The moment we collected the camper van, all singing all dancing home on wheels, from the other side of Sydney, the real adventure began. For ten nights we slept in the van while exploring the North Coast of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Not even thirty minutes after Apollo signed over their beast to us, we’d gently knocked a van’s wing mirror while trying to parallel-park the vehicle near Bondi Beach while stopping off for a bite to eat. Ouch!

Hawks Nest

A few hours later, after taking up most of a shopping’s car park while stocking up on groceries, we arrived at Hawks Nest, our first port of call, many minutes too late. The campsite had locked its boom gate and no one answered the emergency number on the office door. They definitely weren’t open for business. Ah look! The beach with a car park – a perfect spot to spend the night. Without any interruptions, we slept soundly. A forty-minute run along the silky soft sand had me rearing to go first thing the next morning.

Seal Rocks

At the stunning, pristine beaches of Seal Rocks we spent a night at Treachery Camp. A less crowded campsite off the beaten track where we managed to get stuck in soft black sand. Fortunately, Aussie men came to our rescue and saved us from ourselves.

A ten-minute stroll up to Sugarloaf Point Lighthouse delivered uninterrupted views of the beautiful beaches below.

Crowdy Bay National Park

Wallabies! Australia’s wildlife… I spotted my first wallaby at the campsite; unfazed by anything going on around them, they appeared a lot tamer than expected. Even the mother carrying a joey in her pouch, hardly batted an eye when I got up close to snap a photo or two.

A bracing body surf just before dusk invigorated us, and a full-moonlit walk at midnight along the water’s edge made us never want to leave.

Crescent Head

Known as the best surf break in New South Wales, Crescent Head apparently cannot be beaten. Packed with surfers, those vying for the perfect wave, living for the ride of their life, we decided not to stay and went off in to the sunset to find our next spot for the night.

Trial Bay Goal Campsite

About an hour’s drive form Crescent Head, we settled at Trial Bay Goal Campsite. Again the office was closed at the old goal; however, we discovered a secluded corner on a mini cliff above the massive waves crunching against copper rocks. With the windows of the camper van open, we could hardly hear ourselves talk while competing with the vigorous ocean. Drifting off to sleep elicited such pleasure.

Corrinder Beach

Once again we arrived after the campsite had closed, and decided to spend the night in the car park overlooking the beach.

This time, at 9pm a knock pounded the campervan, disturbing the tranquillity. A stern man that worked at the campsite told us to leave. Accusing us of having no intention of paying, he threated to call the police. With all the charm we could muster, we succeeded at calming the irate keeper. Eventually, he relented and allowed us to pay in the morning, not believing we would. Of course we did!

Byron Bay

Giving up on Byron Bay, even more crowded than Crescent Head, with the surf being mediocre, we decided to experience the mountains.

I have to dedicate the next blog piece to Nimbin, the weed capital of Australia. It’s a place like nothing on this Earth I’ve ever experienced, a place I couldn’t have even dreamed up…