Coff's Harbour

In the Novotel Coff's Harbour, after a drive of about 350km from Port Stephens. Easy driving all the way up, but the road cuts inland most of the time so there's not much sea to see. Lots of feel for the country though as we drove through. Started off with lots more gum forest, but about halfway through it started to give way to ranch land, and then to a mixture of farmland and a more varied type of forest. Lots of big rivers and lagoons crossed as well. We stopped for lunch at Port Macquarie, a seemingly brand new place of about 40k residents. All sunshine, sand, boats, nice restaurants and pleasant streets. Australia seems to be such a forward-looking place. The vibe I get is young, positive and self-assured, with none of the grumpy greyness of England, and much entrepreneurial spirit. Maybe it's because of the sunshine, the independence or the fortunate economic position, or all three, but it is refreshing.

A bit more driving and we were in Coff's Harbour, which is bigger than either of us expected. We went for a walk over Muttonbird Island, but the residents were not in evidence. Apparently they come home in the evening. Sun out, and the coast very pretty - low mountains, beaches, islands, forest. Very little development and surely vast amounts of potential. Honestly, there's so much space I reckon you could leave England to the foreigners, move everyone else out to the sunshine and no-one here would notice much difference.




Checked in to the Novotel, which is out of town on its own site and sort if unpleasantly sanitised. Apart from the palm trees, which are pretty much growing in to my landward room, it could be anywhere. We declined the barn-like restaurant and drove back into town to the Hog's Breath, where we had enormous steaks. The HB is US diner style chain full of happily noisy local families. Unfrequented by Handleys, one suspects...

Location:Bay Dr,Coffs Harbour,Australia