Reflections - Outsider - 2024 (version 2)

Join the friends, families, and solo travellers all getting more from their adventures.

Join for free and get $25 off your next stay.*

You’ll also receive:

• $25 guest credit for every 7 nights you stay.

• $25 credit for each new park you visit in the calendar year.

• More exclusive offers and deals.

For every holiday booking made, we’ll sponsor the release of native threatened fish into our NSW waterways, helping bring those little guys back into the mainstream (bad pun, great program).

Read more about our sustainable fishery programs on page 89 — Fishing for the Future.

Saving endangered native fish.

* Check out the full terms and conditions at reflectionsholidays.com.au/rewards/terms/

Contents

Great Outdoor Adventures

THE POWER OF TIME SPENT OUTSIDE

Why spending time outdoors on a nature-based holiday may be just what the doctor ordered.

TAKE THE ROAD LESS GRAVELLED

Press pause on the everyday and embrace your inner explorer with an off-grid adventure.

GONE SURFING

Meet the surfing professionals who revel in the stoke of the sport.

THE SLOW ROAD’S GUIDE TO CAMP COOKING

Kirianna Poole shows us how to eat like kings while we camp.

HOOK, LINE AND SINKER

Discover the best fishing spots in NSW.

ROAD TRIP INSPO

Road trip your way across the state with our top travel itineraries.

PEDAL POWER

Explore further afield on two wheels along the best bike trails and paths.

The Outsiders

We shine a light on some of the things making life outside oh so good.

MEET THE LOCALS

Ten amazing animal encounters that will get you up-close and personal with NSW’s wildlife residents.

CULTURE ONBOARD

Proud Gumbaynggirr/Bundjalung man

Clark Webb shares stories of Country on the Coffs Coast.

PUPS IN PARADISE

Holidays with dogs made easy.

GOING IT ALONE

The rise of the solo female traveller.

FISHING FOR THE FUTURE

Norah Head Lighthouse will pull you under her spell. 50

Learn about the amazing work of OzFish Unlimited.

THE LURE OF THE LIGHTHOUSE

Image: Bodhi Todd

Image: Gravity Eden Mountain Bike Park

Happy Campers

Reflections’ regulars share travelling tales that will inspire you to do the same.

FAMILY AFFAIR

Sisters Shelly, Jenny, and Jackie love sharing great camping moments, wherever they land.

SURF’S UP

When it comes to camping, it’s all about the waves for this Newcastle family.

KEEPING IT REEL

A love of fishing and the simple things in life keep this couple heading to the coast.

REFLECTIONS HOLIDAYS TEAM

Chief Marketing Officer: Peter Chapman

Marketing Executive: Tenille Kerin

Art Director: Matt Plummer

Contributing Writers: Penelope Green and Kimberly Rigby

Contributing Reflections Ambassadors: Mat Cameron and Erin Moore

PUBLICATION TEAM

Production Manager: Kristy Lawrence

Editor and Features Writer: Odette Tonkin

Designer: Sarah Henshaw

Front Cover Image: Reflections Byron Bay.

Photographer: Bodhi Todd

Map Illustrator: Erin Moore

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY

Reflections Holidays acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands on which we live, work, and play. We value their cultures, identities, and continuing connection to the land, waters, kin, and community. We pay our respects to Elders past and present and are committed to building positive, sustainable relationships with local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities within NSW.

This product has been printed on paper sourced from Sustainable Forests under the PEFC accreditation.

www.reflectionsholidays.com.au

A Note From Reflections

Firstly, a very warm welcome to the first edition of Outsider, our travel and outdoors magazine aimed at inspiring more people to discover that Life’s Better Outside.

In this edition you will go on a journey across NSW, learning about many of the wonderful places and activities that you might be yet to discover. Or maybe you’ve experienced some of these, in which case hopefully we offer a new perspective or at the very least, capture the magic of that memory.

At Reflections Holidays we’re passionate about the role we’re playing. The following passage from our brand manifest puts it best…

“We believe that only by removing the distractions of modern life can we rediscover our best selves. And reconnect with each other.

We believe that where you sleep out there should be safe, sustainable, and comfortable. We are the caretakers of breathtaking pockets of our natural world.

Places that always were and always will be Aboriginal land.

We’re an honest bunch who believe that helping people find moments of connection is the best job in the world.”

We look forward to seeing you very soon.

Happy

trails, Nick Baker CEO

Nick Baker - CEO

Dog Lovers

With a third of all households owning a pup, Reflections is now excited to allow guests with dogs to holiday with us year-round at our 32 dog-friendly properties. This includes all the busy times, like Christmas and Easter. Plus, bringing your furry friend along won’t cost you any extra, except maybe a few friendly pats from other travellers. We’ve got all your accommodation needs covered with dog-friendly caravan and campsites plus puppy perfect cabins for the pampered pooch.

Treading Lightly

We take nature very seriously around here, after all, getting out in the green stuff is the best part of any holiday. We firmly believe that Life’s Better Outside and take great pride in caring for 24,188 acres of land across NSW, making it accessible for our guests to explore, enjoy and create lasting memories. That’s why Reflections began the Ecotourism Australia Sustainable Tourism certification process, so we are well on the road towards gaining our B Corp Certification. We also developed a Revolving Sustainability Fund with an initial $2 million investment to continuously improve our environmental performance.

Connecting To Country

Caring Is Sharing

Reflections Holidays is a big company. In fact, we’re the largest holiday park group in NSW, welcoming two million visitors each year and caring for 42 parks, campgrounds, unique accommodation, and 45 reserves. But we are one of a kind – a social enterprise that reinvests profit into public land for the people of NSW. Our purpose is to share nature with our guests while caring for communities, culture, and the natural world. Reflections also cares deeply for our team of 424 fabulous employees and we were proud to be named Employer of the Year at the inaugural 2023 NT1G Hospitality and Tourism Awards.

We recognise the ongoing living cultures of Australia’s First Peoples and their unique cultural and spiritual relationships to place. In 2023, we launched our first Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) and, in partnership with Crown Lands, we developed and launched a Cultural Tourism Program after building partnerships with Aboriginal organisations in many First Nations places that we work and live upon. We have also been privileged to help provide key experiences for our Reflections guests such as the unveiling of a cultural art trail by Worimi artist Tyson Jolly at Reflections Jimmys Beach and a bush tucker garden at Reflections Forster Beach, in partnership with Aboriginal education provider Deadly Ed.

THE POWER OF Time Spent Outside

Words: Odette Tonkin

Images: Bodhi Todd

With a growing list of health benefits linked to spending time outdoors, a nature-based holiday may be just what the doctor ordered.

Feel your feet buried in the warm sand with the sun on your back as you watch the tumbling aqua surf and inhale the salty air. Listen to the comforting crunch of rocks and leaves under your hiking boots as they propel you through lush green rainforest walking tracks, with birdsong swirling overhead. Watch the gentle splash of your fishing line as it breaks the river’s stillness, framed by the brilliance of an orange-setting sun that farewells another glorious day. We certainly feel pretty darn good after spending time outdoors, but it turns out that a healthy dose of nature can literally change our bodies and our brains for the better. Taking a holiday or weekend away that is centred around the natural world is the perfect way to tap into the growing list of benefits to both our mental and physical health that come with simply stepping outside.

Sunshine = Happiness

After a restful night camping, you unzip your tent in the morning. Warm sunlight hits your face and you know it’s going to be a good day… right? Well, that’s because sunlight literally has the power to change our brains on a psychological level. A healthy amount of sun exposure from being outdoors increases the brain’s release of the hormone serotonin which helps boost our mood and makes us feel calm and focused. Clinical psychologist Lynn Jenkins says along with lifting our spirits, sunlight is also responsible for keeping our circadian rhythm on track, which in turn improves our sleep quality. “Our internal clocks are aligned with the sun, so spending time outdoors in the sunshine and in nature has a role in regulating hormones and sleep patterns,” says Lynn. “Spending a safe amount of time in sunlight can have a positive effect on all of us because it can boost our happiness levels during the day and help ready us for restful sleep at night.”

Travellers often spend more time outdoors whilst on holidays and Lynn says this change in lifestyle also has a definite psychological impact on our wellbeing. “Research is mounting on the healing powers of being in nature, especially for our psychological health, and all it takes is as little as ten minutes at a time,” explains Lynn.

“Spending

time outdoors in general can lead to less anxiety, stress, and depression, and to a feeling of meaningfulness in life. We even have a type of therapy these days called Nature Therapy, and its results are amazing.”

Going Green

Holidays often mean booking a beachside cabin, pitching the tent amongst the trees or pulling up the caravan riverside to enjoy relaxing days spent exploring the local natural delights. We eat our meals outdoors amongst nature, spend our days wandering or bike riding through unexplored bush tracks and parkland, and dedicate a fair amount of time to simply sitting outsite at our holiday destination with a book or beverage in hand. In fact, on holidays we spend countless hours outdoors, surrounded by green. We’ve all heard the hype around ‘forest bathing,’ or shinrin-yoku, a practice which was officially recognised by the Japanese government in the 1980s. Different to bushwalking, forest bathing encourages us to soak in our natural surrounds slowly and mindfully – something many of us do whilst on holidays without even thinking about it. The results? Better sleep, improved memory, a reduction in the stress hormone cortisol and lower heart rate and blood pressure.

Spending time in any type of green space, from the local neighbourhood park or garden to the vast number of NSW National Parks, can improve our mental health as well. A review of more than 50 research studies into the effectiveness of spending time in nature conducted by a team of New York researchers concluded that taking part in activities outdoors, amongst the green, can elevate our mood, enhance our cognitive function including our creativity and our attention spans as well as improve our mental health outcomes overall.1 All this research is just extra proof that booking a nature-filled weekend away is a good idea for the whole family.

Into The Blue

Whilst a lot of us have heard about the positive benefits of spending time outdoors in green spaces, there’s scientific literature to confirm that most of us feel much better when we are near ‘blue spaces,’ too. Whether it be the sea or coastline, rivers, lakes, dams, creeks or even pools, it turns out there are a bunch of therapeutic advantages to being by the water. Basically, pulling up a chair by the river or walking along the beach by the waves is good for our minds and our bodies.

One of the most extensive studies to measure happiness in natural environments was undertaken in the UK, where over 20,000 smartphone users recorded their sense of wellbeing and their immediate environment randomly, at varying times throughout the day. You may have experienced that sensation of instant relaxation and calm that comes when you look out over a beautiful ocean or lake, and guess what? The study results confirmed that coastal and marine locations were found to be the happiest locations recorded, and not just marginally but by some distance.2 It’s no wonder surfers are so chill – they are quite literally immersing themselves in a blue space almost daily.

Thanks to holidays, we all tend to increase the time we spend in and around the water, and this habit and the benefits it brings, is well worth holding on to for better mental health, all year round.

Nature’s Holiday

Seasoned globe-trotter and author of The Mindful Traveller, Nina Karnikowski knows a thing or two about the benefits of time spent outdoors. Over a decade of travelling and reporting on the most far-flung natural wonders of the world opened Nina’s eyes to the value of centering our travel experiences around nature.

“We live more urban lifestyles so it’s only natural that we should crave nature and there is mounting evidence from around the world that highlights how spending time outdoors is beneficial for our bodies and our brains,” says Nina.

“Being outside reduces our stress levels and blood pressure, it reduces loneliness and helps us feel connected, and trees even release something called phytoncides and when we breathe them in, they have an anti-inflammatory effect and can improve our immune systems.3 Trees are kind of doing their work on us without us even realising it and I think that’s when we can start to understand that there’s no separation between us and the natural world.”

A bonus of spending time outdoors, whether on holidays or not, is the simple revelation that we are a part of nature. “It’s not like humans vs nature – we ARE nature and the more we realise that the more we look at everything differently and question how our actions may be contributing to the degradation of the very thing we love – our outdoor environment,” says Nina. “Travel is almost like a training ground for us to really be a beneficial presence to the earth and look at our choices and think, ‘How can I travel in a way that nourishes the places I visit and then, when I come home, how can I ripple those changes into my everyday life?’” Nina suggests making the most of our time outdoors by taking less photos and instead, really experiencing the place we visit first, by spending time walking in silence so we can appreciate the beauty of our natural world and by prioritising ways to get outside every single day. And the best bit is, drawing on the many benefits that come from spending time outdoors in nature is easily achievable, it’s free, and is accessible to us all. In fact, it’s a walk in the park.

1 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352827321002093?via%3Dihub

2 https://eprints.lse.ac.uk/49376/1/Mourato_Happiness_greater_natural_2013.pdf

3 https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/039463200902200410

LIFE’S BETTER OUTSIDE

For Reflections Holidays, nothing is more important to us than sharing nature’s playground with our guests so they can make lasting memories and connections. Experience a nature-driven holiday in some of the most idyllic locations throughout NSW with Reflections. Jump online at reflectionsholidays.com.au and tap into the benefits of time spent outdoors.

Park Pick: Reflections Scotts Head.

take the road

LESS GRAVELLED

Bushwalking, caving, kayaking, or bike riding on dirt tracks through the Aussie scrub – more and more travellers are embracing their inner explorer and searching for opportunities to ignite their spirit of adventure.

Get off-grid and explore outdoors

Henry Brydon knows a thing or two about pushing travel to its limits. After a quarterlife crisis at age 25, Henry admits he did a full ‘Forrest Gump’ and jumped on his push bike in the UK, pointed the front wheel east and rode 38,000km through 30 different countries until he landed in Sydney, some two years later. In a bid to escape the mundane and answer the call of the persistent chatter inside his head, daring him to ‘Do something with your life!’ Henry threw caution to the wind and made the bold decision to choose adventure over the ordinary.

Henry’s not the only one opting to see the world in a way that strips travel back to its bare basics and places nature at the centre of the experience. Off-grid and adventure travel is booming, as our desire to get outside and connect with the environment and with each other encourages us to gently push our limits. A recent survey analysing the top travel trends in 2024 by booking.com reveals 56% of us are wanting to venture off the beaten track and 44% of us plan to visit less touristy spots. That’s a lot of adventurers in the making, all looking for ways to get even more upclose and personal with the natural beauty of our country.

For Henry, his bold two-year bike riding journey was initially met with scepticism from those closest to him, and understandably so. “The only time I’d ridden a bike before was to the local shops and that was about it!” laughs Henry. “But the more I thought about the challenge of tackling this adventure, the more I decided, ‘Well, why not?’

There’s no exaggeration when I say, that spending those two years basically living completely outside in a tent and connecting with local people as I rode my bicycle around the world, completely changed my life.”

After finally hanging up his helmet when he reached Australia, Henry realised that he’d gained a newfound appreciation for the power of exploring the outside world. It was only then that it became clear to him that being an adventurer was actually no more than a mindset. “Exploration has this really

‘We Are Explorers’ founder Henry Brydon.

archaic definition that links to ideas of having to climb Mount Everest or retrace Shackleton’s footsteps in Antarctica, but I think being an adventurer is more about cultivating an outlook of curiosity,” says Henry. “When you start thinking this way, then suddenly you realise that you don’t need to scale a cliff or bike ride for thousands of kilometres. You can reframe your local surroundings and carve out a sense of adventure much closer to home and still get that same buzz and excitement.”

Inspired by English explorer Alastair Humphreys’ idea of the micro adventure, where adventures are short, simple, local, and don’t cost a fortune, Henry launched ‘We Are Explorers’. This Australian media lifestyle network is a central resource that shares knowledge and ideas to encourage people to get outside and explore so they can connect with nature and ultimately care for it. “It’s actually about inspiring all of us to try new things and lean into fear or activities that seem intimidating, because this is where we can be resilient,” says Henry. “Normalising taking kids camping, on a hike or a paddle down a river is so important and it reminds us that life isn’t meant to be completely easy and when we face challenges, that’s when we grow.”

When it comes to micro-adventures, taking off for a weekend, week, or even longer on a caravanning, motorhome, or tenting adventure, will help to awaken your inner explorer, letting you sidestep into activities that will bring you closer to our natural world.

The simple act of setting up camp amongst the bush, leaving the devices switched off and spending time bushwalking, paddling on a nearby waterway or visiting the nearest lookout in a national park, can reboot the system and kickstart a lifelong love of the outdoors.

Improvements in technology have also opened the gateway for off-grid or soft-grid travel. No longer just for the hard-core enthusiasts, off-grid travel now has an evolving demographic that includes young families, couples, and retired travellers, too. Managing Director at Jayco Newcastle Damian Charleson says there’s been an uptick in caravans and motorhomes that allow people to steer off the regular travel routes and be comfortable while they do it. “With new solar technology and lithium batteries to store it, satellite internet, onboard showers, and toilets and advances in the design and build of our vans, it’s easier than ever for people to enjoy adventures away from the crowds and urban centres.”

Damian says there are usually two types of adventureseeking travellers – those who are completely selfsufficient and choose free camps or bush camps to get completely out into the wilderness and those who enjoy the haven of a holiday park like Reflections, with day trips to explore the areas around them. “The benefit of this type of travel is that you often have the creature comforts and safety of a holiday park along with a great sense of community,” says Damian. “For any type of adventuring, it’s interacting with other travellers and making connections around an evening fire or while cooking the BBQ, that often give you ideas and reassurance to go and try new things, like a 4WD track, a bike ride, or to explore a secluded beach.”

Henry agrees that good relationships and building meaningful community connections go hand-in-hand with spending time outdoors together. “There’s this bond that you forge when you’re outside in nature together with others, and I’ve realised that it’s completely unique and it’s hard to replicate that deeper level of connection and conversation any other way,” says Henry. “Doing something adventurous with others or even heading off on a weekend away close to nature with friends is so beneficial. It doesn’t have to be hardcore, but hardcore adventurers definitely unite! And it’s often when things don’t go completely to plan, like you might get a little lost on a walking track, get a flat tyre biking or face some other challenge, when you must work together. These moments end up being the best, lasting memories.”

So how do we start cultivating a curious, adventurous mindset and get outdoors with our explorer hats on? Henry says it’s best to start local and dive into something small first.

Image: Ben Savage

Image: Henry Brydon

“It’s important to recognise that no matter where you are on your adventure journey, no matter what type of gear you have or if you’ve never travelled before this way, that we can all live a bit more adventurously,” says Henry.

“Look close to home or if you’re staying at a Reflections park which are on all these beautiful pockets of Crown land, check out a map and work out ways you can discover your natural surroundings.”

Bushwalks are the most searched for adventures on the ‘We Are Explorers’ website, and with good reason. Cheap, accessible to most people, and set in some of the most pristine natural settings across NSW, a hike is a great way to start adding adventure to your everyday. “It can literally be 15 or 20 minutes of walking onto a forest or to a lake, and then what you’ll find is that it usually sparks something inside and you might start thinking, well what else can I do to get out in nature and get a little more adventurous and get off the beaten track,” says Henry. “With off-grid travel or any type

of outdoor adventure, it has this lovely flow on effect that once you have these meaningful moments in nature, you automatically want to care for it and protect it. That’s the end goal of exploring and the bonus is how much fun it is!”

PLAN YOUR OFF-GRID AND SOFT-GRID

Carve out some adventure time with a wilderness-based getaway at a Reflections holiday park. Our top pick? Take the road less gravelled to country NSW and book a pristine unpowered site at Wee Jasper. With countless creeks, caves, pockets of river, rolling hills, and bushwalking tracks to explore, this is a one stop, off-grid, back-to-nature experience not to be missed.

Park Pick: Reflections Wee Jasper.

