Lisa and I’d been saying for years that the last two Aussie weddings on our docket will be the Fulton wedding (which we attended last July) and the Baldwin wedding. (Although my youngest cousin was just engaged so we may have to add one to that list!) Unfortunately for Lisa, the Baldwin celebration was scheduled right in the middle of the California grape harvest so she was on full lock down back in Sonoma (much to her chagrin!).
Granny Jenni was not about to miss an opportunity to have her grandchildren to herself for a week, so she rented a beautiful house for all of us to stay in on Belongil Beach just north of central Byron. It was a great spot, with a downstairs area for me, the kids and my dad, and fantastic living space and master bedroom upstairs.
Making sure homework is taken care of
Our house on Belongil Beach
Our house on Belongil Beach
Our house on Belongil Beach
Our house on Belongil Beach
Our house on Belongil Beach
Breakfast with Johnny
Going shopping with Granny Jenni
Music on the Byron foreshore
Perfection
Afternoon drinks at the Beach Hotel
Afternoon drinks at the Beach Hotel
Lunch in the buff
The beaches around Byron were a a huge hit with kids and adults alike. The house where we stayed had a few body boards, the kids were loving the waves and spent hours surfing at The Pass and beaches around Broken Head. Both Max and Lilia were tumbled a few times, but even after coming out of the whitewater gasping for air they were straight back at it!
Broken Head
Broken Head
Broken Head
Broken Head
Broken Head
Broken Head
Broken Head
Broken Head
Broken Head
Broken Head
Broken Head
Broken Head
Broken Head
Broken Head
Broken Head
Thumbs up from everyone on the Suffolk Bakery
Thumbs up from everyone on the Suffolk Bakery
Thumbs up from everyone on the Suffolk Bakery
A morning at Cabarita with Todd and Celia
A morning at Cabarita with Todd and Celia
A morning at Cabarita with Todd and Celia
A morning at Cabarita with Todd and Celia
A morning at Cabarita with Todd and Celia
A morning at Cabarita with Todd and Celia
Waves and tide pool at The Pass
Waves and tide pool at The Pass
Waves and tide pool at The Pass
Waves and tide pool at The Pass
Waves and tide pool at The Pass
Waves and tide pool at The Pass
Waves and tide pool at The Pass
Waves and tide pool at The Pass
Waves and tide pool at The Pass
Waves and tide pool at The Pass
Waves and tide pool at The Pass
Waves and tide pool at The Pass
Last time we visited Todd and Celia on the Tweed Coast their house wasn’t quite finished. With the final touches now complete, we ventured north one morning to see their new abode and have lunch with them. A great setup for entertaining, and three bedrooms ready for some new additions to the family post-wedding!
Lunch with the family at Todd and Celia’s house in Casuarina
Lunch with the family at Todd and Celia’s house in Casuarina
Lunch with the family at Todd and Celia’s house in Casuarina
Lunch with the family at Todd and Celia’s house in Casuarina
We had a cool day during the middle of our stay, so headed up into the hinterland for lunch at Federal Doma Cafe and then hike down to Killen Falls for a swim. Federal Doma Cafe is such a fantastic spot, the kids and Granny Jenni went back for seconds. We also stumbled on a swimsuit photo shoot at Killen Falls, I thought I may have been dreaming but I have photos to prove I wasn’t…
A morning swim
A morning swim
A morning swim
A morning swim
A morning swim
Lunch in Federal at the Federal Doma Cafe
Lunch in Federal at the Federal Doma Cafe
Lunch in Federal at the Federal Doma Cafe
Lunch in Federal at the Federal Doma Cafe
Lunch in Federal at the Federal Doma Cafe
Lunch in Federal at the Federal Doma Cafe
Lunch in Federal at the Federal Doma Cafe
A hike and swim at Killen Falls
A hike and swim at Killen Falls
A hike and swim at Killen Falls
A hike and swim at Killen Falls
A hike and swim at Killen Falls
A hike and swim at Killen Falls
A hike and swim at Killen Falls
A hike and swim at Killen Falls
A hike and swim at Killen Falls
A hike and swim at Killen Falls
On the morning of the main event – the Baldwin wedding – the kids and I joined Todd and all his mates at Tallows for a surf. A great way to prep for the wedding, waves were nothing to write home about but everyone had a bit of fun and the kids enjoyed watching the boys get a few turns.
Australia’s most easterly point
Australia’s most easterly point
Australia’s most easterly point
Australia’s most easterly point
Australia’s most easterly point
Australia’s most easterly point
Australia’s most easterly point
A morning surf at Tallows before the wedding
A morning surf at Tallows before the wedding
A morning surf at Tallows before the wedding
A morning surf at Tallows before the wedding
A morning surf at Tallows before the wedding
A morning surf at Tallows before the wedding
A morning surf at Tallows before the wedding
A morning surf at Tallows before the wedding
A morning surf at Tallows before the wedding
A morning surf at Tallows before the wedding
A morning surf at Tallows before the wedding
A morning surf at Tallows before the wedding
A morning surf at Tallows before the wedding
A morning surf at Tallows before the wedding
A morning surf at Tallows before the wedding
A morning surf at Tallows before the wedding
A morning surf at Tallows before the wedding
After all the laughs and good times of the wedding day, the kids requested for our last morning to be spent back at Whites Beach in Broken Head. Whites has to be one of the most beautiful stretches of sand in the world: crystal clear turquoise water, a surf break, magic tide pools at either end of the beach, pristine white sand and limited parking for only 10-or-so cars. Oh, and for our last visit we had a pod of whales breaching a few hundred meters off the beach. A really amazing spot.
A magic morning at Whites Beach with Jenni and John
A magic morning at Whites Beach with Jenni and John
A magic morning at Whites Beach with Jenni and John
A magic morning at Whites Beach with Jenni and John
A magic morning at Whites Beach with Jenni and John
A magic morning at Whites Beach with Jenni and John
A magic morning at Whites Beach with Jenni and John
A magic morning at Whites Beach with Jenni and John
A magic morning at Whites Beach with Jenni and John
A magic morning at Whites Beach with Jenni and John
A magic morning at Whites Beach with Jenni and John
A magic morning at Whites Beach with Jenni and John
A magic morning at Whites Beach with Jenni and John
What better excuse for a week in Byron Bay than a wedding! The only thing that would have made it even more enjoyable would have been for Lisa to join us. But the grapes were not going to operate on her calendar… Great to be able to mix in a week for the kids to spend some time with their grandparents too. We’ll be back!
Looks like a fantastic trip!
Amazing shots. Looks like fun was surely had. Can I see an Aerobie?