jo-shanenarooma

[jo-shanenarooma]

Our Return- Kiama Blowhole and the Big Fizz.

7/01/2018: Another swim this morning at Handkerchief Beach before heading home. Jo and the kids stayed behind and started breakfast. We tried to utilise all of the food that remained so after Isaac bought a loaf of bread we all had to eat and the remainder used for lunch. Shane made an Esky out of an empty beer carton lined a with foil and placed layers of frozen water bottles between the left over meat, tomato, cucumber, cheese and bread. Left over juice on top and lunch was ready.

The Hilux was packed and we were ready to go about ten with two stop overs planned for the trip. The first one was the Kiama Blowhole where we would have lunch followed by a brief deviation to Fitzroy Falls some sixty kilometres inland.

 We sat on the Princes Highway until we reached Nowra, our first break being at a road side rest area. It had already reached the high thirties and it wasn't even twelve. After toying with the idea of stopping next for a look around Berry, we decided against it, turned right and took the scenic route. By choosing to travel the Grand Pacific Drive we were rewarded with beautiful coastal scenery at towns like Gerroa, crossing the Crooked River and Gerringong before rejoining the highway. They were all worth a visit for a short break as they all had caravan parks on the beach and looked wonderful glistening in the sun. The yellow sand and perfect blue seas were very welcoming. One thing that was noticeable was the temperature drop, although only a few degrees from Nowra to the coast.

As we drove along the crest of the southern approach to Kiama, the landscape was a mix of rural and newish residential with the not so distant sea to our east. Before long we were driving through the main drag until we could go no further. Kiama Harbour forced us right, past Storm Point and up to the light house.

In use since 1887, the light was changed from fixed green to a flashing white using an automatic acetylene operation. At this time it was also demanned. By 1969 the light was powered by electricity and is still operational today.

By now it was as quarter past one and we were hungry. It was a good thing we were travelling today as it was predicted to reach the forties in many areas. It ended up at forty-seven degrees around Western Sydney. It was a hot mid-thirties at the blow hole and with plenty of people enjoying the sunshine, there was nowhere to sit and eat in the shade. We spent some time enjoying the area and the non-event that the blowhole had put on for us. It was too calm and the tide low.

What we expected

What we got

Isaac and Blowhole Point

The blow hole behind us and the temperature climbing, we headed inland. Some slow traffic on the road heading west quickly dissipated and we were soon on Jamberoo Road, being led through picturesque undulating farmland until we hit Jamberoo itself. Not far through Jamberoo we turned left onto Jamberoo Mountain Road which in turn, and after some tight corners, a fair bit of elevation and a rise in temperature into the high forties, we reached a lookout near the plateau above. Jamberoo Lookout in the Buderoo National Park.  

A distant coastline from Jamberoo Lookout

It was filthy hot so we didn't hang around the lookout for too long but still long enough to see the coast from Lake Illawarra and Port Kembla to the north down to Kiama and Saddleback Mountain to the south.

Back on the road again, we travelled through Robertson and onto Fitzroy Falls, or should we say Fizzer Falls. The area had an information centre and free entry but before that it was lunch. The food and drink packed earlier in the day proved a great idea.

Lunch at the Information Centre

A sandwich and drink each and on we went to see this magnificent specimen of a waterfall. Or so we thought. We followed a few paths and apparently, we were there. Joanne pointed out the falls to Shane. "Bullshit, it must be else were." Not so. It was very disappointing but it had been very dry. Shane could have pissed more than the falls.  

What we expected

What we got

Anyway, another disappointment behind us, we headed north, joining the Hume Motorway until we intercepted the M4 at Eastern Creek. Eastward bound to Pennant Hills Road, the traffic became thicker the closer we came to Sydney. No room to move in either lane but the doof doof cars still sat up our arse expecting us to move over so they could in turn up the next car's arse. It didn't happen. The next and last stop on our journey was the twin servos on the M1 for some chew and spew before heading the last hour back to Adamstown.

Another excellent short break.

