Greendale around Australia

6th October 2013

Left home and headed for Cotton Tree on the Sunshine Coast. Camped with Brenda and Leigh, Jude and Barry, Kylie, Nathan, Travis and Sophie. Went to Buderim then lunch with all plus Gordon and Chris, Keith and Louise and Murray and Mary. On Monday we christened the kayak in the Maroochy River and also went to the beach. Anita and Scott visited and we all enjoyed the warm weather.

8th October 2013.

Travelled to Rathdowney through Jimboomba and Beaudesert. Camped at Bigriggen bush camp beside the Logan River. Lovely spot.

9th October 2013.

Continued on to Kyogle with a small detour to Woodenbong. Spent the next three days with Keith and Louise admiring their beautiful garden and all they have done to their place over the last two years. Day trip to Homeleigh and Cawongla, then Afterlee, Toonumbar Dam and Ettrick. Russell and Keith enjoyed a game of golf!!!

12th October 2013.

Travelled over the windy road from Kyogle to Tenterfield where an afternoon storm caused us to bunker down but no damage done.

13th October 2013.

Continued down the New England Highway passing through Deepwater and Glen Innes to Guyra. We guessed it would be cold in Guyra and it didn't disappoint with wind that cut right through you. Walked around town and settled in to watch the car racing at Bathurst.

14th October 2013.

Left Guyra, bypassed Armidale, then through Uralla and Tamworth to Lake Keepit. Lovely spot, very uncrowded and we went walking and kayaking and for a drive around the dam. Huge fish in the dam which seemed to be about half full but didn't try to catch any.

16th October 2013.

On our way again through Gunnedah, Coolah (past the original Black Stump) to Gulgong. An interesting day in Gulgong visiting the Henry Lawson Centre and Gulgong Pioneers Museum (huge museum which is a real journey into the past). Very historic old gold mining town which featured on the original $10 note along with Henry Lawson. Winds up to 80kmh and bad bushfires around Lithgow and the Blue Mountains. Very smoky so are staying put until we see what happens.

19th October 2013.

Moved on via Mudgee - very prosperous looking town with lovely gardens and surrounded by vineyards through Ilford almost to Lithgow and then west to Bathurst. As expected Bathurst is a very historic old town with lots of lovely buildings. Went for a heritage drive visiting the Railway Station, Ben Chifley's home, the Bathurst Gaol, Abercrombie House and the hospital. Went for a walk through Machattie Park and Kings Parade - lovely old trees and colourful gardens and saw the war memorial carillon and Evans Memorial. Also went for a drive around the Mount Panorama circuit and stopped at McPhillamy Park up the top of the mountain but not much of a view because of the thick smoke. Didn't break any speed records in the cruiser.

We also did a day trip to Sofala which is the oldest surviving gold town in Australia with many old (very dilapidated) buildings and continued for a drive along the Upper Turon. We then turned west and travelled along the lower Turon before heading to the Hill End historic site once one of the richest gold mining areas in Australia. What a lovely little village and excellent to stroll around with lots of explanatory plaques and photos of original buildings from the 1870's. Many of the buildings are being restored and all the vacant sites are well maintained.

Another day trip was to the town of Orange which is similar in size to Bathurst but not quite as historic. Lovely botanical gardens and very vibrant city centre. There is a large gold mine nearby which is providing a lot of the wealth of the town and driving a housing boom.

23rd October 2013.

Left Bathurst and travelled via Blayney (large wind farm) to Cowra where we watched the show at the info centre on the Cowra POW Camp breakout. Very well done and an excellent depiction of events. Cowra is also the site of the only official Japanese war cemetery in the world and Australia's World Peace Bell. The Cowra rose garden at the info centre is also magnificent with approx. 880 bushes and 130 varieties and was a very colourful display. Continued on through Young (too early for cherries:() and Harden to spend the night at Yass.

24th October 2013.

