Town Beach
Town Beach

This post is all about the New South Wales Mid North Coast which is about 4 hours north of Sydney and 6 hours south of Brisbane.

I have been to Port Macquarie many times over the years and do really enjoy this quiet seaside town. This was a 6 day trip, in May 2019, that we had been planning for a while.

Hastings River break wall
Hastings River break wall
Tracking Point Lighthouse
Tracking Point Lighthouse
These koala sculptures were everywhere!
These koala sculptures were everywhere!
Afternoon sunset with the pelicans on the Hastings River.
Afternoon sunset with the pelicans on the Hastings River.
Saturday parkrun. We ran together in 31 minutes 30 seconds for 5 km free, timed event. I tried to take it easy because Sunday was going to be a big day.
Saturday parkrun. We ran together in 31 minutes 30 seconds for 5 km free, timed event. I tried to take it easy because Sunday was going to be a big day.
Up super early for my second full Ironman. First leg was a 3.8km swim in the Hasting River. Great sunrise photo by @consciouscat as I enter the water.
Up super early for my second full Ironman. First leg was a 3.8km swim in the Hasting River. Great sunrise photo by @consciouscat as I enter the water.
2nd leg was 180 km on the bike. The route was out and back to Laurieton, twice.
2nd leg was 180 km on the bike. The route was out and back to Laurieton, twice.
3rd leg was 42 km run/walk/plod as the sun began to fade. Great sunset photo by the Sharks Triathlon Club volunteer photographer.
3rd leg was 42 km run/walk/plod as the sun began to fade. Great sunset photo by the Sharks Triathlon Club volunteer photographer.
The finishing shute is always worth all the effort.
The finishing shute is always worth all the effort.
A quick kiss from the support team ;)
A quick kiss from the support team ;)
I was hoping for a big improvement in time from my first attempt but it was not to be. The swim and most of the bike leg was faster but the end of the bike and the run was a struggle. I think I had burnt myself out by pushing too hard. I remember half into the run just moving into cruise mode and focused on just enjoyed the atmosphere. I walked a fair bit more than I was planning. Still, just finishing any Ironman is a win.
I was hoping for a big improvement in time from my first attempt but it was not to be. The swim and most of the bike leg was faster but the end of the bike and the run was a struggle. I think I had burnt myself out by pushing too hard. I remember half into the run just moving into cruise mode and focused on just enjoyed the atmosphere. I walked a fair bit more than I was planning. Still, just finishing any Ironman is a win.

It was a long slow walk (to cover a very short distance) back to our accommodation for a bath and a sleep because... there was still more to do the next day before heading home.

Ellenborough Falls is the tallest, single-drop waterfall in Australia and the Southern Hemisphere. There were a couple of short walks to viewing platforms and a heap of stairs to the bottom.
Ellenborough Falls is the tallest, single-drop waterfall in Australia and the Southern Hemisphere. There were a couple of short walks to viewing platforms and a heap of stairs to the bottom.
An amazing tree log fungus
An amazing tree log fungus
Parts of the walk down were very, very wet so there were a lot of these.
Parts of the walk down were very, very wet so there were a lot of these.
This photo was take from the bottom part of the falls. It’s hard to see in this photo just how far it is to the top, but it was a LONG way.
This photo was take from the bottom part of the falls. It's hard to see in this photo just how far it is to the top, but it was a LONG way.
At the bottom, Caroline was keen for a quick dip in the cold water. I am sure the cold water would have been great for my sore Ironman legs but just getting down all the steps to the rock pool was enough for me.
At the bottom, Caroline was keen for a quick dip in the cold water. I am sure the cold water would have been great for my sore Ironman legs but just getting down all the steps to the rock pool was enough for me.
She told me it was very cold but she really wanted to get the whole way in. She didn’t stay in for long though :P
She told me it was very cold but she really wanted to get the whole way in. She didn't stay in for long though :P
Then it was time to take the 641 steps back up to the top. All up the walk was 4 km with 206 metres of elevation gain. It took me a while after 226km I covered yesterday. LOL.
Then it was time to take the 641 steps back up to the top. All up the walk was 4 km with 206 metres of elevation gain. It took me a while after 226km I covered yesterday. LOL.
And one last photo from the top, looking across at Ellenborough Falls once more.
And one last photo from the top, looking across at Ellenborough Falls once more.

It was an awesome trip. Another Ironman ticked, several small local adventures done and despite the sore legs, I'm happy we snuck in this side trip to Ellenborough Falls on the way home. It was epic.