[jo-shanenarooma]

Heading North

6/01/2018: Yet another day started with a swim at Handkerchief Beach. The kids stayed in bed while the grownups went in. The tide was a bit low with blue bottles scattered along the sand just as the Irish lady (Judith Lucy) had mentioned. Ten minutes was enough.

Going on yesterday’s advice we headed down towards the lagoon as Judith also advised.  She had suggested that we go there to let the tide take us away. Get out, walk back to where we started, floating the day away.

It didn't happen though, as the tide was too low so we decided to head back for a descent feed and return in a couple of hours when the tide was fuller.

Tide’s out at Handkerchief Beach

Back to the cabin for breakfast. Tomorrow we head home so all of the food was up for grabs for breakfast, Shane put Isaac to work with all the bacon, some eggs, most of the bread and the left-over chicken sausages being used.

Big breakfast

After breakfast and cleaning up we worked out how to get to the small beach on the lagoon and headed off, it just so happened that it was the road that the GPS led us on a couple of days before when we were looking for the entry. As it happened we also scored the king of parks after a Land cruiser left us a space as we arrived.

Sunscreen time

As earlier, the water temperature was excellent. We left Soph sitting on the sand and headed to the mouth of the lagoon where the channel width was at its narrowest and the water flow at its fastest. The couple of hours that we had taken for breakfast had allowed the depth of water to increase by maybe a foot, making the journey with the tide well and truly enjoyable.  At worst, the water was four-foot-deep at the start and a bit deeper by the time we got out. We then walked back to the channel entrance and done it again. All in all the swim was excellent but we had to move on. After a couple of tidal drifts, we had to head back to the cabin for a quick change and northward bound we were.

Rest time

Our first planned stop was at Bodalla for a look at the Cheese Shop. Not much was happening there except for the ice cream testers, making sure the ice cream was up to scratch.

The Cheese Shop

They must have been paid well as the ice cream was $14 for a small ad $24 for a large (about 1 litre).  Up the hill we went to the next shops. A couple that held no interest and then to the Lavender Shop which was good value. Not that we bought anything. A little further up the hill was a tie die shop called Hippy Sticks. It stood out like dogs’ balls on our way down a couple of days ago and looked interesting.

The Lavender Shop

The shop seemed to be inspired by the hippy era and so interesting that by the time that the little talkative elderly hippy had finished two hundred bucks lighter. A unique experience.

Hippy Sticks

A couple more shops further up across the road and a second hand joint on the way back down saw us on our way to the next stop, Mogo.

Mogo was a long gone gold mining town only around ten kilometres from Bateman's Bay. It was in the same ilk as Tilba but with a bit more substance. Our first stop there was the Mogo Emporium that although full of Indonesian crap, still had enough to make it interesting, then came the leather shop looking surprisingly (or not) like the leather shop at Tilba and on it went. Mostly interesting but being a Saturday and almost four o'clock, most places were starting to close up. It was filthy hot so a stop at the Mogo Fudge and Ice cream Shop in for a drink and a pie or sausage roll for the kids was a must. Sitting in the shade at the rear of the café being cooled by a mist fan was certainly a relief.

Having a break behind the icecream shop

After the break, a sign in the alleyway pointed us to an old wares shop to the rear of the complex, directed us along a dirt path, through a dried creek bed and to a car park out back. There was nothing to be seen but spotting a place down the end with rusty old tractors in the yard gave us a clue of where to head. Again, almost ready to close, we walked through the door of a retro shop and had a brief look at old and reproduced paraphernalia from eras past. It was very interesting with some unique items. Records, posters, white goods and so on.

Revamp Reuse Upcycle

Finally, being turfed out, we headed back to the car and back to Narooma, but not before taking a detour to the coast and to follow the beaches all the way back home. Old mate at Hippy Sticks turn off of the Princes Highway Dalmeny Drive and follow it back to the northern end of the bridge over Wagonga Inlet. It only added a few kilometres to the trip and worth the effort.

