FINAL ITINERARY FOR CCC CLUB TOUR - OCTOBER 2020 - october 2020 port stephens
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FINAL ITINERARY FOR CCC CLUB TOUR - OCTOBER 2020
PORT STEPHENS
Friday 23 October
The drive from Richmond to Port Stephens is 217 km, 2h35
Afternoon arrival at Koala Shores Port Stephens Holiday Park, 2 Oyster Farm Road, Lemon Tree Passage.
At about 16.00 we will all meet at the BBQ area for our first Happy Hour, followed by a BBQ. Bring your own nibbles,
drinks and whatever you want to cook. Other food will be provided.
Saturday 24 October
08.15 We will board
the Port Stephens ferry which
departs 40 Victoria Road,
Nelson Bay at 08.30.
Our cruise will be
across Port Stephens and up
the Myall River to Tea
Gardens. The mouth of the
Myall River is famous for the
dolphins who love to usher
the boat to and from the ferry
wharf.
From Tea Gardens
wharf we can take a walk
across the Singing Bridge to The hotel is directly across the street from the wharf
Hawkes Nest, watching for the dolphins frolicking
in the water below our feet and the pelicans sitting
on the street lights above our heads.
After our walk we will return to the Tea Gardens
Hotel opposite the wharf. The hotel is well-known as a
good spot for an à la carte lunch in the Beer Garden.
We will return to Nelson Bay on the 14.30 ferry.
At about 17.00 we will meet for Happy Hour.
Sunday 25 October
Today is set aside as a casual day where you
may choose to look about the Port Stephens area.
There is a lot to see.
For all who are interested we suggest
that we meet at Nelson Bay Golf Club for
lunch at 12.00. This 27-hole golf club named
“NSW Country Golf Club of The Year” is
famous for being situated next to a nature
reserve, resulting in the course having many
kangaroo visitors.
The Bluewater Grill has a wide ranging
menu. Their Lunch Specials at $12.00 are
particularly good value and their burgers at
$16 to $18 look very tasty.
At about 17.00 we will meet for Happy Hour.
Monday 26 October
We will depart Koala Shores at 08.15 using as few cars as possible. The
drive to Wollombi, following the most direct Route B68 through Cessnock is 105km
and should take us about 1h15.
Once there, by 10.00 (and abiding by Covid-19 Rules) we will have split into
two groups and from then on spend our time in two places. One will be Noyce
Brothers Winery, where the Cellar Door is located in the historic Gray’s Inn in the
centre of the village. All their wines are available for purchase. Feel free to taste
whatever you want as your $5.00 tasting charge is paid already. You may want to
take some wine to the farm to have with your lunch.
The Wollombi Valley Sculpture Festival is currently running and we will
spend some time seeing the sculptures that are located around the village.
By 11.00 we will all move to the other location.
At 12.30 we will leave Wollombi and drive in convoy for about 20 minutes
to Little Valley Farm, which is up the Watagan Creek Road from Laguna.
Boosted by widespread rave reviews,
people come from far and wide to stay at Little
Valley Farm. For here they experience an
atmosphere like none other. Instead of sleeping
in a bedroom they sleep in a 1950s Sydney train
carriage. Instead of a dining room they lunch on
a wide deck overlooking beautiful grassy
farmland.
These overnight guests can even take a
hot water bath on the deck while they take in
the scenery (seriously). We won’t be doing that
- but we will relax on the deck while groups of
alpacas, some with their babies in tow, come up
to the deck to talk to us.
Little Valley Farm is owned and
operated by Euan Wilcox (son of Graham and
Johanna) and his wife Daniela.
Euan and Dani will give us all the time
we want getting to know the alpacas before cooking some delicious
pizzas for lunch.
For your own comfort and
flexibility please have some
camp seats in your car to use
either on the deck or the
grassed areas.
You might also find it a good
move to bring your esky and
some glasses for any wine
you purchase for lunch.
PORT MACQUARIE
Tuesday 27 October
Drive from Port Stephens to Port Macquarie 235 km 2h30
Please move off when you are ready and proceed to your booked accommodation at NRMA Sundowner Breakwall
Tourist Park, 1 Munster Street, Port Macquarie
16.00 Meet in the BBQ Area below the Reception for our Happy Hour. Don’t forget your nibbles and drinks.
Wednesday 28 October
Port Macquarie has so much to offer its visitors it is hard to decide what to do and see in only a few days.
Therefore it is best for us to make a list of things that that appeal and we can make final arrangements as we go.
Here are some ideas:-
Have you ever ridden a camel?
It’s fun. For $40 you can have the
experience of riding your camel
along the beach. It is a half hour
ride, but that is ideal. For people
of about 80kg you will rock along
with a partner. If over that weight
you will be on your own (to a
maximum weight of 120 kg).
The rides are weather permitting, so if today, between 09.30 to 13.30 seems a good opportunity for you – go for it.
