Smorgasboarder_Edition_45

smorgasboarder
With no particular time frame in mind, I
wanted to make sure I made an effort to
visit the ‘smaller’ destinations along the way
With no particular time frame in mind, I wanted to
make sure I made an effort to visit the ‘smaller’
destinations along the way and it blew my mind
how many little nooks and crannies go unnoticed
when traversing this beautiful stretch of bitumen.
In saying that I also managed to score some fun
waves with minimal ‘friends’, spent most days
lazing in the sun with not a soul in sight and
camped to the sound of crickets and cicadas in the
evenings.
Usually when I head south from Noosa I tend to
skip from the Sunshine Coast all the way to Tweed
Heads. Brisbane isn’t quite the ideal place to make
a stop if you’re looking to ‘get away from it all’ and
most times I can’t muster up the surf stoke required
to battle with the crowds of the Gold Coast.
This time however was different as I had a few
interesting interviews to undertake - see one
Rooster and two Jye Gudenswager - both featured
in this edition. Once conducted I was swiftly back
on the road.
Cabarita Beach, located 20 minutes south of
Coolangatta, is a small coastal town with an
estimated population of no more than 150,
probably most recognisable to the surfing world as
being home to one of the greatest aerial surfers on
the planet, Chris ‘Chippa’ Wilson. Caba’s sleepy
atmosphere makes it an ideal destination to stretch
the legs, set up camp and prepare for the road
ahead. I closed out the day with a fun session out
the front surfing 2 foot peaks followed by a well
deserved beer atop Norries Headland on sundown,
it was almost like one of those ‘from where you’d
rather be’ kind of moments.
An early rise followed by the customary coffee at
Coastal Visions Photography Cafe, a small family
owned business that sell some beautiful, locally
snapped photographs, a great way to see Cabarita
in all her beauty. The coffee ain’t too bad either!
Oil topped up, coolant checked and tank filled, it
was time to move on. Destination - anywhere south
of Byron Bay. Now with Ballina seemingly surfed
only by men in grey suits, I decided to skip it all
together, continuing further down until I reached
Yamba.
Driving into Yamba you can already feel the sense
of relaxation taking over, it’s the kind of place where
you would say ‘yep, this is the new home kids’. (I
don’t have kids but I’m just presuming this is what
I would say if I had them). Officially established
as a World Surfing Reserve in 2007 Yamba and
nearby Angourie leaves you spoilt for choice when
deciding where to surf. Surrounded by untouched,
nature filled national parks, bustling marine life and
friendly locals, I couldn’t find a thing I didn’t like
about the place.
‘On the road again’, Yamba had further emphasised
my idea of skipping the ‘big’ destinations on the
map and choosing to turn off at the ones I’d never
thought of visiting. One of those destinations is
Woolgoolga. A short hour and a half dash down the
Pacific Highway from Yamba will bring you to this
little seaside town.
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