Month: April 2024

After a coffee in Batemans Bay cafe set off north to a national park called Murramarang which was basically a forest leading down to a beach. Pebbly Beach is about 7km off the A1 and although at the end of a very narrow track had a few chalets and some public toilets. I was told by a ranger not to pay for the car park as I was only stopping for an hour. Good girl.

Right on the beach I came across my first sighting of a herd of kangaroos. About ten or so. They were just grazing peacefully on the grass. Not at all phased by my presence. Nice to see.
On to Ulladulla where I would eventually stop for the night. It’s small fishing village with several decent cafes and a fish shack by the harbour. By the shack was the fish processing station. After some garlic prawns for lunch I stopped by. There were several large ice full containers holding the fresh caught fish. The main catch seemed to be yellow fined tuna. Big fish!!!!

The weather has not been good today with rain in the morning and then windy and breezy in the afternoon. I hope it clears up tomorrow.

The campsite at Dalmeny was right on the headland overlooking a vast stretch of beach. So instead of being woken by the sound of birds it was the turn of the waves crashing in!!! And boy did they crash. The campsite itself was nothing to write home about being on a bit of a slope. The amenities were a bit outdated and could do with a complete refurbishment. The kitchen was only small with nowhere to sit and the kettle did not work. But it did the job for one night. I stayed in the unpowered section next to a young couple from Canberra who were very pleasant.

I’m not travelling too far today. Just up to Batemans Bay about thirty miles away. It’s a holiday town for Canberra and relatively large for this part of the world. Headed up the A1 to a village called Moruya which is another holiday village that has been closed down for the winter. A few locals swimming and some workmen repairing the local park. Nothing going on at all but I’m sure during the summer it would be very active.

On to the Bay as it’s called locally. It’s got some largish hotels but cinema and a shopping arcade!! Not seen one of them in a while. Boat trips round the bay if you wanted and a few cafes / restaurants. After lunch I decided that was enough for the day and picked a campsite called BIG4. They’re a national group and pretty good standard. It’s off peak so only paid $40 for the night. Very clean with a good fitted kitchen and right by the Clyde River. No Glaswegians here I hope!!!

I decided to most or less make this a travelling day up to Narooma. Also I choose the coast road which although following the coast did no come near it apart for once or twice. Typical roads around here though mountains with lots of turns and hairpin bends.

I stopped off at a small hamlet called Tathra which was by the sea with a couple of cafes and that was about it. Some folks out surfing but the waves were nothing to write home about. On to Narooma which is an inlet my the sea famous for it oyster festival in early May. I stopped for a break and found a pleasant fish and chip cafe by the harbour. It was run by a guy who told me he’d just come back from being a chef at the Savoy in London??? Not sure I believed him as he’d ended up in a fish and chip shop out in the sticks!!!! But it was good quality nonetheless.
I decided not to stop here but moved further north to a seaside campsite at Dalmeny overlooking an extremely long beach. As far as the eye could see.

The campsite here was okay. Pretty basic but it was free. With a little bit of money from the council it would be really good. After a coffee in the local cafe I headed north up the A1. The plan was T visit Genoa on the way up but blinked and I missed it. There was nothing between there and Eden so I pressed on through a really mountainous region. Forests as far as you could see on either side. Beautiful.

Down the other side and into Eden. This was the first whaling town in Australia but nothing much of that now remains. The harbour is still there with a few fishing boats moored up but nothing else. I stopped off for supplies and lo and behold I got my haircut!!!! I was beginning to resemble a tramp so it was about time. Not sure how good a job she did but it will do until I get home.

I was recommended a campsite just outside town so made it there after lunch at a local cafe. BBQd chicken wings and sole slaw . Very tasty with a cup of Earl Grey tea. The site is right by a lake with a boardwalk into town. Where I’m stopped is home to a bunch of rather strange birds. They’re call bell birds cos there song resembles a bell being rung. They are actually a song thrush. Most odd to hear.

I had a walk towards town but stopped off at the local AFL ground where Eden Whalers were playing. They got stuffed!!!!!

After a coffee in town I set off for Orbost along the A1. This runs all the way up to Sydney. The road in this section is through a mountain range covered with deep forests. It only took 45 minutes so decided to call into Orbost to see what was there. Nothing!!!! Except a couple of cafes,a bank and a hotel. There was a campsite but decided to carry on to the coast to a village called Marlo. This is the start of a short coast road going east. There was a site there but it was too early to stop for the day. Moved on to Cann River further along the coast towards NSW.
The campsite there is free and run by the local council. It’s pretty basic but clean enough for an overnight stop. The village itself has a couple of cafes which served lunch and quite busy with travellers. Further east tomorrow.

