre longer than Jade is tall). WOW! It would break your arm if it tried to land on it.

Next was the scary alligator (cue Jaws music). The alligator turned out to be a ‘harmless’ 2ft long alligator but with definite predator instincts. Now for the star attraction, a massive crocodile that proved that a little bit of splashing in the water made this animal swim extremely fast and stealthily to snap you up. The keepers never took their eyes off him. A very impressive display and very informative and spellbinding.


Family

Sunday arrived and it was time for family catch up. We caught up with Sarah (Jade’s cousin) and three of her children who were all roughly the same age as ours. The girls all got along so well with second cousins, which made for a great day and so much fun. Unfortunately Sarah’s oldest was out spending the day with his Auntie Ellie and having a great time.

Monday, I got to catch up with a friend I worked with a long time ago and was lucky enough to see last year. This time was different I finally got to see where Suzanne and Ian (who was currently working away) were living and the amazing renovations they have done to their beautiful house, thinking of everything and achieving amazing results. They really think of everything! It was so great to see her, I could have talked for days but alas time is so precious. We did however get the opportunity to also go out to dinner with her which added that extra bit of time.

We also went to Skypoint and rode the very fast elevator to the top, 77 floors in 45 seconds = FAST. Great 360 degree view from the top and all the different landmarks.

Emma in pole position for the first ride we went on.
 So so so FAST!!!!

Tuesday – DREAMWORLD DAY!!! Finally a chance to have some fun on crazy rides and meet characters. First stop was Wiggly World, we had to watch the Dorothy show and sing some Wiggles songs and then do the Big Car ride and the rosy Tea cup ride. Then it was off to the fun (I would use scary, but the girls thought fun was more descriptive) rides. First Lily wanted to go on a motorbike ride which looked tame…… It replicated the speed at which motor GP riders ride but you didn’t have any control of it and it was a rollercoaster. Needless to say I tried smiling and keeping my screaming to a low surprised sound when it took off so fast. I thought Lily would fly out (she was safely locked in, it’s just you know, a mother’s worry) but she starts laughing going “Wheee” while I just wished it would stop. We ended up going again and again and again after spending 3 days mixing between Dreamworld and Whitewater World next door.

I have since found my daughters are adrenalin thrill seekers and they love nothing more than going at top speed and feeling like they are going to fly out of something. A lot of the rides gave you that feeling so we spend lots of time going on them all. Jade went on the Giant Drop which makes your stomach drop as you watch it drop down, but he loved it. We also visited Dreamworks where there was Shrek rides and Madagascar rides. It was endless. As it wasn’t school holidays no queue was long so waits were short. There was so much to do and see and definitely required a return visit.

The stomach dropping waterslide

The next day we spent at Whitewater World. Well, what can I say, hmm I can say I have never ever been on waterslides this full on and breathtaking (literally!). Again I took Lily up a long flight of stairs thinking we were taking the more sedate tube ride as the rider only had to be 100cm. Was I WRONG! After a second of floating along, no that’s wrong, flying along is a better description, the tunnel suddenly drops down, I mean like standing on the roof of an office building and looking down type of drop. Holy Shit! So we are falling and that’s when I start screaming like a girl not even worrying about my 5 year old in the FRONT SEAT! The slide also pushed us back up hills with bursts of air and then sent you down two more drops. Man I got off that ride and didn’t know whether to laugh or cry and then I remembered to check Lily and that she didn’t go into shock. Ha! Of course she didn’t she wanted to do it again. My fear wore off given the amount of times I climbed stairs and went down the scariest slides, however I still couldn’t stop screaming, those drops just do that to you…. OK?!?! It was a great day, trying out all the slides. Jade even tried the Wedgie, given its names because you are placed in an enclosed tube and the floor drops out from under you and you hurtle down this tube that is not big enough to sit in let alone lift your head up while you are lying down. Jade landed at the end with a face I can only describe as shock and exhilaration. And then he said he could do it again! After we got tired of climbing the stairs and headed back the ‘dry rides’ at Dreamworld. Emma decided that this was when she was going on the big rollercoaster which had upside down loops and was taking dad with her. She loved it so much she took Jade back on it the next day. 

