Category Archives: SOUTH COAST…29th Oct – 10th Dec 2011

Sydney, Tasmania

Update on our life in Tassie

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We have continued to have a fun but busy time down in Tassie. We are really happy and content with our decision to move to this beautiful part of Australia and feel very lucky to have achieved a big part of our dreams.  All our improvements to our “Bush Block” are nearly completed. I will take a few photos and post them when it is completed in the next 6 weeks. In the meantime we have enjoyed visits from three of our children and their partners and kids. I was really slack and did not bring out the camera so missed a few photo opportunities. We also spent a few days in Sydney last week catching up with our good friends, Kim and Mike from Tamworth, and enjoying the Keith Urban Concert together. We also visited Mal’s Mum, and caught up with his sister and brother-in-law Melanie and Eric. We enjoyed dinner with friends, John and Rhonda also.

Keith Urban... very cute
Keith Urban concert
He regularly mixed with the crowd
We stayed at our favourite spot in the Rocks... The Lord Nelson Brewery...one of the oldest pubs in The Rocks Sydney
Mal and I enjoyed a delicious meal at another of our favourite Sydney spots....Doyles on the Beach at Watson's Bay. Doyles opened as Australia's first seafood restaurant in 1885 in this location. They have been family owned and operated for over 5 generations.
One of the many old figs at Watson's Bay
This one reminded us of a whale face. We love catching the ferry over to Watson's Bay whenever we visit Sydney.
We always enjoy the buskers and their music down at Circular Quay.
Another talented busker. Yes, we have all their music !!!!
Mike, Kim (our Tamworth friends) with Mal and I at the Rocks
Last, but certainly not least, our beautiful grandchildren (both inside and outside their little bodies) , Rosie and Creed.

 

Sydney

Sydney

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We had a quick trip to Sydney on the weekend to attend an old friend of Mal’s 60th Birthday…Larry. We all enjoyed a cruise out on the harbour. We even had sun !!!!! It was good catching up with John, Rhonda, Dave and Jan too. As my camera is still in Perth in the caravan, I was lucky that John, Rhonda and Jan took some photos for me for the blog. If you think I take good photos, check out these. They are incredible. I think John should retire and take up photography !!! He recently sold a photo and I can understand why.

We fly back to Perth this Monday to pick up our caravan and resume out trip. We hope to head north to Broome, down to Uluru and then continue down to the Great Ocean Road and then back up towards home via Forster. We will be taking 3 months, so will obviously see heaps in between. Can’t wait !!!

Dave, Mal and John
Jan, Ros and Rhonda
Out on the harbour
under the Harbour Bridge
John's great photography
This giraffe has the best view
Luna Park
Another of John's photos
We all met at the Australian in the Rocks
Early morning fog
We enjoyed dinner together at The Waterfront Restaurant
Thank you so much for the photos guys !!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ballina

We are home ……The end of our first trip

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We have arrived home to a warm welcome from Mutley, Salem and Jennifer.

It is great to go on holidays, but always good to be home. (even if it is only for 6 weeks before we head off again for a completely different trip.)

Here is a few pictures to finish off the blog.

Until next time

xxxxx Mal and Ros

ps: OMG, we had trouble sleeping on our first night home last night. It was sooooo quiet. No truck noise at all. Thank goodness for the new bypass.

Jennifer has kept the house spotless, even though she enjoyed entertaining there...including a 12 person dinner party.
Plenty of room for Jennifer's 12 guests
Home
This is as happy as Salem gets
He is happy to see us....just very sleepy now.
Jennifer and her alarm clock (Salem). A huge thankyou to Jen, who helped make our holiday possible.

 

 

 

Coffs Harbour, RESTAURANTS !!!!

Fiasco Italian Restaurant Coffs Jetty…….Last day of our trip

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Friday 9th…..

Our last day has arrived.

We are off home tomorrow.

The sun is out, it is a beautiful day, so I am sure we will enjoy it.

Last night we walked down to the Jetty for dinner, but the Mexican we had planned, looked really suss ! It is owned by the Vietnamese restaurant next door. Even the chef is Vietnamese.The food and the menu were a really strange form of Mexican.

Now, you all know that the best neighbours we have ever had are Towe and Zen, and we love them dearly, and they are great cooks, but not as Mexican cooks.

