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 Topic: A Caravan Holiday.
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17/7/2015 at 2:54am
Location: Melbourne Australia
Outfit: Windsor Rapid Off Road Van + tents
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Hi all,
On this trip we headed from Melbourne to travel to the South East coast of NSW, roughly an 8 to 9 hours drive away.
Driving through eastern Victoria there are numerous large trees and dense forests, we stopped for a break near this one.
Here we are late in the day at Quarantine Bay about 3 ks south of Eden. It was named after a sailing ship that pulled into the bay in the mid 1800s when they had a smallpox epidemic on board. It was an isolated area then, but many onboard died and were buried behind the beach in a communal grave.
We arrived at The Merimbula Beach Holiday Park and backed the van onto a site that gave us a brilliant view out over the sea, I was already lining up where I would photograph the sunrises over the days ahead. With the ocean as a back drop it was time for some R & R.
Early the next morning mother nature didn’t disappoint.
Mitchies Jetty, located just behind the main surf beach, is a lovely spot to paddle or swim in protected waters.
Overlooking the entrance to the Merimbula Lakes.
Another view near the entrance to the Lakes but looking a little further to the right, you can see Mitchies Jetty on the far shore. This photo was taken from about 5 metres up a tree that I climbed to get the photo. The near 15 minutes it took me to get safely back down made me realise I wasn’t as young and agile as I used to be! Or thought I was.
More views near the entrance, note the shallow sandbars that become quite treacherous when there are big seas for recreational and fishing boats.
The deep water port area, just outside the main entrance.
It’s quite hard to get a sunset over water on the east coast of Australia, but if there is a way, you can be assured that I will find it.
Nearby was this greedy Silver Gull, I didn’t have a clue what he was going to do next, I don’t think he did either!
The next day we drove the 7 ks or so south to Pambula Beach. This beautiful area has a caravan park right behind a lovely surf beach that stretches all the way north to Merimbula. Amongst the vans Kangaroos hop and graze without any concern to the residents.
We walked a short distance around to the estuary of the Pambula River where Ben Boyd National Park fringes the southern bank.
This area is very photogenic and we spent quite some time swimming in the crystal clear waters and generally enjoying this delightful spot.
That’s not a jelly fish, THIS IS A JELLY FISH!
On our last day at Merimbula another spectacular sunrise.
We left Merimbula and headed towards our next camp spot at Saltwater Creek in Ben Boyd National Park, a short distance back down the coast.
Once at our bush camp, we set up the van and a stroll to the toilets had Jen rather apprehensive, as this sign affixed to a water tank put the heebie geebies up her.
All around our camp wildlife abounded, and it wasn’t all the cute and cuddly types either. This particular spider was just about the size of my open hand, but the roos casually hoping around our camp were a little cuter.
This little one was particularly inquisitive.
This Goanna measured nearly 1.2 metres in length and Jen thought this bush camping was not quite as relaxing as she had hoped for, with the snakes, spiders etc.
The mouth of Saltwater Creek, and a couple of pics showing it’s Tannin rich waters.
Swimming in the crystal clear waters was absolutely stunning, and having the whole area basically to ourselves was a real bonus.
Saltwater Creek, just near our campsite.
A short drive took us to The Greencape Lighthouse precinct. The Lighthouse built in 1883 was the first concrete cast Lighthouse tower built in Australia.
Despite the lighthouse being built, just 3 years later, the SS Ly-ee-moon struck a reef nearby, with the loss of 71 lives. Because of the conditions that night, only 15 people were able to be saved by the Lighthouse staff. In all, only 24 bodies were recovered from the sea, interestingly one of those was Mrs Flora McKillop, the mother of Sister Mary McKillop who only a few years ago became Australia’s first saint.
Sister Mary established the Convent of St Joseph in Eden in 1888 as a means of showing her appreciation for the rescue attempts to recover her mother’s body, and the subsequent kindness shown by the residents of Eden during her distress and loss.
A number of the bodies recovered were buried in a cemetery beside the Lighthouse grounds.
Well our 4 day stay in this lovely National Park had come to an end.
The sunrises on our last day there, as we prepare to leave and head to our next stop at Mallacoota, just over the border in far eastern Victoria.
I hope you enjoyed this report, the final part will cover our stay at Mallacoota and then at Wingan Inlet, which is situated in Croajingalong National Park, Victoria.
Until then,
Kind regards from Col.
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The worst day above ground, is a whole lot better than the best one under it. Live life to the fullest while you can.
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Great pictures and report as ever though 