Image: Jonathan Tan

Image: Destination NSW

10 amazing animal encounters in NSW

Words: Odette Tonkin

While living your best outside life, you’re bound to bump into some NSW wildlife residents. Up your chances for animal action with our guide to the top 10 animal encounters in the state.

1. Swim with a fur seal

You can’t visit the South Coast of NSW without witnessing nature’s best at Montague Island. Just off the coast of Narooma, a colony of fur seals calls this wildlife oasis home, along with the largest settlement of little penguins (literally thousands!) and over 90 species of birds. A breeding ground for shearwaters and crested terns, once migration season rolls around and the humpback whales start showing up, a visit here will feel like you’re starring in your very own David Attenborough doco. Known as Barunguba to the local Yuin people, the island has several important sites adding to its beauty. A bunch of local tour operators will take you there, so you can snorkel with the playful seals, visit the famous lighthouse, or even pop a line in with tuna, marlin, and kingfish stocking the surrounding waters.

Stay here to see it: A short drive from Reflections Bermagui, or a scenic day trip from Reflections Eden, where the wildlife spills into the parks with wetland and coastal birds, wallabies, potoroos, and koalas listed amongst the residents.

2. See a devil in the wild

Conservation meets cute at Aussie Ark, an organisation focused on saving the iconic Tasmanian devil from extinction. But don’t worry. You don’t have to jump on a plane to the Apple Isle to visit. NSW’s largest independently owned and operated conservation project is located close to the beautiful heritage-listed Barrington Tops. Devils in the Wild tours are available throughout the year, where you can see these cheeky marsupials going about their business in a wild environment, and even meet a joey up close. Visitors can also steal a glimpse of seven other keystone species that are part of the Aussie Ark conservation project, including the eastern quoll and long-nosed potoroo.

Stay here to see it: Aussie Ark is a spectacular day trip from Reflections Seal Rocks, Hawks Nest, Jimmys Beach and Lake Glenbawn. Whilst visiting Barrington Tops, be sure to add the Gloucester Tops bushwalking circuit to your itinerary and be rewarded with spectacular views from Gloucester Falls Lookout.

Image: Destination NSW

3. Watch a whale breach

Between May and November every year, the eastern coastline of Australia transforms into a playground for more than 40,000 migrating humpback whales. Catching a glimpse of these majestic ocean giants, as they practise their acrobatic routines, never fails to impress. Binoculars in hand, or just squinting at the horizon, the buzz that comes with spotting an animal the size of a school bus, leaping and splashing from the sea like a kid playing at the pool, is enough to motivate travellers to flock to the East Coast with their cameras ready. Known as the Humpback Highway, coastal headlands and cliff tops are the best vantage spots to catch a glimpse of the humpback, with southern right whales, blue whales, minke whales, orcas, and sperm whales also sometimes making an appearance.

Stay here to see it: Visitors to Reflections Parks are spoilt for choice when it comes to prime whale lookout spots. From the South Coast’s Eden and Bermagui to Seal Rocks and Forster on the Barrington Coast, and up to the Coffs Coast’s Scotts Head, Nambucca, and Corindi, you’re bound to see some migration action. Our favourite whale watching pick must be Reflections Byron Bay, where you can spot these gentle giants from Australia’s most easterly point a short stroll from your campsite, Cape Byron Lighthouse.

4. Camp with kangaroos

There’s not a lot of things more Australian than catching a glimpse of a kangaroo amongst the gums, grazing at sunset. But seeing a roo at your campsite? That’s next level Aussie. NSW is home to 15 of Australia’s 45 species of kangaroo, wallaby, and wallaroo. If you’re after the quintessential bush camping experience, pack the car and head west to Country NSW where these bouncing marsupials are frequent campsite visitors to all ten Reflections inland parks. Cleared flat grassy areas are the perfect picnic grounds for red kangaroos, with grey kangaroos overlapping the reds but preferring denser scrub and forests. Like all wild animals, give these guys plenty of space to go about their day and when driving, keep your wits about you especially at dawn or dusk, as everyone knows cars and ‘roos don’t mix.

Stay here to see it: With its naturally stunning bush setting, Reflections Cudgegong River is a sure thing when it comes to roaming ‘roos. Reflections Copeton Waters, Lake Keepit, Lake Glenbawn, Lake Burrendong, Mookerawa Waters, Grabine Lakeside, Wyangala Waters, Wee Jasper and Burrinjuck Waters all have wild populations of kangaroos that roam free and are bound to make an appearance during your next camping trip.

Image: @RoadyNZ

Image: Destination NSW

5. Make a splash with a dolphin

The ultimate dolphin heaven, Port Stephens has long been crowned Australia’s dolphin capital with 140 Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins calling the Great Lakes to Port Stephens Marine Park their permanent home. Whether from its sheltered bays, the beach, or coastal cliffs, you’re likely to spot families of these gentle marine creatures as they play in the warm waters of Port Stephens. Cape Byron Marine Park off Byron Bay is also a safe pick for dolphin viewing with bottlenose and common dolphins permanent or regular visitors to the waters. Booming numbers of bottlenose dolphins also feed and frolic in the intricate waterways of Forster and Tuncurry, with endless options for visitors to see them up close, either by ship or shore.

Stay here to see it: Get plenty of dolphin action at Reflections Jimmys Beach with these curious creatures regularly spotted playing in the shallows. Stay at Reflections Byron Bay, Lennox Head, Massy Greene, Shaws Bay, or Ballina for almost guaranteed dolphin action, along with Reflections Forster Beach and Tuncurry.

6. Catch and release a GIANT Murray Cod

They call them River Monsters and it’s no wonder. Growing upwards of 1.5 metres in length and some tipping the scales at over 100kg, the Murray cod is the quintessential trophy fish. Keen fisherfolk wanting to snare a piece of exciting angling action and snap that photo holding a giant cod should head to the freshwater fishing mecca of Copeton Dam. A site to behold at three times the size of Sydney Harbour, Copeton Dam is a short drive from Inverell, and within easy reach of Glen Innes and Armidale. Stocked chock-full of Murray cod, you can catch and release all year round to your heart’s content, or until you land that elusive BIG ONE! You might also be lucky enough to pull in a golden perch (yellow belly), silver perch, redfin, or catfish whilst trawling the waters.

Stay here to see it: Pull up stumps right on the bank of Copeton Dam at Reflections Copeton Waters, with fish cleaning tables and easy boat access into the water making this park the perfect pick for keen anglers.

Image: Destination NSW

7. Witness a roaming dingo

The dingo has a bit of a reputation for being the bad boy of the wildlife world. But we’re not convinced. First introduced to Oz around 5,000 years ago, these curious critters have become a functional part of Australia’s biodiversity, taking on a bunch of beneficial ecological roles. Not to mention, dingoes have a high cultural significance with many First Nations communities. The Myall Lakes National Park and its surrounding towns of Hawks Nest, Tea Gardens, and Seal Rocks on the Barrington Coast, is home to a wild dingo population with a super high level of genetic purity. Catching a peek at one of these wild dogs doing its thing in their natural habitat can be thrilling. But dingos are wild animals after all, so check them out from a safe distance and never, ever feed these fellas, so as not to mess with the natural order of things.

Stay here to see it: Visitors to Reflections Jimmys Beach, Hawks Nest, and Seal Rocks will almost certainly spot a roaming dingo during their stay. Always keep to the park rules and observe from afar.

8. Watch a shearwater soar

One for the bird lovers, Muttonbird Island will have you wandering through the open burrows of the wedge-tailed shearwaters (early settlers used to call them muttonbirds thanks to their fatty mutton-like flesh) as you gaze out past crystal blue waters to the nearby island. With an awardwinning outdoor learning space that dives deep into traditional Aboriginal Dreaming stories about the island, you’ll also learn plenty about the special migratory birds that come home to roost between August and April each year. Take a walk up to the breathtaking lookout on a tour led by local Gumbaynggirr Rangers and watch as the shearwaters spectacularly dive and skim across the ocean as they forage for food. Or bring the torch and join the National Parks and Wildlife Moonlit Evening Tours and spot a fluffy chick waiting for dinner from its returning parents, in this famous seabird rockery.

Stay here to see it: Make yourself at home just up the road at one of our Coffs Coast Parks; Reflections Moonee Beach, Corindi Beach, Red Rock, Urunga, Nambucca, and Mylestom.

9. Get cuddling with a koala

It’s an old crowd pleaser from way back but seriously, who doesn’t go a little gaga over a fluffy ball of koala? With their oversized soft ears and ability to snooze the day away, the koala has been listed as endangered by the NSW Government and the battle is on to save these cute critters from further population declines. Laws in NSW prohibit people from touching and holding koalas, and rightly so, no one wants to ruffle the fur of our favourite Aussie icon. The good news? We’ve found a place where you can get amazingly close to these furry creatures and learn more about how to help protect them. Port Macquarie Koala Hospital has opened its doors to sick and injured koalas since 1973 and supports their long-term rehabilitation and conservation in the wild. Drop in any day of the week to get a first-hand look at their care clinic, and Koalaseum. Plus, you can even adopt your very own koala with funds going towards the preservation of these cute critters.

Stay here to see it: Visit Port Macquarie Koala Hospital while beachside at Reflections Bonny Hills or North Haven.

Image: Destination NSW

10. Check out an emu on the run

Australia’s largest flightless bird, standing up to two metres tall, the emu is a sight to behold, but you better be on the lookout if you want to add it to your wildlife wish list. Their size means you might not need binoculars to spot this striking national treasure but found in scrub, heath, and alpine ranges, they tend to blend into their habitat so count yourself lucky if you witness an emu grazing for grub. Burrendong Arboretum, right next door to Reflections Lake Burrendong near Wellington in the Central West Region of NSW is a great place to start, with emus amongst the regular visitors to the nature reserve. A bushwalk around the Evans Head and Red Rock coastal areas in north-eastern NSW is also a likely emu haunt, where these big birds play a vital role in native seed distribution.

Stay here to see it: Make the trek to Country NSW and camp by the water’s edge at several Reflections parks to up your chances of witnessing an emu on Country. Reflections Lake Burrendong is your best chance and hosts some of the finest nature-based camping in NSW. On the coast, keep your eyes peeled for emus at Reflections Red Rock and Evans Head and their surrounding National Parks. Image: Destination NSW

GONE SURFING

There

must be something in the salt water in NSW.

Image: Gary Luke

The NSW coast is a breeding ground for a long list of world-class surfers and plays host to its very own elite surf comp, Surfest Newcastle, that has racked up 38 years of success. The beach has officially replaced the steel factory as the backbone of this city and with a growing number of newbies revelling in the stoke of the sport of surfing, there’s nothing left to do but grab a board, paddle out, and see what all the fuss is about.

Words: Odette Tonkin

It’s a perfect day at Merewether Beach. Cocooned between Dixon Park and the rocky bluff of Burwood, the aqua tones of this famous surfing stretch tempt every dog walker and beachside coffee drinker to stop what they’re doing and turn their eyes to the beauty of the wave-lashed coastline. Officially recognised as a National Surfing Reserve in 2009, plenty of groms have grown up on the sandy shores of Merewether. They watched local surfing legends like Luke Egan, Ryan Callinan, Matt Hoy, and four-times world champ Mark ‘MR’ Richards carve out a place in surfing history with the dream of one day doing the same.

Jackson ‘Jacko’ Baker is one such local who was being pushed onto waves by his Dad not long after he could walk. Growing up in Merewether, Jacko was sponsored by Rip Curl at age eight, and enjoyed a coastal childhood where surfing was valued by everyone around him. “My best memories are of my family jumping in our old Holden Jackaroo and cruising up and down the East Coast catching waves and taking part in junior surf comps,” says Jacko. “The beach brought so many families together and we all just loved the lifestyle of being out in the water and having fun. We’ve stayed great friends over the years, and it all came from those early surfing days.”

Years of hard work, persistence and a successful junior career saw Jacko qualify for his rookie year on the World Surf League Championship Tour in 2022. Solid performances across the globe, along with his easy-going attitude cemented Jacko as a good bloke and capable surfer with plenty of talent to showcase.

And then, Jacko did what no local had done before. Lifting the famous ‘Mark Richards Trophy’ above his head, Jacko claimed victory as the first Novocastrian male to win Surfest Newcastle at his home break.

“I grew up watching Surfest as a kid and it still feels like a dream that I was able to win the thing,” says Jacko. “Having the contest in your own backyard adds all this extra pressure but I got some great waves and felt good in my surfing during the final and to take out the competition in 2022 was just amazing. It was kinda like a way of repaying all the hard work of everyone in Newcastle who supported me.”

Image: Surfest

Although surfing has given Jacko some of the most incredible highs of his life, it hasn’t all been barrels and perfect swell. “I lost my Mum when I was 19 after a long battle with breast cancer and it’s been a long and tricky road coping with not having her here,” says Jacko. “Surfing was always there to clear my head, but I had to learn how to balance my emotions after losing her and I realised that I needed to surf for me, but in memory of my Mum. I want to make her proud, instead of feeling like I’m owed something in life. It really put everything into perspective.”

After an unlucky 2023, Jacko is training hard and focusing on regaining his spot on the WSL in 2025. Despite the ups and downs of his professional career as an athlete, Jacko says being able to surf for a living is a dream come true and he hopes to inspire as many people as he can to grab a board and give it a go. “Surfing is this lifelong thing that you can always go back to and enjoy, regardless of any competition – it’s about being out in the elements, in the water and the weather and finding those moments of magic when it all just works,” says Jacko. “Being a surfer and joining my local board riders’ club back in the day has been such an important part of my life. I’m lucky ‘cos Newcastle has a rich and supportive surfing community, and I’m going to work as hard as I can to get back on the tour and do Newy proud.”

Another surfer who has felt the supportive embrace and encouragement of the local Merewether Surfboard Club is Philippa Anderson. After migrating with her family from South Africa as a 12-year-old, Philippa says a childhood diet of Nippers, surfing and competitive sports readied her for a career as a professional athlete. “We lived across the road from the beach in South Africa and on the weekends, we would drive the 45-minutes in our family Kombi to the famous break at Jeffreys Bay and our whole family would surf all day long,” says Philippa.

“When we came up here, we joined the local board riders’ group, and it was a turning point for me because I finally met all these other girls who loved to surf. I didn’t have to compete against the boys anymore.”

With over 10-years experience on the WSL and plenty of wins under her belt, Philippa says after being sponsored as a teenager, she got a taste for life as a professional surfer. But when COVID hit a few years back, and international travel came to a halt, Philippa drew on her skills as an experienced surf coach and launched her own surf school. “I’d worked for another surf school for eight years in between competing, but the business side was all new to me,” says Philippa. “One of my biggest incentives for starting my own surf school was to encourage more girls to get into surfing and we’ve really done that. They start with lessons and then go on to love surfing and that makes me happy because back when I first started to surf, it was daunting being a girl out there in the waves amongst all the boys.”

For Philippa, throwing on the coach’s hat means seeing the joy that surfing can bring in a whole new light. “Seeing kids and adults too in lessons smiling, having fun, and getting exercise while out in the water is the best feeling. It’s been great to use my platform to help others appreciate the beauty of mother nature so they can look after the beach as well,” says Philippa. That feeling of satisfaction when you catch a wave has Philippa hooked on the surf life and she says it’s hard to put into words how it feels to be out there in the ocean on a board. “It’s different for everyone but I feel this enormous sense of gratitude that I’m healthy and can enjoy the beach. Surfing is a powerful, spiritual feeling.”

Image: Darren Anderson

With fire still in the belly, Philippa has her eyes set firmly on the goal of making the next Championship Tour, hopefully alongside her good mate and training buddy, Jacko. “Even though I’m really competitive and I want to win, I’m still having fun with my surfing, and that’s the main thing that keeps me coming back for more,” says Philippa.

Image: Darren Anderson

And if there’s someone else who knows first-hand about the power of surfing not just for the soul, but for an entire town, its Surfest Newcastle Coordinator Warren Smith. Born and bred by the ocean in Newcastle, Warren spent 40 years as a professional lifeguard, looking after the beach and all those who use it. “I was a clubby, but I was also a surfer and back in those days, I tried to bring those separate worlds together by employing young surfers as lifeguards because they are amazing watermen and women,” says Warren. “Having the beach as my office was an amazing lifestyle – it’s my therapy, my soul, my everything. My wife and I have always been coastal people who appreciate the ocean and when you surf, you’re literally surrounded by nature. It’s unreal.”

Off the back of the international success of Mark Richards, Warren says the council were keen to put on a local surfing contest. With a few mates, Warren jumped at the prospect to give local surfers the chance to compete at their home beach of Merewether and so, Surfest Newcastle was born. Now in its 38th year, Surfest Newcastle, presented by Reflections Holidays, is the largest surfing festival in the southern hemisphere. “We’ve been so lucky that a lot of good people have supported and helped roll Surfest out over the years,” says Warren. “And now we’ve launched the Reflections Cadet Cup at Bonny Hills for 2024 so the young kids can get their chance to compete in a really well organised surf competition that’s aimed at getting people outside to enjoy the beach and feel that community spirit that surfing creates.”

After a life filled with moments watching the surfing greats catch top scoring waves and hours sitting out in the line-up himself, Warren says there’s just something special about paddling out with a board at the beach.

“There’s this bond that connects you with other surfers, both in the water and on the land, plus surfing is great to keep the body moving and the mind clear and calm,” says Warren.

“But mostly when you’re surfing, you’ll have these moments, like a pod of dolphins will swim past, or you’ll see the sun hit the waves in a certain way or someone will catch an epic ride and you’ll be stopped in your tracks and go, ‘Wow, this is special.’ It’s bigger than any of us and that’s the real power of surfing.”

At Reflections Holidays, we love nothing more than watching visitors grab their boards and take off to some of Australia’s best surfing breaks – often within walking distance or directly opposite our holiday parks. We’re super stoked to present Surfest Newcastle 2024, as well as the Reflections Cadet Cup, 2024. Head to surfest.com for all the details.

Check out many of our parks on brilliant surf breaks at reflectionsholidays.com.au

Image: Surfest

Warren Smith (R) with Reflections CMO, Peter Chapman (L) at the launch of the Surfest/Reflections Holidays partnership.

Words: Odette Tonkin Recipes: Kirianna Poole Images: Lockie Poole

THE SLOW ROAD’S GUIDE To Camp Cooking

Move over jaffles and sausage sangas… it’s time to get a little fancy with your camp cooking menu.

Let’s light up the fire pit

For Kirianna Poole and her husband, Lockie, travelling is in the blood. Getting their first fix whilst working in the aviation industry, the pair decided to leave their expat life in Tokyo and explore closer to home when baby Riley arrived. The one non-negotiable? Their lap of Oz had to be done in a Kombi –a 1962 Splitty called Izzie, to be exact.

But for Kirianna and Lockie, what started as an iconic Aussie road trip, soon became a way of life. Adding two more kids to their tribe, Alba and Elsie, and into their fifth year of living a dreamy, gypsy existence of camping and open road cruisin’, this Slow Road family have jumped shores and are now road tripping across New Zealand.

Whilst travelling mostly off-grid, Kirianna perfected the art of feeding her hungry campers with food that was simple, hearty but full of flavour and fun. “I grew up in New Zealand in a Māori family and my father was a chef, so I was always hanging out in a commercial kitchen and spent weekends watching him cater weddings and events,” says Kirianna.

“This deep family love of food combined with my time travelling and tasting new flavours from different cultures, had a huge influence on me.”

Kirianna spent endless hours whilst on the road, daydreaming about her next recipe creation and often, fire was at the centre of it. “We don’t have a conventional kitchen in our Kombi, so I’d always cook outside over an open fire,” says Kirianna. “Different cultures have been cooking this way for centuries, like in New Zealand we have the hāngī and Indigenous Australians use fire and coal in preparing their food. I love how cooking this way brings people together and really takes us back to that simple, primitive way of connecting to the land and nature.”

