Driving from Sydney to Byron Bay is about 800kms but should be done over a number of days to allow time to explore the many picturesque towns and cities along the way. We overnighted in Newcastle, Forster and Scott’s Head. During the drive, we stopped at Port Macquarie, Urunga, Coffs Harbour and Yamba.
The most awesome thing about Newcastle is to see the giant machines used for loading coal onto massive coal ships. Take a drive along Cormorant Road, Kooragang and you cannot miss them.
Coal ship at Newcastle
At the end of the point at Stockton, there is a breakwater which is called Shipwreck Walk. It was a turbulent and blustery evening when we walked here and it is easy to understand how so many ships came to trouble here.
The Adolphe, shipwrecked in 1904Stockton Breakwater near Newcastle
Newcastle is a bustling big city with an affluent feel about it. It was a day of unusually big swells when we visited, much to the delight of amateur photographers hoping to get a shot of a large wave crashing down on the breakwater and for surfers, trying to catch the perfect wave.
Newcastle BreakwaterBogey Hole, cut into the rock in 1819 for the personal bathing of the Commandant of Newcastle. Usually a clear, calm blue-green pool. Not today!! Today, it’s a churning, foam milkshake, not safe for bathing!
Forster and Tuncurry are two towns right next to each other, connected by a large bridge. Forster seems more affluent and gentrified than Tuncurry. The highlights of this area are the lakes and waterways. The Forster Bicentennial Walk was stunning.
Sunset at TuncurryForster Bicentennial WalkForster Ocean BathsForster Bicentennial Walk Port Macquarie
Just north of Port Macquarie is Ricardoes Tomatoes where you can pick your own hydroponic strawberries and lettuces and see tomatoes being grown hydroponically. Entry is free and its interesting to see the hydroponic setups.
Hydroponic lettuceHydroponic strawberries
Scott’s Head is a tiny town with a surprisingly large number of affluent looking new homes. It has a couple of beaches which are ideal for surfing.
South Beach at Scott’s Head Sunset at South Beach, Scott’s Head
There is a lovely boardwalk in Urunga which makes it a lovely stop to stretch your legs on a roadtrip.
Urunga Boardwalk at low tide
Urunga Boardwalk
At Coffs Harbour, there is a walk that goes past the picturesque marina up to the highest point on the nearby Muttonbird Island. The views from the lookout are worth the uphill gradient to get there.
Coffs Harbour Marina from the top of Muttonbird Island Forrest Sky Pier just north of Coffs Harbour
Along this stretch of coast, we have seen a quite a number of surfers. These are mostly young men. Considering the cool temperatures, large and turbulent waves and the abundance of rocks, it’s a hobby that seems foolhardy and dangerous.
Yamba
Byron Bay is a town which is getting a lot of bad press these days. The traffic is quite crazy and this detracts from the peaceful serenity of this small town. It’s hard to understand why there should be so many cars in such a small town! Paid parking is the norm in the town centre area as well which is highly unusual for a small town! Nevertheless, the farmers market was fun, with many stalls selling local, organic produce, the lighthouse walk was spectacular, you can hike to the most easterly point of Australia, the beaches are expansive and perfect for surfing and there are plenty of cute shops and restaurants to explore. The day we were there was overcast and threatening so I can imagine that Byron can look much better than these pictures show.
Byron Bay Lighthouse Cape Byron Lighthouse Walk Most Easterly Point of Australia Cape Byron Lighthouse Walk Cape Byron Lighthouse Walk Cape Byron Lighthouse Walk Killen Falls – just south of Byron BayDownstream of Killen Falls
Sydney has many beautiful blue sky days. When the sky is blue, Sydney, especially, by the water, is absolutely stunning! It’s a busy, bustling city that appears to have been less impacted by the pandemic than Melbourne. There are lots of lovely places to visit. Big name, iconic sights as well as more hidden treasures. Old buildings and gleaming skyscrapers sit side by side.
