Blairgowrie to Pambula

January 29 to February 5

  

We spent Saturday through to Tuesday in Blairgowrie at Margaret’s, to catch up on mail and other necessary chores. It was the last weekend of school holidays in Victoria, and the Peninsula was crazy busy, it’s no wonder the locals hibernate during these times. Many thanks to Margaret for her hospitality and washing machine.

Tidal River, Wilsons Promontory

It was great to catch up with Ron Corcoran on Monday when he kindly dropped in to see us. Sorry to miss Pam on this visit, she had a more “pressing” appointment, I trust it is all going well.

Tuesday night we stopped at Bass Valley Campground, about 80km before Wilsons Promontory. After living in Melbourne for two years, and numerous visits and motorhome trips over the years, we still hadn’t been to “The Prom”. Wednesday, after an overnight earth tremor centred in Foster about 30km from The Prom, we bravely headed to the National Park. It is well known for the bushwalking and beaches, so popular they have to hold a ballot to decide who has camping access over the summer holidays.

View of Tidal River from walk trail

Although a very cool day (11⁰C overnight and only 19⁰C as a maximum) it was ideal for bushwalking and we walked Tidal River and Squeaky Beach trails before lunch, and the Wildlife Walk in the afternoon. Although the only wildlife we saw was a small deer who nearly became a hood ornament on the motorhome.

The sign says it all

We drove to the Franklin River Rest Area for the night before continuing east.

Thursday we continued east to Sale, then on to Marlay Point, a spot about 15km from Sale, on Lake Wellington. We have stayed here before on our way back from Tassie, a beautiful, peaceful locality which really only has a sailing club. You can stay overnight on the lake foreshore opposite the sailing club. There were a few more campers than the last time we were here, in 2014. It was about the same time of year when we were last through this coastline, and it is noticeable how many more caravans and motorhomes (and backpackers in cars and vans) there are in all the camp areas three years later.

Foggy dawn, Snowy River near Orbost

Friday we drove to Bairnsdale via the country roads, a pretty drive through grain and sheep farms. A quick shopping stop then on to Lakes Entrance. We have visited here a number of times, so we passed through and drove to Lake Tyers. There is a small community (and a pub) set on the lake at the ocean entrance. We had lunch there and a walk on the beach, then continued on towards Orbost. We stopped at a rest stop on the Snowy River, about 6km out of Orbost. We have also stayed here in the past. We had looked at a couple of other places, but they no longer allowed overnight camping. The Saturday morning photo shows why this spot was a good fall back option.

Coastline looking north towards Mallacoota

Saturday we headed to Mallacoota, a town we hadn’t visited since we lived in Melbourne and holidayed there in 1998. The town hasn’t changed too much, but they have put in extensive walking trails to highlight the spectacular coastline and coastal mountains. We checked out the local markets before lunch, and after lunch we tackled the Mallacoota Coastal Trail, following the cliffs to the south.

We drove back out to the highway and into Genoa, and to the overnight rest stop on the river. We hadn’t stayed here before but had seen it. Did I mention how many travellers there are on the road? We found a spot amongst 60 or more of our closest travellers, the photo was only a section of the area.

Genoa River Rest Area, getting away from it all!

Sunday we continued north and into New South Wales, stopping in Eden for coffee and a walk along the beach boardwalk and lake area. We plan to spend the next few days around Pambula and Merimbula.