Iluka, NSW

Iluka is right across the Clarence from Yamba, on the north head. The ferry runs over and back half-a-dozen times a day, so naturally we took a ride.

Iluka came into existence when they built the training walls, or breakwaters, in 1890 that keep the Clarence open to shipping. All the rock was quarried locally and after it was all over, a bunch of the men decided to stay on and start the fishing fleet in their brand new harbour. About all that is left of the old town is the post office, now a dress shop, and the pub. For some unknown reason, the fery drops you off right up the other end of the two streets that the town consists of.

The pub supplies a courtesy bus but many, including us, elected to walk along the foreshore, which is quite pretty. The end of the line is the fish coop, and unless you're prepared for a big hike (we weren't) that's about it. You can hang about and have a meal in the pub, or walk back down the street to the two shops; a bakery and a cafe. The other shop was a grocer bust is closed due to lack of interest. The 3 tables at the cafe were full so we grabbed a pie and snag roll from the bakery. By he time we had finished the cafe was empty so we moved into a sunny spot and ordered a muffin and coffee. Judy came back out all miffed because they had snapped at here with a terse "Why shouldn't we?" when she asked why they had a picture of Steve and Peter Mortimer on the wall. Not a good start, but wait, it gets worse. I was chewing on a piece of muffin when Judy voiced my concern: it was off! Sure enough on closer examination, the blueberry blue bits were green... Yuk! And the coffee was 'orrible

The antidote was a custard tart and lamington from the bakery and further medication in the form of an icecream back at the wharf were we waited for the ferry to take us away from it all.

By nightfall, even further medication was required, so we adjourned to a rather nice Italian Osteria  up the hill in Yamba, where apart from fabulous food and a glass of Prosecco, we were entertained by a loud Italian at the next table telling his 3 companions how fabulous the lovemaking was with some random woman he had met on the sunshine coast. Arh, those Italians.


Some few snaps => Iluka, NSW

Snap of the day

Must be that old gum-wire...