After years of meal testing on unsuspecting new travel friends around many a bonfire, Kirianna gathered over 80 of her best crowd-pleasing recipes in her recently published book, The Slow Road Cookbook. You won’t find any toad in a hole or damper on a stick in here. Kirianna’s preference for local, seasonal produce from the towns she visits, plus her ideology that food should bring people together, means her book is bursting with inspiring camp cooking that will have

you rethinking tonight’s spag bol. “When people ask me about the book, I say it’s not a sausage and bread thing!” says Kirianna. “It’s more about catching and cooking right there in nature, on the riverbank or beach. It’s about really slowing down and thinking about where our food comes from.”

But fancy camp food doesn’t mean you have to load up your rig with all the top culinary gear. Kirianna says they keep things simple on the road, and she recommends adding a grate, a camp oven, and a skillet to your set up. By getting back to basics and being familiar with using fire, Kirianna says you’ll always eat like a king whilst in the elements. “There’s nothing better than catching fresh fish and cooking it whole over the coals, while you watch the flames flicker and unwind after a day of exploring. You can always make a good dinner if you bring plenty of spices camping and lots of lemons!”. And with no end to her family’s travelling adventures on the horizon, Kirianna has plenty of time to dream up even more delicious options for camp cooking. “I really hope people enjoy my recipes and cooking outside while they travel,” says Kirianna. “It’s all about experiencing those beautiful raw moments of being in nature, slowing right down and sharing a special meal together.”

The Slow Road Cookbook is available online and in all good bookshops.

Inspiring us to put away the two-minute noodles, Kirianna shares three delicious recipes, sure to impress on your next camping escape.

Fire-Roasted Crayfish

“There’s nothing like a beach fire after a day on the water, so this is one of my favourite ways to cook crayfish when they are super fresh. Whenever we come in with a good feed of crays, we light a fire straight away and cook a few on the beach. Simplicity is often where perfection is found.”

INGREDIENTS

200g of salted butter, softened

3 cloves of garlic, grated

A bunch of flat-leaf parsley leaves, picked, and chopped

Juice and zest of a lemon

1-2 crayfish, halved

METHOD

Prepare garlic and herb butter by grating the garlic into the butter and mixing it with the parsley and lemon zest using a fork. Place butter mix onto baking paper and roll it into a small log. Fold the paper over and twist the ends like a toffee lolly wrapper. Leave it in the fridge to harden for at least 10 minutes.

While the butter is chilling, prepare your coals and place a grate where you’ll have medium-high heat – hot enough that you can only hold your hand 10cm above the cooking surface for 3 to 5 seconds.

Remove the butter from the fridge and cut it into half-inch knobs, then evenly place them over the flesh of the crayfish. Place the cray halves onto the grate, meat facing up, and cover with a metal bowl, tray or upside-down camp oven. If you don’t have any of these, use foil. Cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until the flesh is white and firm. Squeeze lemon juice over to finish. Enjoy!

Pistachio Lamb Koftas

“Camping, for me, is about connection, whether with people, the ocean, or the land. It’s the part I love the most and the part that keeps me coming back for more. These Koftas are one of the meals I cooked for our good friends during some blissful days spent on the Eyre Peninsula.”

INGREDIENTS

4 - 6 flatbreads

Tzatziki

1 shallot, finely diced

2 garlic cloves, grated

A handful of mint

90g of unsalted pistachios, diced

Juice and zest of 1 lemon

1 teaspoon of cumin

1 teaspoon of sumac

500g of organic ground lamb

6 metal skewers

Extra virgin olive oil

2 truss tomatoes

1 Lebanese cucumber

½ a red onion

Salt and cracked pepper

1 lemon, quartered

METHOD

Prepare a bed of coals away from your main fire and place a grate above it so you can cook over medium-high heat – hot enough that you can only hold your hand 10cm above the cooking surface for 3 to 5 seconds.

Meanwhile, prepare some flatbread dough and Tzatziki. Set them both aside.

Combine the shallot, garlic, mint, pistachios, lemon zest, cumin, and sumac in a bowl with the lamb mince. Roll the meat mixture into 6 even balls, tossing them between your hands to bind the meat.

Roll the meatballs into log shapes. Thread them onto metal skewers, and squeeze the meat tightly to secure it. Brush the meat with olive oil before placing it on the grate to cook for approximately 8 to 10 minutes, turning regularly.

Meanwhile, quarter the tomatoes, dice the cucumber, and slice the red onion. Combine them in a bowl, toss in olive oil, and then season with salt and cracked pepper.

Place the flatbread on the grate and cook for 2 minutes each side. Remove Koftas from the heat, place in flatbread and slide meat off the skewer, smear on some Tzatziki, add salad mix and a squeeze of lemon juice.

Nanny’s Pavlova

“This recipe has been handed down to me from my Nanny as a quick and easy microwave version that’s similar to a roulade. This is for all you folk out there with a beautiful, big caravan, and a microwave, or when you find one in a camp kitchen.”

INGREDIENTS

4 egg whites

½ cup of castor sugar

¼ cup of desiccated coconut

1 cup of fresh cream

1 fresh mango, slithered

2 fresh passionfruit

METHOD

Beat the egg whites and sugar to make fluffy stiff peaks. When you can make a figure eight in the whites, and it keeps its shape, that’s perfect. Set it aside for now.

Toast the coconut over high heat in a skillet until golden. Move the coconut around with a wooden spoon to achieve an even colouring. Once done, spread it onto a sheet of baking paper. Lay more baking paper over the tray of your microwave and cut it to shape. Pour the egg whites straight on. Ensure it is level and cook it in the microwave for 4 minutes. The mixture will puff up and look like marshmallow.

While it’s still hot, work quickly to flip the pav onto the toasted coconut. It’s best to do it immediately so the coconut will stick. Leave it to cool.

Meanwhile, whip cream until it’s thickened and smear it over the pav, but leave a border around the edges. Arrange the mango and passionfruit in the centre and, using your palm, lift and roll the pavlova from each side so the edges meet in the middle. Secure it with toothpicks and leave it to set in the freezer for at least 30 minutes (or in the fridge for longer). Serve generous slices from the log.

HOOK, LINE AND SINKER

For avid anglers and fishing newbies alike, Reflections offers a smorgasbord of Australia’s best fishing opportunities in some of the most amazing destinations across NSW. Idyllic mountain streams, serene freshwater impoundments, picturesque beach fishing scenes or lucrative deep drop fishing off the continental shelf – Reflections have all your fishing needs covered. Here’s a look at some of the gems in the Reflections line-up for those fishing for an unforgettable angling adventure.

Fish your way through NSW

Words: Mat Cameron

Forster Estuary Fishing

It’s no secret, Forster is one of the best estuary systems in Australia for fishing. It ticks all the boxes –gorgeous waterways, big numbers of fish and many trophy-sized fish. The two main attractions when fishing Forster are the enormous flats within Wallis Lake and the extensive oyster rack structures that reside in the lower regions of the estuary. Fishing in both areas can yield mega flathead, enormous bream, and unbelievable whiting! And with the tricky aspect of oyster rack fishing, it can provide some of the most exhilarating, white-knuckle, close quarters fishing you’d dare to find! (It’s honestly so much fun!)

Being a shallow flats system primarily, top water stickbaits, shallow crankbaits and lightly weighted soft plastics are the mainstay of most angler’s tackle selection. Work them around the countless man-made structures or sand patches between weedbeds and be ready to catch your own trophy fish.

WHERE TO STAY

Reflections Forster Beach or Reflections Tuncurry

Burrinjuck Dam Golden Perch

Nestled in the hills not far from Canberra, Burrinjuck Dam provides southern anglers a fantastic location to kick back, relax and fish the day away. Despite its peaceful, relaxing appearance, Burrinjuck is a fantastic golden perch fishery, as well as being home to good numbers of Murray cod, silver perch, redfin, and trout.

Golden perch are a superb sportfish, as they can be caught in so many areas of the dam and targeted with several techniques. For those new to fishing for golden perch, a great way to start is hopping small blade-style lures down rocky contour banks around the dam, or vertically hopping blades at the base of submerged standing timber. Both techniques imitate shall shrimp hopping off the bottom, so keep the size of the hop small and be prepared to be whacked by some feisty golden footballs!

WHERE TO STAY

Reflections Burrinjuck Waters

Copeton Dam Murray Cod

Chances are, if you’ve ever fished for Murray cod then you’ve probably heard of Copeton Dam. It’s the largest freshwater impoundment in Northern NSW and anglers travel countless hours to fish Copeton, in pursuit of mega Murray cod.

Catching a trophy fish is a very real possibility at this amazing fishery, with some of the largest captures in recent years exceeding 1.4 metres.

Trophy cod are caught at Copeton year-round, but the best time of year for targeting them consistently is in winter. Those crisp winter days within a week of the full or new moons are the ultimate.

Lure selection for chasing the freshwater behemoths will vary, depending on conditions. Be sure to pack some large sinking swimbaits, oversized surface paddlers and walkers, extra-large paddle tail plastics and even big spinnerbaits. The cod will be zoned in on offerings big enough to warrant the effort, but small enough to fit into their enormous mouth. Choose your lure based on its profile and action –select a lure that maximises the time your lure spends in the ‘strikezone’.

WHERE TO STAY Reflections Copeton Waters

Seal Rocks Beach Fishing

With the reputation for being one of the most beautiful beaches on the east coast, Seal Rocks is an absolute must for anglers. Not only is the beach beautiful, but Seal Rocks offers plenty for those wanting to wet a line.

Along the beach you can expect to find plenty of whiting, bream, dart, and salmon, whilst there are multiple headlands that offer some spectacular land-based game opportunities for kingfish, cobia tuna, and jewfish for the experienced angler. Here are some tips to start you off in the right direction for fishing Seal Rocks – catch (or buy) some fresh local bait such as beachworms, pipis, or garfish. Fresh is always best! And maximise your time by fishing around tide changes and light changes (dawn and dusk). These are the two main factors that affect feeding activity for most fish on the beach.

WHERE TO STAY

Reflections Seal Rocks

Wee Jasper Fly Fishing

Enjoy staying beside quiet, secluded streams that offer great fly fishing opportunities? Then Wee Jasper’s the place for you. Once you’re there, you’d hardly know that Canberra was just over an hour away. And better yet, there’s trout, redfin, and carp to be caught right beside your camp. Like many other streams and rivers in the region, fly fishing is a fantastic way to target fish for travellers who stay at Wee Jasper. Fly fishing allows anglers the exhilaration of seeing the fish take your fly before the light tackle tussle commences.

Being quite a shallow stream, both wet and dry flies will catch fish, but the golden rules should still be applied –match the hatch and do the miles to get the smiles!

WHERE TO STAY

Reflections Wee Jasper

Copeton Dam

Coffs Coast Fishing Off The Shelf

Coffs Harbour is spoilt for choice when it comes to different styles and species for fishing. But the real drawcard for many keen anglers is the offshore fishing that keeps them coming back year after year.

Coffs is a renowned inshore snapper fishery, but the fishing options a little wider are often overlooked. Fishing the continental shelf (deep water dropoff, starting from approx. 200m deep) is very accessible here and the fishing can be world-class.

Fishing in deep water has multiple challenges, so advice would include choosing days with less current, use your electronics to find fish sounding, use durable baits and prepare rigs that are unlikely to tangle. These tips combined will maximise the time your baits are in the strike zone, in front of fish, with increased chances of scoring that prized blue-eye trevalla or bar cod.

WHERE TO STAY

See page 60-62 for your choice of seven Reflections Parks on the Coffs Coast

Whether you like the beach, the estuary, offshore, or freshwater fishing, Reflections has something to suit everyone. Fishing adventures are truly what you make them, and Reflections has some incredible destinations within easy access to water for anglers.

Book your stay today and make your fishing dreams a reality!

Image: Destination NSW

Road Trip INSPO

Words: Odette Tonkin

Illustrations: Erin Moore

Roll those windows down and hit the open road. From World Heritage National Parks to tiny towns bursting with history and culture, there’s no better way to see the sights and dive into the delights of NSW than on a road trip.

Cost effective, family-friendly, adventure-filled, unpredictable, iconic. That’s the Aussie road trip, a rite of passage many of us grew up enjoying and the type of travel that still remains one of the best ways to experience our vast country today. NSW provides plenty of options to wind along coastlines, drive through dense rainforest and National Parks, and venture down dusty country roads. So, load up the car, grab the snacks and try our top Reflections Road Trips for guaranteed adventure, no matter the direction you travel.

The Extra Long Weekend

NSW Far North Coast Road Trip

Total Drive: 2 hours 14 minutes

Stay: 2 – 4 nights

Start: Yamba

Finish: Brunswick Heads

Travelling from Yamba to Brunswick Heads, if you’re keen to explore some of Australia’s most iconic beaches, rainforests, and National Parks, then this is the trip for you. Start your journey at the seaside town of Yamba before driving a short distance down the Pacific Highway and turning off to Evans Head, the coastal paradise surrounded by Broadwater National Park to the north and Bundjalung to the south. After delving into a little aviation history, drive the beautiful coastal route and dip in and out of the character-filled small towns of Woodburn, Coraki, and Wardell, before landing in Ballina to refuel on fresh seafood, walk the breakwall and visit the mighty Richmond River. Keep venturing north for more spectacular surf beaches and natural wonders at Lennox Head and stop for a wander to Cape Byron Lighthouse in Byron Bay to spot a whale or pod of dolphins in the surrounding Marine Park. Make camp just up the road at Reflections Brunswick Heads, Massy Greene, or Ferry Reserve in the laid-back oasis of Brunswick Heads, where you’ll be cushioned between World Heritage-listed rainforest and crystal-clear waterways.

Must-see: Grab your cossie and stop by Lake Ainsworth, more commonly known as Tea Tree Lake, whilst staying at Reflections Lennox Head. Locals swear by the rejuvenating tea tree infused fresh water as the perfect remedy to quiet the busy mind, and refresh and revitalise the skin.

Stay along the way: Reflections Holidays offers beautiful parks at Evans Head, Ballina, Shaws Bay, Lennox Head, Byron Bay, Brunswick Heads, Massy Greene, and Ferry Reserve.

The Extra Extra Long Weekend

NSW South Coast Road Trip

Total Drive: 6 hours 48 minutes

Stay: 4 – 6 nights

Start: Sydney

Finish: Eden

Feel yourself exhale as you leave the Sydney city lights behind and jump on the open road ready for a South Coast adventure. Experience the lush green hills and colonial architecture of the Southern Highlands with boutique wineries, restaurants, and quaint shopping set amongst manicured gardens in towns including Bowral, Berrima, and Mittagong. Pull back to the coast to spot a whale or two at Mollymook, then restock the fridge at Batemans Bay and take in the sites of nearby Clyde River National Park for endless hours of bushwalking, fishing, and kayaking. Weave your way along the coastal road past the delightful Tuross Head and Narooma, to find sanctuary for the night at Bermagui, where a dip in the famous Blue Pool will see you recharged and ready to discover the nearby National Trust classified Tilba townships. Follow on with an easy hour drive continuing south to Pambula, where you can set up camp in nature’s finest setting, then explore nearby Merimbula where the waves are gentle, and the wildlife is plenty. Journey on to Eden, a sparkling gem in the Sapphire Coast of NSW, with nearby Beowa National Park and Twofold Bay waiting for you to explore.

Must-see: Pack the camera to visit Horse Head Rock while you stay at Reflections Bermagui and wonder at one of NSW’s most ancient rock edifices that is more than 500 million years old. Take the elevated walking track between Camel Rock and Murunna Point and keep a lookout for the formation that resembles the neck of a pony.

Stay along the way: Reflections Holidays offers beautiful parks at Bermagui, Pambula, and Eden.

The Blissful Week

NSW Mid North Coast Road Trip

Total drive: 7 hours 57 minutes

Stay: 7 nights

Start: Jimmys Beach

End: Scotts Head

Take in the natural beauty of Hawks Nest with a stay at Reflections Jimmys Beach, then wave goodbye to the local dingo and koala populations before jumping on the Pacific Highway for a short drive up to ‘God’s Country’, aka Seal Rocks. With stretches of unexplored coastline, the historic Sugarloaf Point Lighthouse to visit and crystal-clear waves to catch, you’ll have trouble pulling yourself away but there’s more greatness to see as you continue up the coast to the surfside fishing haven of Forster Tuncurry. Back on the road, explore the tiny coastal gems of Blackhead, Old Bar, and Crowdy Head before pulling off the highway to arrive in the Camden Haven region, where North Haven and Bonny Hills steal the show. Visit Port Macquarie for a hit of culture and top-notch cuisine, then jump back on the road with Scotts Head as your journey’s end.

Must-see: Stop in at Port Macquarie, home to the largest population of koalas on the east coast and visit The Koala Hospital. This not-for-profit rehabilitation centre has been rescuing and treating injured koalas since 1973.

Stay along the way: Reflections Holidays offers beautiful parks at Jimmys Beach, Hawks Nest, Seal Rocks, Forster Beach, Tuncurry, North Haven, Bonny Hills, and Scotts Head.

A Fortnight of Fun

NSW Country/ Outback Road Trip

Total Drive: 14 hours

Stay: 10 - 14 nights

Start: Burrinjuck Waters

Finish: Copeton Waters

With pockets of historic gold hidden amongst the outback dust and National Parks, and inland waterways brimming with Australian wildlife, some of the true delights of NSW lie to the west. Start your trip with a full tank of petrol and plenty of snacks in the south at Burrinjuck Waters where freshwater fishing and water sports await. Hit the open road and wind past tiny towns like Bookham, Boorowa, and Frogmore to explore the next picturesque waterways of Grabine Lakeside and Wyangala Waters – be sure to keep the rod handy. Jump back in the car and enjoy the wide open skies as you make your way towards the Dubbo region for world-class stargazing and more watery wonderlands at Lake Burrendong and Mookerawa. Meander through Mudgee for a spot of wine tasting, and Merriwa to arrive at Lake Glenbawn, home of the famous Australian bass. Keep on keeping on through the rural heritage town of Murrurundi and the wheat and wool producer Gunnedah, to Lake Keepit, a jewel in the New England crown. After relaxing lakeside, hit the road once again with your eye on the Murray cod fishing mecca of Copeton Dam as your final campsite destination.

Must-see: Drop by Wellington, whilst you stay at Reflections Lake Burrendong, and discover intricate cave corals, crystal formations, and 400 million year old marine fossils at the Wellington Caves. Take a tour then embrace your inner palaeontologist and examine ancient fossils within the on-site Discovery Lab.

Stay along the way: Reflections Holidays offers beautiful parks at Burrinjuck Waters, Wyangala Waters, Grabine Lakeside, Mookerawa, Lake Burrendong, Cudgegong River, Lake Glenbawn, Lake Keepit and Copeton Waters.

For more Reflections Road Trip itineraries and all the information on where to stay during your journey by land, visit reflectionsholidays.com.au

far NORTH COAST.

Image: Destination NSW Cape Byron Lighthouse, Byron Bay

Words: Kimberly Rigby Images: Destination NSW

far NORTH COAST.

Get Amongst It

The NSW Far North Coast stretches from the picturesque coastal town of Yamba through to bustling Byron Bay, an easy 40 minutes from the Queensland border, and is a cornucopia of unique outdoor experiences and natural wonders. Close your eyes and picture the turquoise tones of the Pacific Ocean, breathtaking rainforest walks and creative communities with friendly locals and energetic Farmers and Artisan Markets. The stunning townships of Yamba, Evans Head, Ballina, Lennox Head, Byron Bay, and Brunswick Heads are some standout locations on the Far North Coast, renowned for beautiful beaches and endless opportunities for outdoor explorers to enjoy the thrill of the outdoors.

