NSW Coast 2002

NSW COAST 2003

13th November Wednesday

Left Sydney in Volvo – traveled down South Coast thru’ Sutherland and National Park area. Weather hot, areas burnt over in National park. Stopped at top of hill overlooking Bulli – Wollongong etc. Great view.

Thru’ Bulli, Wollongong and Port Kembla. Shopped for provisions at Pt Kembla mall. Thank goodness for good ol’ Salies as we had forgotten cutlery and crockery, bed linen and pillows. Diverted through Southern Highlands and Mittagong on way to Canberra. Stopped at YHA for night. As usual very comfortable. Tried to get hold of Ginny Davies without success again.

Left ACT and drove across to join Pacific Highway just above Batemans Bay. Stopped at small town (Gidgeringoo??) for petrol. Long drive for day. We tented just outside Batemans Bay in a large caravan park with a decent salt water 25 meter swimming pool in an idyllic setting among eucalyptus trees. A must to return to Island View Beach resort just south of Narooma. Walked along the beach after tea.

Friday 15

Drove via Tilba and Tilba Central both delightful heritage towns full of arts and craft shops and cafes. So easy to linger and be tempted to buy. I was delighted with the entrance of one shop to lure in buyers with a sign saying. All things bright and beautiful, all things great and small, all things priced to sell for one and all! Hey I thought maybe one day I may do a copy cat.
Continued on down the Sapphire coast and on to Bega, a town that survives around a cheese factory. We visited the factory. Stayed in Eden. Twofold Beach Resort campsite. Excellent and pots and pans provided so I give that campsite the thumbs up.

Saturday 16

Relaxed in Eden. A promotion by the Navy down on the wharf. A couple of minesweepers in Port. We went on board and had a good look around. Life at sea sounded great for girls.
Eden Museum- Tom the Orca whale, unique insofar he aided the whalers in herding the hump back whales into the harbour for slaughter. Also recognition for “Pelorus Jack “ Can’t remember what sort of whale (Dolphin!!) he was but he helped Captains to safely navigate the Pelorus sounds in NZ for 40 years. Amazing. There was also real life Jonah who survived after being found in a whale stomach.
Stayed at Ocean View campsite.

Sunday 17

Onto Lakes Entrance arrived for lunch and what a beautiful setting and superb weather. Cont. driving on the Alpine Road which is a tourist drive to a lovely Alpine town called Omeo. Wandered up to the Tourist Information Centre and gift shop which stocked almost exclusively German clocks and artefacts. Fancied a clock so I know to phone Leonie on 0351591552 when I am ready to settle down. Stayed in campsite by river which we had to ourselves except for one other camper. Enjoyed relaxing watching TV that night.

Monday 18

Cont. into the mountainous countryside on the Alpine Drive. Evidence of drought everywhere. Arrived at Dinner Plains at mid day. Dinner Plains is a purpose built alpine village and a ski lodge would set you back 500k. It was easy to imagine the setting during the ski season but there was not a blade of grass to be seen. Wandered around the village, nice place but totally deserted (apart from builders). After a walk drove on to Mt Hotham ( which is Victoria’s prime ski resort ) and finally stopped for lunch by the river in Bright with the temperature soaring in the 40’s Didn’t even go for a swim. Silly me!! The town is lined with avenues of deciduous trees such as Beech. Kept cool hanging out in a Tourist Info Center/café till 4pm before traveling on to Healesville (popular nature sanctuary) nr Melbourne. Eventually found a campsite called Badger’s Creek Holiday Park with a 5 star rating and deserved it.

Tuesday 19

Peter slept in but I was awake early and with the cooler weather grabbed the opportunity for a delightful early morning run passing numerous vineyards and life style allotments. After breakfast drove into St.Kilda where we parked the car. Train into the city with the intention to repair my Thermarest mattress as it had a small hole and consequently a slow leak. Out of luck. I shouldn’t be so hopeful but I was almost desperate to get it fixed as I was getting sore hips every morning. Peter did I think gallantly offer to swop mats. Visited Ackland St. in St Kilda as I wanted to temp the taste buds on the tantalizing sweet shops found there owned by the Jewish community. Met Ross our Accountant at 5pm for business and chat, later went to the pub Ross included.