Left Yass and just a short trip down the Barton Highway to the EPIC park in Canberra. Spent the afternoon at old Parliament House doing a guided tour then wandering around ourselves. Very interesting to explore the building which was the home of federal parliament from 1927 to 1988. The next day we visited new parliament house and were able to wander around as parliament was not sitting. Very impressive building with its 81 metre flagpole and beautifully landscaped gardens and courtyards. Great views from up on the roof down Anzac Parade to the war memorial. Went for a drive up Red Hill and then to the Royal Australian Mint (no free samples). We spent the next two days visiting the War Memorial (twice) which is so interesting and thought-provoking. Placed two poppies on the Roll of Honour in remembrance of relatives. Also went up the Telstra tower on Black Mountain for great 360 degree views of the city. Walked a short distance around Lake Burley Griffin and to the Carillon although the weather was quite cool and very windy and not conducive to outdoor activities. Drove up Mt Ainslie for some more great views but there is still more left to do for future visits.

28th October 2013.

Left Canberra and travelled down the Monaro Highway through Cooma and Nimmitabel to Bombala. The temperature did not reach any higher than 14 degrees all day. It had snowed in Bombala last Thursday so we were probably pretty lucky. Bombala is a pretty little town which at one stage was proposed as the capital of Australia as it is an equal distance from Sydney and Melbourne. The Bombala River runs through town and is home to large numbers of platypus. If the weather had been warmer would have been great to put the kayak in and go for a paddle.

29th October 2013.

Left Bombala in showery weather and continued showery and foggy through forestry plantations and the high country down to Victoria and Cann River. Then turned to make our way up the coast hoping for better weather. First stop was Mallacoota in East Gippsland. Mallacoota was a magical spot bordering on the Croajingolong National Park with surf beaches and miles of lake frontage and offshore is Gabo Island. We drove to Betka Beach, Bastion Point, Quarry Beach and Pebbly Beach (where we sighted a migrating whale) although there is a coastal walk of about 9km one way and we walked some short sections of this. We did the walk from the park to Karbeethong Jetty along the shores of the lake which was about 10 km return. Once again the weather was cool and windy.

2nd November 2013.

After our short stint in Victoria, we travelled back to NSW through Eden and Bega to the small seaside town of Tathra. A lovely spot with some magnificent scenery and great views from the headland where we had a great view of a whale as he passed by close in shore. The old steamer wharf built in the 1860's is classified by the National Trust and has done well to survive some of the wild weather that happens along this section of the coast as evidenced by the remains of the old highway that disappeared into the sea. Eden is a working port set on Twofold Bay and the wind was so strong that there were white caps in the harbour so not terribly pleasant for sight seeing. We visited Ben Boyd National Park and saw Boyd's tower which was built in 1847 designed as a lighthouse but never used for this, instead used as a lookout for whaling. Also called in at Merimbula visiting the "Fishpen" where in the 1920's the salmon fishermen would row over the bar and set their nets around a patch of salmon and haul the fully laden net behind their boat into the lake on the incoming tide, and Tura Beach but once again the wind made conditions unpleasant.

4th November 2013.

Pulled up stumps at Tathra and took the coastal road north through Bermagui and Narooma to the little coastal town of Dalmeny. This has to be the pick of the camping spots as we are camped with a great view over the surf beach. Now we would just like some nice weather with no wind. Great spot for bike riding as there is a path along the coast all the way into Narooma in one direction and to the bowls club the other way. Well we have had the odd day of nice weather but the temperature has only reached the mid 20's and when the wind did drop the flies arrived in their thousands. Have been bike riding and walking and the whales have visited so all in all quite enjoyable. We did a day trip to Narooma where we found a couple of huge seals on the rocks and a baby swimming and having fun. Also visited Mystery Bay (more whales), Potato Point and Bodalla (cheese factory, old church and not much else). Judith and Barry turned up and we spent a couple of enjoyable days with them catching up.

12th November 2013.