Rainbow Region

Byron Bay, with its upbeat holiday vibe, long stretches of golden sand and town centre with trendy cafes, restaurants, and creative professionals on every corner, is the hallmark of this undisputed capital of the Far North Coast region. The Cheer Up, Slow Down, Chillout sign that welcomes you as you enter the town says it all. This is a place where saluting the sun, long walks on the beach and Pina Coladas reign. Byron Bay has a ‘hippy wellness ethos’ that aligns with the foodie scene, beach culture, and fitness focus that will see you hiking around Cape Byron, striking a pose at Byron Bay’s iconic lighthouse, or tucking into a freshly blended acai bowl for brekky.

Byron Bay is also blessed with some of the most stunning National Parks on its doorstep. You could spend hours or weeks exploring the magnificent expanse of Arakwal National Park, Cape Byron State Conservation Area, Tyagarah Nature Reserve or Nightcap National Park where lush rainforest walks to the sound of birdsong, stunning waterfalls and winding coastal tracks rule.

Must See

Arguably one of the most beautiful places in Australia, let alone the Far North Coast, is the relaxed town of Yamba. Voted the number 1 town in Australia by Australian Traveller, Yamba is also listed as one of the top 25 most beautiful places in Australia by Expedia and was noted by the CSIRO to have one of the best climates in the world. Yamba sits on the mouth of the gorgeous Clarence River and is surrounded by the Yuraygir National Park where you can enjoy many great walks, including the 65km Yuraygir Coastal Walk. Take in the sea breeze, and epic scenery, spot a whale or two, and swim, snorkel, or fish to your heart’s content. With no less than 11 beaches to choose from, Yamba has something for the most tranquil swimmer to the adrenaline pumped surfer. The famous Main Beach with its surf club, cafe, and ocean pool is a must-visit, as is a walk to the regal Yamba Lighthouse high on Pilot Hill.

Coastal Pick

Lennox Head, a National Surfing Reserve, attracts surfers from all around the world and has a point break which is legendary. The best surfer is the one who is having the most fun and Lennox Head delivers fun in abundance for all levels, including seasoned pros, weekend warriors, and eager groms. The entire stretch of coastline in NSW’s Far North is rich in top surf spots with Yamba, Angourie, Lennox Head and Byron Bay all considered surfing meccas. There is also fun to be had away from the waves with Lennox Head sporting a vibrant cafe scene for latte lovers and some of the best shopping in the area. For those who prefer a picnic lunch, Pat Morton Lookout sports spectacular panoramic views and opportunities to watch all the water babies, including swimmers, surfers, whales, and dolphins, in action. The nearby 2.5km Lake Ainsworth Circuit Loop will help work off those picnic croissants and indulgent choccies after you are done.

Reflections Ballina Bundjalung Country

Right in the heart of all the action, Ballina has your trip covered. Take the boat up the river for some fishing or head to one of the picturesque beaches for a surf. Walk the dog along the river or at the off-leash beach directly opposite the park. Dogs can exercise, roam freely and socialise under the supervision of their owner. Explore our 25kms of cycle paths, or stroll into town to explore and dine at one of the many restaurants and cafes. Whatever floats your boat, Ballina is convenience and fun rolled into one.

1 River Street, Ballina NSW 2478 (02) 6686 2220

Reflections Brunswick Heads

Bundjalung Country

Right amongst the action in the heart of Brunswick Heads, next to this ultimate waterside park with a side of coastal village buzz. Set up camp in prime position on Simpsons Creek, just a stroll from the surf beach across the town’s famous footbridge. Take your pick from beach walks and swims, surfing and snorkelling, fishing the Brunswick River, or paddling its pristine waters by kayak. Energetic or easy does it, either way, a holiday at Brunswick Heads will deliver.

Fingal Street, Brunswick Heads NSW 2483 (02) 6685 1233

Reflections Byron Bay Bundjalung Country

The perfect combo of Byron Bay buzz and holiday chill, our park is a beachside paradise with everything you need just a stone’s throw away. A 10-minute walk from town where award-winning restaurants, and quirky boutiques await, you can do as much or as little as you like at Byron Bay. Set in lush, littoral rainforest, on the shores of iconic Clarkes Beach, a holiday here will slide you into the quiet side of bustling Byron.

1 Lighthouse Road, Byron Bay NSW 2481 (02) 6685 6496

Reflections Evans Head Bundjalung Country

Grab the tribe and fall into acres of splendour with Evans Head offering all that a relaxing, adventure-filled holiday should. Surrounded by water, swim or paddle the crystal-clear Evans River or the sparkling ocean. Fish, surf or explore the spectacular near-by National Parks, or wander around town, soaking up its history and charm. Big on experiences and space, Evans Head is the ideal spot to gather the gang (furry ones included).

18 Park Street, Evans Head NSW 2473 (02) 6682 4212

Reflections Ferry Reserve Bundjalung Country

Life moves in time with the majestic Brunswick River at this riverside holiday oasis. Welcome a relaxed, slower pace, away from it all, with all the conveniences of the laid-back, coastal village of Brunswick Heads just minutes away. Fish from the bank, launch the boat, have a splash, or kayak the river, all the while surrounded by nature’s finest offerings. Dog-friendly, flat spacious sites welcome you, as do the nearby stretches of brilliant beaches and views of Mount Chincogan.

Riverside Crescent, Brunswick Heads NSW 2483 (02) 6685 1872

Reflections Lennox Head Bundjalung Country

On the shores of the famous Seven Mile Beach and Lake Ainsworth, this stunning coastal setting will set the tone for your laidback Lennox holiday. Primely positioned with Ballina 12 minutes one way and Byron Bay 17 minutes the other, it’s easy to embrace simple holiday pleasures at this restorative patch of paradise. The tea-tree scented waters of Lake Ainsworth, spectacular surfing, excellent fishing, kilometres of nature’s best walking tracks and beaches are all within reach, or just kick back and switch gears to true chill-out holiday mode.

Cnr Ross Street & Pacific Parade, Lennox Head NSW 2478 (02) 6687 7249

Reflections Massy Greene Bundjalung Country

The grass is greener at Massy Greene with this peaceful riverside retreat waiting to welcome you. Nestled alongside the sparkling Brunswick River, be spoilt for choice when it comes to waterway adventuring. Enjoy a paddle on the calm, clear river, fish by boat or by bank, explore under the surface with a snorkel, or head to the ocean for a surf or a swim. A three-minute walk will place you in the heart of the charming Brunswick Heads Village, making Massy Greene a hub for happy campers.

2 Tweed Street, Brunswick Heads NSW 2483 (02) 6685 1329

Reflections Shaws Bay Bundjalung Country

On the tranquil banks of Shaws Bay, with views over Richmond River and close to renowned surf beaches, there’s no better spot to bask in nature’s glory than at our East Ballina park. Surfing, hiking, boating, and paddling; it’s all here to enjoy. Wet a line in the river, walk your pup along the breakwall or at one of the many nearby dog-friendly beaches or explore some of Ballina’s 25kms of cycleways. All the activities and none of the stress, make Shaws Bay a winning waterside park.

1 Brighton Street, East Ballina NSW 2478 (02) 6686 2326

Happy Campers:

Vintage vibes

The purchase of a vintage car was enough to jumpstart this couple’s passion for all things camping.

When Anthony’s 89-year-old mum clapped eyes on his latest classic car acquisition, it was joy at first sight. “As soon as she saw it, she called it the Comedy Van – she said, ‘It’s a van you have fun in!’” the retired teacher and landscaper recalls.

The wattle-hued Kombi came out of the factory in 1975, two years before Anthony met Lynda at teachers’ college. The Sydney couple married in 1982 and have three children and five grandkids.

While Anthony had two panel vans in the ‘70s which he’d take on surfing safaris with mates and Lynda spent her childhood holidays on the South Coast of NSW, the couple didn’t plan their first camping trip until acquiring their Comedy Van in early 2023.

Since then, they’ve taken it on two longish trips up the coast from Sydney, and plan to do more when they can escape work (Anthony) and grandkids (Lynda).

“I’m old school and with the Kombi it was about wanting to go back to my 17 or 18-year-old self,” Anthony reflects.

“In the back cabin is what’s called a rock ‘n’ roll bed which folds up to seat three passengers. We leave the bed flat and in the back we’ve got a fridge and microwave and I built some cupboards to house a toaster and kettle and a few things.”

“It’s got the biggest engine that was built for Kombis – a two-litre engine with twin carburettors and a six-rib gear box. I didn’t want a Kombi that struggled on the freeway, so it sits with everyone else comfortably at 110 kilometres per hour.”

Lynda knew it was futile to resist her husband’s latest classic car purchase. “I’ve said ‘no’ to every car. It’s not a passion for me though I can appreciate them, but he didn’t listen,” she says. “I said, ‘Where are you going to put it?’ But it’s cute and it goes well, so….”

Anthony, once a keen surfer and now a keener body surfer, likes to fly by the seat of his proverbial when camping. Lynda is an organised planner who likes to book ahead.

After 45 years together, the self-described ‘beach people’ really only took to camping recently thanks to the Kombi. They hire powered sites with an ensuite.

For Lynda, the sea is the drawcard. “I like being close to the beach and cooking outdoors and having a view, and I like bodysurfing,” she says. “I like creature comforts so it’s good to go to a surf club every now and then for a meal or coffee. It’s relaxing because you don’t have to be anywhere.” She also likes to read and would do so for hours if left in sacred peace. “I like to listen to her read,” adds Anthony. “I ask her to read half a page and that happens sometimes. I am happy to chill and watch the surf. I get up early, get the tea on and just stand at the beach and look.”

The couple’s set up is simple: a fold-up white table and two chairs, with the table being used for cooking preparation. They were considering buying a portable barbecue but have found their electric frying pan is unbeatable.

Words: Penelope Green

“When we set up for dinner at Bonny Hills on our last trip I said to Lynda, ‘Look at this, this is like a $10 million view! I mean, in Sydney you can pay that much to live in one of those beach complexes,” says Anthony. “I’m like, ‘How good is this? We’ve got sausages and meatballs and veggies. Life’s good.’

Lynda and Anthony

Anthony loves the driving on a camping trip; “I don’t need maps; I just get a feel for it. Lynda has an uncanny knack for getting us on to roads that aren’t where we should be.”

The peace and quiet that comes with the freedom of not having an agenda, and not having to answer his phone, is also savoured. “And I slept the best 10 days of my life for years, right through the night. Which is not very like me. I could do that more often, which I intend to.”

Lynda believes that camping teaches humans an appreciation of nature and to get by with the basics. “One night we cooked up a meal and I didn’t take condiments and I thought, ‘This is pretty good.’ You appreciate things,” she says.

Anthony nods, adding that he’s at home in nature and with like-minded souls.

“I like meeting people and we’ve met some beautiful people – there’s one guy I met on our second trip that I reckon could be a lifetime mate. We just got on like we’d always known each other. He goes to the same spot four times a year, on the same site, and we’ll go there again to make an effort to see him.”

They are the first to concede they are camping rookies and learning as they go.

The first lesson, and arguably the biggest, came on their first day of camping; guard your tucker.

“We got the table out, put the ham on the bread, and turned for half a second … the ham got nicked off Lynda’s sandwich by a bird,” Anthony says, eyes as wide as his frying pan.

“The swoop was so accurate. She had two slices of ham and it just went whoooooshka!”

It looks like Anthony’s mum was right about the Comedy Van.

Pedal Power

Add the bikes to the holiday packing list and get ready to explore even further afield on two wheels.

Words: Odette Tonkin Image: Destination NSW

Taking your bike on holidays is a great way to experience the beauty and excitement of a new area, with hundreds of trails and cycle paths within an easy ride of all Reflections Holiday Parks. CEO of Bicycle NSW, Peter McLean, shares his tips on why you’ll never regret throwing that bike rack on before setting off on your next camping or caravanning adventure.

Bikes On Tour

The advantages of taking your bikes on holidays far outweigh the textris-like juggle of fitting them into your set up. Not only will riding help counteract those cheese platters and bubbly drinks, but when visiting a new area, a bike can connect you with more places, more quickly. “Walking is fantastic on holidays but if you’re on a bike with your partner or friends, you can very comfortably cover a 10km distance or you might explore up to 30km away if you’re by yourself and if you’re on an e-bike, then you might go even further again!” says Peter. “Riding gets you into those areas that are often inaccessible otherwise. It’s an exciting and fun way to get around and discover the beauty of a new place.”

Get Social

With an increase in solo travellers and long-term tourers who are on the road for longer periods of time, bringing a bike along and accessing bike paths and trails is a great way to form social connections. “Whether you’re riding with your partner, a group of friends or like-minded new acquaintances, or if you are a part of a more organised bike group of which there are hundreds across NSW, the connections you make are strong and rewarding,” says Peter. “If you’re on holidays staying at a place like Reflections, it’s likely you’ll bump into other bike riders and share information about trails or bike paths that are nearby, so there are lots of opportunities to develop that shared sense of enjoyment if you ride a bike.” Riding with others provides feelings of wellbeing and community, and when the hard work’s done, there’s no better way to relax than with a brew at a local cafe or with a coldie and a chat at your campsite.

Battery Powered

From traditional road biking to gravel trails, BMX, urban riding, mountain biking or rail trails, there really is a style of bike riding to suit every personality type. But Peter says when it comes to travelling, there is one standout twowheeler trend that’s on the rise. “We’ve seen a massive uptake of e-bikes strapped to the back of caravans and motorhomes across the country because they are a fantastic mode of transport for a number of reasons,” says Peter. “For older people or those with physical barriers such as ligament issues or knee problems, e-bikes are a great way to get people moving, so they can still enjoy the activity of discovering new areas on their bike and perhaps keep up with others on trails and longer rides. E-bikes are also being used not just for sight-seeing purposes, but for active transport to the shops, to go out for dinner and to enjoy their local area, with riders choosing to leave their bigger vehicles and cars in the safety of the holiday park and instead, jump on their bike!”

Ride With Benefits

Whether you’re on holidays or not, the benefits of being on two wheels are well documented. Peter says that improved physical fitness is just the beginning. “Bike riding is a gentle, low impact sport which is good on the joints and combines both aerobic and anaerobic exercise and that’s great for bodies of any age.” As we get older, the advantages of adding regular bouts of cycling to our week is even more profound, with bike riding able to strengthen knee muscles without traumatising the joint and experts recommending those with osteoporosis giving the sport a go, as the movement of riding moves the knees through a range of motions without damaging the spine, hips, and ankles. With the risk of cognitive degenerative disease increasing with age, Peter says riding a bike is also a great way to keep your mental and emotional health in check. “Bike riding takes you outside and this means getting a good dose of fresh air, and Vitamin D which helps reduce stress. Being in nature or immersed in the community or the countryside, improves your mood and simply makes you feel good.”

Bike Heaven

Looking for fun on two wheels?

Here’s just a few must visit bicycle destinations across NSW.

THE LEISURE LOOP

North Haven to Laurieton

This gentle and scenic shared pedestrian/cycling pathway meanders south from the North Haven break wall, across Stingray Creek Bridge and back around to the Camden Haven River at Laurieton. Perfect for families and those wanting a relaxing introduction to the beautiful waterways of the area.

Stay: Reflections North Haven or Reflections Bonny Hills

THE GRAVEL TRAIL

Central West Cycle Trail

This trail creates a loop around the central west of NSW of almost 400km. Winding through the Wiradjuri nation area, this trail can be done in its entirety which usually takes a week or in shorter stints that pass through regional towns, villages, farming land, National Parks, and Reserves.

Stay: Reflections Lake Burrendong

THE RAIL TRAIL

Northern Rivers Rail Trails

This former rail corridor winds through scenic villages and towns, rail tunnels and historic villages. Accessible to all ages and abilities, this must-do rail trail begins at Murwillumbah and continues for 24 kilometres to Crabbes Creek and showcases the natural beauty and cultural heritage of the area.

Stay: Reflections Byron Bay, Ferry Reserve, Massy Greene or Brunswick Heads.

THE MOUNTAIN BIKE PARK

Gravity Eden and Copeton Dam Mountain Bike Track

Eden’s mountain bike park boasts 58km of gravityfed mountain bike trails with premium, machine built singletrack. Ride summit to sea with an elevation of 300m, from within the Nullica Forest to the shores of Twofold Bay on more than 20 unique trails.

Stay: Reflections Eden or Reflections Bermagui

THE REFLECTIONS MTB TRAIL

Copeton Dam Mountain Bike Track is maintained by Inverell Mountain Bike Club and is set right on the edge of Copeton Dam. With a total of 11kms of trails, the tracks are well maintained and incorporate rocks and sandy sections to add to the challenge.

Stay: Reflections Copeton Waters

coffs COAST.

Image: Destination NSW Dorrigo National Park, Dorrigo Mountain

Words: Kimberly Rigby Images: Destination NSW

coffs COAST.

On the Water

True water babies can enjoy the best of both worlds with both beach and river vibes at the nearby towns of Mylestom, Red Rock, Moonee Beach, and Corindi. Leisurely swims, SUPs, kayaks, and fishing rods are the order of the day, where adventurers of any skill level can soak up the serenity and gain an aquatic perspective of the Coffs Coast with its hidden coves and birdlife.

Get Amongst It

Does the feel of soft sand beneath your feet and crystal-clear waters appeal? Or maybe hiking through lush rainforest and cooling off under cascading waterfalls in secluded swimming holes is more your thing? Perhaps, you simply love a relaxed coastal town vibe and the chance to stop and breathe in the scenery? If so, then the stunning NSW Coffs Coast is perfect for you. Halfway between Sydney and Brisbane and the only place where the Great Dividing Range meets the Pacific Ocean, the Coffs Coast is a mecca for outdoor explorers of all ages and abilities. Road trippers craving epic drives, outdoor enthusiasts looking to explore and active families ready to dive into adventure, will love the diverse landscapes and unlimited opportunities to get ‘out and about’ in the wild that the Coffs Coast is famous for.

Natural Wonders

For land lovers, walkers of all levels can easily find a trail to suit them. The sound of surf and wildlife is an irresistible combination at Bongil Bongil National Park moments from the Coffs Harbour CBD, with remote coastal walks and access to breathtaking Bongil Beach on the menu. A must visit for walkers who love spectacular scenery, a spot of beach fishing or picnics in secluded splendour. An hour from Coffs Harbour near the sleepy town of Bellingen, Dorrigo National Park may require you to lace up those boots a little tighter with eight amazing trails ranging from an easy 2km through to a challenging 20km. The Skywalk is famous for its panoramic views while the Crystal Shower Falls is nothing short of awe inspiring. Visitors to the Nambucca Valley at Scotts Head and Nambucca Heads, are immersed in birdsong and lush green surrounds when they venture to nearby Yarriabini National Park.

Holiday Hotspot

Home to Australia’s beloved ‘Big Banana’, the vibrant town of Coffs Harbour is a perfect base to enjoy the bustling marina and cafe culture before setting off to explore the wider region. Dip a toe offshore and visit the Solitary Islands Marine Park with its colourful coral gardens, spectacular snorkelling and dive sites and protected aquatic life found nowhere else on the East Coast.

