April 28 Talk about views – Muttonbird Island has them in droves

After Dorrigo we were all a bit tired so had a quiet morning, kids playing in the park, David and I doing van stuff.  After this we went for a lovely lunch of fish and chips at the harbour marina (we have found ourselves sampling fish and chip meals in a variety of coastal locations and plan to continue to do so).  

After our lunch we continued walking down the marina and to the island at the end of the breakwater which we discovered was called Muttonbird Island. Muttonbird Island has a short but steep walk which delivers the most beautiful 360 degree views of Coffs Harbour. The island is a protected Nature Reserve and home to thousands of wedge-tailed shearwaters, also known as muttonbirds, it is also a significant site to the local Gumbaynggirr Aboriginal people.  The island’s plant cover hides thousands of burrows.  We didn’t see any birds, but we thoroughly enjoyed the walk (as did our cardiovascular systems) and the signs at the start of the walkway at the bottom of the island and along the path, explaining the lifecycle and habits of the shearwaters.

 

At the end of the walkway is a viewing platform, providing great views of the waves crashing onto the rocks and of the Solitary Island.  The boys loved watching the waves crashing onto the rocks and we spent some time at this platform just waiting for ‘one more big one Mum’.

Later that afternoon when we were shopping we had our first deluge.  Unfortunately, between us David and I had managed to leave one of our skylights open (a mistake we very much hope never to make again – although at least our floors got a good clean).  Oh well – still very much learning about caravanning as we go.  We are sure this will not be last time we either make a mistake or need to learn a new lesson about caravanning around Australia.