After a leisurely breakfast, Alec and I checked out of the hotel. We went to lunch at the Inner Light Tea Rooms with Lisa and Alan before heading back to Sydney.
The tea house is on the site of the old light house and has amazing views of the bays.
Lisa and Alan and their root beer spiders.
Magpie on the lookout.
Mmmm quiche.
Tasty scones.
This little fellow caught a worm right at my feet. Having people around didn’t bother him in the slightest.
We both slept badly, so had a big sleep in, then drove down to Fingal Bay to spend a cruisy day lying on the beach.
By a total co-incidence, Alec’s dad and his wife were staying at the same hotel as us, so we met up with them for dinner that night. After dinner we went down to the marina at Solder’s Point to watch the sun set.
After several weeks of being sick, spending a few days relaxing at Port Stephens with Alec was just what I needed.
We stayed at Salamander Shores on Soldier’s Point. Since we booked last minute, we didn’t have much of a choice of places. We had a “garden view” room, which overlooked a rainforest type of fernery. It was really pretty, like being in a rainforest canopy, along with the kookaburras that woke me up the following morning.
View from the balcony.
Our room – it came complete with a headless Alec.
The storm started rolling in in the late afternoon. This pic is taken from Soldier’s Point – you can see the storm in the distance.
Alec on the wharf. He loves having his picture taken.
Self-portrait. I am addicted.
Wandering around the garden at the hotel.
Hugest rainbow I have ever seen.
Amazing sunset over Nelson Bay.
We found a delicious noodle place at Nelson Bay – fast, delicious veges and noodles… mmmmmm.
I had to fly down to spend a day in Melbourne for work. Apart from the unexpected chill factor, it was a very groovy city that I popped into.
You can’t get hot chocolates like this in Sydney!
Tired and hungry at a funky cafe.
Cool sign in the cafe.
My breakfast. Heavy on the eggs.
Olah’s half-a-pig brekkie. Holy crap!
I was picked up at 3am on Thursday morning for our trip to Thredbo. It’s been seven years since my last trip to the snow. I decided to snowboard again – several runs and awesome stacks later, I was back linking turns and belly flopping in the ice all over again.
On my feet finally!
Oh-oh!
Splat!
Two days later, I was back, with plenty of bruises to show for my little adventure. Can’t wait for next season!
Alec took me to the Hunter to celebrate my birthday.
We stayed at The Carriages guest house … beautiful, quiet and cosy.
The Smelly Cheese shop. Yuuuuummmmmm.
Chocolate …
Accidental romantic self-portraits.
Peppers Winery – buying tasty dessert wine.
The Peppers Convent.
At Hunter Valley Central Gardens.
It was such a lovely weekend. Full of great food, tasty wine and the best company. Awesome birthday week! Thanks Alec 🙂