Port Macquarie, Newcastle, Sydney, & Stanwell

After a few days of recovery in the GC, we finally set off on our adventure (for the third time…), however this time there was no turning back.

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Our first stop was Port Macquarie, a quaint little seaside town with stunning nature and an interesting penal history. With only limited time here, we started with a coastal walk through Sea Acres National Park, being greeted but two modern day dinosaurs at the entrance. We returned to the town for a mooch along the marina where we were delightfully greeted by a passing pod of dolphins (I don’t think we will ever be sick of seeing them). We sat and watched them playing in the calm waters before finishing off at The Little Shack for an evening drink.

Our next stop was Newcastle (a destination Jack had been especially excited about). We settled into a stunning lakeside park in Belmont, where the peaceful surroundings made for a pretty memorable first impression, sparking a lively debate about whether we could see ourselves living here.

But after a bit more exploring, we were shocked by the juxtaposition - the tired, run-down city set against pockets of beautiful nature. That initial enthusiasm faded, and we landed on a resounding “no.”

After a quick stroll along the Memorial Walk we felt we’d seen enough of the city itself, so we traded the urban pace for something far more appealing: a slow, relaxed day at Caves Beach, wandering along its Plemont-like shoreline.

On to the next stop: Sydney - though not without a rocky start. Our centrally located caravan park, chosen for its proximity to our upcoming tours, had actually lost power two weeks earlier. Somehow, this crucial detail wasn’t mentioned when we booked just five days prior. After a few panicked phone calls, we managed to find an alternative spot closer to the city, though now over an hour from our tour pick-up point. Cue travel mishap number five.

Despite the initial chaos of our arrival, we had the pleasure of catching up with our friend and the writer of our favourite South America-inspired song, Mr Alfie Butel. After easing in with a coffee and cake, things quickly escalated to a pint at the Irish bar next door before heading out to Manly to meet some of Alfie’s travelling buddies for Mexican food (the irony of which only just dawned on us)...

One of the standout experiences of our Sydney visit was a trip to the beautiful and aptly named Blue Mountains. The name originating the distinctive blue haze created by eucalyptus oils rising from the forest below. A pit stop for a coffee in the Glenbrook (another location which had us searching for homes nearby), and we began our ascent. Two hours of hiking brought us to the top of Wentworth Falls, where we were rewarded with sweeping views across the Great Dividing Range. From there, a steep 15-minute descent down the mountain stairs (or more appropriately, ladder) and we found ourselves looking up at water cascading down the rock face.

A short drive later, we reached the Three Sisters viewing platform, taking in more incredible scenery while enjoying dinner overlooking the valley. We wrapped up the day watching the sun set over the mountains - a fitting end to an unforgettable experience.

Our next equally impressive outing took us to the Hunter Valley wine region for a boutique tasting tour, visiting three small, local wineries. At one stop, we were introduced to the vineyard’s “security team” - a black lab named Sambuca, tasked with keeping grape-loving kangaroos at bay. Another highlight was the Hunter Valley Cheese Factory, where we sampled five distinct and flavour-packed cheeses.

Back in the city, we decided to mark our final evening with a drink at the Shangri-La Hotel. With sweeping views over Sydney’s most iconic landmarks, it was the perfect spot to watch the sunset and reflect on our time in the city.

After a short drive south, we arrived in Stanwell Park to spend time with the Irelands, catching up with Jack’s extended family. Following dinner and drinks at the local bowlo, a good night’s rest (outside the caravan) was very welcome. With some time on our hands, we (Jack) decided to make some upgrades to our Lenny, installing a new (and, crucially, working) battery along with a monitor to support off-grid camping, should we find ourselves at another non-powered site. After a few back-and-forth trips to Wollongong for parts, we were finally set, ready to take on the wilderness.