Shoal Bay Country Club: REVIEW

I'd never been to Port Stephens.

I know!

But I broke the drought with style, and made sure I included a visit to the place I'd heard about for years: Shoal Bay Country Club.

It's more beach club than the kind of country club you might be picturing, as it's located directly across the road from the beach, and has a buzzy vibe and quite a family feel, and it's also a perfect spot for post-beach, pre-dinner drinks after you've drunk in the sun all day at glorious Port Stephens.

Insider tip: ask for a table overlooking the water... better still, a table outside under the fairy lights opposite the ocean, while you enjoy the late afternoon breeze, devouring your lunch or dinner.

Another insider tip: order that seafood platter.

The highlight: oh my GOSH, that kingfish ceviche!

The deluxe seafood platter - feeding two-four people, at $179 - also features a whole lobster mornay, fresh Port Stephens oysters, Aussie prawns, delicious marinated octopus, sweet blue swimmer crab, grilled barramundi, salt and pepper squid, and chips.

Ah, that tender crab meat:

Back to the ceviche: with a deliciously zesty dressing, and laden with jalapeños, radish slices, lime, and a side of crunchy flatbread, it rates up there with the plentiful lobster mornay.

We had seven in our party, and I am pleased to say that Shoal Bay Country Club also caters for fussy eaters.

One of our mini diners yells 'PIZZA!' when asked ahead of time what he wants to eat at SBCC, and luckily, they have two hard working, on fire pizza chefs who pump out those pizzas like nobody's business.

Here are some sneaky shots of pizzas at the pass, ready for some hungry diners.

Are they good? Yep, he gave them the thumbs up, choosing the Italian classic margherita pizza.

We started with the crispy fried buttermilk chicken wings which were craved by my daughter, and we all enjoyed these. They're served with a lime and chilli mayonnaise. Fifteen bucks for a generous serve to share.

The classic fish and chips is always a good choice at a seaside restaurant, and these did not disappoint our mini diner. Beer battered, with tartare sauce, $25.

Burger aficionados (again, my daughter) will love the grilled beef burger. Melted American cheese, crispy bacon, tomato, lettuce, pickles, onion, garlic and lemon aioli, and served with chips. It was so big she couldn't finish it. Twenty fours bucks and a good feed.

We also enjoyed a woodfired garlic and herb flatbread to share ($10).

A serve of chicken nuggs and chips ($12 for kids under 12) can also fill the belly of a small member of the group. Usually, my young guy goes for this dish. Instead he chose the chicken schnitzel and chips and salad. We ate the chips and salad... standard for this super fusspot.

We were so full we couldn't order dessert!

Should you be able to squeeze it in, they have assorted cakes for $15 each, served with whipped mascarpone, or a trio of ice cream for $12 per serve.

We did have room for drinks, though! A robust glass of red, and an Aperol spritz: the latter is Aperol and fresh lime topped with French sparkling wine and a dash of soda (we do prefer it with Prosecco, though this was still refreshing). $17.

See the full drinks menu HERE.

We came to enjoy Shoal Bay Country Club after seeing it from across the road on a beach day during our mini break from Sydney.

I love nothing more than a day at the beach then off to dinner at the local, so the experience feels almost European, and depending on where you sit and the time of day you go (it can get quite busy inside during dinner time, though feel less busy if you're sitting al fresco), that's exactly how you'll feel!

It's open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and the venue also features live music. And if you want it to be a super quick pitstop in the am, then Mermaids Cafe is the place you'll head (downstairs at street level, for a quick bite to go).

HERE is the full menu.

HERE is more about the venue.

The Shoal Bay Country Club kitchen is open from 11.30am til late, with a 3pm - 5pm bar menu also available.

More specific hours are here:

Monday 6:30am – 2am

Tuesday 6:30am – 2am

Wednesday 6:30am – 2am

Thursday 6:30am – 2am

Friday 6:30am – 2am

Saturday 6:30am – 2am

Sunday 6:30am – 12am

Bottleshop opening hours: Monday-Sunday 10am-10pm

Bonus: they operate a courtesy bus for those living or just visiting locally, which operates Wed-Sun from 5pm, and is available for pick ups and drop offs. The service covers Shoal Bay, Fingal Bay, Nelson Bay, and Corlette. You can call the bus driver on 0431 725 928, during bus operation hours only.

Oh, you can download the SBCC app too! It'll keep you up to date with day to day activities, featured events, live entertainment, weekly performing artists, dining menus and daily specials.

Apple download HERE. And Android HERE.

You can call them on 02 4981 1555, and email them here info@sbcc.com.au

And find them here: 35-45 Shoal Bay Road, Shoal Bay.

See you there!

Friendly staff at SBCC:

Yep, that seafood platter was demolished:

More on that seafood platter:

Reflections Holiday Park, Lennox Head: REVIEW

When you're traveling - especially with family - a hotel is nice, though a place to rest your head that feels and looks like a little home away from home is ideal, especially when it's a long road trip where you spend a substantial chunk of time in the car.

And while one of my kids is beyond the age of "are we there yet" (the other still asks, as his concept time of time is different to his sister's), it's nice to get out of the car and leave the iPad and headphones and snacks behind and surround yourself with a place that looks like a home.

My kids are indoor kids, more than the outdoors-y type.

They are home bodies like me, not necessarily adventure seekers, though will give a hike a go and subsequently love it.