Look toward Wogonga Head from Kiangi Point. Bar Beach to the right

Narooma Golf Course

By five thirty we were back at the cabin and planning dinner. As we approached the park boom gate we noticed families being picked up by shuttle buses and being driven to the clubs around the place for dinner. This seemed like a good idea so Jo sent Isaac up to reception to inquire as to what was available. The next thing we knew we were up at the park entry and waiting for a shuttle ourselves. Heading to Club Narooma at receptions recommendation.

Once inside the club we sat down near the raffles for a couple of drinks before we ordered dinner. Isaac wanted oysters natural so Shane said they would go halves at twenty eight dollars a dozen. When he went to the end of the queue to order, we found that we were given a buzzer that would go off when we were allowed to join the queue to order. About forty minutes later. Well and good that Isaac went to order oysters or it would have been a pretty late dinner. All in all, as Shane remarked before we left, "it's only a club so be prepared for disappointment", and so it was the case. Jo made a comment after the meal about how underwhelmed she was and that went for all of us, and it only cost a hundred and fifty bucks. We definitely should have chosen the Golf Club shuttle. At least we would have had a view.

When we were finally done we headed out to reception to order the return shuttle back to the cabin. We were greeted by plenty of people waiting, no buses and a panicked doorman. We were ok though as he told us that our turn would come about nine thirty. We didn't want to go back in so waited in the foyer. He was pretty well spot on as once the buses started turning up, the crowd dissipated quickly until we were the only ones left. After an uneventful trip back, we hit the sack.

Tomorrow we head home.

[jo-shanenarooma]

Heading South

 5/01/2018: It was a late start today with no rush to get out of bed. Apart from a brief getaway with Jo having a few days off after the Christmas break, we deliberately chose this area as one of Jo's descendants, her great, great grandfather William Ringland, settled here some time ago and made a name for himself sailing ships up and down the coast transporting goods and such.

Captain’s ticket

William was born in Cumberland, England and married Susan Gallagher in 1848 in Sydney. That same year a daughter was both born and lost and on Boxing day 1849 their first son, also named William was born. During this period William earned a living as a sea-going mariner out of Port Jackson. By 1854 two more children, Joseph and Margret were born after which William changed his vocation to victualler and made a living out of working from the Fortune of War Inn in Pitt Street where in 1856 another son, James was born. Within two years he had pulled up stumps and moved everyone south to Greenhills on the Shoalhaven where he obtained a publican's licence to run the Settler's Home from which another child appeared, Henry in 1859. Around 1861 after Alfred was born, he and Susan again relocated, this time to Wagonga near Narooma where he took up the role of Master Mariner. On Christmas Eve 1864 the last of the tribe, John was born.

Image of William Ringland (they think)

First thing on the list today was a swim. Shane set off for a swim at the beach, Jo and Zac swam at the pool and Soph stayed in the cabin. Refreshed, we regrouped and planned the day ahead while Zac cooked up some bacon and eggs for breakfast. Ringland’s Point and Bega was the plan.

Lagoon at the end of Handkerchief Beach

Heading back north toward Narooma, we took a turn to the left before hitting the township and entered a new housing subdivision called Ringland’s Estate and a little further on Ringland’s Point overlooking Ringland’s Bay. After moving to the area, William and Susan purchased a substantial plot of land overlooking Wagonga Inlet where they built a small home for the family. It was around there that Susan would stand and keep watch for her husband returning home from his seafaring duties, captaining his tall ship up and down the coast.

Wagonga Inlet

Joanne considered that there was enough Ringland presence in the area to file for a land rights claim.

Old shot of Ringland’s Point. Ringland’s Bay to the left

After a good look around we headed to the Narooma Visitors centre and found a book that mentioned William as well as regattas that were held at Ringland’s Point during the 1920’s. While at the point a phone call to Jo’s brother, Michael, gave us an extra task for the day. William was buried at Bermagui to the south. He moved there after Susan died and lived there until his death in 1898. She died of the palsy while he was at sea during 1866 and is buried at Ringland’s Point, somewhere on the shores of Wagonga Inlet. No evidence of the gravesite or any indication of its location exist today.

