On the road by 7am again and managed a good couple of hours of driving before stopping for breakfast, then on the road again till lunch. Scenery up this end of the country is stunning – deeply forested and every colour of green, with every coastal town built on a river mouth as well, so full of blue and boats and beach and bridges – so pretty, would love to explore properly one day.
Arrived in Port Macquarie mid-afternoon – staying at a small park on the outskirts of town, but feels like we are in the tropics – surrounded by palm trees and bakingly hot! Parked next to a family from Hoppers' Crossing, about half an hour north of Geelong...
Other indication of having entered the tropics - went to the toilet block for a shower after dark and passed a cockroach the size of a cow on the way in, then was just putting my towel on the bench when a large spider appeared from underneath. Resisting the temptation to run screaming like a girl from the building, I gingerly grabbed my stuff and picked an alternate cubicle. I really prefer my nature outside when I'm inside... 
This park had two friendly rabbits who would beg round the caravans for food, which made a change from the park at Sydney where there was a huge rat behind the van one day... The park in Sydney couldn't have been cleaner or better maintained but there was a big concrete storm channel running through it, so I guess there would be rats... Ella thought it was a squirrel though. We didn't correct her...
Went straight to the pool where Ella re-confirmed her status as The Fearless One – down the waterslide again and again. James is now very water confident – not swimming prettily, but effectively, loves swimming underwater and diving to the bottom to retrieve things. Will is still very clingy and unsure in the pool, but then he’s been clingy and unsure about a lot of things in life, so we’re hoping he’ll grow out of it. Phoebe is a little fishy who loves to push away from whoever is holding her and tries to go off on her own. Nick has been doing all the techniques from the Geelong lessons with her, so lots of time being ducked and popping up grinning.
Spent some of the next day in Port Macquarie itself – a really beautiful town – fairly sizeable with all theshops and services you could want, but also a choice or river activities and about half a dozen great beaches. Came back to the park to cool down with a swim in the pool.
Before leaving Port Macquarie the next day, went off to Town Beach with the kids in the hope of tiring them out for the drive. Usually a very calm beach apparently, but it was a full moon the night before and we're assuming that's why the waves were mental...
Did lots of wave jumping and James tried out his new boogie board. He was really good at it too! Also got filmed for Prime news on Channel 7 who were doing a story on skin cancer - filmed our kids as an example of being well covered up! Unlike many of the Australian children whom the 'Slip, Slap, Slop' message seems to have bypassed entirely. Left later than planned (obviously) and headed off to see Les and James in Maclean.
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