Karuah
We had eight days in Karuah at the big 4 caravan park. A park with okay facilities but poor grass sites with dirt road and no gutters which proved a issue, as the area turned to a swamp after rain.
Initially Karuah was just going to be a short stop as we had to go back to Wyong and look after Johns mum for a while, however, Leanne is doing a three week stint with her so we will stay here in Karuah then move on to Forster to finish Paul’s holiday with us before going to Wyong for our turn with Johns mum.
We arrived in Karuah in time to get the annex up before the rain hit. The next day Karuah had 138 mm of rain, and hadn,t seen this much rain in one day for years. In the afternoon the annex began to float from the amount of water going underneath it and then the rain build up started coming into the floor of the annex. The drainage at the park was terrible or non existent really. Paul had to go move to a motel as the annex floor became a floating water bed with all the furniture doing summer-salts as you walked across the floor.
The next day we moved the van in the damp weather to a concrete site, this was very exhausting. Paul needed another motel night till things dried out and then moved back into the annex. So the first three days in Karuah we did little else besides moving the van and annex and watched the rain pour down.
The other days in Karuah were spent with some days relaxing around the van and park, playing boules and pool or reading etc and other times were sight seeing days.
One afternoon Paul and I walked around the fore shores of Karuah reading some plagues about the towns local history while John rested his back which is bad again after all the annex work and we located the wharf which was accessed from the caravan park.
One day was spent on a drive to Stroud. Beautiful green farmlands and an old country pub which we later found out Johns mum had worked in as a very young lady.
We drove onto Gloucester where the Barrington top mountains filled the scenery.
And we checked out a free camp at Brexit for another time.
The country side is green and the farm land and mountain scenery beautiful.
Another days drive was to Dungog. A small country town found below the Barrington tops.
On the way to Gloucester we went through Clarence town a lovely little village surrounded by farm land and some really nice houses on large blocks and small acreage. The Photo below is on the public toilet block and depicts an old scene from 1839 plus local countryside need Dungog.
We traveled back via Paterson and Morpeth where we looked in the shops, tried the local ginger beer and went wine tasting and bought a bottle of red and sparkling Verdello with Paul buying similiar bottles plus some white port. The Sparkling verdello was enjoyed by Paul and myself with aperrol, ice and orange slices, hmmm yum!
Forster
Our next stop was Forster for 11 nights at Tuncurry’s reflections caravan park. We have a double concrete site close to all the amenities.We had a mixture of damp, wet and lovely sunny weather. So again we mixed time in the van park with exploring the local coast and towns.
One drive was north to Diamond beach and surrounds.
One day was a boat hire, with a upgrade to a comfortable bbq boat which we got at a reduced rate. A throughly relaxing 4 hours taking morning tea and lunch with us.
We explored the Wallis lakes areas, around the oyster leases and camp grounds, enjoying the birdlife and scenery.
Another day was South to Seal Rocks, Blueys Beach and other towns and coastal areas.
We started at the Cape Hawke Lookout with a steep climb into the bush and arriving at a tower which
was climbed to see an amazing view over Forster and the Wallis lake area.
Onwards south, we saw views over Wallis lake and Elizabeth Beach and the Booti Booti National Park
boomerang beach
Smiths Lake
Seal Rocks
At Seal rocks Paul and I took the 650 m walk , then climb to the point which has some cabins that used to be the Lighthouse Keepers cottages but now holiday lets and the Lighthouse. The afternoon had turned quiet cold so John stayed in the car while Paul and i soldiered on.
The climb to the lighthouse was only 100m but very steep , the view worth the climb.
and on the way we saw a inlet into both sides of a rock and cliff where the tide and sea were surging in but not meeting . Some fisherman were down there fishing but it looked a very dangerous and inaccessible area.
Our return home saw an early sunset over Wallis lake,
We were amazed how many beautiful beaches and lakes surround Forster, the scenery never stopping to amaze us.
In Foster itself we took the walk and drive From John Holland Park by the bridge, via Forster Town beach to Bicentennial parks and The Tanks to the top of Bennets hill. Below is the pictures.
Yet another trip was into Buladelah for a pub lunch, 52 miles south of Forster. We have been avoiding going out due to covid , even wearing face masks when shopping.
however we new we could distance ourselves here at this pub and then travelled back via all the lakes , seeing the end of the Myall lake, detouring to the Grandis tree, a gum meant to be the tallest in NSW at 84 metres high and passing Smith and /wallis lakes again.
We stopped in at Coomba Park a pretty town on the Wallis Lake. The state Government had given a grant for an amazing sailing clubhouse here which even had a lift but no Kitchen. Obviously money had run out but the town in general although small had a lovely foreshore areas and cheap houses with amazing views. John really like this area but a little isolated for me. The kangaroos on the road through the houses all took our attention as quietly as they could posing for the picture below.
It has been enjoyable having Paul with us for a month, but now its time to spent 4-6 weeks with Johns mum, who is going to move in to live with Johns sister Lynette, the time has come she can’t be left home on her own. Lynette needs to update her bathroom to accommodate her so the family is taking turns to look after her til this is completed. Our turn now!
Hopefully the travel starts again soon but with Covid and border closures we are not sure where and when we will go, probably western NSW, time will tell.
