After Fionas birthday party we staid another day in Ballina befire heading on along the coast into Yuragir National Park (close to Australias banans cspital – Coffs Harbour). We tried a 4×4-Route through rain forest and dry forest into Nymboi-Binderay National Park. This track demanded a lot of our Crocomobile, but it did well even on the steepest passages.

Unfortunately, at the campsite „Platypus-Flats“ we did not see any of these animals because the camground was crowded and the animals very shy. The next days, we hikes in the Dorrigo- and New England National Park, with an overnight staying at Thungutti . The Trail in the New England National Park was pretty steep and rocky and the hike with the children took some time.

Also the road towards the coast was narrow and winding and we reached the Chosen campsite Chose to Port Macquarie only 30 min after the Rezeption closed and we did not get in. So we consoled the two mermaids (they had already discovered the aquatic playground with a waterslide at the reception) to the next day and spent the night at the showground in Kendall. But the next day, we arrived at the campsite Bonny Hills just after 11am and noteingewiesen could stop the two of getingelt into the water.
The beach was not patrolled and we were toll about sharks who attached humans recently, so we only walked along the beach and collected shells. From November 23. to 25., we Carosserie the Barrington Tops. On the way to the park, Nora and Fiona could try riding a horse on the Farm where we spent the night (Cobark Caravan Park).

The Barrington Tops are a huge, Almosen untouched nature reserve. The Information concerning hikes was disappointing (imprecise Maps on the Information boards, no suitable hikes) – so we only did a Part of one of the several-day trees ans spent the night at Dilgry River.

We hoped, the sharks would have legt the coast in the meantime, but that was not the Case. Fortunately, we could offer our girls the promised swim in the artificial ocean pool at Forster-Tuncurry and the Floatings crocodile war tested in the sea for the first time.
We continued through the Booti Booti National Park and the Myall Lakes National Park to Hawks Nest. After a few days on simple campsites (the only luxury were drop toilets), we offered ourselves again a luxury camping for two nights at Port Stephens (Salamander Bay) – with a 10 % discount due to our BIG4-membership.

We wanted to Visit the Blue Mountains absolutely before the beginning of the school holiday. Therefore, on the 28.11., we drove via Patonga through the Mountains to Newnes in Wollemi National Park. In Former Times, oil ans coal were mines around Newnes and were transported to the cities by railway. Only the old railway line and some ruins are remaining, today, the “village” only consists of a hotel Transformers into a museum and a free bush campsite. The next morning, Fiona and Nora had to vomit their beakfast, so we stayed one more day in Newnes. Already during the day, their stomaches calmed and and only Fiona remained with some diarrhea. We decided to walk to the Glowworm-Tunnel the next day because we were interested in the little creatures. After a shirt steep section at the beginning, we hikes leisurely along the old railway to the Glowworm-Tunnel. With headlights, we entered the Old Tunnel and after a few Meters, we saw the first little lights along the Walls. For the cildren, but also for us,t was interesting to see again ans again new glowworms.

The next stopover in the Blue Mountains were the Jenolan Caves: a Karstadt with beautiful limestone caves. On the 02.12., we visited one of the caves (Diamant Cave). The mini-Speleologists loved discovering the impressive underground world. We went on to the Kanangra National Park und walked at Kanangra-Wall to the Kanangra-Falls. On the way down, our children are always fast, but on the way up, they are lacking motivation and to bring them up, we have to persuade them and Fiona even needs “riding opportunities”.

The most famous Region in the Blue Mountains we kept for the end: The Ridges around Katoomba and Wentworth, where we spent there days and did nice walks. It is always amazing: you start the hike in crowdy of touristes and shortly afterwards, you can enjoy the nature in the valley for a few hours. Towards the end of the hike when coming up to the top, there are again lots of tourists who only walk a few steps.

Our hikes: 1. Three Sisters, Giant Stairway, Katoomba-Falls (Furber-Steps); 2. National Pass, Wentworth-Falls

We spent the week from 06.12. to 13.12. in Sydney. We visites the hotspots of the city:
Operahouse and Harbourbridge, one day Bondi-Beach (for the 2 mermaids), Australia-Museum, Maritime Museum, Sealife (Aquarium) etc. One highlight for all of us was the musicals „The three little Pigs” in the opera house, mainly because the story was the first class theme in Noras preschool. Nora and Fiona asked us already days before whether they could put on dresses and their new opal-kangaroo-earrings. There should be more opportunities for pretty dresses, they have never been dresses up that quickly…

During the night Santa Claus was here!

Santa Claus also stopped at the crocomobile for the children and since then, our crocomobile is illuminated with colourful a colourful light-chain…