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Australia 2020

February - March 2020
A 38-day adventure by Nick & Alison Read more
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  • Australia 2020
    Day 10

    Hillary's Harbour

    February 10, 2020 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    Usual late breakfast at the Sandbar. Caught up on some boring stuff like washing and then took an Uber out to Hillary's Harbour about a 15 minute drive from Scarborough. This is a Marina and Leisure complex with bars restaurants and boutiques. There is a small beach and water park and moorings for some impressive boats. The complex is completed by waterside apartments. We had a couple of drinks and a walk round but to be honest it was all a bit soulless and artificial so we came back to Scarborough for our final meal. Heading off to Canberra tomorrow to see Lisa and Dave and to start the next part of our trip. This takes us down the east coast that was badly effected by the recent bushfires and now coping with heavy rain and floods. We will end up in Melbourne before crossing the Tasman Sea to Hobart. Looking forward to it.Read more

  • Australia 2020
    Day 11

    Scarborough to Canberra

    February 11, 2020 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    Got up and packed, checked out and had breakfast. Cliff the taxi driver picked us up at 12.15 and we had a pleasant journey to the airport. Cliff didn't stop talking. Quick check in and then over to the Qantas desk. I wanted to see if we could change our return flight. We are due back from Sydney via Singapore and I wondered if it would be better to go direct from Perth as we did on the way out. Interestingly the non stop flight is having difficulty at the moment as it is on an altered route which is longer than usual to avoid flying over hot spots in the middle east. Because of this 80 to 90 passengers a day are being moved on to other flights as the plane cant take a full load and the fuel needed to do the flight. So Singapore it is. Had a beer at the airport and then a good 3.5 hour flight to Canberra where we were met by Lisa and Dave - nice to see them after so long. Dave drove us back to their apartment and we sat on the balcony with beer and nibbles.Read more

  • Australia 2020
    Day 12

    Canberra - a change of scene

    February 12, 2020 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    Despite the 3hr time difference we were up quite early. Lisa and Dave's apartment is in a trendy waterside development close to bars and restaurants. The weather is not as bad as I expected, definitely cooler and slightly overcast but dry so we took a short walk first thing around the development. Had a cup of coffee and looked over some local information on what we might like to do over the next couple of days. Lisa and Dave got back about 12.30 and we went for a quick tour. We stopped initially at the National Museum and had some lunch and then on to the Botanical Gardens. We had a walk around. Much of the area had been damaged during a recent severe hailstorm. Trees shrubs and greenhouses took a battering so it wasn't looking at it's best. Staff were still clearing up. It was interesting to see the Eucalyptus trees which shed their bark throughout their lifetime. The bark is rich in oil and is easy to burn. This is one reason why the bushfires can spread so quickly and over such distances. The Eucalyptus bark acts like an oil lamp or torch blown by strong winds and landing on tinder dry grass and twigs in bushland which has not seen rain for nearly two years. The good news is that the recent rains have extinguished the majority of fires, we have seen no sign on our trip so far, however there are still some smouldering hot spots with fire fighters being dropped by helicopter into remote areas to put them out.
    We finished up at a local bar for a couple of beers and then on to an Italian for Pasta and Pizza and some nice red wine. Had nightcap and earlyish night as L&D at work next morning.    Read more

  • Australia 2020
    Day 13

    Mount Majura Vineyard

    February 13, 2020 in Australia ⋅ 🌧 22 °C

    Slept in this morning, not sure why !! L&D came back from work and we went off to Braddon. Initially to find some wine but also to go to Avis so that I could upgrade my car for our upcoming road trip. We had some lunch in a bakery called Sonoma. Everything is made onsite and I had the most amazing Chicken & Tarragon toasted sandwich. From there we went out to the Mount Majura Winery for a tasting. We started off outside but the weather came in and it started raining so we moved inside. We tasted 12 wines all made on the Estate. In a good year they will produce 60000 bottles specialising in Riesling and Shiraz. All the wine produced is for local consumption, nothing is exported. We bought 3 bottles Chardonnay, Temperanillo and Shiraz. A nice way to spend the afternoon. Back to the flat via the food market to pick up some fish and prawns. Then a relaxing night in with L&D producing an excellent meal of marinaded prawns , chicken skewers and roasted veg on the bbq.Read more

  • Australia 2020
    Day 14

    Canberra to Bermagui

    February 14, 2020 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    This is the start of our road trip - a two night stay in The Beach House in Bermagui about a 3.5 hour drive east from Canberra on the Pacific coast. We stopped after about an hour for a pie in Braidwood, a typical Aussie country town, then continued to Bermagui. To date we have seen nothing of the bushfires, this was about to change. The area is mainly National Park forestry and in places you could see the lush green vegetation, how it should be. This is in massive contrast to vast areas where there are only charred trunks and brown leaves of burned trees, as if someone had turned off the colour leaving only a brown sepia image of what used to be. So far the damage was mainly to vegetation and eerily a total lack of animal life. The impact on humans seemed limited. This was not the case In Mogo. This small town had a number of buildings turned to rubble protected by metal fencing. It was very moving and I couldn't bring myself to take any photos - it didn't seem right and would not have been respectful to those who had lost their homes, livelihood and even their lives.