So we decided to walk down to a restaurant we have tried before. The award winning Italian Restaurant Fiasco. A real treat. We enjoyed two unusual pasta dishes…..Gnocchi Con Salsicca (house made gnocchi with a pork ragout and ricotta) and Ravioli di Ricotta e Limone (house made ravioli filled with ricotta and lemon in a creamy saffron sauce).

They were delicious. The chef is from the Lake Como district of Italy. The food is influenced by the Lombardia Region of Northern Italy.

I could not help but add a little bit of one of my favourite spots, Italy, to the blog !!!!

Fiasco Restaurant

Fiasco Family and staff
Photos from  www.fiascorestaurant.com.au
Lombardia Region, Northern Italy
Coffs Harbour

Bruxner Park Coffs Harbour

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Dec 8…..

The sun came out today so we headed out to do more exploring. We were lucky, as although yesterday was overcast, it really only poured during the night.

Today is beautiful. Tonight we will wonder down to the Jetty to try the Mexican Amigos.

We will be heading home on Saturday. While we have had a wonderful holiday, we are looking forward to being home, even if it is only for six weeks, until we head off again for another nine weeks. Thank goodness for Jennifer !!!!!!

Bruxner Park….. This flora reserve at the top of the mountain near Coffs, is 1km north of the Big Banana, with a winding road up the hill through banana plantations and avocado groves. There are a couple of walks through the rainforest and eucalyptus forest. Stunning views.

 

You can see for miles
Eucalyptus tree @ Bruxner Park
The small skywalk at Bruxner Park

Storm on the way...better head down the mountain to buy our "Chocolate Coated Bananas"
I had to add a photo of the Big Banana

 

 

 

 

Coffs Harbour, RESTAURANTS !!!!

Latitude 30 Restaurant Coffs ……..and Christmas shopping

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Well, we have decided to stay in Coffs for the remainder of our holiday.

Good restaurants

Good beaches

Good surf …hopefully

Good shops

Good people

Good campsite

Good shelter from the rain !!!

 

Todays lunch was at Latitude 30, down on the jetty, overlooking the water and Solitary Islands, and the rain, but a good spot to enjoy the rain.

I enjoyed a delicious Yellow Thai Seafood Curry….heaps of fresh seafood.

Mal had a well cooked Whole Snapper.

All good.

 

Latitude 30.....Coffs Marina
Diverse culture....Woolgoolga
Coffs Harbour

On our way back up north….Coffs Harbour

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Coffs Jetty

 

Wednesday 7th…..

Yes….we are back in Coffs Harbour. We like it here.

Yesterday we enjoying catching up with friends. I should have also taken photos of Freedom and the best kitchen shop????? Oh …and Mal’s BCF and Bunnings.

We have just finished off any work we needed to do (it is only 9.30am…so not too hard), and will take a drive into Woolgoolga this morning and explore that area and all the little beaches around there. It is expected to start raining heaps later today and definitely tomorrow, so may alter our plans of spending the last 3 days of our trip in Yuragir National Park. We have been extremely lucky with the weather on this trip, so certainly can’t complain.

 

 

Southwest Rocks

South West Rocks

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We arrived here at South West Rocks and are staying 2 nights out at Trial Bay. It is quite cool but have been lucky to see the sun a couple of times.

We have been visiting a few of our favourite haunts as we have enjoyed many stays here before, especially up at the cottages next to Smokey Cape Lighthouse.

Tomorrow we move on to Coffs Harbour for a couple of nights.

Kempsey Bridge

Lucky the sprinkler was off
Lucky the sprinkler was off
Smokey Cape Lighthouse....we have loved staying here in the past

 

Arakoon Beach
Trial Bay Goal
We need a few of these signs at home !!!
A walking bridge across the creek in South West Rocks
Mal loved the old drawings

 

 

Wamberal

Wamberal

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We spent a fun night with our long term friends Nic and Steve at their “Church” home in Wamberal on the central coast. I was Nic and Steve’s matron of honour at their wedding. The three of us met while working together at 2LM radio many years ago. Nic was, and still is, a very gifted copy writer and Steve was promotions manager. He has the ability to always make a crowd laugh !! They are presently renovating an old Anglican church, and are doing a beautiful job. It is absolutely stunning and full of character.

 

The next day we went further up the coast to Forster to check out my sister Kerry in a fund raising fashion parade. She did a great job, but I forgot the camera.(darn…could have got some good photos of Kez). We also spent time with more of my family and Dad.