Queen Victoria BuildingThe back of Governor’s House – The free tour is interesting and worth doing.The gardens behind the Governor’s House is beautiful and has a stunning view of the harbour. Spot the Opera House in the background!Anzac Memorial in Hyde ParkThe copper domes of the Sydney Observatory on the left and the gleaming new skyscraper of the Crown Barangaroo on the right. Luna ParkWhat a beautiful day in Sydney! Donations at this pig statue go to the hospital and a rub on the nose brings good luck.The Grounds of Alexandria, a green sanctuary in the midst of a semi commercial/industrial area.Some of the many offerings at the Sydney Fish Market in PyrmontView of the iconic Westfield Tower from Hyde ParkInBloom display at the Calyx at the Botanic GardensView of Sydney HarbourBig Fig Tree at Wendy’s Secret Garden. Wendy’s Secret Garden – lush gardens planted by Wendy Whiteley when she was grieving the death of her husband on unwanted, overgrown land by a railway line. The value of this has since been recognised and preserved for public enjoyment.Museum of Contemporary ArtSydney city
In Sydney, it is possible to eat well in any cuisine and the large population supports restaurants serving a wide range of specific regional Asian cuisines.
Xian Biang Biang Noodles – noodle shop serving food influenced by the spice trailTry a bubble tea at one of the dozens of bubble tea shops in Sydney. There are endless varieties to suit your taste and mood! Half the display of items that can be added to your customised bowl of soupy noodles at this Ma La Tang store. Price of your meal is by weight.
Eating out is fun. It’s enjoyable to try food from diverse cuisines. It’s a way to get inspired for home cooking or a way to eat food that is clearly beyond the ability of the average home cook! Unfortunately, it can cost a lot. There are some ways to keep the costs down. Many of these techniques relies on the privilege of time both for research and time flexibility e.g. to eat at off-peak times. These methods also work better in big cities rather than small towns. It also assumes the ultimate privilege i.e. not being in a pandemic related lockdown, either mandatory or voluntary! Nevertheless….here are some ways to eat out at reduced prices….
Lunch is cheaper than dinner. Eat a bigger meal at lunch time rather than dinner. Eating out is usually always cheaper at lunchtime and there will often be more deals and combos which are good value.
Eat Asian Food. In most cases, Asian food tends to be cheaper than Western food. There are plenty of cheap and cheerful Asian places that are amazingly delicious, diverse and require a level of skill or time that cannot be replicated easily at home. Western food is viewed (unfairly) as a more premium product and often involve dishes which includes a large amount of meat, a high value item. This tends to result in Western meals costing more than Asian meals.
Zig when others Zag. A food business is much more likely to offer a discount when it suits them e.g. when they are less busy or when they can get something so the discount. One example is the discounted food offered at food court stalls late in the afternoon before they close. Another example is reduced price dishes which only applicable between 2 and 5pm in the afternoon. If you are willing to behave opposite to the crowds, there may be some savings to be made.
Look for outlets and deals at a lower price point for big name chefs. If you are foodie who wants to try the food of a big name, celebrity chef, their premium restaurant will usually be an eye-wateringly expensive degustation dinner affair! In some cases, there may be an separate bar snacks menu which is more affordable or an entirely different restaurant by the same chef which is designed at a lower price point to capture a different part of the market. There may also be a more economical lunch time menu so you can try their offerings without emptying the wallet!
Markets, street food stalls, food trucks, hole in the wall places. These type of places have lower overhead and staff costs so the food should be cheaper than a sit down dining place.
Hotteok, filled Korean pancakes, store at the Chatswood Mall MarketScallop Aburi from the Sydney FIsh Market, 3 for $10AUD – much more affordable than a sit-down restaurant
Keep your eye and ear out for discounts. Check the website and Facebook place for special deals e.g. Taco Tuesday, Schnitty Wednesday, discounted bucket of beers etc. Keep an eye and ear out for discounts, deals and specials as you walk around. There are also places around which are “pay what you want” which can be a cheap feed if you are happy to pay less.
To get more customers onto their app, Easi was offering a 90% discount at this store! 50% off the bill to celebrate the opening of this store! The queue to get a discounted meal was understandably very long!!! Sunday 11am to 8pm, pay what you want at Ikhwan restaurant at Pyrmont in Sydney. A delicious meal, dessert and drink at a price that you deem fair!