Thursday we went to Brisbane City and Southbank, it was pleasant but not what we thought, Not really much to do there on a weekday, so we headed to the Gold Coast, Surfers Paradise, so the girls could get hair beads put in and buy a few things.

Friday we decided to head back to Whitewater world and Dreamworld. At the end of the day we were completed stuffed. We slept really well!

I would definitely recommend Dreamworld and Whitewater World as a place for a family to go, it caters to everyone.

On Saturday we were very lucky to meet Jade’s Aunty Gladys, who recently found out she was a member of Jade’s family after being adopted as a newborn and never knew. Sadly all the family but Gladys have died, so she was unable to meet her parents or siblings to find out more. It was lovely to meet her and her family and now Jade has more family he can add, including four more boy cousins. Gladys also found and invited Jade’s Grandma’s brother and his wife, Ron, whose into his 90’s, could fill in some gaps in the family. They have a beautiful Queenslander home and were the best of hosts.

Now we are off to Woodenbong to catch up with Jade’s Aunty Sandra!

Days 46-49 Yamba and Days 49-51 Yamba again

Burning off the sugar cane

Days 46-49 Yamba


Fun in the water park

Another few relaxing days fishing and swimming in the great water playground and pool. We watched sugar cane being burned off and learnt that they do it to to get rid of the dry foliage, so when it comes to collection and production it reduces the cost of culling the waste (as it was burned off). It was an amazing sight. We had a dinner a couple of times at the Yamba Shore Tavern right on the river. It was sooo relaxing.


Scattering Grandad's ashes at the cabin site

We also made a trip to Rappville where Jade’s dad built a log cabin before Jade was born. His dad always spoke fondly of this time as his most treasured memories. The reason for this trip was not only to show the girls where their dad was born and lived when he was little but to scatter Jade’s dad’s ashes which we have had at home (since Chloe was 2 weeks old, when he died) and they have been waiting for this time when the girls were grown an able to share this experience at a place most treasured. Unfortunately the log cabin had been bulldozed a number of years ago but the creek still ran and the location still had the water tank, now burned to a melted reminder. The owner was happy to let us explore the block and try to find any reminders. The last time Jade and I visited was 17 years ago when the log cabin still stood. The shed to the side still contained Jade’s cot and his mum’s sewing machine and a message on the door from Jade’s dad to his mum. The owner remembered when we had visited it then and remembered those items but they had all been destroyed. We also visited the Casino Hospital where Jade was born!
So goodbye Yamba now we are off to Woodenbong..... OOOPPPPSSS!!! No we're not, the car broke down outside of Yamba. We have now been put up courtesy of Mitsubishi for 3 days in Yamba at a different caravan park (for a different scenery) with a hire car. Now we wait....

Days 49-51

and wait and wait. It took two and a half days to fix the car. So we chilled out and relaxed. We really had no choice because it decided to rain all  night and day. So the girls did what kids do best and went swimming and racing on the water slides. Kids are crazy! The rest of the time was spent  reading books and playing with new friends.

Finally on Friday we got the call that the car was fixed and we could get on our way to Brisbane! So off we go!

Days 41-46 Bonny Hills and Port Macquarie

Days 41-46 Bonny Hills and Port Macquarie

What a relaxing week we had here. Twenty kilometres south of Port Macquarie, right on the beach, the Bonny Hills Big 4 park caters directly to children (also it was the last school holiday week when we arrived) with a giant pillow, water park, movie night on comfy couches, go carts and more swimming pools.

The girls hardly spent any time at the caravan. Everyone, but me, had a couple of surf lessons. Thanks to my cankle I got to watch or wade in the surf, I was so disappointed because it was something I really wanted to try. Maybe when we get back to Perth, any takers? Jade took Emma for a mountain bike ride which she loved and made up for the crappy part of her birthday.

