Pt 2 - Day 14 - Coffs Harbour

Once again we wake up to a light drizzle.  Our morning routine these days is to check the radar, turn on the tv to watch the local news and weather and then decide whether to pack and up continue on or stay another day.  This morning, there is more rain forecast for Byron and not so much at Coffs, so we decide to continue on as who knows what tonight will bring.  The flood levels are steady or falling so we decide to move on while we can. We feel very glad to have seen Byron anyway, if only briefly.

We spend a bit of time down town before heading off after lunch.  The drizzle is steady and it isn't long before we reach signs on the Pacific Hwy directing us on a detour inland due to the road flooding.  It adds about 50km to the trip.  We go to Lismore and Casino which makes me a bit nervous as Lismore had recently been on the news due it's flooding.  What a beautiful place though.  The country side out here is just amazing, the roads are shocking but we love the more open spaces and the rolling green hills and the cows and banana plantations.

The Clarence river, one of many HUGE rivers we cross in the next 24 hours.

 

The drive to Coffs is amazing.  We have never seen so many flooded paddocks and washed out areas.  As we go over the rivers we see the tops of playgrounds and picnic areas shelters.  Luckily we are able to get through on the main roads.

Coffs Harbour is just lovely.  We check in a the Top Tourist Park with the best pool, playground and ammenities we have had so far,  and, the cheapest.  The kids swim and we get a couple of heavy down pours but nothing too serious.  We look at all the tourist brochures and make plans for the next couple of days, but once again, if rain is forecast we need to move on.  We have been told that all the way to Taree, the rivers are on the brink of bursting, so after that point we know we can relax.  So until tomorrow!!!