    Bermagui was thankfully unaffected and the Beach House commands an amazing view over Bermagui Beach. The effects of the cyclone were agitating the sea and producing white breakers and higher than usual tides. We sat on the balcony and watched the local bird life and then Lisa, Dave and Ali went for a walk while I prepared dinner. Bruschetta with tomato,onion, lime and corriander followed by Barramundi fillet with a creamy curry sauce. Finished off with a chocolate dessert from Woolies.

    Also today was the 20th anniversary of when we got engaged. Happy anniversary to my wonderful wife.    Read more

  • Australia 2020
    Day 15

    Bermagui

    February 15, 2020 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    Weather a bit overcast but still had breakfast on the balcony and then did a tour around Bermagui. We started at Camel Beach so called because of the shape of one of the rocks. From there we went to one of the Lakes and watched some birds. Not sure what they were but recognised Pelicans. We could see the sea crashing on rocks in the distance and so made our way to take a closer look. Took a walk around the headland to Horsehead Beach with panoramic views out to sea and across to Gulaga, Mother Mountain so called because it resembles a pregnant woman laying on her back which you can just make out despite the hanging cloud. We had a quick look at the salt water swimming pool in the rocks but it was too rough for a dip so we went back to town and had a couple of beers in the Bermagui Beach House Hotel. Then back to the house for some food and a graze. Finished off with some local sausages and found a very apt movie - Crocodile Dundee !!Read more

  • Australia 2020
    Day 16

    Bermagui to Lakes Entrance

    February 16, 2020 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C

    We packed up and had breakfast overlooking the marina and then went our separate ways - Lisa and Dave to Canberra and us to Lakes Entrance, the first stop on our 650km road trip to Melbourne. This was the part of the trip that had caused us concern as the route had been closed for several weeks because of the bushfires. The route takes us past Malacoota which was the place where the Navy evacuated people from the beach. Thankfully the road is fully opened but the devastation was clear to see. We drove for about 300km from Bermagui to Orbost. Virtually the whole way we were driving through burned forest. In places a 40m area had been cleared both sides of the highway quite incredible given the short time available. From time to time we came across the remains of houses, the brick fireplace and chimney the only sign of what had once been a home. We stopped at a rest area and I took a few pictures but these can only give a rough idea and goes nowhere near showing the extent of the damage, burned vegetation in some places as far as you can see. Yet strangely the recent rains had created several green areas. The verges with buttercups next to dead trees, life and death side by side. The closer we got to our destination the less distressed the landscape until we found ourselves once more surrounded by lush green countryside.Read more

  • Australia 2020
    Day 16

    Lakes Entrance

    February 16, 2020 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    We arrived at our destination, Waverley House Cottages, a small development of self catering cottages. We went straight into the town. Lakes Entrance was very quiet, perhaps it was because it was Sunday but also because of the lack of tourists as a result of the bushfires and the closure of the only road The Princes Highway. It had a slightly 70s feel, a little run down with Tourist shops selling tee shirts, camping and fishing stuff. We found a Hotel and had a few beers and some fish and chips which were very good. Ali had beer battered Gummy Shark and breaded Whiting, I had Flat Head tails. Watched Queen perform on the Firefighter Concert and had an early night, another 3 hour drive tomorrow.Read more

  • Australia 2020
    Day 17

    Lakes Entrance to Wilson's Promontory

    February 17, 2020 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    Checked out by 10am and had a chat with the owner. She explained that the fires came within 30km of the property and on 31st December they evacuated all of their guests. Luckily the wind changed direction and they were not directly effected but the next paying guest did not arrive until 14th January and this in high season. We went back in to town and walked out over the bridge onto 90 mile beach - the clue is in the title. Then back in the car and on to Wilson's Prom National Park. The journey took us through lush green farm land and rolling hills and familiar places like Stratford which happened to be on the river Avon. We picked up supplies in Toora and some Fuel in Foster as we were not too sure what facilities existed in the Park.
    All of the camping and hostel style accomodation is within a central area. Our Tent was in a secluded area with a shared Kitchen and BBQ. The tent was large with proper ensuite facilities so whilst we were at one with nature we were not exactly roughing it !! We went for a short walk and came across a Wombat and a Wallaby. The park is massive with only one full day we will only scratch the surface but looking forward to getting out and about tomorrow.    Read more

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