Easter Getaway

Hoppy Easter goodies for our teachers

Since last Easter was (what felt like) the year  long weekend of painting, we decided to go on a road trip!  Destination: Port Macquarie, NSW

Port Macquarie, NSW

Thursday

We had hoped to beat the holiday traffic but so did everyone else! We arrived later than we wanted but at least we still had some daylight!  First thing is first, the pool!

While Conor took the kids for a bike ride along the break wall, I picked up some supplies as the grocery stores were shut on Good Friday.  That night, we had dinner at the hotel restaurant.

Friday (Good Friday)

True to form, I was up as the sun was rising so I laced up my shoes and went for a jog.  It was fantastic being in the centre of the town – I even found a coffee shop that had great coffee and was open all weekend including Easter. 

We moved to our apartment which I was pleasantly surprised with!  We visiting the Koala Hospital and then headed to have a BBQ (and lake swim) with friends

Koala Hospital

We love Lake Cathie!  I went for a relaxing paddle near the bird sanctuary while the dad’s watched the kids.

Saturday

This morning we attempted and failed yet again to go on a camel safari (they don’t operate on Saturdays).  We did another of our favourites, and went to Ricardo’s Tomatoes and Strawberry Farm to pick some strawberries.  It was slim pickings as all their best quality went to the Royal Easter Show.  What we did pick was very sweet!

Strawberry picking

We grabbed brunch at now our favourite coffee spot in Port Macquarie then spent the rest of the afternoon in the pool.

At night, I had a girl’s night out – whoop, whoop!

Sunday (Easter)

We did something different this Easter and went minimal chocolate.  They each got a chocolate Bilby and I found large plastic eggs and filled them with some smallish toys instead.  Mama tip: they are the perfect size for Hot Wheels, mini-Lego figurines and Shopkins.    We had a big Easter breakfast and then went to see a man about a camel.

Dolphins!

At Lighthouse Beach, we signed up for our camel ride (it’s happening!) and watched a pod of black dolphins just off the shore!  The camel safari was fun… for most of us.  (For the record, the camels name were Obama and Morgan… not Bob Marley 1 and 2.  Long story short, every camel we met in Egypt was named Bob Marley).

In the afternoon, we met our friends at Bago Winery to get lost in a maze (it’s harder than it looks), drinks some wine and stuff our face with cheese.

The Maze

We went in with 7 kids...

Got genuinely lost

And came out with 5...

In the evening, we used the apartment’s BBQ facilities for a casual Easter dinner and of course another pool swim,

Monday (Easter Monday)

Before fighting traffic, we spent the morning at Lake Cathie.  I caught a fish!

Overall, we had a fun Easter break!  I am sold on staying in an apartment too.  We usually snub them for hotels but this one was fantastic – wonderful facilities including a full kitchen and the main thing was the amount of space we had!  Definitely a convert!

Port Macquarie Long Weekend

We spent our Australia Day Long Weekend in Port Macquarie, on the North Coast of NSW.  It's about a 3.5 hour drive so not too bad but just long enough to test the patience of a 5 year old (Mr E slept most of the drive).
The last time we ventured this way, Miss E was 2 and I was expecting with Eden.  We were excited to   make the most of our long weekend… and we did!

Day 1:  Laurieton Seafoods/ hotel swim/ Bonny Hills Hotel

We love hotels!

Bonsai!

Chasing the Golden Schnitzel at Bonny Hills Hotel.
2012 - schnitzel bigger than your plate
2014 - "You done been shrunk" - Vector {Despicable Me}

Day 2: Billabong Koala Wildlife Park/ Lake Cathie
We had a fantastic morning at the Billabong Koala Wildlife Park.  I love finding these small wildlife parks/ zoos that are run well (nice enclosures), not busy (so important!) and have a good selection of animals.

Patting the koalas

Black Handed Spider Monkeys 

"Shrek" - 4.6m croc

Getting up close & personal with a 'roo

The Incredible "Bulk" (the wombat)

The Red Panda

After the wildlife park, we spent the afternoon at Lake Cathie and evening with friends (Happy birthday Heidi!).

Boat rides! {love how shallow the water is}

Post-swim movie

Day 3: Australia Day: Lighthouse Beach/ Timbertown/ The Road Less Travelled
Happy Australia Day!  It's my 1st as an Australian citizen.

Australia Day 1918

Today, we headed to Lighthouse Beach first thing to ride the camels.  Unfortunately the camels were sick and went home shortly after we arrived.  Eden was the most disappointed.

The Lighthouse

On top of the hill / sand sliding?

Next stop: A time machine trip to Timbertown!  Remember those special episodes of The Brady Bunch where they went to a re-created pioneer village?  That's Timbertown.  We rode on a horse-drawn carriage and a steam train, watched the steering demonstration, used a fair dinkum funny, and panned for gold.  Call me "geeky" but I really enjoyed it.

A gentle giant

Dinkum Dunny (toilet)

Time to ride the rails!

Thanks, Conductor!

On to the horse-drawn carriage

Eureka!  I've found…nothing.

Ice cream to end the day

The Road Less Travelled
The two E's were both exhausted after Timbertown, so while they were happily sleeping we decided to keep on driving.  We picked Ellensborough Falls which according to the map wasn't too far.  Little did we know that most of it was unpaved which meant that it took a lot longer to get there… but we saw some farm animals along the way.

Gorgeous… the kids loved waking up to find cows on the road next to them.
#nofilter

Ellensborough Falls

Day 4: Town Green/ Ricardoes' / Homeward Bound
After one last (brisk) swim in the hotel pool, we had breakfast in Port Macquarie and were excited to catch one more glimpse of the resident dolphin.

Can you see the dolphin?

We love making our last "stop" Ricardoes' Tomatoes & Strawberry Farm.

U-Pick strawberries

Eden is all smiles picking his strawberries

The takings!  Yummy!

Homeward bound… one pit-stop at The Red Centre.  Ha,ha!

We had flashbacks of Europe
(Where rest-stops go to die)