After surfing we found the best pie shop….organic pies, they were so good after two hour surf lessons!!  Because it was the last week of NSW school holidays we decided to just relax and do whatever the girls felt like. It was really a great week. By the time we left the park it was just about empty as the holidays here were ending.

Next its off to Yamba!

 

Days 34 – 41 Sydney (September/October 2012)

Days 34 – 41 Sydney (September/October 2012)

Well! I’m not impressed with Sydney’s roads. The congestion is continuous and the quality of the roads are poor. A 7km trip takes you half an hour in the car. It also ensured that we needed to have another new tyre and one repaired. So we have resorted to catching the train more. The train system is quite thorough and gets you where you need to go quickly.

So we stayed at Lane Cove Caravan Park in Macquarie Park about 10kms out of Sydney. First day visit was to the city to find the block Jade’s dad built a log cabin on. He found it so it was a great start. The girls and I stopped in Hyde Park and enjoyed the street buskers. One man who was making good use of the fact it is school holidays here, was creating bubble art! Of course what child could resist the temptation of bubble popping only to be told not to destroy the huge bubbles so we could all enjoy them longer. The girls were entertained for an hour and he definitely deserve his large donation.

Ferry trip Sydney

Next was a hop on hop off trip, you could get on the ferry hop off and another would be back in 45 minutes. We got to see some of the sights without having to visit them like the Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge (which we travelled back and forth on every day), Shark Island, Fort Dennison and Watson Bay, where we stopped and enjoyed the sunshine while the girls played on the beach and playground.

Bondi

 Right… now… the important stuff. It was my 37th birthday on the 27th September. What a fantastic day it was, presents, cards, kisses and cuddles from my favourite people. We had morning tea out and about, a visit to Bondi Beach so the girls could swim (and a bit of hunky lifeguard spotting) and I soaked in some sun. A lovely seafood lunch, then off to get a much needed haircut and then whisked off to Manly via a ferry for dinner and icecream. An absolutely perfect day! Thank you my little family, I feel very cherished.

Friday was Luna Park day. Very disappointed. We were hoping for a big show place but really it is an overpriced side show alley with a few rides. Most probably better priced when you spend all day there and you are about 12. You would definitely get your moneys worth. Sadly on the way there I badly sprained my ankle which resulted in slow progress everywhere and my ankle turning into a balloon. That night was a catch up with my cousin Tam. It was so great to see her, it’s been awhile. Lots of catching up and then home before I couldn’t walk any further.

Saturday was hospital visiting day to check that I hadn’t broken anything and then resting for the rest of the day and a nature walk at night run by the caravan park as it government owned at adjacent to the National Park.

Harbour Bridge

On Sunday we caught up with Jade’s cousin Racheal and her family at Sydney ‘The Rocks’ markets. It was so great to see them all. It’s been 9 years since we last saw Racheal and 16 years since we have seen her husband and son (who was only 2 weeks old when we saw him last!). We had lovely time catching up with them. We spent an hour or so at the markets and then back to their place for a yummy barbeque.

Emma's Birthday

Now back to the important stuff again! Emma’s Birthday!!!!! It was on Monday and she turned 8. Emma got lots of presents including a remote control car, books, camera and other things. We took her to a horse trail ride called Valley View Park in North Richmond where she could sit on the horse and control it herself. She did a great job and wanted to spend all day there learning how to ride. Chloe was a bit worried to start but was fine once she got going. Lily had a Shetland pony and Jade walked her. However the pony didn’t like Jade and tried to push him off the path. Lily had a ball, like Emma. After, much to Emma’s disappointment, we went to visit the 3 sisters in the Blue Mountains. BIG MISTAKE! Although the view was breathtaking, it took an hour to get there and two hours to get back because of roadworks and made Emma quite upset that we took her somewhere she didn’t want to go on her birthday. So we promised to make it up to her the next day. We then had chinese food for dinner as Emma wanted fried rice (her favourite). Once home Emma and Dad went to a carpark and gave the remote control car a good run. Emma felt better and is looking forward to her ‘make up’ treat.

 Tuesday is moving on day. Off to Bonny Hills to their amazing child orientated caravan park and Port Macquarie!