Camping at Fingal, NSW

Lisa and Dan invited us on a camping trip with some of their friends.  Fingal is an arm of land that is bordered by the Tweed River on the west side and the Pacific Ocean on the east side.  The actual holiday park wasn't much but the beach was gorgeous with an island just offshore.  We were located just north of a headland where I watched dolphins surf the waves and fisherman cast their lines despite the constant waves and sea spray washing over them (it looked a little precarious).

Max enjoying another boy's dump truck 

This occasion was the second time Max has taken great interest in another child's dump truck.  I bought him one today.  Very naughty--that is exactly why the house fills with excess toys!

Pip and Max playing at the campsite

Wouldn't you know that the toddlers decide that the best place to play during a camping trip is in the car?!  Max played in the car for at least two hours during the twenty-four that we were at the campground.  Since we don't usually have a car, I indulged him.

Tim and I realized that camping does not equate with relaxation when you bring along a toddler (although it may be Max in particular).  Pip generally seemed to stay near the group's campsites.  Max did not sit still unless we strapped him (in protest) into his stroller (for a meal) or until he collapsed at the end of the day (he slept from 7pm until 5:45am the next morning, despite the rain and the partying lads at neighboring campsites).  He spent much of his other time pushing his bus around the campground or playing in the car (in retrospect, I realize that it served as a playpen). We took him to the beach twice--he is such a fan of playing in the smaller waves.  We all came home exhausted...but I'm definitely keen to go again.

One difference between camping as I know it and camping in this part of Australia is the need for shade apparatuses.  Everyone has either shady extensions to their tents or reflective tarps rigged to create shade.  Also, many tents have reflective rain flies for sun protection too.  Queensland supposedly has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world.  It has certainly brought skin protection to my attention.  Let's just say that we don't wear skimpy swimsuits in our family.