Coffs Harbour 2008-2009

2008 marks a special year for our family. We went on our first family holiday, a holiday not shared with other family or friends, and we were able to stay at Aanuka Resort, COffs Harbour for a week.

Joel & I honeymooned at Aanuka almost 11 years ago and we were both suprised at how much things had changed since then. There is a lot more development of housing around COffs thatn when we were there last. We were much poorer then and didn't have a car so we walked into town when we needed things. We looked at the hill that we had to walk up and down 11 years ago and wondered how we ever did it.

It was a time that we were able to reflect on where we were back then and what we have achieved in the last 11 years. Much has changed in our lives and we have accomplished many of the goals we had set many years ago.

Maddy was excited to be going on holidays. We had to refer to the unit as our holiday house, not just the house (you have to be very specific around Maddy) and we took Maddy for a swim everyday. By the end of the week she was absolutely exhausted and slept well every night.

We arrived on Sunday afternoon after a 4.5hr drive that I did by myself as Joel can't drive for 4 weeks after his knee surgery. Monday was spent recovering from the trip down with a morning of swimming in the pool and the afternoon sleeping and watching Pay TV. After a week of having Joel flicking channels (20 to choose from) he has driven me completely mad to the point that I stayed up after he had gone to bed so that I could actually watch a program. It has reinforced my desire to NEVER have pay TV. He would drive me nuts flicking all the time!

Tuesday we booked Maddy into the Star Kids Club for the morning and Joel & I headed down to Bellingen to check out the local art galleries. We had a nice time browsing and eventually had to return to collect Maddy. In the afternoon we took Maddy for a swim and she thoroughly enjoyed swimming from one side of the pool to the other. That night we headed to Finz, a restaurant within the resort, for dinner. we arrived just after 6pm and there were lots of families with young kids there. Tuesday nights kids eat free so was very popular with the families. They had printed the kids menu on sheets of paper and gave the kids colouring pencils to colour in their menu. It certainly had the right effect keeping them all occupied until the meals arrived. Maddy ordered spaghetti which she loved while Joel ordered a seafood entree and main and I ordered a twice baked goats cheese souffle (don't tell my OB please!) and a lamb curry. Very nice though as usual it didn't quite meet Joels high expectations.

Wednesday saw Maddy booked into the kids club again and I headed off for a '9 months nurture' pampering package at the resorts Mi Time spa. I had a full body exholiation and massage, facial and pedicure lasting 2 hours. It was divine. After lunch we headed to the Big Banana - not much to see but we did stop into the puppet store where Maddy got to try all sorts of different hand made puppets and came home with her own Platapus. We did the customary tourist stop for a big banana split which left us all feeling a little sick. No one really felt like dinner that night.

Wednesday night was New Years Eve and Aanuka put on fireworks on the beach. We were well and truly in bed by this time but there was no sleeping for anyone as our house was right on the beach and the fireworks had been set up just outside our house. It was very loud and continued on for about 20 minutes. Amazingly Maddy slept through the whole thing and didn't even stir. We were sure that she would be in our bed crying but she surprised us once again.

Thursday saw us at the pool again...by now I am turning quite brown but have not been sunburnt. After getting bably burnt a few weeks ago I have been very careful. I rarely burn but my back is still sore three weeks later. After an afternoon nap we headed down to the jetty for dinner at the local fish co-op. After over an hour wait we eventually got some food. Good quality but not worth the wait. Maddy went straight to bed so Joel & I shared dessert without her. Yum yum.

Friday morning, our last full day of holidays, we headed to the Pet Porpoise Pool. We arrived just after 9am and got straight in line for a kiss with a seal. Maddy was keen until the actual event so I sat with her and Joel videotaped the whole event. Next we lined up for a kiss with a dolphin. She was not sure about this either so mum had a kiss first then she had one. And we got photos of all the kisses as well. The great thing about the Porpoise pool was that everyone could have a free kiss with the seals and dolphins and have a chance to feed a sea lion, turtles and penguins, all included in the cost of admission. Great value considering all the major animal parks charge just for touching the animals and then charge for any photos on top of that. All we had to pay for was admission and then the nominal cost of the photos.

After being kissed by a seal and a dolphin and feeding the sea lion we sat down for the seal and dolphin show. It was fantastic. The dolphins did all sorts of tricks - jumping through hoops, leaping high in the air, walking on the water with their tails, racing each other and one cheating, talking, having their teeth brushed by a child in the audience and splashing the audience. I between their three shows they had a sea lion and two seals come out and show off their skills - the sea lion talked into the microphone, one seal rides on a skateboard, kicks a ball back to you and catches rings with its teeth then flicks them around its neck ready to catch the next one. At the end of the show they asked everyone to come stand by the side of the dolphin pool so the dolphins could say goodbye. Unlucky for those who did as the dolphins swam right on the edge and absolutely soaked everyone!! We then were able to put our hands in the water as the dolphins swam past - it was amazing how they felt - not slimy but a soft rubber feel. Maddy loved touching the dolphin and Bucky rolled over in front of her so she could rub his flipper and tail. She thought that was amazing.

After the seal and dolphin show they have the feeding of the sharks, turtles and fish in the aquarium. Everyone was able to stand around the huge tank and was able to feed them a piece of fish. The fish were very active and quick to grab the food from your fingers. There was an underwater tunnel that we went through to give the fish/turtles under the water - a lot like the tunnel at underwater world but a lot smaller. Maddy was able to feed three turtles that had been rescued and were being prepared to return to the wild.

We then headed to the penguin area were we were able to feed these tiny penguins. They would come running up to you and quickly peck at you trying to get the food. Maddy was a bit too scared so I ended up feeding them for her but she really enjoyed it.

After all the feeding the next show was the reptiles with Steve McEwan. He had a huge python, a baby croc, a brown snake and a lizard. He showed everyone each of the animals and most were able to touch each of them. There were too many people for us to get near enough but Maddy managed to squeeze to the front and watch. She loves crocodiles so much so that I booked her in for a photo and handling of a croc. For $15.00, after the reptile show, Steve came over and let us handle the croc and all three of us had a photo holding onto the croc together. Included was a copy of the photo taken. I never in my wildest dreams have imagined that I would hold a croc, even a baby one, but I did. This croc was three years old and was as long as the three of us sitting side by side. He also let us touch the python and the lizard. He also spent time talking to Maddy about his animals and she loved every minute of it. The photo says it all!! We then went and watched the seal and dolphin show again sitting in the front row so we could see the seal show better. No one really got wet in the last show but this time we got wet...not much but enough to smell very fishy for the day!!

After a rest at home we headed to the SSS Steak and Seafood Grill for dinner. Joel has laid down the challenge to Murray and Stevo to take on the beef shank challenge. Joel didn't even come close!! My steak was divine and the kids meal was fantastic value - they include a water bottle full of your choice of juice/soft drink that is yours to take home! Great way to advertise your business!! We then moved next door to the cinemas to see Bolt. Maddy was estatic and could not contain herself as we entered the cinemas. As the previews rolled through she kept asking if this was the movie...soon was the reply many times! She was fixated all night but when the movie finished she began crying and started to become hysterical because she thought Bolt was sad. Joel & I can only conclude that she must have been too tired to take in the happy ending and thinks that it didn't have a happy ending. Either way she was sobbing all the way home and cried herself to sleep. Since then we keep telling her how Bolt is happy and finally found Penny. She seems to be coping much better today!!

Saturday, our last day, so we had a buffet breakfast, showered then packed and headed off. It was a great holiday, we are all very refreshed and ready for a new and exciting 2009.