Mal and Nicola at Wamberal lagoon and beach just near their "Church". Wamberal means where the lagoon meets the sea.
Nic and Ros
The Church CrossThe Church Cross
RESTAURANTS !!!!, Ulladulla

Cupitt’s Winery : The Vineyard Kitchen

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Cupitt’s Winery is a standout rural experience 5 minutes from Ulladulla, Milton and Mollymook. We enjoyed the absolute views to the Budawang ranges and Burrill Lake while tasting some of their boutique wines partnered with seasonal flavours from the provincial restaurant. Cupitt’s Restaurant is owned and run by an italian family that are a big part of the “Slow Food Movement”.

Mal enjoyed a tasty meal of lamb with spring vegetables, while I absolutely loved my Black Pudding with Crispy Pigs Ear and vegies with a lamb’s tongue on the side  (off Mal’s plate…he is a chicken !!)

Last night we ended up being joined by new neighbours, Liz and Phil, from Long Jetty on the Central Coast. As it is Phil’s birthday today we will be getting together again for “Happy Hour” tonight. Love the traditional “Happy Hour” with the caravaning fraternity.

Cupitt's Winery : The Vineyard Kitchen

 

Ulladulla

Ulladulla and Mollymook

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Spent today in Ulladulla, Milton and Mollymook.

We enjoyed a seafood lunch down at Ulladulla Wharf Restaurant.

Tonight is threatening a storm. Will have to cosy up in the caravan if it rains !!

Ulladulla Harbour before storm
Three wise pelicans at Mollymook
Lake Tabourie
More boats @ Ulladulla
Morning surf
Ulladulla

We still have the campsite pretty much to ourselves, except for all the birds and animals. It is so peaceful here at Bendalong. We will miss it when we leave on Friday to head further up north.

Bendalong-Conjola National Park

Back at Bendalong

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Monday afternoon  28th Nov / Tuesday 29th……

Well we have just arrived back at Bendalong just north of Ulladulla. We loved it here 2 weeks ago, so have booked in for 4 nights. This is Mal’s favourite surf spot.

I might get better photos of Poppy Mal surfing Rosie !!??

Well we have only been here 2 hours, and we have already had an amazing experience. Where we are camped at Bendalong,  the ocean is on one side and a bay on the other, We wondered down to the bay for a swim and there were 2 stingrays in the water. One huge and one small. A fisherman gave us some fresh calamari to feed them. I made sure we stayed at the front of them and avoided the tail. They are like jelly to touch. Sorry, I did not take the camera. Loved it !!!!

Later in the afternoon we explored around all the rock pools at “One Tree Beach”, right behind our campsite. It was a bit of a hike down the cliff and over all the rocks around the point, but we ended up at this small, quiet little spot that even Mal did not know was there from all his previous visits. It was fairly overcast so a very average photo of a section of the rocks.

 

 

 

Dogs in waiting

Narooma

Love Narooma

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27 November

 

Only 2 weeks today and we will be home. We are missing Mutley and Salem but don’t want this 2 months to finish !! Especially on a day like today. The sun is shining beautifully.

We have been out watching the wooden boats go down the river in a parade, then bought some local oysters and prawns for lunch back at the caravan. The van site is right on the waters edge so perfect. We have to go back to the local pub this afternoon as I want a photo of the murals on the wall there. What an excuse ???

One of my favourite boats. The caravan park is in the distance.
This boat is run by a small steam engine
Boats rafting up together
Hole in the rock...Narooma

The Narooma boardwalk and walking tracks go for many kms
Love this caravan
You have probably gathered...I love unusual trees.

 

 

Here are the promised murals. They are excellent.

 

Malibu Mex Restaurant, RESTAURANTS !!!!

Malibu Mex

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Tonight we went to a great restaurant in Bodalla, about 10 minutes from Narooma called Malibu Mex. It is a well known mexican restaurant and surf museum. As the brocure said, “Amazing food – Amazing decor”. Yes !!!!! .My Seafood Burrito was delicious and Mal loved his Quesadilla too. Could not eat another thing !!!!

Nick, John,Bec and Steve would love it for all the surfing “stuff”.

Malibu Mex
Suzie, I took this photo for you
The tables and chairs

 

 

Narooma

Narooma Wooden Boat Festival

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What a coincidence that we are here for the Wooden Boat Festival.