Allows restaurants to advertise discounts specifically when they require them e.g. on a rainy quiet afternoon.
Discounts on food ranging from 10 to 50%.
App is easy to use and allows the consumer to locate discounts in the vicinity of their location.
Cons
Deep discounts of 30 – 50% have been increasingly more and more rare. This could be pandemic related.
Only available in the big cities i.e. Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide.
Does not allow much planning and booking ahead for the consumer as discounts are only displayed on the day.
First Table – Pros and Cons
Pros
Allows the restaurants to fill tables early in the evening by giving patrons a deep 50% discount i.e. first table. This hopefully sets a restaurant up for a good night as they can bring in more foot traffic by looking busy!
Massive 50% discount on food for the consumer.
Cons
A booking fee of $10 is required – which means there is a penalty if you change your mind about going to the restaurant!
There are often conditions of what is not included in the discount e.g. seafood, high value dishes etc.
Having to eat at a very early time e.g. 5pm, 5:30pm etc.
Entertainment Book – Pros and Cons
Pros
20% of the annual subscription cost goes to a charity of your choice. There is a large list of organisations to choose from and many organisations choose to sell the Entertainment Book to fundraise.
Discounts of 25% off or 2 for 1 for dining, sightseeing and services.
Entertainment Book are good if you have a complaint e.g. when advised, they provided an additional discount of my choice when a listed business refused to honour the discount.
Cons
There is an annual subscription cost of $70 for 1 city or $120 for multi cities i.e. all cities in Australia and NZ.
The mobile app is quite annoying and terrible to use.
The number and quality of the discounts has deteriorated over the last few years. This may be pandemic related but is more likely due to the horrible app!
The Fork – Pros and Cons
Pros
Ability to make restaurant bookings online and receive instant confirmation either by the website or mobile app.
Some restaurants provide deep discounts of 30 to 50%.
Loyalty points for bookings which accumulate to give $20 or $50 off meals. Booking via the mobile app gives you more loyalty points.
Cons
Requires some advanced planning to make a booking.
Number of restaurants offering deep discounts has reduced in the last few years. This may be pandemic related.
In conclusion, with some effort, discounts are available to making eating out more economical! Hope this post has been helpful and finds you in the privileged position of being able to eat out. Stay safe and well!
Would it be uproar if it is suggested that the NSW coast, south of Sydney rivals the beauty of Victoria’s famous Great Ocean Road? Let’s call it equally stunning!! It has been a lovely journey up from Tathra to Wollongong via Bermagui, Bateman’s Bay, Jervis Bay (Huskisson) and Kiama. The Booderee National Park has lots of beautiful spots and the Kiama coastal walk is hilly but hugs the rugged coastline. There is an unexpectedly large and beautiful Buddhist temple complex and gardens in Wollongong.
Bermagui PointBooderee National ParkBooderee National Park 3 kangaroos at Booderee National ParkBooderee National ParkBooderee National ParkBooderee National ParkHuskisson BeachKiama BlowholeKiama Coastal WalkKiama Coastal WalkKiama Coastal WalkKiama Coastal WalkKiama LighthouseMinnamurra Rainforest TrailMinnamurra WaterfallNan Tien Temple, WollongongNan Tien Temple Main Courtyard, WollongongNan Tien Temple Pagoda, WollongongTowradgi Beach Wollongong
Mount Kosciuszko is mainland Australia’s highest mountain, at 2,228 metres above sea level. Reaching the top of this sounds like an impressive bucket list type achievement but surprisingly it wasn’t that difficult. We drove to Thredbo and then got on the chairlift and from there walked the 13km round trip to the summit and back. The trail was very well marked and well traversed. It’s amazing that summiting the highest peak in Australia has been made so accessible.
On the day we went, it was beautiful blue skies but only about 4C. The temperature would have been freezing overnight as there was some icy snow on the ground.
This is not a serene trail where you can be alone with nature. There were lots of people at all parts of the trail and especially the summit. There were also lots of hardcore mountain bikers riding down trails of varying difficulty down the mountain. It’s great to see this winter town thriving at times when there is no snow.