Wednesday 20

Awoke to rain. Much needed as Australia was suffering the worst drought in years. Left early and drove( with Peter at the wheel as usual, excusable as Company car and a Volvo at that ) north to Mansfield, Wangaratta via vineyards to Beechworth – an old gold and mining town to Cooryong via Tallangatta. Stopped at Beechworth for lunch. Again this is another lovely Ozie mountain town. Here I purchased Emu oil products. Love to return here one day and stay awhile. Meantime we pressed on to Corrong and arrived in the pouring rain to set up our tent in camp site just outside town. Very friendly elderly husband/wife Proprietors.

Thursday 21

6am Peter snoring! I am up with the birdsong and sunshine and not to waste the magic of the time donned my running shoes and out into the beautiful tree lined park and along the running track which surrounds the park and is exactly one kilometer in length and around I went counting to 21. It was so much fun. After breakfast into the car and drove along The Snowy Mountain Drive as seen on the map. Stopped at the Murray Power Station 1 and gleamed some knowledge on the Snowy Mountain Scheme. Onto Thredbo with the aim of making it to summit that day which we did JUST! In truth we didn’t quite make it to the top as it was getting late and we didn’t want to be caught in the dark so we did the sensible thing and turned back. There is always another time! Great chair lift from the resort to the top of the ski runs. Took probably ½ hour to get up. Instead we continued a long drive in the evening to get to the coast and stayed the night in the seaside town of Tathra. On the way stopped at this small shop which sold a special water which is supposed to prevent aging. All the local cows apparently live to be the bovine equivalent of 150.
Friday 22

Up early alone for that early morning walk along the beach. Actually one is never alone as there are always others enjoying the sunrise as well, and personally it’s the best time of the day.
When traveling it seems as thou’ you meet the most interesting people and I thought the French chef we chatted to at breakfast time was one of those people or perhaps you connect better with some and therefore can still recall them even months or years later even thou’ you may have only spent an hour with them. After breakfast we traveled back to Bega and again visited the cheese factory and again sampled and took more than our fair share of their delicious cheeses on display to taste.
Stopped awhile back in Tilba and then onto Narooma and stayed the night back at Island View Resort. I had a say in that so I could enjoy the salt water pool which is a real treat to have in a camp site.

Saturday 23

You have guessed it. Up again for that early morning walk along the beach. Drove to Pretty Beach. Snapped our first photo posing with the beach in the background. Onto Racecourse campsite. Only curious as one of Peter’s colleagues has a holiday home there and it evidently has a reputation for good fishing. It was a good spot. Onto Bateman’s bay and stopped for the night at Pleasurelea camp site. Sunshine Bay. Had a good kitchen but we were camped by the river with mosquitoes as company.

Sunday24

Up early fo a walk. Stopped at Ulladulla on the coast then onto Swanlake at Sussex inlet. Decided to stay put for two nights which was welcomed as the temperatures had soared and must have been in the 40’s. We felt familiar with the campsite site as we had stayed there before and remembered the great facilities which included a fully equipped kitchen, books and TV. This time thou’ it was Spring and the birds were very protective of their young especially the Plover bird. The Plover stupidly lays its eggs on the ground and continually circles its nest and aggressively advances towards you if you approach it. The campsite in the evening and at night is full of kangaroos so you are never alone. I think we were the only people camping. Fantastic spot.

Monday 25

Scorching temperatures.. Found relief down at the river at Sussex Inlet. Great river swimming. Rested there till 4pm – a nice change from driving.

Tuesday26

Up early to travel to Wollongong via Novra and Kiama. Stayed at Bulli campsite which is approximately 25kms north of Wollongong. There is a very pleasant walk/cycle way along the coast from Bulli to Wollongong which we did as a way to get to the city and to keep fit. Stayed two nights before heading back to Sydney. We thoroughly enjoyed the NSW south Coast and only regret was that we didn’t get to Montague Island to see the migrating whales. There is always a next time.
Leah
It was the best holiday Peter. Thanks for giving me the nudge to finish what you started.
Luv U. 6/3/03