If you live in the Newcastle area and have not yet selected an accountant look no further than this excellent firm. I think this may be the first Overall "unbeatable" I've ever awarded and with good reason. We move around a lot and found ourselves on the outskirts of Newcastle come this year's tax time. Choosing a new accountant is a hit and miss affair but I insisted we use the smaller firm near us rather than the well-known nationwide chain. We popped in with a huge pile of paper (receipts, group certs etc etc) expecting to leave it all there but ...were immediately sat down for a consultation. The guy went through everything with a fine-toothed comb, asked heaps of pertinent questions, made some very useful suggestions both for this year and next. Imparted even more handy tips to bear in mind for next year, totted it all up and produced a rather nice $figure. It was signed-off there and then and just over a week later the exact amount appeared in our bank account. I've never known anything like it before. This firm knows its stuff, was efficiency personified and we couldn't be more thrilled with the outcome. I should mention that our returns are not exactly straightforward, we move around a lot for my husband's work, he works for many companies during a tax year and it all gets very complicated -
which is why I was so majorly impressed with Visionary Accountants immediate grasp of our affairs. We got more back from the tax dept than we expected and Visionary's fee was a paltry $120. Love 'em !

Approximate cost: $120

I was simply going to say how much I enjoy the site and its usefulness - and I love the opportunity to have my say (plus get rewards) but I first scrolled down and see some reviewers complaining about adjustments to the rewards system. I guess I understand their frustrations but, as I did comment somewhere below, millions of people take the time and trouble to post reviews elsewhere with companies (such as Trip Advisor) who offer no rewards whatsoever. I have been lucky enough to have so far earned 2 x $20 Wish Cards over the space of 2 years. But that is only because we had two major shifts involving long road journeys and many stops in small towns. It was interesting for me to therefore compare all manner of businesses: cafes, pubs and hotels, and other businesses we had to use on our travels. Once we settle for a while (usually in a smallish town) my opportunity for reviewing swiftly runs out! But that's not the point, nor the aim of this site. As and when I do frequent a business or shop I will review it - and fully expect that any points earned will expire before I can redeem them. I think the Rewards system was far too generous at first and possibly "inspired" a few people to abuse the system. I suspect a few still aim to do that but I think perhaps the task of submitting enough "slapdash" and perhaps "false" reviews within the space of 3 months may be beyond them. That said, I think WOMO is as clever as can be in weeding out the Reward-Chasers! And now, I'd like to say the staff are brilliant when it comes to responding to emails and my daft questions and queries! Just one thing: I received my Wish Card yesterday with a letter saying a bumper sticker was enclosed. It wasn't!

We used just an acountant last year (who was very good) but
this past financial year saw my husband work on and off on ABR, and I worked on ABR. How confusing it all was. After just 2 months we were drowning under receipts for everything - not knowing what was useful. Then ....we discovered Joy at BooksinaMess (I must honestly admit a friend of a friend) who actually charges very little to receive one's bundle of paper scraps each month and sort them them out, keeping up to date records. It is rather difficult for me to describe exactly what she does because she does something I can't do! She is not an accountant but makes that end of year thing so much easier if you are self-employed. Her business also advises you how to better your own business. I hear she has had much success but cannot confirm as I have not needed that advice thus far. Her business also teaches MYOB. I would like to learn this but am computer illerate in many ways and if I can employ someone, at a reasonable rate, to do something for me - why bother learning it myself!
As I said, we merely used an accountant last year. This past year saw a change in our employments. When you're an employee for a short while and then self-employed for the next month ...it all becomes very tricky. It was a relief to post our receipts/invoices to Booksinamess every month and let them figure it all out! It has certainly speeded up the process of our tax return this year.

After our stay at Murwillumbah I almost forgot to mention this place. Although we stayed at another pub in town where accommodation was cheaper, we were recommended The Riverview as a nice place for a relaxing drink or two. That was correct. It was a busy atmosphere. Very much a working person's atmosphere actually but you get your drinks and can step out on to an amazing deck right by the river. It was so calming and pleasant. The drinks were a little bit dearer than in the town centre pubs and unfortunately the barman poured a schooner of beer for my husband from the wrong tap - but we chose not to complain. It is one of those pubs that does not have (but may have now) bar eftpos, so off we trotted to the pub atm machine where we paid $2.50 to get cash out.
But having got cash, paid for drinks, it was quite lovely sat outside watching the water rippling past especially as the inside bar was quite noisy - but I think we had coincided our visit with end-of-working day male visitors enjoying a cold one before heading home! BTW: The outside area had a good, clean section which was okay for smokers.Did not experience their accommodation (a little on the expensive side) but have heard good things about their rooms and will probably book in there when we eventually travel back up north.

