6/6/2014
 |
| Byron Bay |
On the way to Byron bay, we passed
through Taree, and… missed the “Big Oyster”, but ……in Ballina, we could not
miss the “Big Prawn”!!
Now we all know that Aussies are
“big” in most sports, have ginormous ego’s, and are the world’s biggest
“sledgers”. However, those Aussies who hail from lesser known towns and
districts also have an incorrigible urge to be “Big” at something. So…. If any
area is known for its oysters, they make a statement about the fact, by
building the world biggest model oyster! Ballina is big on Prawns, as you can
tell!
We never took a pic of the “Big
Banana” in Coffs Harbour area, which is reputed to be “an award winning piece
of kitch”, but we will share our new discoveries in this field as and when we
find them!
 |
| The real thing......Byron Bay's historic lighthouse |
While exploring the Byron Bay area,
we based ourselves at the Hastings Point Big 4 Holiday Park. Now “Big 4” in
Aussie is the equivalent to, and has a reciprocal membership deal, with the “Top
10” Holiday Parks in NZ. Although they are privately owned franchises, they
conform to certain minimum standards, and for between $100-$130 per couple, we
were able to stay in some excellent self-catering cabins and cottages. Emerald
Beach, Hastings Point, and our next stop in Caloundra, were all great. Being
members of Top 10, we also got a 10% discount at all Big 4’s. Joining either of
these costs about $50, and one usually more than recovers this after the first
one or 2 nights, and one is then also eligible for the 10-20% discounts offered
on most attractions in the vicinity of each park.
 |
| Hastings Point Big 4 self-catering unit |
We all enjoyed cooking, and so took
turns to buy and prepare the evenings meals. One of the more unusual culinary
delights were Balmain Bugs, which are rather like small designer crayfish….
Easy to cook, de-head, and remove the vein,…. and very tasty too!
 |
| Underside |
 |
| topside |
 |
| Inside |
Each of these Park stop overs
afforded us with good exercise walkways, where we would partake of a brisk
4-5km walk before setting out for our daily adventures. These are some of the walkways around the beachfront at Caloundra.
 |
| Public pool |
 |
| Public gym apparatus along the walks |
One day we went inland to the Glass House Mountains area, and discovered the quaint town of Matoomba.
 |
| View of Glass House Mountains from McCarthy's Lookout |
 |
| Some Matoomba street scenes |
 |
| A waterdriven flour mill |
The following day we went north from
Caloundra, as far as the prestigious
Noosa, and returning via the SeaLife
centre at Malooluba.
 |
| The seaside surfing resort of Noosa |
 |
| Main beach in front of the surf club |
 |
| Potbellied seahorse |
 |
| Psycho lobster |
 |
| Read and digest (specially for Kim) |
 |
| Big fella |
 |
| Seen at SeaLife, Malooluba |
No comments:
Post a Comment