Port Stephens

On the way back from the campground in the Barrington Tops we explored Port Stephens a little -we went to Shoal Bay (but because we had Lyra with us we could not climb the mountain with the nice view unfortunately -Tomaree Mountain is part of a National Park) and Birubi Beach in Anna Bay where it was really misty and we did not have view at all, we did see camels in the mist though, pretty surreal! There are sanddunes there (Worimi Conservation Lands)where you can also go sledding off the dunes, also something we could not do with a dog. So we have to go back sometime :) Fortunately Port Stephens is only about an hour and a half drive away from where we live so we can make that a day trip sometime.

Riverwood Downs Camping trip

We camped out at Riverwood Downs for 5 days with Lyra. Riverwood Downs is about 2 1/2 hours from here close by Barrington Tops National Park, a very pretty area. Dogs and kids have a lot of freedom on the campground so the boys and Lyra had a lot of fun -playing, canoeing and floating in the river, playing Munchin Quest with Jules -our friends Michelle and Jules were camping out next to us with their dog Arthur. We also saw some interesting wildlife -some snakes (red-bellied black snake, diamondback python), reptiles (Eastern water dragons, a lace monitor) and many interesting and beautiful birds (satin bower birds, superb fairy wrens among others).