Reflections Coffs Harbour

Gumbaynggirr Country

Positioned right on the highway, this park is the perfect stop on a through journey or if you want to be in the action. Set amongst lush greenery, you’re right in the heart of town at this relaxed park. A brief drive will see you arrive at glorious Emerald Beach. Take a short walk into the city and experience all the cosmopolitan delights of Coffs Harbour with plenty of restaurants and cafes to sample.

123 Pacific Highway, Coffs Harbour NSW 2450 (02) 6652 1694

Reflections Corindi Beach

Gumbaynggirr Country

The living is easy at Corindi Beach, where you can bask in the easy-going atmosphere and bush setting of this coastal getaway. Just a 30-minute drive from Coffs Harbour, you’ll be surrounded by natural wonders with migrating humpbacks, kangaroos, and kookaburras counted amongst the many happy visitors. The bushland setting will press the pause button on any of life’s stresses with complete relaxation to follow. For adventure seekers, a visit to nearby Coffs Harbour or Grafton will fill the brief with food and wine experiences and natural delights aplenty.

93 Pacific Street, Corindi Beach NSW 2456 (02) 6649 2803

Reflections Hungry Head

Gumbaynggirr Country

Give the tribe a double dose of nature with a stay in this simply perfect cabin precinct. Nestled in a pocket of Australian rainforest, just a short stroll from the beach, this sanctuary of 10 rustic cabins will become your very own bushland retreat. Hit the beach for a surf or swim, paddle the still waters of Urunga Lagoon, or swap the thongs for joggers and bushwalk amongst spectacular flora and fauna. Just down the road from the township of Urunga and a 30-minute drive to Coffs Harbour, peace and relaxation await at this special holiday spot.

Hungry Head Road, Urunga NSW 2455 (02) 6655 6355

Reflections Moonee Beach

Gumbaynggirr Country

The tranquil tide of the neighbouring estuary and the fresh ocean breeze set the scene for holiday bliss at this coastal getaway. Just 10 minutes from Coffs Harbour and a hop and a jump from the fishing and surfing haven of Moonee Beach, the whole family won’t ever want to leave. Paddle in the calm waters of the estuary or hire a kayak and explore upriver. Wet a line, play tennis, and when the sun sets, toast marshmallows around the fire pit. Regional gems Dorrigo and Bellingen are a short drive away, adding to the endless options for adventure.

50 Moonee Beach Road, Moonee Beach NSW 2450 (02) 6653 6552

Reflections Mylestom

Gumbaynggirr Country

Swim in the river, beach, or pool. That’s the toughest decision you’ll make, staying at this well-appointed, relaxing park. Hit up the putt-putt or playground, treat the dog to a run on the leashfree beach or stroll around the charming little village. Head to nearby Bongil Bongil National Park and marvel at the wildlife and return for a hearty meal at the local club. An easy drive to Coffs Harbour and with all the excitement the city offers, you can do as much or as little as you like at Mylestom.

30 Beach Parade, Mylestom NSW 2454 (02) 6655 4250

Reflections Nambucca Heads

Gumbaynggirr Country

Perched atop a spectacular headland surrounded by lush green bushland and the rolling waves of the beach below, this park ticks all the boxes for relaxation and fun. Head down to main beach for a morning surf or treat the dog to a walk along the riverbank. Explore the surrounding bushland and creeks, go for a fish, paddle on the river or sample the local produce at the clubs and restaurants in town. Less than 30 minutes from Coffs Harbour, you also have the delights of the historic towns of Bellingen and Dorrigo at your fingertips.

50 Liston Street, Nambucca Heads NSW 2448 (02) 6568 6547

Reflections Red Rock

Gumbaynggirr Country

Tucked away between Corindi River and the beach, time spent at Red Rock will transport you back to memories of easy childhood seaside holidays. Spend relaxed days fishing, strolling the boardwalk, swimming, biking, or riding the Red Rock break. Or slow it right down and kick back in a comfy chair, with your pup at your feet and nature’s beauty all around. Crystal clear water and wide-open skies top this stretch of undeveloped coastline, all within easy reach of Coffs Harbour’s attractions and amenities.

1 Lawson Street, Red Rock NSW 2456 (02) 6649 2730

Reflections Scotts Head

Gumbaynggirr Country

If relaxation tops your holiday wish list, look no further than iconic Scotts Head. Perfectly positioned between Sydney and Brisbane but a million miles from the daily grind, this dog-friendly park will see you rejuvenated amongst nature’s best. Located right on Main Beach, go for a swim, surf or snorkel in the crystal-clear waters. Launch your boat at the ramp next to the park, enjoy the village atmosphere across the road, or take a moonlit walk on the sand. Settle in, then set about exploring this stunning coastal playground.

12 Adin Street, Scotts Head NSW 2447 (02) 6569 8122

Leave the map behind

The Coffs Coast is the only place in NSW where the Great Dividing Range meets the ocean and this means stunning beaches, lush rainforests, World-Heritage listed National Parks and the captivating aquatic life of the Solitary Islands Marine Park. From the buzzing city centre of Coffs Harbour to the quiet riverside towns of Bellingen and Dorrigo, make the Coffs Coast your next holiday destination and experience its beauty for yourself.

Reflections Urunga Gumbaynggirr Country

Where the river meets the sea, stay in one of the Coffs Coast’s most picturesque parks and idyllic locations. This riverside sanctuary is just 30 minutes from Coffs Harbour and 15 minutes from must-see Bellingen, where creativity and top-notch cuisine collide. Stroll the boardwalk, swim or paddle in the crystal-clear waters of the lagoon and enjoy the natural pool a few steps from the park. Surf at Hungry Head Beach or grab the rod for a fish while the kids get some pedal cart action, then all retire for a cold drink at this naturally striking holiday oasis.

2 Morgo Street, Urunga NSW 2455 (02) 6655 6355

Image: @RoadyNZ

Nambucca Heads

Family affair Happy Campers:

Sisters Shelly, Jenny and Jackie love sharing great camping moments, wherever they land.

There’s been a Great Air Fryer Chip Cook-off (Jen, Pete, and Shelly competed against eight other vans at Scotts Head Reflections, Shelly won). The Great Escape (Jen’s husband Peter had a very close encounter with a campfire at Knorrit Flat, near Wingham). The Great Meltdown (witness Jenny, resplendent in her negligee, dressing down some boisterous campers at Ellenborough Reserve, west of Wauchope … we’ll have more on that later). The Great Ocean Swim (Paul, Peter, Jen, and Shelly frolicked with a sea turtle at Seal Rocks Reflections).

The scope of all this Greatness can’t be measured but is easy to comprehend once you realise the affable sisters have been enthusiastic campers since childhood. We’re talking 50-odd years for each. That’s 150 years collectively. You get the picture.

The sisters have shared their love for the Great Outdoors with their own kids, who often join them with their kids, too.

Words: Penelope Green

This may explain why on any given camping day they’re ready to share an assortment of van-baked goodness (fancy a freshly risen scone with whipped cream and jam, brownies, lemon slice or Anzac Biscuit, anyone?)

Prone to finish not only each other’s sentences but those of their husbands and brothers-in-law nearby, the sisters have worked hard all their lives and are mostly retired.

Nominated camping matriarch Jen and husband Pete, a onetime shipwright and veteran surfer, live at Morpeth and have a Jayco Silverline. Shelly, a former purchasing manager, and Glen, an ex-prison warden, live in Abermain and have a Jayco Journey, as do Jackie and Paul, who call Newcastle home.

If you get the feeling that from the moment they set up camp there’s nothing but relaxation, pranks and laughs, you’d be right.

“When we get here,” begins Peter, “Jen walks around the back of the caravan where I can’t see her and gives directions anyway. She’s been doing that for 47 years.”

The rules of their regular family camping escapades are that there are no rules.

It’s all about doing your own thing and not annoying your partner or neighbour.

“Pete drives me nuts,” admits Jenny with a laugh. “I get up at 8.30am or 9am for breakfast and then he comes in ready for morning tea at 10am and I’m like, ‘Jesus, can’t he wait?’ He likes me because I have all the cake.”

A sheepish Peter further explains: “Some people know they will retire and have time to get used to it, but I stopped overnight. It took me a long time to get out of the habit of waking and planning my day, but I can wind down well now.”

Shelly casts a knowing glance at her husband: “Glen was the same. It took him a while to get used to the lack of stress.”

Paul’s love of camping was firmly pegged by his parents in childhood, with long days spent waterskiing along the NSW coast.

Sisters: Jenny, Shelly, and Jackie

These days he’s got more time on his hands after he’s set up his and Jackie’s camping site (beneath the annexe you’ll find an airfryer, which all the sisters carry).

“I struggle,” he admits. “I think, ‘I could be home doing this or that’.”

To help pass the time, he loves a chat to fellow campers but, as Shelly notes, you need to read the room (or the park, if you will).

“If people don’t want to talk to you,” she explains, “they don’t look at you. That’s how it works.”

Peter prefers camping to the new-fangled trappings of standard accommodation.

“If you go to a motel, you go to your room, shut the door and unpack. We’ve stayed in resorts, and I nearly lost the plot. I went outside just to talk to the taxi drivers!”

Glen, a gentle giant more prone to listen than prattle, is always willing to help a fellow camper.

“There was one guy who was trying to park and I said, ‘Would you take a bit of advice if I tell you a better way to put your caravan in?’ He was willing to listen so I helped him and he was really grateful,” he recalls.

Whether swimming at the beach or ambling to the local shops, the three couples love being in nature.

They might tease Jackie for being the only one to hate cold water, but lo and behold she’s leading the charge by donning a wetsuit and paddling out for a surf, something she had stopped doing in her 20s.

“I was inspired last year because I saw so many older girls out there having a go and I got talking to one yesterday on the beach and she said she was loving it and had joined a local surfing group,” she notes. “Thirty years ago there weren’t many girls out there but it’s changed.”

Jackie loves hearing the roar of the ocean as she falls asleep, Shelly loves the lazy beach days. They all love people watching, the shared dinners and an aperitivo that may linger until way past bedtime.

Most of all, they relish sharing yarns of times past and present, of escaping fires and floods, of meeting and helping fellow campers - even if that means helping them to bed.

“We were at Tuncurry once and there was a young couple who were nice but then their friends turned up with a big boom box,” says Paul.

When the camping neighbours threatened to interrupt sleep, Jen strolled out in her flannel negligee and had a quiet word.

“I said to them, ‘Don’t you think there are old folk here trying to sleep?’ They turned off the music and the next morning they were asleep until late,” she recalls.

“And that’s when you start the car engine,” Shelly says with a wink.

Jackie has a new found love of surfing.

The Crew: Peter, Jenny, Jackie, Paul, Shelly and Glen

culture

ONBOARD

Words: Odette Tonkin Images: Greg Meek

For proud Gumbaynggirr/Bundjalung man Clark Webb, exploring the intricate waterways of the Coffs Coast and sharing stories of Country and culture is all in a day’s work.

There are plenty of ways to see the great outdoors, but on a paddle board, floating down some of the most beautiful waterways in NSW with guides who are direct descendants of among the world’s first stand up paddlers, has got to be one of the best. And that’s exactly what’s on offer at Wajaana Yaam Adventure Tours, an eco-certified tourism organisation that aims to connect visitors to the land and sea through stories and language.

Clark Webb is the guy behind the paddle, along with his passionate team of tour guides, all of whom are Gumbaynggirr people or Aboriginal people with strong familial ties to Gumbaynggirr country. Born and raised in Coffs Harbour, Clark studied tourism at university and quickly realised that the best way to share the traditional culture and stories of his ancestors with others was to get a little creative. “Paddle boarding was becoming more popular, and our old people have been paddling dugout canoes for thousands of years, so it seemed like a natural connection,” says Clark. “When we started our adventure tours, we drew people in with an experience on the amazing waterways of our beautiful local area, but it became really clear that these people were actually more interested in learning about the culture of the Gumbaynggirr people. The paddle was just a bonus!”

Moonee Creek

Luckily for us, you don’t have to be a paddle boarding pro to join in the fun, with an intro lesson thrown in and plenty of encouragement along the way. Tours run from three visually spectacular and culturally significant locations around Coffs Harbour, NSW, including Red Rock, Moonee Beach, and Coffs Creek. For Clark, the deep sense of connection to Country inspired him to want to share the Gumbaynggirr perspective with others — and what better way than to take people on a gentle drift down the crystal-clear waters of the local creeks and estuaries? “You don’t need experience to come along, just a good sense of fun,” says Clark. “We go in small groups so we can really show you the stories that are written in the landscape, share our language and we also tell you all about the native plants we see along the way and how we use them.”

In the local Gumbaynggirr language, Wajaana Yaam means ‘from this Country’ and caring for the land is at the heart of everything the adventure tours stand for. Having achieved

ecotourism certification, Clark says this was an important step in promoting sustainable tourism not just through his company but for the entire industry. “Our tours are all about getting people to love Country and when people have a deeper understanding and connection to Country, then we all do better in looking after it. That’s what all tourism should aim to do.”

And Clark’s dreams don’t stop there. His tours are just one cog in the wheel of ensuring that his local Aboriginal community, and in particular its young people, are two paths strong - strong in culture and strong in education. Profits from Wajaana Yaam are reinvested into the local Aboriginal Corporation which provides after school learning centres, cultural camps, and Gumbaynggirr language programs. “It’s all about creating that circular economy so as the demand for our adventure tours grows, we can employ more people in meaningful, full-time jobs,” says Clark. “Our

guide Ronan, for example, is a top fella who has come along to our cultural camps and after school learning for years. He did a school-based traineeship in Certificate III Tourism and now he’s with us full-time as a tour guide and he’s passionate about sharing his cultural knowledge about this beautiful area.”

The local Bularri Muurlay Nyanggan Aboriginal Corporation, of which Clark is the Executive Officer, also opened NSW’s first indigenous bilingual school, right in the heart of Coffs Harbour. “Gumbaynggirr Giingana Freedom School is a special place where we can give our kids a really strong foundation in language and culture as well as academics,” says Clark. “Our tourism businesses like our paddle boarding tours, our Giingan Gumbaynggirr Cultural Experience and our Nyanggan Gapi Cafe, all help fund our learning opportunities for our kids.”

“When our children have a solid sense of who they are culturally and through language, they can go on to have great futures.”

Whilst gently gliding along the greeny blue waters of the estuary near Red Rock or watching fish swim in the shallows of Moonee Creek, Clark says every day is rewarding if he can help connect people to the traditional Gumbaynggirr stories and songlines. “I remember taking a group up to Niigi Niigi (Sealy Lookout) and you get this amazing view out over Solitary Island which is important in one of our stories,” says Clark. “The next day the same group came on a paddle boarding tour at Moonee and when we were out on the water, a young fella turned to me and said, ‘That’s the island where the two women made the sea.’ It was a really amazing moment hearing how this boy had remembered that information and was seeing the landscape through a different lens.”

With plans for an eco resort in the pipeline to join the host of other award-winning Aboriginal tourism businesses within the area, there’s no slowing down for Clark Webb. “It’s an exciting time and we’re really proud of what we can offer visitors to the region,” says Clark. “Knowing that my ancestors walked this land for thousands of years gives me a deep sense of pride in who we are as Gumbaynggirr people, and we love to be able to share our culture and language with others through our adventure tours and other tourism offerings.”

PADDLE THE COFFS COAST

Stay within a stone’s throw of where Wajaana Yaam Adventure Tours launch their boards, at Reflections Red Rock, Moonee Beach, and Corindi Beach

Destination

MID NORTH COAST.

Image: Destination NSW Bennetts Beach, Hawks Nest

Words: Kimberly Rigby Images: Destination NSW

MID NORTH COAST.

Get Amongst It

There are no wrong turns when you are exploring the breathtaking NSW Mid North Coast region. Every stop you make along the famous Barrington Coast, stretching from koala and dingo territory in Hawks Nest through to the charming coastal and country combination of Forster/Tuncurry and further north to the greater Port Macquarie area, leads to a new adventure in stunning landscapes, sleepy seaside villages and eclectic townships.

Old World Charm

The Barrington Coast has so many hidden holiday gems to discover, starting off with the tranquil twin towns of Tea Gardens and Hawks Nest, an easy two hours or so from Sydney heading north along the picturesque Pacific Highway. As well as the friendly village vibes, this region is gifted with a sunny climate for most of the year, spectacular surfing, swimming beaches and a lake system surrounded by some of the most enjoyable coastal wilderness you could ever hope to immerse yourself in. Harmonise with the famous Singing Bridge which ‘hums’ in strong south-westerly winds, commune with koalas at the nearby Jean Shaw Koala Reserve or make a splash and take in the spectacular views to Nelson Bay at Jimmys Beach.

Our non-aquatic adventurers can venture over to the Myall Lakes National Park, with 40km of glorious beach and bushland, and the site of one of the tallest trees in the State, a 76 metre Eucalyptus Grandis. The Bundabah Wetlands and Yacaaba Headland walking track are also spectacular options for outdoor adventurers, while sportier types may enjoy the whisper of birdsong and hearty calls of ‘fore’ at the Hawks Nest Golf Club.

On The Water

Forster and Tuncurry are holiday hot spots separated by the warm waters of Wallis Lake, with outdoor explorers loving the bustling marina culture with its hive of boating, fishing and water activities. It’s also a top dolphin hangout and a great spot to take in the whales during their annual migration. The Aboriginal name for Tuncurry means ‘plenty of fish’ and nowhere is this demonstrated more than at the famous Tuncurry Rockpool. Goggles and snorkels are the go here, with a side order of ‘something delicious’ from the cafe, a 30-second walk from the shore. Windsurf at Wallis Lake, get into gear and 4WD along Nine Mile Beach or explore the Booti Booti and Wallingat National Parks, which frame the lake and make you feel like you are a million miles away from the hectic pace of modern civilisation.

Holiday Hotspot

The wonders of the Mid North Coast continue in the greater Port Macquarie region. Charming coastal communities, including North Haven and Bonny Hills, steal the hearts of any traveller, while Burrawan State Forest, with ‘Old Bottlebutt’ — the oldest recorded Red Bloodwood tree in the world — and the Queens Lake Nature Reserve, transport you back to the Jurassic era, minus the predatory beasties. It would also be remiss not to mention the camel safaris offered at Port Macquarie’s Lighthouse Beach, which will perk up your explorations and get you over any holiday hump day.

Reflections Bonny Hills

Birpai Country

Perched atop a headland with spectacular views over the white sands of Rainbow Beach, Bonny Hills is a little slice of heaven between Port Macquarie and the Camden Haven. First-class beaches offer surfing, swimming, fishing, MTB riding or just relaxing and watching the migrating whales breach from the comfort of your home away from home. Bonny Hills is a top spot to explore the greater treasures of Greater Port Macquarie, with its lush rainforests and thriving food scene.

920 Ocean Drive, Bonny Hills NSW 2445 (02) 6585 5276

Reflections Forster Beach

Worimi Country

Stay at the best address in Forster with easy access to everything you could ever need for the perfect beachside holiday. Drop a line in Wallis Lake from the breakwall or bring the boat and explore the unique waterways around Wallis Island. Swim at the patrolled beach or take your pick of waves at the many well-known surf spots. Wander into town or across the bridge to Tuncurry and sample the wares at the many cafes, restaurants and coastal boutiques. Forster Beach remains unmatched when it comes to convenience and holiday charm.

1 Reserve Road, Forster NSW 2428 (02) 6554 6269

Reflections Hawks Nest

Worimi Country

Relive the simple pleasures of your beachside childhood holidays with this simple, quiet, and naturally beautiful spot. A stroll from the patrolled Bennetts Beach, with shops and pub across the road, days spent here are unhurried and sun-kissed. Hike up Mount Yacaaba, watch dolphins frolic in the surf waves, or enjoy a round or two at our neighbouring championship-rated 18-hole golf course. Memories are ready for the making at Hawks Nest where the authentic Aussie beach holiday lives on.