On this trip I travelled with my son and daughter (12 year old twins, my son with autism), as well as some family friends... all in one car!

Yes, we survived it! In fact, I would go as far as saying we thrived on it. It turned out to be a fun, bonding experience, and three adults meant designated drivers could be swapped hourly if needed.

As a family, we'd experienced holiday parks several years before: we took a campervan for a run to a NSW holiday park, and plugged into power and our allotted spot, and enjoyed the facilities, though we'd not stayed inside a holiday park cabin, and after this experience we are now holiday park converts.

So what's the attraction?

The most obvious one is an immediate sense of community you feel when you drive in to a holiday park. In the case of the one we stayed at, you park your car right next to you door, unload, and you can prep a meal in your kitchenette, enjoy it on your deck, and smell the ocean while sitting on your outdoor furniture.

We stayed at Reflections Holiday Park, at Lennox Head and it was an excellent first proper experience of a holiday park.

This absolute gem is right near the beach (yes, actual walking distance to the beach) and is surrounded by residential streets, a coffee shop, and a base to have sand between your toes within minutes.

Lennox Head is a seaside village in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, Australia, situated on the stretch of coast between Byron Bay and Ballina in Ballina Shire local government area.

It shouldn't be a drive through spot, instead an actual destination.

Arriving from a stop at The Farm in Byron, Reflections housed us in two cute villas, which we were told had just been renovated.

This stay came at the tail end of our one week journey through NSW and into QLD, and it was a welcome pit stop to before we headed back to Sydney.

Ample space, comfy beds, living and dining rooms/kitchen, and the friendliest staff. 

The morning we were to check out we grabbed a bucket, went for a stroll, and landed fresh pippies we caught ourselves.

We fried them up with chilli and garlic for a breakfast of champions we enjoyed on our sun drenched deck.

We'd take this kind of stay over a hotel when doing a road trip any day.

This Lennox Head location is dog friendly (they have dog friendly cabins), and there are BBQ facilities, a camp kitchen, laundry facilities, plus wifi, and a shop for basics.

In a holiday park you can: be on the ground, feel the green grass under your feet, open the sliding door and smell the fresh air.

You can't do that staying in a city hotel where can feel a tad isolated from the world (and sure, sometimes you want that), and putting on pants, taking the lift to go downstairs to get food or go for a walk can feel like a chore.

Reflections Holiday Parks in general are located next to some of the most iconic beaches, inland dams and landmarks across NSW.

The clever folks there have created these holiday spots in breathtaking locations, and the Lennox Head location as well as all the Reflections spots offer accommodation options ranging from sites, ensuite sites, beach tents and cabins, all close to, or adjoining some of our Australia's pristine reserves.

Hooked. We reckon you will be too!

Josie's Juice stayed as a guest at Reflections Holiday Parks Lennox Head.

For more information, click HERE.

Shelly Beach Holiday Park: REVIEW

We love holidays of any sort, from posh hotels to camping (okay, glamping actually!) but gosh we love a cosy beachside stay, which is even more fun in winter, when the temps go down and you have to rug up, and in the cold of the night you can hear the crashing waves from your balcony while you sip hot chocolate, and in the morning, the warm sun streams in on your balcony and all is good in the world as you wander down to the beachside to enjoy a breakfast at a beachside cafe.

I have just described our family experience at Shelly Beach Holiday Park, which was quaint and lovely and a simple holiday, but also very comfy and clean and perfect, and a very bonding experience my little family of four.

The older style Shelly Beach Holiday Park is kinda like a relic from family holidays you likely had in your youth. So, the older style cabins are there and caravans too, for budget style accomodation, but if you're okay with the basics for sleeping arrangement, you're still only a minute drive away from what Josie's Juice thinks is one of the very best beaches in NSW, Toowoon Bay.

In this 'hood, you can do as much or as little as you like. Go for a swim at the nearby beach, get some good family time in, and go for that bushwalking stint you've been saying you will do, or enjoy a round of golf at nearby Shelly Beach Golf Club.

Shelly Beach Caravan Park is located away from all main roads and is fully enclosed, making it safe for kids to ride their bikes and scooters in the closed precinct.

And coming soon to Shelly Beach Caravan Park is the new water play area and swimming pool...

For a stint of shopping you can head to Bateau Bay Square only three minutes away.

Or go to The Entrance town centre only 3kms away for the renowned daily pelican feeding. The Pelican Feed takes place on The Entrance waterfront at 3.30pm each day and is one of the Central Coast's most popular tourist attractions, which is rather entertaining, educating visitors and residents alike about the area’s own pelican colony.

Or, hire a charter boat, visit one of the nearby clubs or take a surfing lesson! Or go ten pin bowling, the Amazement Farm and Fun Park, or have a shared family meal at Mingara Recreation Club.

For more info on Central Coast, go here.

For more info on Shelly Beach Caravan Park, go HERE.

We stayed in the newly renovated room with a lovely new bathroom downstairs, and clean and comfortable amenities and beds. There is also a camper's kitchen nearby, but no pets allowed at Shelly Beach Caravan Park. There are also 'beach view cabins', while we stayed in the 'ocean view cabins'.

Here are more photos from our mini family adventure! We can highly recommend Shelly Beach Holiday Park a fun family getaway with all your creature comforts and close to all the elements to make it memorable.