The Gold Coast and into New South Wales

Still moving south along the East Coast from the Gold Coast with the theme parks and crossing into New South Wales and the along the NSW North Coast.

Movie World on the Gold Coast and Ellie queuing for the families favourite ride 'Scooby Doo' a roller coaster where the cars go up in lifts, run backwards and then spin around 180 degrees all in the darkness ZOINKS! 

At SeaWorld Fleur and Ellie with Sponge Bob Square Pants and his side kick (not sure of her name).

Crossing the boarder from Queensland into New South Wales. The boarder runs down the middle of Dixon Street and separates Tweed Heads in NSW on the left with it's twin town of Coolangatta in Queensland on the right. Due to the fact that NSW observes daylight savings and Queensland does not you can change time zones – even celebrate New Year twice within an hour – simply by crossing the street, a north south move and not as you may suspect an east west move. Only in Australia?   

Bryon Bay Lighthouse at Point Byron which was named by Captain Cook after his navigator who happened to be the grandfather of the poet Lord Byron. It is the most easterly point on the Australian mainland. We were invited to go to the top of the lighthouse for a viewing, why they choose us and no one else not sure, but there was a very good view of the bay and out to sea. We have now been to the most Easterly town in Australia and the most westerly town, Denham, only 5000km between the two places on the shortest route although our route was a bit longer. 

The town of Bexhill in the hills behind Ballina, not much to see here other than the open air cathedral on the hill over looking the town. The main reason for the visit was to see how it compared to my home town of Bexhill on Sea in England, and we can report its nothing like it, there were no old people walking along the sea front in the Australian version.

Ballina - The Big Prawn' is another of Australia's iconic big things. Built in 1989, but without a tail, the Big Prawn underwent a major makeover and was reopened in July 2013. It stands 9m high and weighs 35 tonne. The restoration cost to add a tail and give the prawn a much needed make over cost Bunnings (a shop just like B&Q) $400,000 and it now sits proudly in their car park.