Most of the walking trail from the top of the Thredbo chairlift to the summit is non slip grid mesh. Snow by the walking trailView from the Mount Kosciuszko walking trail Icy crystals forming on rocks due to the low nighttime temperatures Lake on the top of the mountain The summit of Mount Kosciuszko. Lots of people were enjoying it on this day.
Jindabyne is the town that serves as the hub for the surrounding towns including Thredbo and Perisher. It sits by the beautiful Lake Jindabyne.
Lake JindabyneSculpture by Lake Jindabyne Polish Explorer Strzelecki who named Mount Kosciuszko in 1840Fall colour in Jindabyne in late April
Not far from Jindabyne is the Gaden Trout Hatchery. The government breeds trout and salmon to restock cold water lakes for anglers as sport fish. The tours are really interesting and informative.
An hour drive from Jindabyne is Adaminaby. This tiny town hosts the Snowy Scheme Museum which contains an interesting collection of items and information of the project. The opening hours are extremely limited. These information boards are available outside the museum if it is not open.
Snowy Scheme Museum in Adaminaby
After visiting the museum, it’s worth a drive to Old Adaminaby to see a small part of the massive Lake Eucumbene, a dam, part of the Snowy scheme.
Lake Eucumbene from Old Adaminaby
It has been a pleasure to see Australia’s alpine regions and to understand a bit more about how large and complex the Snowy hydro project was and is.
Stunning scenery, curious wildlife and a lovely campground for a national park. The main campground at Tidal River has great amenities. There are rubbish bins, toilet and shower blocks, visitor centre, small shop, BBQs and picnic tables. Additionally, in a lot of areas there is good mobile signal and many campsites includes the sound of the nearby ocean. Magic! Watch out for wombats at dusk, possums at night and the colourful rosellas that are always loitering hopefully when you eat meals.
Near Tidal River Footbridge Near Tidal River Footbridge Tidal River Footbridge at SunsetTidal River at SunsetView from Pillar Point trailPillar Point Trail Pillar Point Squeaky BeachTidal River Footbridge Rosella after my lunch!Rosella Lilly Pilly Trail Picnic BayWhisky BayWhisky Bay
Melbourne is one of the best cities to visit, with it’s neat grid-like CBD, the mix of old buildings with gleaming sky scrapers, the fancy rooftop bars and the gritty laneways with small, sometimes hidden bars and the many diverse restaurants to tempt you. Berlin Bar, a small bar on Corrs Lane requires you to climb some stairs and then ring the door bell. The staff will let you into a space which is a split into austere East Berlin and opulent West Berlin and you will have to choose where to spend your evening.
Melbourne Skyline and TramFlinders Street StationMelbourne on the Yarra Forum Melbourne Melbourne and the Yarra River
A visit to Melbourne is not complete without visiting the food markets. Both Queen Victoria Markets and the South Melbourne Markets are close to the CBD are a food lover’s paradise.
Sweet Treats at South Melbourne MarketsDanishes at Agathe at South Melbourne MarketsFlowers at South Melbourne Markets
Fitzroy Gardens is a lush green sanctuary on the east side of the CBD.
Fitzroy GardensMiniature Tudor Village in the centre of Fitzroy Gardens
NGV International in worth a visit with many artworks by big name French impressionist painters as well as many modern works.
Modern art at NGV International
The State Library of Victoria is a beautiful old building and is magnificent on the inside as well. Best of all, it is being used by lots of students, industriously studying away in these magnificent surrounds.
State Library of VictoriaThe Dome in the State Library of Victoria
One of the best things about travelling is happening randomly upon something weird or wonderful, such as these street sculptures.
More pictures of lovely places in South Australia to visit.
Chateau Tununda Croquet FieldChateau Tununda – Barossa Valley
Goolwa Beach
Granite IslandGranite IslandLake Albert – MeningieMurray River
D’Arenberg CubeD’Arenberg WineryD’Arenberg WinerySalvador Dali Triumphant Elephant, D’Arenberg CubeSalvador Dali, Nobility of Time, D’Arenberg CubeSky Seafoods – Robe
Thanks to the lovely folk at Sky Seafoods for providing us a an informative tour through their lobster processing facility. This magnificent specimen is about 30 years old!