Booner Street, Hawks Nest NSW 2324 (02) 4997 0239

Reflections Jimmys Beach

Worimi Country

The calm waters and white sandy shores of Jimmys Beach set the scene for relaxation and adventure. With exceptional natural beauty everywhere you turn and iconic wildlife calling the park home, a stay at Jimmys Beach will fill your holiday cup. Take a dip in the beach or pool, marvel at views stretching over Port Stephens and Hawks Nest from the top of Mount Yacaaba, or kick back with marshmallows around the communal campfire. Awarded NSW Best Holiday Park in 2023, this peaceful dogfriendly camp is set in natural bushland, just a stroll from Hawks Nest village. Coorilla Street, Hawks Nest NSW 2324 (02) 4997 0466

Reflections North Haven

Birpai Country

A nature-lover’s utopia, North Haven is a tranquil retreat for the whole family. Set across five hectares of shady bushland, this park offers the best of both worlds, nestled between the Camden Haven Inlet and Grants Beach. Take your pick from a host of crystal-clear waterways to fish or paddle on, bring the bike and pedal into nearby Laurieton or explore the natural green wonderlands of North Brother Mountain and Dooragan National Park. Whether your plan is to unwind or get amongst it, North Haven has your holiday wish list sorted.

109 The Parade, North Haven NSW 2443 (02) 6559 9193

Reflections Tuncurry

Worimi Country

This beachside park is a family favourite with its dog-friendly vibe, and direct access to spectacular Nine Mile Beach. It’s a fisherman’s dream with the tranquil Wallis Lake a stone’s throw away, along with plenty of waterside restaurants and cafes to keep you well-fed. Wander across the bridge into Forster or stick closer to home for a dip in the blue waters of Tuncurry Rock Pool — you won’t be able to stop yourself from slowing down and enjoying an idyllic seaside escape.

32 Beach Street, Tuncurry NSW 2428 (02) 6554 6440

Reflections Seal Rocks

Worimi Country

Dip out of the real world and arrive at the tranquil sanctuary that is Seal Rocks. This park has won multiple tourism awards and is voted in the top 10% worldwide by Tripadviser. We’re not surprised. Nestled between untamed littoral rainforests and pristine beaches, this chilled-out park offers world-class ocean views, exceptional surf, and adventurous beach fishing. Visit Sugarloaf Point Lighthouse, the local mountain bike tracks or just sit and take in the unspoilt beauty that’s everywhere you look.

Kinka Road, Seal Rocks NSW 2423 (02) 4997 6164

Find yourself in paradise

Booti Booti National Park

Image: @RoadyNZ

Surf’s up Happy Campers:

When it comes to camping, it’s all about the waves for this Newcastle family.

Surfing creates a ripple of closeness between Angela and Russ and their scamps. “It’s chatting about what the surf is doing and planning the weekends ahead as a family for the perfect spot to suit all our needs,” says Angela, who took up surfing about five years ago alongside her son, Dustin. “Learning to surf at the same time also created some healthy competition and banter about our progress. It’s now an activity that we all enjoy, and that is pretty difficult to find with a young family.”

Now that young Sia is on board, the family can often be found out together in the breakers on their regular camping trips.

“It is incredibly special when the dolphins are out or when we are cheering each other on or even freaking out together about the big wave coming,” Angela says.

“We’re not competitive surfers, so it’s all about enjoying the moment and each other’s company out there.”

Camping has quickly become a priority since the family embarked on their ‘caravanning journey’ five years ago, with the purchase of a Jayco Swan pop-up trailer.

“I have positioned my working week to have every Monday and Friday off to give us that freedom to choose when we want to go, Russ has Friday off, too, and can be flexible with his Monday.” Angela says.

There is a lot the couple love about escaping to the coast, particularly now they have upgraded to a New Age Road Owl, which suits their needs better.

It takes a village to raise children, and they are happy to let that village step right on up when they arrive to set up camp. “That is key to why we enjoy staying in a park,” says Angela. “The kids go off and we can read a book and have a holiday. In a hotel you’re stuck in a room or have to keep an eye on them. Here you’re enclosed and it’s a safe space.”

Like any parents, the couple want their primary school-aged kids to roam and be carefree.

“We want them to get used to being in the bush a bit more. They’re comfortable at the beach but not in the bush...yet,” Russell says.

“Today we took them on a torturous walk uphill to a lighthouse … there was a lot of whingeing,” Angela laughs.

Russell, a keen camper during his childhood in Victoria, observes that not everyone takes to camping immediately.

“It takes some people a few goes to get used to, and Ange wasn’t sure it was right for her the first time,” Russell says.

Words: Penelope Green

From left: Sia, Dustin, Angela and Russell

Angela remembers that setting up could be a grind in their first van, but things became easier with their new set up. “Some of my early battles included trying to keep the caravan clean and still have an enjoyable holiday... I learnt to add a few touches like some extra floor mats and other hacks, and lowered my cleaning expectations to really enjoy it,” she says. “Having a van that we could just close the door on and deal with the cleaning when we get home really helped too.”

Russell enjoys the freedom to do nothing that camping affords.

“There’s always something you should be doing at home, you don’t really rest,” he says. “When you’re away there are other jobs but you get time to relax.”

Asked how quickly they unwind once they have arrived at a camping ground, Angela doesn’t hesitate. “I think a part of it is cracking the first beer,” she grins. “Normally that happens halfway through the setup, it’s a respectable hour by then.”

Holidays with dogs made easy Pups In Paradise

Gone are the days of booking a kennel or asking Aunt Hilda to keep an eye on Rusty while the rest of the gang catch the holiday bug. Pack up your pooch, it’s time to hit the road for a little R&R… the dog-friendly kind, of course!

Words: Odette Tonkin and Polar’s doggie parents Chris and Jamie Lee. Image: Destination NSW

After exploring 35 countries around the world and road tripping across Australia with her miniature dachshund, Schnitzel, Shandos Cleaver knows a thing or two about holidays with dogs. Founder and blogger-in-chief of Travelnuity: Dog-Friendly Travel, we asked Shandos to share her top tips for taking your best canine friend on your next getaway.

Schnitzel enjoying all the adventures with his human Shandos

Image: Shandos Cleaver

Pack Right

Even your furry friend needs a few creature comforts from home so be sure to pack all the basics plus a favourite toy or blanket to help them settle into their new holiday environment. “Schnitzel has an adorable bag that he travels with, and what we pack varies depending on the length of the trip and the time of year we travel,” says Shandos. “Essentials include his own bed, bowls, a lead, food and treats. For longer trips, tick medication is essential throughout much of Australia. And always pack old towels – whether for postbeach trips or wiping muddy paws!”

Road Tripper

While you won’t have to deal with the constant ‘Are we there yet?’ yapping, dogs can prove to be fussy car travellers. Our tip? Find out whether your dog is a lover or a hater, well before the big road trip begins. “Start with shorter trips, including some to fun destinations such as the beach, not just to the vet,” says Shandos. “Always plan to stop often along the way, so that everyone can stretch their legs –fenced dog parks are often a good option. And keep your dog securely restrained in your vehicle – consider using a seat belt attachment, crate, or cargo divider.”

First Timer

Travelling with your dog for the very first time can be nerveracking. Jumping in headfirst and embracing tent life straight away can mean worrying about noise and potentially stressful interactions with other dogs, local wildlife, and kids staying at the holiday park, and that’s no holiday for anyone. Shandos suggests booking a pet-friendly cabin for your inaugural trip away. “That way you get to enjoy the great facilities and location of a caravan park, without needing to buy expensive camping gear and worrying about how your dog will cope with its new surrounds. Parks with cabins located next to dog-friendly beaches are a great option. Then move on to camping if it’s a success!”

Follow The Rules

Being a responsible pet owner is as important as remembering to pack the doggie treats. “Caravan parks usually have a list of rules for pets,” says Shandos. “Make sure you read and follow the rules, including the maximum number of pets you can have staying with you. Always keep your dog leashed inside the park, unless in a fenced off-leash area. And pack plenty of poo bags!”

Be Flexible

Going with the flow and having flexibility is the key to happy dog travel. This means accepting that bringing your dog along with you on holidays means you may miss out on local attractions. “After all, dogs are not allowed in most National Parks in Australia and at many popular tourist spots, so you need to plan ahead and take this into consideration,” says Shandos. Thinking about arrangements if you need to visit a shopping centre and where you will buy supplies is important too. “Another tip is to be sure to make a booking well in advance for peak periods because pet-friendly accommodation is popular and check whether dogs are welcomed all year round.”

Do Your Research

Before you book your holiday, put some time into researching what would make the most ideal holiday for your whole tribe, dog included! “I always look into the number of off-leash beaches and walks in the area that I want to visit, plus dogfriendly restaurants and cafes too,” says Shandos. “Taking the time to chat with other dog owners while you’re on holidays is a great way to discover dog-friendly adventures that you can remember for next time!”

Image: Shandos Cleaver

Reflections regular Polar gives us the lowdown on her dream holi-day!

Living your best doggie life

MORNING

It starts with a bop on the arm with my wet nose to the doggie parents to signal it’s time to get out of the van and start the day. I’m a bit of an early riser so I give my owners the pleasure of seeing the sunrise on most of our morning walkies. If we’re staying near a beach, this is where we go. I tend to get the zoomies as soon as my paws hit the sand! If there’s no beach nearby, I like to walk through the holiday park to see if I can scope out any bunnies nibbling on the grass. As soon as my business is done, I quickly remind my doggie parents that it’s time for breakfast (and I guess they deserve a coffee too).

DAYTIME

After inhaling my brekkie, and the doggie parents have done their daily jobs in the van, they’ll ask if I’d fancy a day trip. I get excited when I hear the word ‘car!’ It’s the same excitement

that gets me going when I hear the word ‘chicken’ at dinner time! We normally go sightseeing around the local area - stuff like beach hopping, chasing a waterfall or looking for animals. I really love seeing the kangaroos. After a big morning of exploring, I’ll hit the snooze button on the way back to the caravan park. Ah, life is good!

ARVOS

We head to a park or field for me to stretch my legs and get my final zoomies out (the doggie parents get theirs out too). My owners jump on Google Earth to find the best parks nearby to where we’re staying. Clever, huh? They even pack a cold drink and a snack on our afternoons out, because once my zoomies are done and dusted, we like to find a nice spot where we can all kick back and watch the sunset.

NIGHTTIME

After my dinner, I’m allowed on the bed to have a nap whilst my doggie parents tuck into their dinner. Then it’s one last walk for the night, plenty of cuddles and belly rubs on the big bed until I realise that this bed isn’t big enough for three. That’s when I head off to my own swag on the van floor where my snoring kicks in and it’s lights out. It’s a dog’s life and it’s pretty darn good!

DOG-FRIENDLY STAYS

Whether your pup likes to unwind by the beach, river, lake, or prefers to go bush, Reflections has your pet-perfect accommodation needs covered. Dogs are welcomed all year round at 32 Reflections dog-friendly parks across NSW, at no extra cost. Hit up their generous caravan and camping sites with your pooch in tow, or for pampered pups who like the creature comforts of home, upgrade to a dog-friendly cabin, or tiny home for a howling good time. With plenty of off-leash beach and park action close by to all Reflections parks, your pup will slip into holiday mode before you can say ‘Walkies!’

Another day in paradise for Polar

Image: Chris and Jamie Lee

south COAST.

Image: Destination NSW Horse Head Rock, Bermagui

Words: Kimberly Rigby

Images: Destination NSW

south COAST.

Get Amongst It

When you think of exploring the NSW South Coast, with its spectacular coastal vistas and charming seaside towns, you can’t help but smile and feel the hectic pace of daily life melt away. Located between Sydney and Melbourne, this stunning region of NSW is renowned for its world-class beaches, unspoilt, natural environments and mouth-watering cuisine showcasing fresh, local produce. Add friendly residents, lush National Parks, and an abundance of outdoor activities to suit all holiday adventurers and you have the successful ingredients for a perfect South Coast break.

Foodie Heaven

Who could say no to one or two of the region’s specialities – a sparkling Chablis from a local winery, coupled with a catch fresh from the sea? If you are a fan of seafood or an oyster afficionado, just about every stop along the South Coast will have something amazing for you to sample.

The Sapphire Coast’s Oyster Trail, from Bermagui in the north to Eden in the south, is a popular way to experience the region’s best oyster farms and top restaurants. Or forget the glitz and the glam, buy them fresh from the farm gate and slurp them where you stand! The famous Fisherman’s Wharf in Bermagui is worth a special mention and will satisfy any seafood cravings you may have.

Farmers and Growers Markets are also popular with foodies who love to snag some of the area’s yummiest, home-grown and local produce. The Bega Cheese Heritage Centre, 40 minutes from Eden or Bermagui, will satisfy your most persistent dairy cravings with a delicious artisan selection.

Fishing Spots

Image: Gravity Eden Mountain Bike Park

Where there’s great coastline, there’s also great fishing and the NSW Sapphire Coast is no exception. It is no exaggeration to say the fish will literally jump onto your hooks, with so many amazing fishing locations to choose from, including piers, rock walls, beaches, inland lakes, and river estuaries. Bermagui Harbour is perfect for tailor and mullet, while the Bermagui River will land you bream, whiting and catfish. Bermagui and Eden are both well-known fishing ports with boat ramps and direct ocean access, so fishing enthusiasts can be out to sea and catching the big ones in a jiffy!

Must See

For land-based activities, explorers of the NSW South Coast are blessed with an array of stunning walking, hiking and biking trails for all levels. Gravity Eden Mountain Bike Park in Eden is a brand new, coastal forest delight with over 58km of premium bike trails suitable for the hard-core sporty types, as well as the ‘stop and smell the roses’ kind of adventurer. Touted as the must-ride Australian mountain biking destination, this park boasts trails that take you from ‘summit to sea’ starting in the Nullica State Forest and ending at Twofold Bay. Bermagui MTB Park off Wallaga Lake Road is another super fun place for the active adventurer with 13 easy-to-challenging trails on offer. If biking is not your thing, the park is also great for hiking and trail running.

Reflections Bermagui

Yuin Country

Bermagui is minutes to everything, yet miles from it all. This dogfriendly park is perfectly placed to explore the township delights and surrounding spectacular scenery. Take a morning dip in the famous Blue Pool and explore the pristine waters of Horseshoe Bay. Dive into fresh seafood at the Fisherman’s Wharf or catch your own on a deep-sea fishing adventure. Explore the nearby National Trust classified Tilba townships, discover Camel Rock or take a hike up Mount Gulga. Or simply enjoy the cruisy feel of Bermagui’s coastal village and recharge by the sea.

1 Lamont Street, Bermagui NSW 2546 (02) 6493 4382

Reflections Eden

Yuin Country

Settled between the calming shores of Lake Curalo and the warm blue waters of Aslings Beach, this park is a little slice of holiday heaven. Hit the surf, go kayaking, roll the MTB trails, drop a line in at the lake or take the dog for a leash-free run on the beach. Just a short drive from the charming township of Eden, this idyllic setting is the perfect base from which to explore the National Parks, untouched beaches, fascinating history, and foodie delights of the South.

Aslings Beach Road, Eden NSW 2551 (02) 6496 1139

Bermagui

Image: @RoadyNZ

GOING IT ALONE

The rise of the solo female traveller

Nerve-wracking? Perhaps. Rewarding? Absolutely. Meet three seasoned solo travellers who leapt out of their comfort zones to join a growing tribe of independent women travelling on their own terms. Solo female travel is about discovering new places and new friendships with a healthy dose of self-empowerment thrown in for good measure. And with more and more women planning solo trips like Jess, Coral, and Lynn, there’s no better time to take the plunge and join the fun on an adventure across NSW.

Compiled by: Odette Tonkin Image: Bodhi Todd

Travel All-Rounder, Jessica @jesswardphoto

Have you always loved to travel?

Always! It’s on my mind constantly and I’m forever saving photos and videos of places throughout Australia and the world that I would love to visit. I believe that travelling is one of the most enriching experiences that a person can do for themselves and their personal growth, so I hope to never stop.

What’s your travel style?

I’ve done it all! From couch surfing to five-star hotels. I spent six weeks on a camping trip through NSW and Queensland (I learnt it’s not the best idea to sleep in a tent in their wet season...) and in the past I’ve rented campervans for trips in NSW and New Zealand. I recently bought a Subaru Forester that I now sleep in for short trips, but I have a real love for tiny houses, so they are my preference, or any sort of cute cabin.

Tell us about your experiences travelling solo?

I first did it to prove to myself that I could do a trip alone and then I became addicted to the feeling of independence and knowing that I could do anything, no matter what situation I was confronted with. Most of my travel, especially in the past, has been done solo, so it’s what I’ve grown to know and be comfortable with, but you tend to always make friends along the way when you want or need to.

Has taking trips on your own increased your confidence?

Oh absolutely! I’m the person that I am today because of the trips that I’ve done. I’m so sure of who I am, my abilities and my potential, and I owe all of that to travelling. I went from being a quiet, dependent teenager, whose biggest fear was catching a plane alone, into an adult that has literally travelled the world solo. The skills and qualities that you learn from doing this can be applied to every avenue in your life - from your career to your personal life. You don’t even have to jump in and go big from the start, a night or two away somewhere close is a great starting point and from there, your confidence will grow once you see how capable you are. I’m highly independent and I know that I can get through whatever life throws at me, without relying on others, all due to the travelling situations that I have put myself through.

There are so many women hitting the road solo! Are you surprised?

Not at all! Women can do anything, and travelling solo is no exception. There are so many great groups on social media geared towards female travel, where the idea of it is celebrated and everyone is there to support and encourage others. It helps create that community feel, which I think is probably more important to females than males when

it comes to solo travel. The vast array of accommodation options that are available now really helps. The fact that holiday parks have tiny houses and cabins, as well as the traditional camping sites, help women get out there and explore, while still feeling safe and connected to others when needed.

What about camping solo? Isn’t that a bit scary?

Honestly, camp at a holiday park! It’s how I started out camping solo and it helps ease you into it, while still being so much fun – years later, I’m still doing it. If you’re new to solo travel, holiday parks like Reflections are a great option because you can choose the type of set up you want to have, be in amazing locations and do it by yourself with the safety net of other campers around you. It really helps when so many families stay at Reflections, because it does add to that level of safety and helps you feel more comfortable in your surroundings. My biggest tip would be to always share your plans with someone back home and try to keep regular communication. On my big trips, I use a Google Drive spreadsheet to document my plans and travel details and I then send the link to my family. I also always try to be aware of my surroundings and trust my gut – if something feels off, it’s best to listen to that feeling and change your plans accordingly.

Where are you off to next?

I’d love to do a trip back up north through NSW and into Queensland! There are so many beautiful spots and it’s the perfect, easy destination with the beaches along the coast. It also helps that there are so many Reflections parks along the way to stay at! Ultimately, I like to be somewhere where I can spend my days walking around National Parks, down by the beach and always including sunrise and sunset in my day.

Jessica and her adventure buddy Murphy

The Forever Traveller, Lynn

Have you always had the travel bug?

I trained as a primary school teacher and from a young age, annual camping trips from Sydney to the far South Coast of NSW put the love of camping into my life. For two years in the 70s I followed the backpacker trail across Southeast Asia to Europe. Lonely Planet’s Southeast Asia on a Shoestring was my bible! My Aussie solo travels began following the unexpected death of my husband in 2011. My current mode of travel is an Explorer Motorhome. It is on a Toyota Hilux base, so it’s a 4x4; and being only six metres in length, it’s ideal for me and my little furry travel companion, my dog Caroline.

