Today Im at a rest area called Yellowpinch Dam, about 10kms north of Merimbula on the NSW south coast. I've been here for two days and there are no signs anywhere saying anything about length of stay and there have been 3 or 4 vans or motorhomes here each night but with one exception, they only seem to stay for one night. I guess maybe they have places to go and people to see rather than just communing with nature.
I guess I have covered a fair bit of ground since leaving Brisbane 3 weeks ago, but as I said previously, the north coast has so much development, so many new houses and resorts, that I by-passed most of it. Also, it was still school holidays and most of the camping areas were chokka not my idea of fun.
Once I detoured around Newcastle-Sydney-Wollongong, the south coast has been much more relaxed and I have had more opportunity to smell the flowers. I spent 4 days at Bodalla and have been here at Yellowpinch for two days. The forecast is for 40+ temperatures for the next couple of days, so I will probably stay here for another couple of days before heading for Eden and the Victorian border.
I am really looking forward to the area south of Eden, cos I understand that it is pretty isolated and unspoiled down that part of the coast.
Went for a great walk through the bush here today for about 3 hours. The area seems to have been (maybe still is) state forest and was a gold mining area in the past, so there are a lot of bush tracks along the ridgelines. There are a lot of old mineshafts in the area, but all the ones I saw had all been securely fenced off to prevent the incautious from taking a tumble. I managed to haul myself up to a high point where I could see the coast about 20 kms away to the East and some valley farm lands about 10 kms away to the west with the ranges in the distance. I think Ill sleep well tonight.
Hi Mike, as usual a very good post! I am in your area, been at Lake Mallacoota for a couple of weeks, worth checking out, a bit cooler than other places in Vic. I am moving to Eden tomorrow for a week, going into Garden of Eden C/Park, need a bit of TLC electricity (or my little dog does). And, I agree that this is a beautiful part of Victoria. Hopefully the weather will moderate soon, making everything a bit more comfortable.
Thanks for the travelogue. One time friends labelled me "Miss National Geographic", but I think I've just been deposed. It's great to hear about the locations we stumble upon. These free camps as far as I understood, were only 24hr stop-overs. I wasn't aware they were free for unlimited time. Is it a national park or conservation park, and is it overseen by National Parks? Do they charge a camping fee?
I just loved the Garden of Eden c/pk and the ring of bell birds from sun up to sun down. Pity about the demise of the fishing industry.
I'm paddling around Cairns. Thankfully it's not as wet as Townsville and Ingham. Poor buggers. Heat waves and bushfires down south, and record floods up north. UK, Europe and the USA have the big chill and snow over. Global warming? The world is such an intersting place, which is why we're all doing our best to see as much of it as we can. Safe and happy travels. Cheers Granny
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20ft Roma caravan - Mercedes Benz Sprinter - SA-based at the moment. Transport has no borders.
Management makes the decisions, but is not affected by the decisions it makes.
Mike47, That place is now on my list of must visits! Your pics are good. Xtrail, must ask you if you don't mind, do you find hitching up and also un hitching and setting up relatively easy to do on your own? I am so at 6's and 7's re a caravan or another campervan for my never ending lap that I am confusing myself! and Mallacoota looks great!
Annie
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Connor - Whippet
Ciaran - Whippet
Annie - after my 2nd cup of coffee I'm almost human! Together we are pawsaroundoz!
Hi Pawzoz. I don't know about anyone else, but I've developed a system for lining up and setting up by myself. Firstly, I used the KISS principle. If you know your gear you know how to set it up. Someone usually guides me into the parking spot or site, and I do it from there. When I back up to hitch up I line up marks on either side of the van in my mirrors, and I'm pretty well spot on. Everyone has their system I guess, including line up poles etc. Practice, practice, practice, and it's a whole lot better than some of the domestic rows I've heard from the campers around me. He wants her to guide him, but they can't hear each other, and hre hand signals are comical to say the least. I reckon both parties should be able to tow and hitch up, and if possible, reverse the van on. He drives, and she's content to let him drive because he makes a terrible passenger. But what if he falls down the van steps, and can't drive? The tell me I'm brave doing it on my own. I don't know why they think that. If I want to do something, I just get out there, prepare myself, and do it. Safe and happy hitching. Cheers Granny
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20ft Roma caravan - Mercedes Benz Sprinter - SA-based at the moment. Transport has no borders.
Management makes the decisions, but is not affected by the decisions it makes.
I have the caravan, simply because I like the car free to look around, It is a bit difficult to take camper everywhere. But I do find hitching and unhitching a little tiresome sometimes, but we can't have it both ways. Its a personal thing, whichever way you go try to make it as simple as possible. I find that there are always somebody who is around to offer help, even if not needed. Granny had given some good tips too. Happy and safe travels Barb.
I will probably be just fine once I start doing it! Yes Barb, thats why I want a caravan too, it is a bit crazy to pay full odds for the odd caravan site only to be out and about all day and not use it - and of course it will I think be a lot more user friendly when I get on the road for the very long slow loop.
Annie
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Connor - Whippet
Ciaran - Whippet
Annie - after my 2nd cup of coffee I'm almost human! Together we are pawsaroundoz!
