Port Macquarie to Port Stephens, NSW

Okay, so we are starting to think the rain is following us down the coast... And although yes it is beneficial to practice driving while towing Florence in all conditions, but seriously we are getting over the rain. We are also beginning to understand now why when Grey Nomads arrive at the Caravan Park, they set up and sit down, generally with a beverage in hand... It's bloody tiring towing a caravan, particularly in drenching rain. But, we had this highlight on our journey to our next destination of Port Stephens today... The Rock  

We wanted to pull up somewhere for lunch and the rest area we had decided on was quite busy, so we pushed on to the next one, and we are thankful we did. The Ayres Rock Roadhouse is the tragic legacy of the infamous Leyland World, started by brothers Mal and Mike Leyland in 1990. The theme park met I want to say an untimely demise in 1992, but from what I've read, the joint sounded shite to say the least and I don't believe should have ever opened in the first place. Anyway, as we pulled into the rest area, Shovel mentioned the Leyland Brothers and actually thought it might have been The Rock. We couldn't stop laughing when we discovered it actually was the original site of Leyland World. Shovel and I got on to the Leyland Brothers back in 2016 when researching places to visit in Australia. We watched loads of Youtube videos of their show from back in the day and found them, the show and the brothers really interesting and rate them for their entrepreneurialism and inspiring spirit of adventure. Before purchasing Florence, we came close to purchasing a Kombie Van, because we'd seen them get about in one. Unfortunately, despite all their wanderlusting inspiration, they fell short on hitting the mark with Leyland World, which included this shockingly hideous 1:40 scale replica of Uluru that we witnessed at the rest area. Leyland World may have bombed, but their side project, an outdoor educational camp, has had a reincarnation. Taken over by a couple of dedicated families ten years ago, the area behind The Rock Roadhouse, known as The Great Aussie Bush Camp is an outdoor educational camp facility that, so we have read has an amazing reputation for providing children with 'a memorable teaching and learning experience in a family friendly atmosphere.' 

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Check out one of our adventures inspired by the Leyland Brothers

HIGHTVILLE, QLD

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Despite the rain clearing on our 250 kilometre trek from Port Macquarie, another sloping site at our next caravan park located at One Mile Beach in Port Stephens had us struggling with Florence's steadies for another two hours. We love the freedom of traveling with our home, but sometimes caravan parks, particularly the price you pay for them and what you get in return can be a real drain.