Winter reise

We flew 7^o North to latitude 30 for a four day coldness respite, with a stop-over in Sydney.  The good hostelry Sheraton not only gave a large discount on high season rate, but upgraded us to a suite overlooking the Park as well.  Sydney must have been right off the tourist track this week, because we calculate our room cost less than 30 % of the quoted mid-Spring rate.  The night lit view of Hyde Park was rivalled only by the dawn view. Breakfast was as magnificent as always.

We had a modest motel near the Harbour at Coffs Harbour, 5 minutes by car from the airport, and immediately set out to explore the ocean scenery.  

 It is whale migration season; our hosts reminded us that one leviathan had been fatally marooned the previous week, and said several had been spotted that day. We anxiously scanned seawards and saw several large plumes, and who knows whether what lay beneath was animal or submerged rock.

We climbed Muttonbird Island (joined to land by a causeway) but the name birds were on holiday.  On returning via the marina we did however see two large green turtles sporting among the yachts, a school of fish- one or two of eating size, copious clusters of large cungevoi (are they protected from fishermen here?), and some pelicans.
  












The following day included a visit to the impressive and extensive Botanical Gardens, principally indigenous and several stands of rare regional trees.

Attractive unlabelled flora

The highlight of our stay was a trip to Dorrigo (Gondwana) National Park- beautiful ancient sub-tropical rain forest and waterfalls with an easy 6.6 km circuit walk. Spectacular strangler figs, fungi, ferns and birds seen (usually turkeys or wren-like tiny birds) and unseen but heard.

Driving past dairy farms on the way back we noticed one herd sharing their paddock with a flock of emus (never respecters of fences) so that rounded out our fauna experience.

 Later on the same day we took a walk from  the Harbour up Coffs Creek, partially along an extensive mangrove boardwalk.

 
  
  

   
Our last evening meal was at the Shearwater restaurant, sitting near Coffs Creek and unobtrusive. Worth going out of the way for.