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Post by RollyDog on Oct 16, 2010 22:32:40 GMT 10
The last 3 years we have enjoyed SEQ runs to the Sunshine Coast to be near the water but today saw a story on Caravan parks near the water at Ballina. Does anyone have an insight into these and would they be viable for an early February run if the Toowoomba event goes ahead in March ?
It is just a thought as it won't be long before the year ticks over again.
Rollydog
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Post by dosse on Oct 17, 2010 6:10:29 GMT 10
G'day Rod. Yes you are absolutely right  I feel we could do with a change  . The week-end at the Hampton Museum in March is a big gap from Canungra. Northern NSW has some magnificent destination's  .Just need to look at school holiday period and may need to leave the plate-licker at home......Hay I can live with that  . Does any-one else have any thought's on this . dosse. |
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Post by JBJ on Oct 17, 2010 8:23:37 GMT 10
Hi All,
Theres a lot of reasonable parks around between Brunswick Heads, Ballina & Evans Head.
At Evans Head we used to go to a rod run where they allowed us all to camp in a little used area near the riverfront, which was great.
I know Brunswick heads caravan park hosts that rod run now, so they must have reaonable amount of sites available.
Also possibly Lennox Head, Ballina ,or even Boring Bay
(Byron bay) may have enough sites in one of their many parks.
But timing will be critical. This part of the coast is chaos near & in school holidays.
So I guess someone pick a date, see who's likely to roll up, then Boots & I being locals can sound the parks out & see what options we have.
JBJ
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Post by dosse on Oct 17, 2010 9:18:02 GMT 10
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Post by bobandjacqui on Oct 17, 2010 9:55:54 GMT 10
G'day Rod, Dosse and JBJ, Sounds like a plan to us. We're in. Cheers Bob and Jacqui  ;D ;D |
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Post by sutcac on Oct 17, 2010 16:43:50 GMT 10
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Post by RollyDog on Oct 17, 2010 19:27:24 GMT 10
Great idea Clyde I was recently given a very very old 13 foot cane rod that would help the QLD side. Although it is too long to fit inside my car or van I'm cool with anywhere down that area as I got the idea watching one of the travel shows yesterday so if we can confirm date and location we can rally numbers at Canungra. I may make t a Thursday to Monday trip this time. Rollydog |
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boots
Full Member
scootin' along the highway of life
Posts: 139
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Post by boots on Oct 18, 2010 19:11:06 GMT 10
Hi,
A few thoughts from a local.
That weekend is the end of the NSW school holidays.
Evans Head doubles its population in the holidays.
Theres nothing much at Evans Head, other than fishing, surfing & enjoying the river ( All good fun). There are several places to eat out, the RSL Club is having a new kitchen installed, the pub normally has dinners & lunches, & there is a Bowling Club which has meals. Plenty of good seafood takeaways
Fishing in NSW requires a licence, not much cost, $6 for 3 days, $12 one month. $200 on the spot fine if caught without one. (thats one reason casual fishing in NSW has died)
I think there are better spots to hold the First event in our area.
I hoped some discussion would be had over where people wanted to go.., & when. This is not a good area to camp in peak season from my experience.
Lake Ainsworth, for example, in Lennox Head , is a good park, with close proximity to Ballina, Byron, & there are regular markets in this area on Sundays. So is Evans Head, Brunswick Heads, Ballina, etc.
I'd like to suggest we reconsider this date, to get further away from the holidays.
Let me & JBJ check some publicity on several parks, over the next week or so. We'll let you know a few options, hopefully pet friendly.
Boots & JBJ
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Post by JBJ on Oct 23, 2010 7:18:32 GMT 10
Hi All,
Well we looked at couple of parks, & made a few enquiries.
Firstly the weekend 5&6 Feb would be clear of the school holidays & Australia Day weekend, so relatively clear of the Tourist hordes we get here in holiday times. If the majority want an earlier date, we can go back to the park managers & ask.
I see 4 possibilities, & I'll list them in order of preference after looking at prices, whats nearby, etc. We asked for prices based on 10 to 20 vans
Lake Ainsworth in Lennox Head is the biggest & cheapest.
Its $24 per night, all together in a group, powered sites, small camp kitchen & undercover barbeque. Its on the side of a tea tree lake, great safe swimmingh in brown tinted water, surf beach across the road. Lennox Head is between Ballina & Byron Bay, & has a lovely village atmosphere if the crowds arent too big. Has a pub, a lot of restaurants, & Byron markets are on the Sunday. NO dogs allowed.Also has a fantastic Ice Creamery.
