Our next camp was a place I have wanted to stay for a long time. Pebbly beach, in the Yuraygir national park. Peta and I had visited the park a number times but had always stayed in the little sea side town of Red Rock just a little further south.

Yuraygir national park covers a fair chunk of coast line, beginning just south of Yamba and extending 65km south to Red Rock. Pebbly Beach camp ground is in the southern end of the park. To get there you turn off the highway almost exactly halfway between Grafton and Coffs Harbour, drive through a state forest, down a beach and across a tidal creek.

Just like Fraser island the tide played a major part in our travel plans. The day we left for Pebbly beach high tide was around mid day. Not the best timing. However if we got going early we should get across before full high tide. It was only 120km trip after all.

Plans are only good if you stick to them. We didn’t even start on time. Alec and I both slept in. By the time we had packed up and farewelled our new found friends it was mid morning.

After short drive down the Pacific highway, we turn off into a state forest. Drove though the forest and into the national park with no problems. We stop and had lunch at the  station creek camp ground before we headed down the beach.

We arrived at the creek crossing right on the high tide. Looks like we were in for a wait. For the next 4 hours Alec and I played and swam in the creek.

I found out the best way to cross the creek. Some locals were happy to offer advice. It’s a popular spot for a day out with the family. One guy was keen to talk four wheel drives, as he had the same car as me. Although it did have a diesel V8 engine conversion done. Just a touch jealous.

Eventually the tide was low enough to cross. Still not a full low tide but the water shallow enough to cross. Years gone past I had always drove straight across. However due to the natural movement of sand that part of the creek is little deep these days. Now the safest option is to drive up along the bank a couple hundred metres, then cross and drive back to the exit. This we did no problem.

Finally we made it.. Ahh not quite. Just before we got to the camp grounds the track was blocked by a on going vehicle recovery. A four wheel drive was being winch off the beach. The vehicle doing the recovering was on the track to the camp ground. Another 10 min wait before we could continue.

I have no idea what happen but by the smell, the car that was stuck it will need a new clutch. It also had a terrible metal on metal scraping sound when driving. That’s going to be a expensive trip to the beach.

We did eventually set up camp. I chose one right on the beach. For the next 3 days we didn’t do a lot. The first day the only time we left camp was to go to the loo.

The second day we found a shady spot a spent the afternoon on the beach.

The third day we went for a morning hike. Not to far. We found cubby house and Alec explored the rock pools.

It was just so hard to get motivated to actually do anything. We had water views from camp, plenty of food. I soft bed to have nap in, books to read, time to just have a play and very few people to disturb the peace. Alec seem content to just hang around camp as much as I was. I think we were both in need of a well earned rest.

It came time to leave and luckily the tide worked in our favour. Low tide was at midday. I slowly packed up and by 10 o’clock we were ready. I wasn’t sure if I would be able to cross the creek that early. But to my surprise the water level was lower then when we arrived.

Another guy in a old yellow Toyota troop carrier was at the creek crossing not sure if it was low enough to cross. He didn’t know about the easy way. I went first then as agreed I hung around till he was across. I crossed with out problem but to my surprise the guy in the Toyota decided to go straight across. He made it fine, a bit of water in the cab mind you. He was hardly concern. Made for a good couple of pics.

We said our bye’s and continued on our way. Our next stop, a very familiar place.

 

Stupid thing of the week.

Try to remember bacon isn’t cooked. Before you put it in the scrambled eggs.