No bookings are necessary. The operators accept cash only, so be ready for that. The camels leave from Matthew
Flinders Drive (opposite house number 161). Phone John Hardy or Michael Doust for details 0437 672 080.
Sea Acres National Park and Rainforest Centre
Sea Acres National Park is one of the largest and most intact segments
of coastal rainforest in New South Wales. Many wonders of the
rainforest reside above ground level, so getting up into the canopy is
the best way to explore it properly. Rising seven metres through the
forest understorey to the canopy above, Sea Acres Rainforest
boardwalk provides the perfect platform from which to experience
this busy habitat.
We can walk the 1.3 km loop boardwalk to really soak up the atmosphere for a charge of $7.00. The park is open from
09.00. 159 Pacific Drive.
Ricardoes Tomatoes & Strawberries
Not only is this a fascinating place, it is a lot of fun. Tall strawberry vines
climb up beside the tomato houses and visitors can enter shady
enclosures and, armed with a bucket, pluck their own plump, luscious
strawberries at will. You don’t even need to bend down. They are
grown on raised racks.
These are then weighed and bagged to take away. Ricardoes boasts five
varieties of hydroponic strawberries with over 30,000 plants growing in
their greenhouse. And that is in addition to the eight varieties of
tomatoes they grow.
You can take a guided tour at 11.00, or do your own virtual tour any time. After that Café Red can serve you succulent
strawberries in strawberry shortcake with traditional fresh-baked scones and lashings of pure cream. That’s hard to
beat! Open every day from 07.00. The address is 221 Blackmans Point Road, Port Macquarie.
Koala Hospital
We all love our koalas and Port Macquarie is well-known as the home of many. Despite
their numbers in this area they are a highly valued threatened species. That is why the
Koala Hospital is doing such good work to save as many as possible. The hospital is
really worth a visit. Entry is free and we are able to walk around the grounds as we
wish. Or, for $4.00 each we can pre-book a guided group tour if there is more than ten
of us. Lord Street, Port Macquarie. Phone 6584 1522
Coastal Walk
If you are feeling fit you could enjoy a walk
along the headland on Pacific Drive
overlooking Flynn’s Beach and Nobbys Beach.
People often report seeing whales off this part
of the coast. The walk all the way to Tacking Point Lighthouse is 7.5 km and
could take 1.5 to 2 hours. You will have to get back, of course so the distance
is up to you.
Port Macquarie Historical Museum
Did you realise that Port Macquarie was founded as a penal
settlement in 1821 to replace Newcastle as the destination for
convicts who had committed secondary crimes in New South
Wales? You can find out more about this and many other
interesting local stories at the Port Macquarie Historical
Museum. Open 09.30 to 16.30, 22 Clarence Street.
The Mid North Coast Maritime Museum
This museum offers three in one! It showcases Port
Macquarie and the Hastings region’s maritime history
across three sites around Port Macquarie.
The primary site, located at the top of William Street,
overlooks Flagstaff Hill and consists of two cottages
built in 1896, known as the Pilot Cottage precinct. For
those interested in maritime history, you can view to-
scale models of a range of ships and maritime vessels,
as well as many maps and charts used by the early
sailors. There is also a great collection of historical photographs.
6 William Street, Port Macquarie. Opening hours: 10.00 to 16.00.
If you are still not sure what you want to do,
just hang around at our magnificent tourist
park. In 2019 it was awarded Gold in the NSW
Tourism Awards and Bronze in the Australian
Tourism Awards.
17.00 Happy Hour in the BBQ Area
Thursday 29 October
Today we will make the short (21 km) drive to
Timbertown, a reconstructed town and Activity Park
near the actual timber town of Wauchope. Timbertown
is known as a must for visitors to this region.
Timbertown’s aim as people walk through the
park is to awaken the senses, sights, sounds, smells and
tastes from the late 1800s to early 1900s period, helping
people to immerse themselves in an exciting time of
Australian history.
Try some authentic Aussie damper, learn to
crack a whip with their talented bullock driver and take
a ride on their steam train, or in a horse drawn carriage.
History is alive at Timbertown. The entry fee of $19.00.
can be paid on arrival.
We will finish the day
with a 2-hour Sunset Cruise on
the beautiful Hastings River.
Our departure on the
Port AdVenture is timed to get
the best possible views as we
watch the changing colours of
the sun setting beyond the
region’s hinterland.
Light refreshments will
be served and the licensed bar on
board will be open. Your cruise
cost of $30.00 has been paid.
Please be at the Town
Wharf, The Cruise Terminal,
Clarence Street by 17.15 for a
17.30 departure.
Friday 30 October
You didn’t have time to do
everything on the other days, so you can continue today. Happy Hour this evening will be followed by a Farewell
BBQ. Again, for the meal, bring your meat only.
Saturday 31 October
Return to the Hawkesbury and home in your own time. Port Macquarie to Richmond 460 km 6h00
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