Dec 2021 – South-East Australia – Part I

Well holiday time came around and COVID restrictions were still a pain in the bum. We would have loved to be heading to Tassie (kids), South Australia (family) or could have even handled a bit of Fraser Island but it wasn’t an option. Bloody gut wrenching but not exactly a lot we could do about it.

So we planned a nice little jaunt down through the NSW and VIC High Country. Spent ages looking at different options, how much fuel we would need, where to camp each night etc. A really good plan. Then the weather came, and came, and came – so we really only did a very small part of what we planned. Typical lol

We picked Ellie up from her Dad at 1800h on the Sunday and we went touring. And there was a couple of small hills along the way. Day 1 was basically a run straight down to Loryn’s parents in Sydney for the night. The GPS tells me it was 286km’s with an average moving speed of 86.5km/h. Ummm yeah – it was basically a boring admin move.

Day 2

A nice lazy start to the morning to let the school runs etc finish before we hit the road. Loryn thinks the GPS is learning from me, because it directed us off the Hume Highway at the earliest possible moment. We skirted around the back of Mittagong popping out not far from the Wingecarribee Reservoir.

A bit further on it was a perfect opportunity to stretch the legs at Fitzroy Falls located on the northern end of Morton National Park.

Kangaroo Valley and then Cambewarra Mountain Lookout allowed for further stops and an opportunity to take a late lunch.

Not long after we were on the Princes Highway heading south from Nowra. We toured a lot of this area on a previous trip when we headed north from Bega. Today we did a couple of small stops but more just to have a break than anything else.

The northern route into Congo Campground was closed so we diverted further south through Bergalia. Upon arriving we did a quick setup prior to having a look around.

Cooked up a bit of dinner and I changed lenses on the camera

We were really lucky when another family called us over to look at a couple of Octopus chasing some crabs. I also found out how bloody hard it is to get a shot through water, but anyway I gave it a go!!!

All up a bloody enjoying day just pottering around. We did 347km’s with an average moving speed of 68.7km/h. Climbed 4131 metres and descended 4233 metres – did I mention it was a “hilly” trip!!!

Day 3

Woke up to an amazing part of the world – seriously life is tough when you wake up and see the water just there. There really wasn’t any urgency as we had some breakfast, wandered to the beach and packed up. Eventually we figured we better slowly move.

Up the road we were debating whether to take a look at Tuross Heads or not. We eventually decided to do so and it was well worth it. Even better when you arrive in town there are signs directing you around the scenic route – made it real easy for anyone visiting – well done to whoever set that up.

Bermagui provided a good opportunity to have some lunch at the playground after we had a look around. The water was a tad cool in the pool 🙂

The radar was red and black but thankfully we were skirting the edges as we continued tracking south along the coastline. By the time we got to Tathra it wasn’t too bad. In July 1942, just off the Tathra Headland, a Japanese submarine sunk the U.S. William Dawes. Thankfully it was observed and the rescue of most of the crew owes much to Lorna Waterson’s prompt reporting.

Photos really do tell a story better than my words. Eden Park:

It was a tad wet and whilst I was originally thinking of heading out to the lighthouse at Green Cape, we decided it wasn’t worth the detour. It wasn’t long afterwards that we slipped into Mexico and took the turn to Mallacoota.

Again a quick setup was followed by a look around the local vicinity

We did 280km’s with an average moving speed 61.2km/h (getting slower). Climbed 3824 metres and descended 3845 metres.

Day 4

So we could call this Groundhog Day but it really isn’t a grind. We woke up, remembered we had no work, had a great view, enjoyed breakfast, wandered around the water, packed up and then figured we better slowly keep wandering around the coastline. Yep – life really sucked!!!

It’s been a few weeks now since we did this trip but I remember we had some crappy weather closing in on us at times. We actually had some light rain at Mallacoota, not that it was enough to detract from our enjoyment. Pretty certain we stopped at Cann River for Ellie to have a play and for my body to partake of some coffee.

Either way we bypassed Bemm River and instead took the road down to Cape Conran

The run along the coastline to Marlo has a number of places to divert to the beach, or also to see the mouth of the Snowy River. For those not aware the Snowy River starts at Mount Kosciuszko before winding it’s way 352 km’s down through the Victorian High Country to Bass Straight.

We continued through to meet the Princes Hwy at Orbost, stopping to make some lunch near the Visitor Information Centre.

After lunch we drove past the Orbost rail bridge which opened in 1916. Despite closing in 1987 it is still standing but doesn’t have a National Trust listing. 770 metres long – it certainly gets your attention as you drive over the newer bridge to the south. We turned into the Grandview Lookout to try and get a photo, but it really doesn’t do it justice.

We stopped a number of times on our way to Lakes Entrance enjoying many views along the way.

Arriving at Lakes Entrance we decided to have a look around straight away before the weather got worse.

The Lakes Entrance RSL have an amazing sculpture display

Tonight we chose to grab a cabin rather than swag it. The weather forecast hadn’t quite proven as true as it read this morning, but still it was an opportunity to sleep in a proper bed without a child. We did 252km’s with an average moving speed 61.8km/h. Climbed 2594 metres and descended 2568 metres.

Day 5

So the forecast was right – it rained well and truly. Actually it rained from early morning as well as on and off for the first half of the day. Good thing the swag is waterproof!!!

Due to the rain we just did a run straight across to Sale Not long after we took a diversion down to Seaspray on the Ninety Mile Beach.

A couple of back roads had us popping out on the South Gippsland Hwy where we decided to keep rolling across to Port Albert. We stopped to make some lunch sheltering from the wind.

It’s amazing the little bits and pieces you find along the road

We stopped to have a look at the Toora Wind Farm

And then continued down to Wilsons Promotory, stopping regularly

Arriving at the campground we couldn’t believe how busy it was – privacy wasn’t going to be a highpoint of this night!!! Anyway we setup and went exploring