Did you find your first trip on your own daunting?

Initially, travelling solo was very intimidating. But over time I’ve been able to overcome these anxieties and gain confidence. You meet so many really ‘nice’ like-minded people when you travel, from all walks of life and most are willing to help if help is needed. Often, I’m on my own, but you’re never alone for long, you’re always meeting new and old travel friends on the way. I’m set up with solar power, lithium batteries, diesel heating, and gas BBQ so I enjoy bush camps and National Parks when I don’t have my dog, but nothing beats the long hot showers in a holiday park! I do both long and short trips. Short trips are four-to-sixday getaways with my Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia Solo groups; and longer trips, which can last up to six months, around our great country.

What has been the most unexpected part of travelling solo?

It would have to be the sense of contentment it provides. It gives me a real feeling of achievement. Snuggling down in my little motorhome at night is such a great feeling. There are so many solo women out and about now and I just read that one

third of all Explorer Motorhome sales are to single females. Some have lost their partners through divorce, some are widows, some have always been solo and just want to take it that bit further. Some leave their partners at home because they don’t like to travel or camp. There are so many reasons why women are deciding to get out there and explore the place, but we all have the same desire to go. It doesn’t matter where, just go!

Tell us a bit about your most memorable trips?

I’ve had so many great trips! Sitting around campfires, cruising on lakes, rivers, and seas, attending music festivals and rallies, sharing food and stories and games, and laughing fits with other travellers. Op shopping and geocaching and finding the best bakery in our outback towns. The stunning Australian scenery and different landscapes is just a bonus and I feel lucky to get to see so much of it all. Western Australia is a standout location for me, NSW is where I’m grateful to call home and do short trips from and who doesn’t love tropical Queensland!

What’s your best advice for solo women just starting their travel journeys?

It’s always easiest to align with other solo travellers, like the Campervans and Motorhome Club (CMCA) Solo Group. There you’ll find friendly folk willing to share ideas and plan travel adventures, monthly getaways not far from your home base, as well as travelling together as a group on short or long trips to varying destinations like the Silo Art Trails, waterfalls, hot springs, caves, bush walks, and beaches.

Where are you off to next?

My next planned trip is to beautiful Tasmania. This little island has so much to offer - stunning scenery, cute animals, and the best vanilla slices and scallop pies in Australia! I hope I can keep travelling solo for a long, long time yet… There is just so much to see for solos in our lovely land.

Lynette and her furry friend Caroline

Image: Coral Vimpani

The Full-Time Vanlifer, Coral @my.sprinty

What do you love about the travelling life?

I’ve been travelling full-time in my van for over two years, and I love the variety it creates in my life. I’m always discovering beautiful locations, meeting a vast range of different personalities and characters, and making endless memories that will last me a lifetime. Travel also really challenges me and it has helped me gain back my independence and it helps me feel my true authentic self.

You’ve built your own van setup, and it’s amazing!

I have a high roof long wheelbase Sprinter Van which I have converted into the campervan of my dreams! I am fully selfsufficient, and this makes it possible for me to spend more money on adventures and experiences rather than just on the cost of living which continues to rise. Through impressing people with my van design whilst on my travels, I decided to create a business called Compact Innovations Co. where I have designed a Campervan Bed Lift Kit. This is targeted for other vanlifers and van builders to help them build their own ultimate campervan of their dreams.

Some women might feel nervous at the thought of camping on their own. Any advice to share?

Back yourself! Push yourself outside of your comfort zone because you never know what you might discover about yourself and the world around you. Realistically, you’re going to feel hopeless at times but if you keep pushing yourself you won’t regret the growth you’ll go through. I was terrified to do this journey on my own but now, over two years later, I absolutely LOVE the lifestyle I live and I’m so grateful to have the experience of travelling on my own. My biggest tip would be to believe in yourself! Set up your home on wheels with the creature comforts that you can’t live without. Be open to new connections and opportunities that you might encounter along the way and give yourself permission to live your true authentic self.

What type of trips are your favourite?

I’m a sucker for the coastline so I’m always trying to search for a beautiful spot near the water and I’m always chasing the sun. I also organise van meet ups through my Facebook group, Vanlife - Community, a platform where other travellers can organise van meet ups or road trips. It’s always beautiful meeting other like-minded people and creating a community and connections whilst travelling.

What has surprised you most about traveling solo?

How many people that I inspire everywhere I go! People from all ages and all walks of life that are interested in the alternative life I live and the steps I’ve been through to get here. I think the community I’ve started to create and how fast it is growing. My biggest tip for other solo women travellers is that I always make sure I have reception where I am and that someone knows where I’m staying. Staying connected always creates peace of mind for myself and the people who care for me. I wish more people would try this type of lifestyle to see how it can challenge them and transform them. It’s a great way to live!

Reflections Holidays offers solo female travellers a comforting home base close to some of the most naturally beautiful locations in NSW. Whether you have your own van, motorhome, tent, or you’d prefer to holiday in a cabin or tiny home, staying at Reflections Holidays has your solo travelling needs covered.

Coral’s amazing campervan setup

country nsw.

Lake Copeton, Copeton Image: Destination NSW

Words: Kimberly Rigby

country nsw.

Wildlife Sanctuary

The New England North-West region is highlighted by the incredible dams at Lake Keepit, home to Wally, the park’s beloved albino kangaroo, under an hour from Tamworth and Copeton Waters, just down the road from the ‘Sapphire City’ of Inverell. While Copeton Waters is renowned for its freshwater fishing and abundance of Murray cod, there are also numerous opportunities to pan for gold in the area. Adventurers here get to experience the outdoors with an undercurrent of feverish excitement fuelling their day.

Must See

In the Dubbo area, Lake Burrendong offers an ‘inland beach’ with sweeping views and watery fun to be had in the vast reserves at Lake Burrendong and Mookerawa Waters. Camping under starry nights is the order of the day, with Dubbo Observatory another option in the region for getting up close and personal with the gorgeous expanse of the Milky Way. Or simply lie back and gaze upwards in the Southern Hemisphere’s first and only Dark Sky Park at Warrumbungle National Park, about 90 minutes drive north of Dubbo. Explorations continue at the 400-million-year-old Wellington Caves, which showcase a whole new world of crystal formations, and pools under the earth.

Off-grid

Camping and wildlife meccas for the true outdoor explorers are Burrinjuck Waters and Wee Jasper, 40 minutes from the charming town of Yass in the Southern Tablelands. Iconic stops on the 426km Hume and Hovell walking track, Burrinjuck Waters and Wee Jasper are probably the prettiest places on the planet for wilderness campers, hikers and water lovers who come to enjoy the refreshing waters of Burrinjuck Dam and the Murrumbidgee River. Epic caving and underground concerts can also be found at the nearby Wee Jasper Caves System at Careys Caves.

Get Amongst It

Leave the coast behind and be lured away by some of the most awe-inspiring inland vistas, experiences, and adventures that can only be found in the State’s thriving rural communities. Picture expansive river systems and massive dams 2-3 times the size of Sydney Harbour, rolling hills, valleys, and mountain ranges with an abundance of native bush and wildlife, and glorious night skies which will leave you star-struck. Then, tick off the holiday wish list with some of the prettiest towns in the country - each with a charm of its own, an old-timey bakery with cakes and pies worth travelling for and country hospitality that will sweep any intrepid explorer off their feet.

On The Water

The NSW Central West region has some of the most stunning waterways to cool down in. At Wyangala Dam and Farleigh’s ‘Beach’ Reserve on the banks of the Lachlan River near Cowra you can swim, kayak, skip some rocks, fish, or get a boat out to escape the heat. The Reserves at Wyangala Waters and Grabine Lakeside offer shady trees in abundance, stunning views across the dam and BBQ/picnic areas for a chill out with family and friends. Or combine nature with international culture and stroll through the 12.5 acres at the Cowra Japanese Gardens for a cup of green tea and a sheltered cool down.

Reflections Burrinjuck Waters

Ngunawal Country

Big, beautiful and a bit off the beaten track, here, where the Murrumbidgee River meets Lake Burrinjuck, you’re in angling heaven. A 40-minute drive from Yass and less than two hours from Canberra, Wagga Wagga and Young, this spacious park is a wildlife sanctuary. With all the action of water-skiing, wakeboarding, and kayaking, plus tennis, volleyball and frisbee golf back at camp, there’s plenty to do. Take off on the famous Hume and Hovell walking track or cosy up by the campfire with the whole gang. Discovering this special oasis within the Yass Valley is a must.

2373 Burrinjuck Road, Bookham NSW 2582 (02) 6227 8114

Reflections Copeton Waters

Kamilaroi Country

The ultimate freshwater fishing mecca, with pristine camping to boot, Copeton Waters is everything you’ll need in a memorable holiday spot. A 30-minute drive from Inverell and an easy drive to Armidale, Glen Innes and Warialda. You can water-ski, wakeboard or kayak the smooth lake waters of this New England country escape. Set on 900 hectares of beautiful bushland, catch and release a Murray cod year round or go MTB riding. Stay a week or a month, nourished by nature’s best adventures.

3533 Copeton Dam Road, Copeton NSW 2360 (02) 6723 6269

Reflections Cudgegong

Wiradjuri Country

Rewind to the classic bush camping holiday of days gone by. This park is close to all the amenities, but you’ll feel a world away from everything. In a stunning natural setting at the eastern end of Burrendong Dam, you’ve just entered paradise for water-skiers, kayakers, and dinghy sailors. Birdwatchers and fisher people will feel right at home too. Less than an hour west of Mudgee, this park is light on mod cons and big on creating special memories for the whole crew, including your furry mate.

Burrendong Road Dam, Yarrabin NSW 2850 (02) 6373 0378

Reflections Grabine Lakeside

Wiradjuri Country

Bring all the gear – boat, fishing rods, water-skis, and bikes to this lakeside holiday gem, and don’t forget the kids and dog too! Pull up stumps on the very edge of Wyangala Dam, and you’re literally just a few steps away from its clear, sparkling waters and endless memories in the making. A scenic drive from Crookwell, Boorowa, and the wider Upper Lachlan Shire, the stresses of everyday life will melt away thanks to the surrounding rolling hills, rich native wildlife, and breathtaking sunsets in this peaceful park.

2453 Grabine Road, Bigga NSW 2583 (02) 4835 2345

Reflections Lake Burrendong

Wiradjuri Country

Watch the great lake sparkle just as bright as the stars in the wide, open sky at this perfect holiday pick. Surrounded by beautiful bushland with plenty of native wildlife visitors dropping by to say ‘Hi’, this haven in Lake Burrendong State Park is an easy drive from Dubbo, Wellington, and Orange. Drop a line in, take the kayaks out for a tour of the lake, or stroll across Burrendong Dam and check out the stunning views. Bask in the brilliance of this country getaway and do as little or as much as you like.

486 Fashions Mount Road, Mumbil NSW 2294 (02) 6846 7435

Reflections Lake Glenbawn

Wonnarua Country

Where lasting holiday memories are made, there’s something for everyone at this simple, yet stunning waterfront retreat. Just 15 minutes out of Scone, welcome to angling heaven and the home of the famous Australian bass. The stunning scenery of the Upper Hunter and the lure of Glenbawn Dam paint the perfect backdrop for bushwalks, water-skiing and boating. Or simply relax and soak up the serenity from your campfire at your blissful spot on the hillside, or campsite on the water’s edge.

501 Eastern Foreshore Road, Glenbawn NSW 2337 (02) 6543 7193

Reflections Lake Keepit

Kamilaroi Country

The best in country camping, this park is a holiday haven in the New England region, with an endless list of things to do. An easy drive from Gunnedah and Tamworth, the kids will be spoilt for choice as they discover the water park, skate park and BMX track, then try their hand at water-skiing, wakeboarding, and tennis. Or if fishing’s your game, launch the boat into the calm waters of Lake Keepit and we’ll see you at sundown by the fire pit. With pictureperfect surrounds, you’re in for a true-blue, dog-friendly Aussie bush camping experience.

234 Keepit Dam Road, Keepit NSW 2340 (02) 6769 7605

Reflections Mookerawa Waters

Wiradjuri Country

For the brightest stars, best fishing and closest encounters with nature, this riverside haven is second to none. Overlooking Macquarie River on the south-western shores of Lake Burrendong, Mookerawa Waters is the ultimate in country camping. Drop a line in the dam, wander the wildflowers, or simply kick back at camp — it’s all about relaxing and recharging and letting nature do her thing. An easy drive from Dubbo, Orange and Bathurst, this waterside gem has something for everyone.

1000 Mookerawa Road, Stuart Town NSW 2820 (02) 6846 8426

Reflections Wee Jasper

Ngunawal Country

The ultimate in off-grid camping, unplug from the daily grind and reconnect with nature at these peaceful reserves. Traditional bush camping like no other, Wee Jasper offers pristine unpowered campsites for camping, caravans, and RVs. A bushwalker’s paradise, or wander along the Hume and Hovell Walking Track, then try fishing in Burrinjuck Dam or rivers – you may even snag a Trout or Murray cod. Surrender to the elements and tranquility, and when the sun goes down, look up to the crystal-clear skies for some of the best star-gazing experiences in NSW.

5 Nottingham Road, Wee Jasper NSW 2582 (02) 6227 9626

Reflections Wyangala Waters

Wiradjuri Country

Rediscover life’s simple pleasures and let tranquillity wash over you at this glorious lakeside setting. On the shores of Wyangala Dam, get away from it all at this huge park, an easy drive from Cowra, Bathurst, Blayney and the wider Central Tablelands. Get involved in some classic freshwater fishing, by boat or by land, spot a kangaroo or native birdlife as you bushwalk, then finish the day around the campfire under the big starry sky. The ultimate bush experience where relaxing is non-negotiable.

2891 Reg Hailstone Way, Wyangala NSW 2808 (02) 6345 0877

Wyangala

Image: @RoadyNZ

Keeping it reel Happy Campers:

When Kaleb and his partner, Hannah, lock up their home in tiny Werris Creek, near Tamworth on Kamilaroi Country, chances are they are heading to the coast.

Kaleb, a locomotive mechanic, and Hannah, a dental assistant, are an easy come, easy go couple who like to blend into the landscape. Their camping setup, however, tends to draw campers to them like flies to a sweaty back.

“We’re really different to a lot of people in the coast parks – everyone has caravans,” explains Kaleb of the reaction to their Ironman hardshell rooftop tent, which sits atop their dual cab Hilux, and a canopy.

“When we were at Seal Rocks last time there was a young couple a few doors down who are looking to do the same. We always have people ask us about our setup. A lot of them like the idea but are worried about spending the money.

Our kit is cheaper than buying a caravan and it’s more functional … we can go where others with vans can’t.”

Words: Penelope Green

They can also tow a boat, which is important to Kaleb, a keen fisho who gets about in a Quintrex 450 Hornet. “A lot of it comes down to towing the boat to go fishing, it eliminates the caravan path. I mean, we think we’re a bit young to be spending all that money. Once you have outlaid [our] initial set up cost, going away is cheap.”

Kaleb has been camping all his life (roughly a quarter of a century, in case you’re wondering), while Hannah, 24, began joining him after they met about five years ago.

Hannah and Kaleb

They’ve stayed at many inland Reflections parks, where Kaleb chases Murray cod and yellowbelly. The couple reckon they’ve visited most of the coastal towns between Newcastle and Tweed Heads and aim to camp one weekend a month, work and life permitting.

They enjoy just simply being: putting down their phones and drinking in the silence. And a few choice beverages, naturally.

“We love when we don’t have screens - we sit, relax, have a few drinks and eat, and listen to music,” Hannah says.

Their most recent trip was to Seal Rocks, where they’d ‘done a recce’ on an earlier camping trip and liked what they saw. Kaleb set up the two-man tent in ‘pretty much a minute’, while Hannah organised the awning on the side. Custom-made drawers in the back of the ute reveal a kitchen slide with a sink, a fridge, gas cooker and plenty of room for pots and pans, and necessities.

So why camp in a rooftop tent when you can be on grass?

“Well, there are no snakes up there,” laughs Kaleb, “and it’s waterproof.”

And so the days unfurl, gently and with a calming pattern. Breakky is reliably bacon and eggs. Lunch is cold meat and salad sandwiches. Dinner is fried rice, steak, and kebabs. In between there’s beach time, fishing, and rest.

“Once we’re set up we don’t do much,” says Hannah. “That’s why we like camping: we set up and we’re forced to do nothing. We lie on the beach, we eat, drink. That’s it.”

In the grand scheme of life, that sounds perfect.

Fishing For The Future

OzFish Unlimited are as passionate about good fishing as they are about protecting the waterways that make it possible. We sat down with Director of Habitat Programs Cassie Price to discover more about the amazing work of this unique organisation.

What exactly is OzFish Unlimited?

OzFish Unlimited is a national not-for-profit organisation that aims to get recreational fishers involved in looking after their waterways. We aim to create a better environment for everyone to enjoy and to have healthier water systems with healthy fish stock. We have just over 50 chapters all over Australia with volunteers in all those groups that each look after their local waterways. We are doing everything from shellfish reef restoration and seagrass restoration in the saltier end, right through to habitat mapping, instream structures, re-snagging and putting fish hotels into the freshwater rivers as well as everything in-between, from litter clean ups, to replanting projects.

We are also passionate about sustainable fishing and making suggestions for gear and tackle changes which are kinder to the environment, as well as educating fishers on how to handle their fish properly when they do catch and release or when they take a photo, so they can get the fish back into the water quickly and kindly. In that way, we’re really changing the view of what recreational fishing is – it’s not about filling your esky with as many fish as you can anymore. It’s about having that great fishing moment, being together in the outdoors and gently releasing fish back to swim another day.

Can you be a fisher and a conservationist at the same time?

OzFish believe the two roles go hand in hand, and many would be surprised at how many recreational fishers care deeply about the environment. That’s why they love fishing and why they want to be out there on the water – they love nature, and the environment. Even the fishers whose very sole purpose is to go and catch a fish, certainly appreciate that good fish and good fishing experiences are going to come out of an area that has good habitat, clean water, and healthy fish stock.

We’ve done a whole heap of research on recreational fishers and their attitudes towards conservation, and what we found was that fishers are really interested in conservation, particularly in their local waterways, and we also learnt that fishers learn best from other fishos. So the more we can get the word out through networks of recreational fishers, the better the information spreads through the fishing. Communities and fishers then take that information on and love being involved in helping to restore and protect their local areas.

Interview: Odette Tonkin Images: OzFish Unlimited

Just like the sport of fishing, OzFish is all about community and working together, isn’t it?

Getting involved in OzFish projects is just another excuse to get outside and enjoy our beautiful waterways! A lot of people who get involved in the organisation love fishing with their families and friends.

We have just launched Junior OzFishers for under 14s because the younger kids really wanted to do more OzFish things when they were out on the water too. Young fishers receive a keepsake pin once they have submitted the work of their challenges through the website which includes everything from clean-ups, catch and release, and sustainable fishing and protection activities.

OzFish have a great new partnership with Reflections. How does it work?

We’re really excited about working with Reflections in 2024! Reflections and their ethos about valuing nature and the outdoors and being conservation-minded, it is such a great fit with us at OzFish. Working together is just perfect because we know a lot of our members and fishers stay at Reflections parks as a destination for their fishing. Reflections have fantastic properties set on coastal or inland waterways and these areas need a lot of love. We plan to use Reflections sites as a base where our chapters and volunteers can stay

We are also running workshops where we can teach recreational fishers different skills and do Junior OzFish workshops to engage the younger fishers in sustainable fishing practices. We are looking at sustainable fishing competitions which is exciting!

