This will be our first trip away in our van for 2019.
Over the past three months, the weather has been less than ideal, with very strong northerly winds blowing from early morning and sometimes lasting all day and even into the night.
But now it looks like the weather gods are smiling on us, with the forecast for our week away predicting gentle to moderate winds.
The Illaroo campground in Yuraygir National Park lies just 116 km north of our home in Sawtell.
It is the largest coastal park in New South Wales, covering 65 km and stretching south from Angourie in the north to just north of Red Rock in the south.
Travel times have been significantly reduced thanks to the ongoing upgrade of the Pacific Highway to a dual carriageway, which is currently underway from Woolgoolga to Ballina.
From the highway turnoff, it's 38 km to the campground. Although this road is bitumen, it's quite rough in places, with lots of twists and turns and limited overtaking opportunities for other vehicles.
The campsite is right on the beach and features include eco-toilets, drinking water, picnic tables, and BBQS. There are north and south campgrounds with around sixty sites in total, with the northern site being larger.
Having an annual parks pass like ours means the $8.00 daily entry fee is waived.
We only camp here during the week because we find it too busy on weekends and school holidays.
By road, the small settlement of Minnie Water is 3 km south of the campground and features a caravan park, along with a lovely takeaway that also offers coffee, alcohol, and fuel. There's a 1 km path leading from the camping area to Minnie Water. The small village of Wooli, located 15 km south, offers additional facilities, including a general store, a bowling club, a hotel and motel, and several outlets that sell coffee, lunch, and takeaways.
All major facilities are just 45 km away in Grafton.