We chose these guys as we were staying in Murwillumbah at the time and they were the closest (2 mins walk away). The reception staff were very welcoming, friendly and chatty. Bowl of free pens on the counter - great! Everything went smoothly. One minor hiccup I had to call about but that was due to them being rather overwhelmed by clients at the time. It was rectified by one of the staff working into the evening which was good service. My husband uses the car a great deal for work and keeps petrol receips of course. BUT, along with this firm finding the best tax rebate we've had so far, the accountant gave us advice no other had bothered to tell us:keep a log book. We were grateful for that. Another nice thing was that we got the choice of a bottle of wine or box of chocs for being 1st time clients. Nice. The fee was more or less the same as we'd paid others in the past - but the service was better. They were nice people to deal with at a "fraught" tax time!!

4 hours ago I was sat at a table at this adorable place tucking into pie with mushy peas and gravy. I am now back at the campsite we're staying at and still salivating;wishing Harry's was situated just round the corner rather than 15 kms up the road. I have not had a pie and mushies as perfect as this since back in London in the 70s. In fact, it was better. The pie contained chunks of tender beef (not a skerrick of gristle) in a rish, slightly peppered gravy. Every mouthful was sheer bliss - the mushy peas were just as blissful. This divine place only serves pies, hot dogs and pasties but they do them very well indeed. 5 pie varieties (inc. vegetarian) and 3 hot dog types. Hubby had a dog and pronounced it lip-smackingly good. We'll be making the drive next Sunday morning for more of the same! BTW: just $5.80 for the pie and mushies. A bargain.

It's a brave person who runs an independent book store in a small town. You can't even find them in large towns these days. Yet Heidi's Place marches on, providing a selection of new books, some recycled and also cards. Being a small business the shop obviously doesn't stock heaps of everything new that is published but it has that personal service.Order a book and they will have it for you in five days.
It's a small area but for some reason manages to hold meetings for book lovers and for small children - the window is always decorated with childrens' art interpretations of books. This place is a treasure and needs to be nurtured and supported. They do have a great selection of nature books by the way.

If you're travelling down (or up) the New England Highway and get peckish DO please hang out for this place in Lochinvar. This place makes to order the most divine pizzas. You want taste, lots of topping ....this is IT. But the shop is much more. It's also a convenience store with a bit of a difference. Beautiful fresh veg, lots of unusual items and condiments, and quite interesting overall. I was struck by the cleanliness. Whilst waiting for our order to be freshly prepared in the open kitchen at the back, I wandered the shelves and noted not a speck of dust. I like that. Especially in an out of the way store.
It appeared to be run by two young men who were so enormously polite and friendly. Anyway, my husband's pizza was declared the best he'd had EVER. I had a hot dog. Fresh long roll, freshly cooked Italian sausage (I saw him remove the pack from the chiller!) and all the yummy extras. This is the sort of place that needs a "leg-up". Lochinvar is not a hugely populated town so it will rely on passing trade. It deserves to be patronised. To sum-up, I would say that if I could have picked this place up and taken it with me to my next port if call, I would have. It was that good and quite special. BTW: they also do a unique range of dessert pizzas.

Arrived in Murwillumbah with a car-load of stuff - "casualties" ensued. One of which was my pair of clip-on sunnies for my prescribed spectacles. There are 3 optometrists in Mur'bah. It happened I visited the 2 most unhelpful ones first. One was downright rude. Anyway, into Valuespecs to be greeted by a lady with so much friendliness and personality I thought I'd met my new best friend. They actually had clip on sunnies to fit my spectacles BUT were out of the colour I preferred (and need for my senstive eyes). It so happened the lady was wearing clip-ons herself in the right colour.which I desperately wanted. So, you know what she did? She took them off (almost new), and let me have them for ten bucks (normal price $30). She also threw in a lens cloth and a bottle of lens cleaner. I gave her a huge hug. This was service above and beyond the call of duty ! You need specs with great service? Go to Valuespecs.

Approximate cost: $10

I am reeling that no-one has reviewed this place before. It is a gem. Think: milk bar from "Happy Days" but without the jukebox and Fonzi. It's like walking back into the 60s in style, layout and general ambiance. Seems to be the most popular place in Murwillumbah for meeting and eating. The menu is grand. All the old faves and a lot more. Portions are generous, if not lavish. A "cup of tea" order produces a pot of tea, hot water, a cute wee milk jug and accessories. Their pies are baked on the premises daily and I do recommend the beef and mushroom. I ordered two in a row of these (and me on a diet!). The menu is vast which at most places is suspect but here they seem to cope well. The roasts are wonderful and cheap as chips. The milkshakes come in those old-fashioned glasses. The place is always humming and has that real feel of stepping back into the 50/60s. Good value, good food. Highly recommended.