Drive to Sydney

     We gave ourselves three days to take in the coastal sights along the 900 km Pacific Highway between Brisbane and Sydney.  The road travels south and is interspersed with many views of the ocean and the numerous picturesque beaches.  

    We stayed on the road for the most part while passing up the very touristy Gold Coast and stopped for lunch at Byron Bay.  Byron Bay has a very laid-back vibe and was reminiscent for us of a hippy haven from days gone by.  We did have a lovely vegan meal at the Seventh Day Adventist restaurant on the main street.  We continued on and made our first night stop in Yamba in the old Yamba Hotel overlooking the sea.  We joined many of the locals in the pub for a meal and refreshments while gazing out over the sea.  We stayed long enough to watch the moon rise over the ocean.

Moonrise over the Pacific at Yamba

    We were up the next morning and drove to South West Rocks for a beach walk, patio lunch, and a quick stop at the historical old Trial Bay Gaol.  We didn't explore the prison but did enjoy the views.

Another expansive beach at Southwest Rocks

A row of Norfolk Pines at the Southwest Rocks Gaol

A nice view from the Trial Bay Gaol

    Our second night was spent at Laurieton on the coast in New South Wales.  Our accommodation was slightly forgettable but we enjoyed a very memorable meal at the Delizioso Italian Restaurant a short walk away.  Thank you Rae for another great suggestion!

    In the morning we detoured slightly to visit the Bago Maze and Wine in Herrons Creek.  After Deborah did some morning drinking we wandered the grounds and took some pictures of the intricate hedgerows of the maze.  We didn't venture in for fear of never finding our way out.

The maze at Bago Winery 

We had a short day drive to North Narrabeen in the afternoon and were welcomed to the home of Mollie, Nick, Parker, Riley, and Billie.