Day 78 Sep 10 Sat Lismore, Bangalow, Byron Bay and Mullimbimby

We are woken at 3 a.m by a cockerel with no sense of sunrise time. He, or rather all of his other cockerel friends who appear to live with him at the rest stop,continues to crow almost non stop until we leave the rest stop later in the morning! We try to go to "Tropical Fruit World" where there are many different and unusual fruits to sample and the "big avocado" but it is not yet open when we arrive at 9 and doesnt open for another hour and a half. We drive on to Lismore as we have heard there is a good local market here, but are rather disappointed in what is on offer. We stop for a coffee in the town and consult the tourist information office. There is a koala hospital here which is open for visits- but the tourist info lady says that we are a) too late for the Saturday tour and b) that the inmates are mostly one gum leaf away from the big eucalyptus tree in the sky and that it is probably not the best place for the girls. She tells us that there is a food festival in nearby Bangalow -  a town which ironically we passed and nearly stopped at on the way up to Lismore - which is definitely worth a visit, so we head back to the van and make our way there. Amazingly as we drive into the town the girls suddenly spot John and Hazel walking down the road but they are walking in the opposite direction and we are stuck in the queue for the car park- they are also here and we didnt know! Not the first or last time this happens in the coming days. We park the van and head into the "Taste" festival on the showground. Lots of amazing produce on show, lots of things to taste and cheap tasting plates  for $5 or $10 on offer from local gourmet cafes, restaurants and hotel kitchens. The sun is shining, there is a band playing and the smells are amazing.

   

The highlight for the girls is a free "rabbit petting" session with 7 week old bunnies provided by Macadamia Castle, a nearby tourist attraction. As we head back to the van for our usual picnic lunch there is a shout from a nearby car - it is Liz and family! We catch up with all their news and decide to head to the beach at Byron Bay for the afternoon and meet up later.

We end up camping at the same place  - Mullimbimby Rugby League Ground, which rents out pitches in the off season around the ground - there are hot showers in the changing rooms and a covered bbq area with sockets.