Ballina Lakeside $32 per night 2 people, $12 extra per person. Has a camp kitchen, & there is a separate that is allowed dogs.
Has camp kitchen.
This park is top quality, on the side of Shaws Bay in Ballina, next to the beach & River.
Brunswick Heads on river, $38 per night, 2 people. No dogs, & has camp kitchen. This is a fairly large park. Brunswick Heads has beach & river, a pub & many restaurants
Silver Sands at Evans Head, as Dosse first mentioned. This is the most Southern of these parks,& Evans Head is a beautiful little beachfront town, but a bit isolated from the adjoining "attractions". It has great national parks & beach/walking areas if thats your scene, & probably the best fishing of the lot .
Any thoughts?? Our personal preference leans to Lake Ainsworth, mainly because of its locality. Its close to everything that happens , its a good open style park, & the swimming in the lake is great, with lots of shaded picnic areas around the lake, just 100 metres from the vans.
Secondly I would suggest Evans Head. We've camped there a few times & its not a bad spot.
JBJ
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Post by dosse on Oct 24, 2010 6:38:38 GMT 10
G'day all. Thanks...Dennis & Sue for looking at these parks for us all. I feel a bit like a kid in a lolly-shop  which one to take first . I think over time we will have to try them all.....But for now I would agree that Lake Ainsworth at Lennox would suit most of the group, Also the date of 5th & 6th is good for the dosse's. Thanks again dosse. |
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Post by sutcac on Oct 24, 2010 12:06:28 GMT 10
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Post by JBJ on Oct 24, 2010 16:35:41 GMT 10
Hi All, (Updated on 11 january) Well Dosse & Ilse came for a drive today, & met me at Lake Ainsworth. Took them 2 1/2 hrs to get here, & me 20 minutes driving slowly. THE PARK WEBSITE IS www.ballinabeachside.com.au. Have a look at it & you'll see the tea tree lake that is less than 50 metres from our camp sites. I've lived in this area since 1980, & you tend to forget how good it is to city slickers. I think Dosse & Ilse liked the place, because they booked their lakeview site & we reserved 17 others. We can have about 38 sites in a group if we get in fast, but for now we have 12 powered sites without slabs, & 6 with slabs, all adjoining, across the road from the lake, the undercover barbeque, & the amenities. I've just had a call from Debbie at the park, & they've just added a few more sites, which I was told were tent sites. They are across the road from the lake, & even closer than where we started out. I guess a few more paces away wont worry those of us that have already booked. We're now on $24 per night, so those of you that payed more will get a refund on booking in , so I'm told, with extra people $8 per head, & tents for kids are OK if they fit on the site. This is the park the Caravan Club had their Nationals at recently. OK. What you need to do is look at the site map. Pick one of the nominated sites by number, then ring the park , book that site under the" Vintage Caravans" group booking, & pay your deposit. Then notify me on line or by PM, or email, & we will list you & your site. BUT if you dont pay the deposit to the park you may not get a site. This is a big park, but fills up quickly sometimes.  The Sites we have booked are as follows. This has been updated 27/10, as Debbie from the Park rang me & told me we were not given all the options on Sunday when Dosse & I went there.' Note what are shown as Tent sites T2 to T10 are really van sites with power, a new map is being prepared. . I will keep this List updated, & if we need more sites I'll book as we go. At this stages sites 64 to 83 are also available.\ Updated 18/01 No Slabs 50 - Sutcac 52 - Dosse 54 - Rollydog 55 - Jondi 56 - 54 Homemade 58 - Smiles 80 - Stan 62 81 - Cruisingdoug 82 - Banno 83 - Banno 84 - Pete & Trish 85 - Vernon 86 - Magicangelisa 87 - Trevorpauline 88 - Trevor & Julie T2 - Vacant T3 - Trub 73 T4 - Rodnet T5 - Vacant T6 - Vacant T7 - Vacant T8 - Vacant T9 - Vacant T10 - Vacant Slab Sites 27 - Earlee 59 - Phil, Louise, Michelle & Jon 60 - David & Lyn 61 - JBJ 62 - 46 Anglia 63 - Kevin & Jean 64 - Bob&Jacqui 65 - Boblor 66 - Stephen & Julie 67 - Clueless Sharon So get moving & organise your site, & if you want tent sites, ring & organise them yourselves. Remember to book under Vintage Caravan Group & get your discount. JBJ |
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Post by anglia46 on Oct 27, 2010 15:26:46 GMT 10
ok book OB and Lyn on a slab with power thankyou,
we are away in march going on a cruize around the pacific islands
booking and paying in a minute
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Post by anglia46 on Oct 27, 2010 15:35:45 GMT 10
done booked and paid site 62
now hope i get the time off work
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Post by anglia46 on Oct 27, 2010 16:02:44 GMT 10
what is happening in march in toowoomba you say rollydog,has the swap meet moved its date tell me please
lyn and OB
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Post by 1954homemade on Oct 27, 2010 17:09:06 GMT 10
Hi ,
I have booked site 56.
