Tuesday, 29 May 2012

NSW - Saltwater Creek

Saltwater Creek Wild Ocean

Saltwater Creek Misty Trees

Saltwater Creek Swimming Tea Tree Lagoon

Bush Wallaby

Lace Monitor

Saltwater Creek in the Ben Boyd National Park south of Eden, NSW is absolutely beautiful.  Here you are truly in nature!  The camp ground is surrounded by 3 bodies of water, a salt water creek, fresh water lagoon & the wild ocean, all of which are perfect for swimming in.  There’s wildlife galore including lace monitors, snakes, kangaroos, wallabies, possums, bandicoots & blue wrens, this is also where we got our first mouse in the van! xxx  


Wednesday, 23 May 2012

Victoria

Johanna Beach

My little photographer

The Great Ocean Road

Beautiful scenery, one of the best drives you could do!

Wilson's Prom

Wilsons Prom

Phillip Island

San Remo Jetty

San Remo Jetty

San Remo Jetty

San Remo Jetty

San Remo Jetty

San Remo Jetty

San Remo Jetty

San Remo Jetty

San Remo Jetty

San Remo Jetty

Mallacoota

Mallacoota - our view from camp xxx

Mallacoota - Foreshore Camping

Mallacoota

Mallacoota


The Great Ocean Road; Phillip Island & Fairy Penguins; Wilsons Prom & Mallacoota!

Well the Great Ocean Road, has to be in my opinion one of the best ocean drives that you can possibly experience!  Rolling rainforest meeting pristine beaches & azure crisp waters.  Meditate walking on the beach with sand between your toes or simply cross the road to rainforest delights!

Since we grew up near this spectacular bit of coastline, we decided not to stay too long, however if you have never explored this region I strongly advise that you do!  It was peak season while we travelled here, so everything was busy, busy busy!  Our first stop was Johanna, a free camp with grassy spots, just perfect!  Surf, fish or just relax here & it’s a little out of the hustle & bustle too!

Apollo Bay & Lorne are some of my favourite spots but we couldn’t get any accommodation as it was peak summer holidays!  So we travelled onto my lovely Aunty & Uncles house in Clifton Springs (thanks guys) & did a day trip to Torquay where Fabian purchased a new board in one of the many surf shops & myself a new pair of much needed sunnies!  This place is dangerous for shopping so I tried not to look to be honest, I have spent many a dollar here in the past!  But if you’re looking for some surf gear or want a bargain, this is the place to go!  The seconds’ shops such as Ripcurl’s are a bargain hunters delight!

We skipped Melbourne & crossed to Sorrento via the Ferry at Queenscliffe.  Next stop was Phillip Island, where I finally got to see the little cute Fairy Penguins come in from their journey at sea & return to their burrows.  I swear there was every nation watching this spectacular sight, which was great to see everyone with such enthusiasm.  Unfortunately we couldn’t take cameras so there’s no pics of this one L xxx  If you haven’t done this then I suggest getting there early, & heading straight to the front so you get a good view.
Wilson’s Prom was our next stop, which was breathtakingly beautiful.  It was packed but the park allocates a couple of camp spots every day for interstate & international tourists to stay without booking.  Unfortunately we didn’t know about this until the end of the day, so we only spent a day in the park, however Fabian managed to get a surf, but was chased in by a lone shark & we found a beach without a soul on it!  Nice xxx The park had been affected by the floods in the previous year, so certain areas were off limits but it was still as beautiful as I’d hoped!

From here we travelled along through Gippsland & decided to head straight to Mallacoota.  I absolutely loved it here, we relaxed completely, the weather was nice, Fabian kite surfed, surfed & fished!  Phoenix played in the little lagoons & I took a million photographs, & went for picturesque walks & bike rides, we also met some lovely new friends.  There are people that travel to this region & camp every year & have done so 3 generations apart, lasting as long as 40 years!  That’s how good it is!  The rouring ocean meets the tranquil river, the colour of the rocks are some that I have never seen before with interesting shapes, there are koalas, lace monitors, & plenty of sea life including oysters!  The caravan park here, is perched right on the bank of the river & extends to the beach foreshore.  Perfect location & not too badly priced either!

Thursday, 23 February 2012

South Australia…






Granites, Streaky Bay
Perfection, Streaky Bay, Eyre Peninsula 

Point Labatt, Seal Colony

Point Labatt, Seal Colony

Back Beach, Streaky Bay

Streaky Plant Life

Moon Shadow, Streaky Bay
Salt Lakes on the way to Cactus Beach, Eyre Peninsula

Cactus Beach
Robe
Robe
Robe Marina
Robe Marina
Robe Foreshore
Robe Oblisque
Mount Gambier Fields on the road that I grew up on

Mount Gambier Blue Lake

Mount Gambier Blue Lake

Mount Gambier Town Hall Green Wall

Mount Gambier Town Hall

Mount Gambier Town Hall

Mount Gambier Cave Gardens

Butterflies everywhere!

Mount Gambier Town Hall

Abstract Town Hall

Abstract Town Hall
Flinders Ranges
Flinders Ranges

Growing up in South Australia until I was 23 & living in three different towns within this wonderful state, we didn’t need to explore too much! We decided to head straight to Cactus Beach Campsite near Penong, famous for its shark attacks & great waves, not that people like advertising either of those points.  The Eyre Peninsula is truly beautiful in its own rugged, wild way.  I lived in Streaky Bay for 2 years & loved it, if you want to eat amazing fresh oysters, scallops & blue swimmer crabs, then you’ve come to the right place.  Its nice to see that there’s a few more food options than when I lived here, although the pub still has a hearty counter meal & I thankfully caught up with some old friends, which was just lovely.  From here it was almost Christmas & not being home for Christmas for years & years we decided to skip the rest of SA, only stopping in Adelaide extremely briefly & also one night in the Flinders Ranges & getting to Mt Gambier to see the family.  Mount Gambier is a pretty town, with the Blue Lake, Valley Lakes & Sink Holes, surrounded by farmland, & timbers.  There is a new controversial town hall with a green wall, which I think looks fantastic, the town is looking so much more funky & has some new great organic & food shops. Phoenix just loved the library, which was by far the best public library I’ve ever seen! We spent New Years in spectacular Robe of which I also lived for 2 years, it’s a beautiful town, with beautiful beaches, great food & wine.  Traveling to SA really brought back memories of growing up & it was just wonderful seeing old friends & family again. xxx