The Bride posing at the mouth of the Richmond River at Evans Head
We ended up staying at Evans Head an extra two days. Our decision was spurred, by the fact the weather had deterioted; and our next destination was bound to be busy due to a weekend. Plus I really didn’t want to pack up and drive down the disasterous Pacific Highway in the wet..
Some long beach
The brides sister Julie, husband and friends enjoying her birthday celebrations
at Evans Head Bowling club
Mouth of the Richmond River at Evans Head, with poor weather conditions
So we decided on the Sunday, to take a drive down to inspect our possible next destination. We originally thought possibly Iluka which is the little town on the northern side of the Clarence River, and or Woody Head Camp Ground. Upon arriving we had a drive around and checked out the caravan parks around Iluka….and nothing tickled our fancy at all. So being in the area it was off to Woody Head Camp Ground.
Now the fun begins………..Woody Head Camp Ground is a NSW national park camp site, and the cost of a nightly stay was the same as a caravan park, plus there was no power, nor water to boot, and of course generators are not allowed. There is also another day charge of $10 per car as well. So all up $38 per day……kidd’n aren’t ya!!!!!! However it was highlighted that the NSW government now recognizes old geezers like me on the pension, and wave the day fee. That’s nice.
Now for us, we unfortunately, if camping without mains power, we need to boot our "Gennie" a couple of hours per day, as we have a 190 litre freezer on board. For obvious reasons cannot run the beast off battery. However we are set up to independent camp outside that. We figured after checking all that out, we decided to head to Yamba which is on the southern side of the Clarence River.
The view from the Calypso Tourist Park at Yamba
Now Yamba, is a great place, with a stylish village charm, with pristine and un-crowded beaches. The Clarence River which is the biggest river on the east coast of Australia and has its mouth at Yamba.
We were very familiar with Yamba, as we relief managed a motel here a few years ago, and really enjoyed the place. We were also very familiar with the Calypso Caravan Park at the bottom end of town. So we stuck our nose in the caravan park and booked three nights.
We then headed back to Evans Head for our last night there. We packed up and left Evans Head and headed to Yamba on Monday morning, which is only an hour or so down the track. The drive was uneventful thank heavens, and set up on our site.
As soon as we were set up it was the usual meet the neighbours, break out the drinkies, and rest is history. We decided to stay for a week, as the weather was just awesome, and with so much bad weather both north and south of us….not going any where at this stage.
Another rock wall.....this time at the head of the Clarence River
over looking the high parts of Yamba
One of the best beaches just 5km south of Yamba is Angourie, an Aboriginal name meaning “big noise”. Back in my surfing days, the Angourie Point in a southerly swell, and wind, was the most incredible right hand break. When the northerly gets up, you just went to the back beach to continue surfing, as the surf was as good a the break as the point.
Of course Angourie was made more famous by the world surfing champ in the 60’s, called Nat Young. Nat settled, invested and still lives in the area. Also back in those days Angourie was on the surfers circuit en route to Queensland, however doesn’t seem to be that well known to the generation of surfers today.
A small right hand break on the back beach at Angourie
Just about to hang five on the Malibu
The bride just laz'n about on the back beach
The back beach at Angourie
Another local attraction of Angourie of note, is the Blue and Green Pools, freshwater pools created when the old quarries hit underground springs. The story goes that the miners working on the quarries went home one night and came back the next morning to find the quarries filled with water. The pools are less than 20 metres from the ocean, and the two bodies of water are separated by mounds of quarried rock and earth.
A little more on the back beach
At the time of writing this blog, the weather has turned, and expecting the "big wet" to come up from the south of NSW.
Stay tooooooned!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
3 comments:
The NSW Gov are clearly trying to close the campgrounds down! Who would stay for that price when you can have facilities AND be nearly as close at the caravan parks??!!
Unbelievable - although maybe not for a cash strapped state government. But what they don't get is their income will dwindle to $0000 instead of at least getting something. If only we ran the world, huh?!
Yeah that was my original thought too Red. However when we camped there December 2011 we were informed the grounds are booked out most weekends and every holiday for the next 12 months and we could only get one site as there had been an early departure.
Love Yamba and the surrounding beaches. Paul, you must be a natural lovin them right hand breaks! I am a goofy footer so look for the left hand breaks. Earlier this year I sat and drooled over a left hand break at Sandon Point.
Hi guys, thanks or your comments.
I tried to answer your last post, however my laptop went into melt down.
Yeah give the national park thing the flick.
We are at Red Rock at the moment just north of Wooloogla. Another magic spot. Might even get a burnt bum here.
Just luuuuuuuuuuve being trailer trash.
CYA
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