Could be sitting on her

Having looked around the visitors’ centre, its local history and seafaring memorabilia, we had to keep moving and with Bermagui added to our agenda, southward bound it was. Predicting a late finish for the day we stopped to pick up more groceries and took them back to the cabin on the way through.

The turn to Bermagui was a few kilometres along the Princes Highway, not far but the continual grey nomads and their caravans made the trip much longer than anticipated. A few kilometres further and we were back on the coast, passing small waterfront communities and across Wallaga Lake, a picturesque and seemingly shallow waterway via a rickety old timber bridge and long causeway.

Attractive surrounds and popular

Next stop the graveyard, but not before having to navigate the busy Bermagui waterfront with heaps of families, young’uns and boats everywhere. All enjoying the sunshine.

The graveyard was just out of town off of Bunga Street, across from the beach. Except for the trees in the way it everyone there would have a good view. Its dried grass was representative of the whole of the east coast at the moment, dry as and in drought. The beware of the snakes sign gave credence to the time of the season. At first, we just looked around as we find cemeteries interesting. They represent local history. Further down the hill, Jo found what she had been looking for, William’s grave, albeit a little more modern than anticipated, buried with his son Joseph, who died in 1937. There was also a commemorative plaque dedicated to Susan. Jo was somewhat moved by the experience as she was standing at the grave of her great, great, grandfather.

William and Joseph Ringland R.I.P.

Jo ended up spotting some flowers near the graveyard entry (not another grave) and after a quick dash to the fence line to pick some mauve and white agapanthus along with a few ferns, a quick bouquet was put together on left at the headstone.

We regrouped, decided not to drive to Bega, and much to Isaac’s disgust, headed back. It was almost three and Bega was still an hour away. An interesting town that we detoured through on the way down was on the cards. Tilba, founded in 1873, looked interesting with numerous old buildings turned into shops lining the main street.

Central Tilba lied in the shadow of Mount Dromedary, known as the sacred mountain Gulaga, ancestral mother of the Yuin people. During the late nineteenth century, gold was discovered on the mountain, starting a gold rush (bet the locals were happy) which led to the establishment of Central Tilba, where we were and just down the road Tilba Tilba. We drove through the main drag and pulled up adjacent to our first stop, the ABC Cheese factory.

There were still plenty of people around but the factory seemed to be finished for the day. The large glass display windows meant to show us how things were made was empty. Nobody around except to clean up. Nothing inside to tickle our fancy neither.

Cheese kept the town afloat after the gold rush

A bit of time was spent here but not too much. Shop after shop, from the cheese factory to the war memorial were just commercialised “cottage industry” rubbish. A few interesting tid bits, like the candle shop but in a nutshell the place was Morpeth revisited. We didn’t even go to the pub. Instead we took a break in a fifties style lolly shop that served milkshakes with malt. We all had one. Dad suggested that everyone have malt which we did. It didn’t go down too well with the kids though.

The Dromedary Hotel. A man is not a camel

We finally reached the war memorial at the end of the street, crossed over to it and headed back towards to car. Directly in front of us though, was the Bates Emporium and Post Office which gave us a blast from the past. Old post boxes and an old letter box. We went inside to look around but not for long. On our way out the old dude shop keeper remarked to Shane how lucky he was to have Jo as his wife. Shane replied “so I’ve been told”. Old dude “who told you that?” to which we both replied “she did”.

Resting at the Post Office

The area was nice to look at but nothing more than a Venus Fly Trap for kitsch and targeted at cashed up tourists. A couple of candles and a milkshake done us.

Back to the cabin. We were planning a BBQ and some dominos. While Isaac was doing the cooking, Shane was chatting up a couple of old sheilas staying next to us. One was from Vic Rail and the other looked like Judith Lucy. We seen them on the beach this morning which got the conversation going.

Blue bottles, work and holidays were mostly covered while the sausages and steak sizzled away, under the watchful eyes of number five son.

