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This one is pretty magic, as not only do you have a top smoko spot, but an absolutely top fish and chip shop - Tweed River Seafoods - thrown in for good measure! We are at Chinderah on the old Pacific Highway about 20kms south of the Queensland/NSW border on Tourist Route 38. If travelling south from the Gold Coast just turn off the highway at the Kingscliff exit on the south side of Barneys Point Bridge and head towards Chinderah on the Kingscliff road. You are on the right track if you pass a BP servo on your left - it's only a few k's off the highway and is within 5 minutes of the exit. Don't give up if you get a bit lost as it is very tricky the first time. Also, to get back on the highway you DON'T simply retrace your steps. Follow the Tweed for about a kilometre and the Ballina signs start appearing. The signage was dramatically improved in 2004. |
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| The serving sizes are tremendous value.
Pictured above is a half serve of chips and Dory fillets. You also have Greek
Salad or coleslaw as an extra. John Oxley Park is situated right
on the grassy well treed banks of the Tweed River. On a clear day
you can even see Mt Warning in the distance. The oysters all disappeared
from the rocks in late 2004 as the council replaced the retaining banks. |
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| There
is a nice shelter shed, the most high tech toilet in NSW and best of all you can
park on the grass right next to the river. On weekends you will have to share
with the odd boaty, and it does get popular around lunchtime on most Sundays.
Great spot to wet a line and this is very popular. Unbelievably we were shown
fresh oysters near the bank and tasted a few delicious samples. This is a great
spot to stock up your fridge with fresh seafood - we often do this as it is only
100 kms from home along the best highway in Australia! |
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| Costs:- Reef Fish and chips $4.90. Dory fillets crumbed $5.50 or $17.90 a KG. Prawns $13 to $30 a kg and tray oysters at $6.00 a dozen. Be daring and try a Morton Bay Bug! Our Border Collie Rex really enjoyed a reef fillet! There are no groceries other than milk, but the BP back down the road has a good mini-market. This shop is VERY popular with road transport going well out of their way to feast on a lunch of fresh prawns. We often come down to this spot to simply work in peaceful surroundings beside the river. We certainly do get more work done doing this - obviously GSM and CDMA work 100%. Lots of boats to watch plus there is a launching ramp nearby - provides great entertainment. The shop by the way is absolutely spotless and a pleasure to visit. |
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| One of the attractions of this fish shop is the John Oxley Park which just keeps on improving. We took the two pictures below in February 2005. The wonderful Tweed Council has added excellent tables and seats, fixed up the sea wall and got rid of all the puddles and bog near the river bank. It really takers some beating as a great spot to have lunch! A tiny change to the shop - you can no longer pick out your own prawns - it pays to check what you are given SAP. |
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| The
reserve is a good spot to fill up with water - a wee bit hard to spot the tap,
on a yellow post nearer the road - good stuff too. No signs at all about dogs,
but not a good idea to overnight here as it is right next door to a top caravan
park. Free camping is not encouraged at all in Tweed Shire with $500 fines posted
in many seaside areas. We tend to spend the day here and then overnight at nearby
Stotts Island. It's
a great life! Tweed Seafoods is absolutely in the best five fish and chip shops
in Australia - at present it EASILY rates as the best fish and chips in
NSW! Hema 25 A14 |