Mal is in his element with all the boats. Luckily we are off to Tilba Tilba this afternoon to check out the Heritage Listed village..

 

The closest I have got to Tassie. This is a Tasmanian Huon Islander.
Mystery Bay...named after 5 men went missing from their boat in 1880. No bodies were ever found.

This afternoon we visited the historic National Trust villages of Central Tilba and Tilba Tilba. They were fascinating, as though time stood still. Local artisans specialize in leather, wood,silver, textiles and much more. Great cheese factory too. We also followed the coast around and found some great private little beaches.

Loved Bermagui too.

Central Tilba
Central Tilba

Tilba Tilba
Tilba Tilba

 

Camel Rock

 

 

 

 

My Dad worked here at the Bank of NSW in Cobargo. The building is now "The Bank of Ales" home brew supplies.
Cobargo
A great shed
Part of a cafe in Cobargo...an old train carriage

 

 

 

 

 

Narooma

Narooma

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25th November….

We have arrived in Narooma  and will stay for about four days and explore the area.

What a beautiful area. Luckily there are heaps of walking tracks as we have already enjoyed a huge seafood platter for lunch.

Narooma Lighthouse

 

 

Mal trying to eat his breakfast this morning with the help of a friend

 

 

 

 

Mal dreaming

 

Have been out for a few hours walking and coffeeing. Got caught up with a guy shucking oysters on an old jetty. May go back this afternoon with a wine and he will prepare fresh or Kilpatrick while we sit on the boards of the jetty over the water. Sounds good.

One of the many oyster boatsheds

Mogo

Mogo

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22 November

Spent some time checking out all the shops in Mogo. Mogo is a small village similar to Bangalow (before the bypass) and Montville, about 15 minutes from where we are camped at Moruya Heads. In the 1980’s Mogo Village became home to a small group of artists and craftspeople,  many of whom still operate from the village. We will be coming back tomorrow to check out the Mogo Zoo.

 

One of the many wood carvings at Mogo and Moruya. Tanya, it reminds me of Roland's carvings at the Oyster Cove Inn at Kettering in Tassie.

 

23rd  November….

Mogo Zoo

We spent an entertaining few hours wondering around Mogo Zoo this morning.

Mal is not a big fan of any animals kept in cages, but this was probably one of the best zoos we have seen. Large, very cool and clean enclosures or in many cases huge paddocks, with the freshest of food being fed to the animals. Mogo Zoo has many animals including more common ones, but specializes in endangered species and their ongoing breeding programs. I took heaps of photos, but will put a few of my favorites here.

 

The White Lions of Timbavati in Sth Africa
As close as you get to a tiger. He liked me because as I moved on he turned around and sprayed right on the person next to me !!!!! Not Mal luckily.

 

The very photogenic meerkat
Everyone loves the giraffes...they had a huge paddock to play in.
A Chimpanzee full of character
African Serval
Sumatran Tiger
Washing his best mate

 

 

 


 

 

Moruya Heads

Moruya / Batemans Bay Area

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This area is absolutely stunning. Even on a fine day photos don’t do it justice.

The name Moruya is derived from an aboriginal word meaning “Home of the Black Swan.”

During gold mining days, industries like dairying, fishing and oyster farming were an important part of the town’s economy and still are today. Moruya also quarried blue granite and the town is full of the most beautiful mix of old buildings built from this granite.

We camped at a spot at the beach called Moruya Heads, about 10 minutes from Moruya.

The wharf at Batemans Bay
Coloured Rocks at Eurobodalla National Park...eurobodalla is aboriginal for "Land of many waters".
Pebbly Beach
Row Boats, Tuross Heads
One of the many convict built stone walls
There are now stairs heading up to the headland at Congo Beach John
Mossy Beach

 

 

 

 

Moruya Heads

Rosie’s first surfing comp!

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Maybe Rosie takes after Poppy Mal not Nanny Ros ????? Or maybe her Mum and Dad ? Left click on photo to enlarge. I told you I was proud.

 

Rosie coming 3rd in her first surfing competition. GO ROSIE!!!!!!!

Poppy Mal...similar style ?

 

Monday 21st……

We are at a beautiful spot called Moruya Heads. Were a bit disappointed yesterday when we arrived. Maybe the dismal weather or too many people. (Sunday)

This morning we have the camp almost to ourselves and the weather is perfect. Have just got back from a long walk up the beautiful beach. Stunning.

Sunrise