In the Central West of NSW, the dams at Reflections parks are the cornerstones of the fishing communities. They are so central to where people gather and some of the biggest comps in NSW are held at those parks. You’d be surprised at how many OzFish members there are in the West who are very passionate about helping their local waterways. It means our message is getting out there–it’s not about catching a fish anymore, that’s just a bonus! Fishing is really about being outdoors, on or near beautiful waterways, being with friends or family and having those terrific moments together.

OzFish by numbers

5,469 volunteers supported OzFish activities between November 2022 and June 2023, contributing 28,079 hours of habitat restoration across 52 Chapters.

1,357,990 seeds/rhizomes were collected by OzFish, restoring more than 9.5ha of seagrass meadows.

4 tonnes of litter was removed by OzFish from over 70km of waterways.

19,150 trees were planted by OzFish along riverbanks.

3,474 reef modules were deployed by OzFish, restoring over 11ha of shellfish reef. This included 54 tonnes of recycled shell diverted from landfill.

110 snags and 94 fish hotels were installed in our rivers by OzFish, and 325 rocky river reefs, providing more places for fish to breed, feed and shelter.

unique stays.

Image: Destination NSW Norah Head Lighthouse, Norah Head

THE LURE OF THE LIGHTHOUSE

There’s something about a lighthouse. That sturdy, white beacon of hope on a headland that links us to days gone by and symbolises safety and strength when the weather gets rough.

Odette Tonkin visits Norah Head Lighthouse and discovers that there’s far more to this watchtower than its reliable shining light.

Words: Odette Tonkin

Illustrations: Erin Moore

Walking through the gates to Norah Head headland, and at first, the stunning rocky platform below and the untouched coastline distracts me from the reason for my visit. There’s beauty all around at this secluded spot on the NSW Central Coast and it almost feels like I’ve been let in on a little secret that only the privileged few know about. I follow the winding path, past the beautifully restored heritage accommodation – the Head Keepers Quarters and the Assistant Lightkeepers’ Quarters, and I make a mental note to check my calendar and find a free weekend to spend at this unique holiday destination.

When Norah Head Lighthouse finally comes into view, crisp and white with its impressive and refined tower on display in all its glory against the backdrop of the endless Pacific Ocean, I’m momentarily taken aback. Since watching ‘Round the Twist’ on the ABC as a kid, I know I’m not the only one to have entertained the idea of what it would be like to live in a lighthouse, or at least be its caretaker. Now, as I stand beneath an historic relic preserved in time since its completion in 1903, I understand why so many of us share a love affair with these maritime monuments.

Norah Head Lighthouse is one of the few remaining working lighthouses in Australia and it has a rich maritime past which began when its light was first illuminated thanks to a vaporised kerosene burner and mantle.

But there’s more to this iconic 27-metre-tall structure than its carefully restored precast concrete blocks. This lighthouse provides joy and purpose to a thriving collection of passionate volunteers who take pride in caring for and showing off this special slice of history.

Today, I’m warmly greeted by Chris Richardson, a dedicated Norah Head Lighthouse volunteer and avid photographer who has climbed the 96 stairs to the top of the tower as a tour guide hundreds of times. Chris explains that he’s just one of around 50 volunteers who run tours, as well as the Lighthouse shop, keep the grounds in tip top shape and carry out maintenance on ‘Grand Old Lady Norah’. “We’re a very tight knit group and one of the things that keeps volunteers coming back here, is the camaraderie that we have with each other,” says Chris. “People ask me how long I’ve been volunteering, and I tell them it’s irrelevant because no matter how often I climb that tower, it’s different at the top, every single time. One thing does stay the same though, despite the changing weather and conditions - the view is absolutely spectacular.”

The iconic winding staircase that leads to the top of the tower

Some of the dedicated volunteers who maintain ‘Grand Old Lady Norah’

Image: Hilda Bezuidenhout

Image: Odette Tonkin

Views for days from Norah Head Lighthouse Accommodation

Chris warns that it only takes two weeks of volunteering at Norah Head before you become at risk of catching the ‘lighthouse bug’. I must be coming down with a mild case on my very first visit, as I’m captivated by the immaculate black and white winding staircase and the quaint checkerboard tiles, and that’s before I even set foot outside the beacon at the very top. “On a clear day you can see all the way up to Redhead, towards Newcastle and you can even spot Centrepoint Tower in the heart of Sydney city, looking the other way,” says Chris. “We get a lot of bird life from kestrels and ospreys to local parrots and then there’s the seals, whales, and dolphins. You can also regularly see navy vessels on the horizon, so many different watercrafts passing by and army aircraft flying overhead which is always exciting.”

I quickly learn that at Norah Head Lighthouse there’s always something happening, and yet, there’s nothing happening at all. The feeling of being immersed in the coastline, almost as part of the natural beauty of the headland, is comforting and it’s no wonder the Lighthouse Accommodation here, which is run by Reflections, is immensely popular. “I live 10 minutes up the road and volunteer here every week, but I still book in to stay for two weekends a year at the Lighthouse Keepers Cottage,” admits Chris. “You can just sit on the verandah and look out at the ocean and let your mind go. The cottages are a living link to the past and have been beautifully restored. It really feels like nothing else matters when you see that light shining into the darkness from your bedroom window – it’s a very special place to stay.”

With windswept hair, I descend the lighthouse staircase to meet another Norah Head Lighthouse legend, former AMSA Lighthouse Keeper and recipient of a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for his services to community history, Mark Sherriff. Wearing a paintsplattered shirt and with smudges across his face and in his hair, it’s easy to see that Mark gives everything he’s got as a jack of all trades and all-round lighthouse conservationist. “I first became a lighthouse keeper at Sugarloaf Point (Seal Rocks) and then travelled around manning light stations all along the eastern seaboard and it was my dream job!” says Mark. “I got to live in the big white house on the hill with the best views in town. You can check the surf, then look after the old girl with painting, mowing, plumbing, building and forever weather proofing… then take people for tours and tell them all about the history of these lighthouses. It was like dying and going to heaven!”

Now contracted to restore lighthouses across Australia, Mark says he’s always been drawn in by the wow factor of these headland beacons and that preserving history is a huge driver for his dedication to his work.

“With a lighthouse, there’s a connection to history and a deep awareness of who was here before us, like the former lighthouse keepers, mechanics, engineers and of course, the lighthouse keeper’s wife and family – when I work on a lighthouse, I feel like I’m tapping into that past energy of who has worn down the sandstone stairs before me,” says Mark.

Spending hours every day painting, restoring, and making sure each lighthouse is in its best shape, Mark admits lighthouse addiction is a very real thing. “Working on them for me is sort of like a cause, a devotion, and one day I’m not going to be here to do it, so I do as much as I can now.”

With plenty of stories to share after decades of sleeping under lighthouse staircases, painting towers in a harness during fierce costal southerlies and repairing senseless vandalism time and time again, Mark is a living lighthouse Wikipedia link. He tells me of the time he rescued a wayward koala who he caught shimmying up the Smoky Cape Lighthouse lightning conductor. And when he scared the pants off a group of rowdy young midnight visitors attempting to break their way in to Barrenjoey Lighthouse by unexpectedly peering out through the window at them in the complete darkness. And when he was sleeping inside Macquarie Lighthouse only to be awoken by the hauntingly beautiful sound of a Middle Eastern woman singing into the lighthouse window as the acoustics carried her voice through the night.

For Mark, who has been working on and off at Norah Head Lighthouse for 33 years, living in and around lighthouses has been a cosmic experience. “I describe it as cosmic because when the night falls it’s all about the stars and the big open sky and being a part of the grand architecture of it all where there’s this energy from the past,” says Mark. “Working on lighthouses means you need an abundance of tolerance, and patience because you’re working against the elements to constantly waterproof everything. Oh, and you also need a good sense of humour, which luckily comes naturally to me because the job is never done.”

After wandering back outside and breathing in the salt air as it whips off nearby Lighthouse Beach, I meet Emma, a Novocastrian who has just finished up a weekend away at this magic spot with her family. “We celebrated my partner’s 50th birthday by staying at the Lighthouse Keepers Cottage and it was such a unique and special experience,” says Emma.

“By day, there’s a real buzz of activity with all the lighthouse visitors wandering past and enjoying the amazing view and the history of the place, and by night, we felt this incredible feeling of exclusivity, charm and heritage – it was unlike any accommodation we had stayed at before and we will cherish the memories that we have made staying here.”

As I bid Norah Head Lighthouse goodbye, and some of the people who have made her what she is today, I feel lucky to have spent the day revelling in this tower’s history and the natural beauty of the place in which she resides. Then I quickly grab my phone to check dates so I too, can bring my family here to step back in time, and fill the shoes of the lighthouse keeper, if only for a weekend.

UNIQUE STAYS

Up your holiday game and stay in a slice of history with the best views on the coast at Reflections Norah Head

Lighthouse Quarters and Reflections

Yamba Lighthouse Cottages. For booking details, head to reflectionsholidays.com.au

Norah Head Lighthouse volunteer Mark Sherriff

Norah Head Lighthouse Accommodation

Image: Chris Richardson

Norah Head Lighthouse Quarters

Darkinjung Country

One for the bucket list! Dust off your best lighthouse keeper’s hat and step back in time, with a stay at the historical, heritage-listed Lighthouse Keepers Quarters and Assistant Lighthouse Keepers Quarters. The only duties required are to relax, recharge and take in the spectacular ocean views, interrupted only by the iconic Norah Head Lighthouse itself. Just an hour from Sydney and a scenic drive from Newcastle, explore the Central Coast’s perfect blend of nature’s best National Parks and beaches, thriving arts scene and delectable cuisine. Then retreat to your very own historical cottage, complete with all the mod cons, and watch the lighthouse do its thing, over the moonlit Pacific Ocean.

40 Bush St, Norah Head NSW 2263 (02) 4086 5503

Yamba Lighthouse Cottages

Yaegl Country

Stay somewhere a little left of centre in our heritage-listed, Clarence Valley cottages. Where the ocean laps at your toes, enjoy all the creature comforts under the shadow of the iconic Yamba Lighthouse. There’s plenty to do with Yamba beach only a few metres away, along with the mighty Clarence River. Explore the nature reserves, walking trails, beaches, fishing, and marine parks, by foot, boat or simply from the deck of your cottage. This unique holiday stay will fit the whole tribe or just hand-pick your best mates and unwind at one of the best addresses in town.

1 Pilot Street, Yamba NSW 2464 (02) 4036 3258

Norah Head Lighthouse Keepers Cottage

Parks and Unique Stays

Reflections

Reflections Lake Keepit Country NSW Kamilaroi Country 234 Keepit Dam Road, Keepit NSW 2340 (02) 6769 7605

Reflections Ballina Far North Coast NSW Bundjalung Country 1 River Street, Ballina NSW 2478 (02) 6686 2220

Reflections Lennox Head Far North Coast NSW Bundjalung Country Cnr Ross Street & Pacific Parade, Lennox Head NSW 2478 (02) 6687 7249

Reflections Bermagui South Coast NSW Yuin Country 1 Lamont Street, Bermagui NSW 2546 (02) 6493 4382

Reflections Massy Greene Far North Coast NSW Bundjalung Country 2 Tweed Street, Brunswick Heads NSW 2483 (02) 6685 1329

Reflections Bonny Hills Mid North Coast NSW Birpai Country 920 Ocean Drive, Bonny Hills NSW 2445 (02) 6585 5276

Reflections Mookerawa Waters Country NSW Wiradjuri Country 1000 Mookerawa Road, Stuart Town NSW 2820 (02) 6846 8426

Reflections Brunswick Heads Far North Coast NSW Bundjalung Country Fingal Street, Brunswick Heads NSW 2483 (02) 6685 1233

Reflections Moonee Beach Coffs Coast NSW Gumbaynggirr Country 50 Moonee Beach Road, Moonee Beach NSW 2450 (02) 6653 6552

Reflections Burrinjuck Waters Country NSW Ngunawal Country 2373 Burrinjuck Road, Bookham NSW 2582 (02) 6227 8114

Reflections Mylestom Coffs Coast NSW Gumbaynggirr Country 30 Beach Parade, Mylestom NSW 2454 (02) 6655 4250

Reflections Byron Bay Far North Coast NSW Bundjalung Country 1 Lighthouse Road, Byron Bay NSW 2481 (02) 6685 6496

Reflections Nambucca Heads Coffs Coast NSW Gumbaynggirr Country 50 Liston Street, Nambucca Heads NSW 2448 (02) 6568 6547

Reflections Coffs Harbour Coffs Coast NSW Gumbaynggirr Country 123 Pacific Highway, Coffs Harbour NSW 2450 (02) 6652 1694

Reflections North Haven Mid North Coast NSW Birpai Country 109 The Parade, North Haven NSW 2443 (02) 6559 9193

Reflections Copeton Waters Country NSW Kamilaroi Country 3533 Copeton Dam Road, Copeton NSW 2360 (02) 6723 6269

Reflections Pambula South Coast NSW Yuin Country Cnr Toallo Street and Munje Street, Pambula NSW 2549 (02) 6495 6708

Reflections Corindi Beach Coffs Coast NSW Gumbaynggirr Country 93 Pacific Street, Corindi Beach NSW 2456 (02) 6649 2803

Reflections Red Rock Coffs Coast NSW Gumbaynggirr Country 1 Lawson Street, Red Rock NSW 2456 (02) 6649 2730

Reflections Cudgegong River Country NSW Wiradjuri Country Burrendong Dam Road, Yarrabin NSW 2850 (02) 6373 0378

Reflections Scotts Head Coffs Coast NSW Gumbaynggirr Country 12 Adin Street, Scotts Head NSW 2447 (02) 6569 8122

Reflections Eden South Coast NSW Yuin Country Aslings Beach Road, Eden NSW 2551 (02) 6496 1139

Reflections Seal Rocks Mid North Coast NSW Worimi Country Kinka Road, Seal Rocks NSW 2423 (02) 4997 6164

Reflections Evans Head Far North Coast NSW Bundjalung Country 18 Park Street, Evans Head NSW 2473 (02) 6682 4212

1 Brighton Street, East Ballina NSW 2478 (02) 6686 2326

Reflections Shaws Bay Far North Coast NSW Bundjalung Country

Reflections Ferry Reserve Far North Coast NSW Bundjalung Country Riverside Crescent, Brunswick Heads NSW 2483 (02) 6685 1872

Reflections Tuncurry Mid North Coast NSW Worimi Country 32 Beach Street, Tuncurry NSW 2428 (02) 6554 6440

Reflections Forster Beach Mid North Coast NSW Worimi Country 1 Reserve Road, Forster NSW 2428 (02) 6554 6269

Reflections Urunga Coffs Coast NSW Gumbaynggirr Country 2 Morgo Street, Urunga NSW 2455 (02) 6655 6355

Reflections Grabine Lakeside Country NSW Wiradjuri Country 2453 Grabine Road, Bigga NSW 2583 (02) 4835 2345

5 Nottingham Road, Wee Jasper NSW 2582 (02) 6227 9626

Reflections Wee Jasper Country NSW Ngunawal Country

Reflections Hawks Nest Mid North Coast NSW Worimi Country Booner Street, Hawks Nest NSW 2324 (02) 4997 0239

Reflections Wyangala Water Country NSW Wiradjuri Country 2891 Reg Hailstone Way, Wyangala NSW 2808 (02) 6345 0877

Reflections Hungry Head Coffs Coast NSW Gumbaynggirr Country Hungry Head Road, Urunga 2455 NSW (02) 6655 6355

Norah Head Lighthouse Quarters Unique StaysCentral Coast NSW Darkinjung Country 40 Bush Street, Norah Head NSW 2263 (02) 4086 5503

Reflections Jimmys Beach Mid North Coast NSW Worimi Country Coorilla Street, Hawks Nest NSW 2324 (02) 4997 0466

Yamba Lighhouse Cottages Unique StaysFar North Coast NSW Yaegl Country 1 Pilot Street, Yamba NSW 2464 (02) 4036 3258

Reflections Lake Burrendong Country NSW Wiradjuri Country 486 Fashions Mount Road, Mumbil NSW 2820 (02) 6846 7435

www.reflectionsholidays.com.au

Reflections Lake Glenbawn Country NSW Wonnarua Country 501 Eastern Foreshore Road, Glenbawn NSW 2337 (02) 6543 7193

Park Features Key

PARK FEATURES

ACCOMMODATION

Fishing

Fish Cleaning Facilities

Fuel

Golf Course

Cabins

Camping

Ferry Reserve

Massy Greene Brunswick Heads

Byron Bay Lennox Heads

Shaws Bay Ballina Evans Head

BUNDJALUNG

Aboriginal Nations

YAEGL

Yamba

Red Rock

Caravan Site

Easy Access Cabins

Kiosk

Copeton Waters

Large Sites

Laundry

PARK FEATURES

BMX /

Pets

MTB Track No

Skate Park

Swimming Pool

Tennis Court

Waterfront

BBQ Area

Boat Ramp

Camp Kitchen

Children’s Facilities

Dog-Friendly Fire Pit

Co s Harbour Corindi Beach

GUMBAYNGGIRR

Moonee Beach

Myleston Hungry Head

Urunga Nambucca Heads

s Head

Sco

Bonny Hills

North Haven

Birpai

Forster Beach Tuncurry

Seal Rocks Hawks Nest

WORIMI

KAMILAROI

Lake Keepit

Lake Glenbawn

WONNARUA

Cudgegong River

Lake Burrendong

Mookerawa Waters

Jimmys Beach

NEWCASTLE SYDNEY

DARKINJUNG

Norah Head

Say Hello

Bundjalung Country — “ Jingi Walla”

Gumbaynggirr Country — “ Giinagay”

Birpai Country — “ Wiyabu”

Worimi Country — “ Wiyabu”

Yuin Country — “ Walawaani”

Ngunawal Country — “ Yumalundi”

Kamilaroi Country — “ Yaama”

Wiradjuri Country — “ Yamandhu marang”

Wonnarua Country — “ Anikanya”

Darkinjung Country — “ Walambayiwa”

Yaegl Country — “ Ginagay”

Grabine Lakeside

YUIN

Wee Jasper

NGUNAWAL

WIRADJURI

Wyangala Waters

Burrinjuck Waters

Pambula Bermagui

Eden

Brisbane

FERRY RESERVE

MASSY GREENE

BRUNSWICK HEADS

SHAWS BAY LENNOX HEAD BYRON BAY

YAMBA EVANS HEAD BALLINA

RED ROCK CORINDI Beach

Moonee Beach

Armidale

COPETON

COFFS HARBOUR

BOAMBEE CREEK RESERVE

MYLESTOM

URUNGA HUNGRY HEAD

NAMBUCCA HEADS

Tamworth

SCOTTS HEAD

LAKE KEEPIT

Port Macquarie

BONNY HILLS

TUNCURRY NORTH HAVEN

SEAL ROCKS FORSTER BEACH

CUDGEGONG

LAKE

Dubbo

GLENBAWN

LAKE BURRENDONG

MOOKERAWA

PAMBULA

GRABINE WYANGALA

BURRINJUCK WEE JASPER

JIMMYS BEACH NORAH HEAD

LIFE’s better outside.

Nowhere to be, Footloose fancy-free, Calippos, hot chips, Paperback reads, afternoon kips. Saltwater dips, avoiding rips, Sundowner from the Waeco, Reflections beside the Jayco.

-Rebecca Ryan