Stayed an extra day in Dalmeny as the weather turned nasty again but time to head north again. Passed through Moruya where the golf club was under water and then along the coast road to the large town of Batemans Bay. Continued along the coast road visiting Durras, Depot Beach in the Murramarang National Park, Kioloa and Bawley Point but nowhere appealed as a camping spot so went on to Milton just outside Ulladulla. Milton is a historic old town and Ulladulla turned on some nice weather for us. Visited Mollymook and Narrawallee beaches and went out to Warden Head lighthouse where there were some very active whales at play. Also went for a country drive through some very pretty countryside around Woodstock and then to Lake Conjola which looked to be a top spot with a caravan park right on the lake's edge.

14th November 2013.

Left Milton and headed up the Princes Highway through the large town of Nowra and Bomaderry to the "Town of Trees" Berry which has lovely old buildings but a little spoiled by the highway running through the main street. Went on a day trip to Seven Mile Beach, Gerroa, Gerringong (lovely views) and on to Kiama where the little blowhole put on more of a show than the big one. Continued on to Minnamurra then out to Jamberoo and up to Albion Park before taking in the sights at Mt Pleasant lookout overlooking Werri Beach and Gerringong. The weather turned nasty again but we ventured down to Huskisson and Vincentia on Jervis Bay before heading up into the Kangaroo Valley. Saw Hampden Bridge built in 1898 the oldest suspension bridge in Australia and the Kangaroo River before heading up and down the steep, winding road just in time to avoid the heavy rain. Celebrated Russ' birthday with lunch at the pub.

19th November 2013.

Finally packed up and left Berry as there was a break in the weather and thought it may be a little more enjoyable north of Sydney. Travelled via the outskirts of Wollongong, then along the Picton Road joining the M7 through the western suburbs of Sydney, then the M2 through Hornsby and onto the Newcastle freeway. A big day as we then continued through Maitland, Singleton, Muswellbrook to Lake Glenbawn near Scone. Finally found a level spot in a magical place near the lake's edge with no one else in sight. Great animal and bird life and the kayak had a work out as we paddled out to the cemetery which is in the middle of the lake.

21st November 2013.

On the move again, through Scone and Murrurundi and on to Tamworth (very hot) where we stopped for supplies. Passed Manilla and called in at Split Rock Dam but it did not appeal as a camping spot so ended up staying in Barraba overnight. Great little overnight stop.

22nd November 2013.

Left Barraba and travelled through Bingara to one of our favourite spots at Copeton Dam. Could not believe how quiet it was and we almost had the camping ground to ourselves. Storms started in the afternoon but they were only a taste of what was to come on Saturday. We had torrential rain, small hail and the wind blew down lots of trees and branches and we were glad the van was as heavy as it was. A couple of campers had just arrived and put up their tent and don't know how they managed to hold onto it!!! After Saturday, the weather improved and we played golf and tennis and had a camp fire. Not as many kangaroos as last time we were there but still quite a few and the occasional emu as well. A magical spot.

26th November 2013.

Left Copeton and through Inverell and Glen Innes and down the range through Gibraltar Range National Park and Jackadgery to Grafton and on to another favourite spot of Iluka. Hoping for better weather although very windy when we arrived. The weather improved slightly and we had a couple of pleasant days when we enjoyed a game of golf and some kayaking and walking. Revisited Iluka Bluff and the beaches but the weather was predominately windy and showery.

3rd December 2013.

Continued on to Pottsville where the weather warmed up finally. The kayak was given a real workout in Mooball Creek and Russ even braved the water. Keith and Louise joined us for two nights in their recently acquired caravan and we went for a drive north to Kingscliff and south to Brunswick Heads and did a great deal of catching up. Anita and Scott then visited for two nights in their tent and the wind blew gale force the whole time so they now know how to put it up in the wind and more importantly how to tie it down!!! Went walking and more catching up so very enjoyable.

11th December 2013.

Packed up and headed home after another enjoyable ten weeks away.