It’s Anzac Day here so it’s a big deal. It’s a public holiday and most shops are closed at least until 1pm. There is a general meeting for a ceremony by the cenotaph at 6am. Bit too early for me but well attended from what I learnt.

It was a walking day today although the weather was not brilliant with a strong breeze blowing. Lake Entrance is on an inland waterway with a bridge over to the south beach. There was a walk round that to the man made inlet. This had been tidal until the 1920s when a channel was dug to make access to the sea more easy. A good walk but a bit disappointing when you got to the entrance. But still at least I’d done it.

Back in Lake Entrance I stopped off at the local hotel/pub(there’s only one) for beer. It’s a sign of things to come as they had a log fire burning!!!! Yesterday I’d spotted a Chinese restaurant in a military RSL. It’s like a serviceman’s club and there all over the country. Anyone can go in but you must sign the visitors book. No prob. There were quite a few service people in having a meal. I had sweet and sour port which was okay. It’s funny here because they have separate rooms for eating ,one for drinking and one for gambling. I popped into the gambling one on my way out. What an eye opener. Full of slot machines ,wall to wall with elderly woman playing them. Strange to see. Vegas in Victoria.

Well that’s Sale done after an adventurous day yesterday. So a new start today with debit cards split up and money put aside . It’s ANZAC day tomorrow but I’m not sure what’s open and what’s closed. So I stopped off at Bairnsdale to get supplies . It was only thirty miles from Lakes Entrance which was my final destination today. As the name suggests it’s the entrance to the lakes in this part of the world.

It’s right on the beach with lots of fishing boats in the harbour and small day cruising ships. Nice place. There is a bridge over to a headland and the start of 90 mile beach. You’ve guessed it. It’s 90 miles long. There’s a hotel plus several decent restaurants. I’m Stacy here for two nights and go for a walk along the headland. It’s 5K so not too far.

The master plan today was to get to Lakes Entrance which the name suggests is the entrance to the lake system near the coast. I set off bang on time and travelled up to Bairnsdale to pick up supplies along the way. It’s only ah hour so not a difficult journey. Parked up and went for my wallet. Not in my rucksack. I searched the van high and low twice but could not find it at all. Panic. I rang the campsite and the cafe id been in yesterday but nothing there. So I rang the police in Sale to see it it had been handed in. No not a trace. The police suggested going back to Sale and retrace my steps to see if I came across it.

So back to Sale I went and to the campsite explaining to the owner what had been suggested. So walked into Sale and back but nothing there. By this stage I decided to temporarily stop my Starling debit card and also my credit card. I’d separated my Santander debit card from my wallet when I arrive,dbin Australia so at least I’d got a back up if it worked. Paid the lady from the campsite with it anyway so that was good news.

I’d settled into the stop I left the previous day and went to get the camp seat from the back of the van and lo and behold there was my wallet in one of the pockets. Panic over. Unlocked my cards again so back to normal with no harm done. I don’t recall putting the wallet in the seat but obviously I must have. What a clown. So a day wasted but I’ll be back on the road again in the morning.

I was up early at Port Albert to have a final walk along the sea front. The free site was quite busy last night. I called into Yarram for a coffee and supplies including some gas bottles for my small cooker. Job done.
id decided to stay by the sea on my way north so set off for Mc Loughlins Beach. There was a free campsite there but was disappointed when I got there so gave that up as a bad idea and travelled on to Sale which is the head of Lake Wellington. There was a canal built here in the old days to give access to the sea via the lakes. I used to live in Sale back home but this was nothing like that. It a proper town with library and shopping centre. I’d been out free camping for the last two nights so booked into a campsite just outside the centre. It was the show ground with excellent facilities. Only twenty minutes walk back into town for a look around. Called in at a nice cafe for lunch. The sun has been out today so it was tee shirts during the afternoon.

I’ve decided to stay at Port Albert for another night as it’s a beautiful spot and it’s FREE. There’s not even a cafe in the village just the one fish and chip shop. It’s got a lot going for it. So I headed into the nearest town,Yarram, for a coffee and supplies. It’s a little bit bigger than most of the hamlets with several cafes, hardware shop and even a cinema. I had a coffee in an oriental cafe which had loads of various eats. Sandwiches and pies plus pastries. Busy place on a Sunday.
I just made my way to Port Albert for the rest of the day, just chilling out and watching the sea life go by. I’ll head further east in the morning.