Thanks
Di
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Smiley
Junior Member
Posts: 78 
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Post by Smiley on Oct 27, 2010 17:45:06 GMT 10
Not sure if we can make it yet, but we have had many great family holidays at Lake Ainsworth and have no doubt that all will have a great time. Just remember though don't wear anything light in colour in the lake as all will come out with a lovely tanin shade to it. Hope to get there and pop over the hill to Goonellabah, my old home town.
Smiley J.
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Post by RollyDog on Oct 27, 2010 21:34:49 GMT 10
Lynn and Ob
Just checked Toowoomba swap meet site and it is the same weekend. Unsure what options we have though.
Rollydog
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Post by davidandlyn on Oct 29, 2010 11:28:49 GMT 10
david&lyn are booked on site 60.pity about toowoomba,we never plan that far ahead.bit tight but could we do both,6am in toowoomba & be at lake ainsworth by 7pm. friday. hate to miss our annual pilgrimage.
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Post by JBJ on Oct 29, 2010 13:04:05 GMT 10
Hi,
I wasn't aware of Toowoomba Swap being the same weekend, because I dont go to it (too far for me), & I guess Dosse wasn't aware either.
I guess its just one of those unfortunate things that sometimes happens when 2 events collide in time.
JBJ
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Post by RollyDog on Oct 29, 2010 20:58:32 GMT 10
JBJ
How far away is Byron Bay from the park? I've never been there so if not too far away will take a run there Sunday and stay an extra night at the park.
Rollydog
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Post by JBJ on Oct 30, 2010 7:04:58 GMT 10
Hi Rollydog.
Lennox Heads about 20 minutes South of Byron, down the coast road to Ballina from Byron.
You go into Lennox off the coast road. It hits a tee junction, with the pub on the left, & the ocean ahead. Turn left & go down until you hit the park, about a kilometre or so.
For those coming north or south to Lennox Head, best way is to avoid Byron Bay & its traffic , just go along the highway until you see signs to Lennox Head, then take that offramp.
Its quite easy to get on the wrong roads if try to navigate Byron Bay.
JBJ
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Post by philouise on Nov 1, 2010 12:42:00 GMT 10
G'day all and thanks to JBJ (and the Dosses) for picking one marvellous van park. JBJ is right about traffic lining up to enter Byron Bay from the north. The turn JBJ mentions is a little south of the Macadamia Castle and it is signposted. (Ross Lane) And if you go to Byron Markets on the first sunday of the month, traffic is easier to enter Byron on the coast road if from the south (Lennox). Also be sure to obey the parking signs - do not just follow suit of anyone else. It is also a nice drive down the coast road to East Ballina. On the way you could stop at the headland overlooking Lennox.  Or you could walk up the headland a little further looking south.  or you could simply pose for a photo.  See you there ( after Canungra of course). Phil and Louise (with 1 kid & 1 grandkid in tow) (Sorry - i dont have photos of the van park) |
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Post by peteandtrish on Nov 2, 2010 19:50:55 GMT 10
How do all
Pete and trish here, we are still in WA but will soon be on our way back to SEQ. Hope mto be home by early December.
We have site 84 booked.
Regards
Pete
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Post by smiles on Nov 2, 2010 21:11:04 GMT 10
Hi all
We've booked & paid for site 58.
We took the Propert for her maiden run to Lennox Heads last weekend so can vouch for the great icecreams, fabulous views & lovely bushwalks. Stayed at Flat Rock just south of Lennox, great place behind the dunes but only for tents or camper trailers.
Rob & Cathie
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I feel we could do with a change 
. The week-end at the Hampton Museum in March is a big gap from Canungra. Northern NSW has some magnificent
;D ;D
