Excited to arrive at Byron First Sun Caravan Park...although we've been here heaps I still love this place. Sun is shining for our set up and you should see our site...it is amazing. Waterfront, double slab, 34 steps from the beach and you can hear the surf hitting the rocks below. Just beautiful. We might just stay here for the year. Site is right in the centre of Byron so had a walk along the beach then strolled around the shops. Got noodles for awning to stop it flapping. Al took car to mechanic to look at brakes as on the way here the brakes shuddered and locked...scary stuff when you're towing a caravan. Turned out to be dirt in the brakes.

The wreck is right in front of our site. The Wollongbar was a freight/passenger ship travelling from Byron Bay to Sydney. It was loaded with freight and about to take on passengers when it moved onto a sandbank. The captain tried to sail it into deeper waters but the wind and the waves sent it nearer shore. They managed to get the freight off and no one was injured but the boat sank and still sits on the ocean bed where part of it can be seen today. This happened May 14th 1921 so the 100 year anniversary is approaching.

Walked along Clarks and Watego beaches and the erosion is huge some parts are about 12foot high.

Drove to Killen Falls at Tintenbar. Very rocky climb down but great waterfall at the bottom where you could swim. Could hardly stand up in water because of rocks. Al managed to get under waterfall and the force of it pushed him under and spat him out a bit further over. Called in at Newrybar on way home to look at quaint little shops and had a beer and a wine before we left - $25!!! Called in at Macadamia Castle and got some cereal and wasabi macadamias. Organised Byron Bay beer for Russ for his birthday.

Popped into Ballina to do a shop - big shopping centre spread out over a large area.

Al went for surf with Michael at Little Wategos then I met them at Espressohead for brekky. Went to industrial estate and Al got a new rashie and t-shirt but my favourite shop has gone :( :( Called in at Lord Byron Brewery where Al had a dark and stormy and I had a limoncello with soda. Played bocce on very uneven grass near van.

Tried to track down the Green Frog which was used on the jetty where the wreck went down - to no avail.

Michael organised for us to have a tour of his neighbour Liz's 200 acre property which she manages on her own. We jumped on two buggies and drove around the property - just a pity it was raining but still amazing and an amazing lady. Our buggy broke down we walked back to Liz's and had date scones which Sue had made and a cup of tea. Then we headed to Michaels for a curry.

Managing to get our 1 hour walks in of a morning. There is a beach house just up from us which rents at $1500 a night??? Visited Lennox Head but doesn't have same memories of our first visit here. Checked out Broken Head Park and it pretty much looks the same - much better where we are now. Double rainbow this afternoon - quite spectacular.

Called Russ for his birthday. Drove to Wategos and then to Bangalow finishing with a beer and wine at the pub.

Got up just after 5 to drive to Wategos to see the sunrise - quite stunning. Saw a couple of dolphins the first I've seen since we've been here. Al paddled out to wreck but couldn't get any clear photos underwater. Drove to Brunswick Heads, walked along river then to Brunswick Hotel for a shared lunch of Thai Beef Salad. Popped into Aldi on the way home and bumped into James Reyne. Al asked if he was playing around here but they had played at Noosa and the Gold Coast and were heading back to Sydney.

Drove to Evans Head to check it out as we were supposed to be staying here last year before covid. Nothing much here so shared fish and chips at Illawong Hotel - very nice too - crispy batter.

Al chatted to neighbour at park - just a young family, little boy and girl and a 4 month old baby. Sold their property at Ellebana for 2 million before setting out on the road. Al was interested in his drone - turned out to be $3000.

Al hoped to have surf with Michael but there was none so they went for brekky instead.

Drove to brick quarry at Bexhill, not easy to find as not signposted. Track in was very boggy with deep trenches but car made it through ok. The disused quarry filled up with water and is cobalt blue in colour from the copper sulphate and minerals in the ground. Called into Eltham hotel as we'd been here before. Lovely old pub playing good old music.

Al swam out to wreck as it was fairly well exposed and got some good photos. Off to the Park Hotel for dinner on our last night to use up our last dine and discover brochure. Had expected to have pizza but I'd obviously got the menus mixed up that I'd been looking at cos they didn't sell them. So Al had steak and I had salmon and both were delicious.