Isaac the cook

Before we returned to the cabin with the food, the ladies recommended that we head down the beach to the channel feeding the lake. They had done it earlier. They jumped into the lagoon and relaxed as the tide took them a few hundred metres inland while taking it easy. Once finished, they got out and walked back to the start to do it again. Sounded like a good idea. We’ll do it for sure.

Dominos to finish off the night

Tomorrow, we’ll head north on another fact-finding mission.

[jo-shanenarooma]

Newcastle to Narooma

4/01/2018: We left home spot on a quarter to eight so Shane put on the ABC 702 morning news. The first stop was just down the road, to McDonald’s drive through. A cuppa for the parents a cold drink Zac and Soph. The clock ticked over eight, the news was off and the music was playing.

The next few hours were uneventful traveling the motorways with music on the USB playing most of the way. The M1 to Pennant Hills Road, turn onto the M2 then M7 until we merged with the Hume Motorway or M31 at Hoxton Park. When adjacent to Wilton we took a right along Picton Road and down towards Wollongong.  After a brief stop at Brownsville to refuel and a very late breakfast at McDonald’s we were back on the Princes Highway and on the final leg of our journey.

Southward bound

We have never travelled south before, always heading north for our holidays but one thing that we noticed was the beautiful villages and seaside townships that we passed through, not unlike Bangalow or Brunswick Heads in northern NSW.

The navigation took us through Narooma and past the main entrance of our accommodation to the southern end of Handkerchief Beach, where we hope to be cooling off in before long. A quick U turn had us back at the entrance of the “resort” come caravan park, the Island Beach Resort. So named as Montague Island is just off of the coast. Once we booked in and were given the keys and a tutorial on how to manage the boom gates, we headed in and parked out the front of our luxury spa cabin with two bedrooms, kitchen and large verandah.

Our cabin for the next few days

Island Beach Resort was a very large camping area with a pool and plenty of activities for the kids. Camping areas to the south, including glamping, and cabins to the north. Both sections were linked by the main office with provisions, a large family pool, activity room including playground and nightly videos, plus a couple of trampolines. Nearer to the beach access was a large community shed with cooking facilities, fridges, chairs and tables etc. Not unlike Bargoed House.

Underground trampoline for the kids

Adjacent to the shed, the beach access led us through some coastal scrub to the midway point of Handkerchief Beach, a lovely small beach with small waves and sand banks. Montague Island was off in the distance.

Handkerchief Beach with Montague Island on the horizon.

The remaining task for the afternoon was to look around, have a beer and buy a few groceries on the way back. We started with a drive around, randomly choosing where to turn and ended up driving past the Chanel and up to the golf club. Best golf course location we've ever seen. The first few holes sat atop the cliffs overlooking the ocean and worked their way down to the second nine. These holes skirted around Little Lake, a shallow lake system to the south. The eighteenth would have been quite an effort getting back up to the clubhouse unless a golf buggy was handy. If they went bad they’d have no trouble selling their land.

Narooma Golf Course

https://youtu.be/yUKa3MrRoo4

We then drove along Bar Rock Road to the lookout below the Coastal Patrol Station dropping down to a road that terminated at the start of southern break wall. Here we found an opportune parking spot, straight in front of a hole in the rocks that looked like Australia. Then passing a beware of the seals sign, Jo pointed out a small colony of the animals basking on the rocks at the lower edge of the wall. There were quite a few people being entertained by the seals' inaction while we were there, including us.

Australia Rock

Beware of the seals

Next stop, O'Brien’s Hotel, located on the eastern side of the main street, overlooking the channel. A drink each and a dozen oysters shared saw us heading to the bottle’o and Woolworths for enough food and drink to get us through a day or two. From there it was back to the cabin to relax and play games.

Good combination. Oysters and a river view

Four people are a failure at Family Feud as with one kid acting as host, three don't go, particularly with the kids arguing. Pack it up!!  We resorted to an oldie but a goodie, Pass the Pigs. It never disappoints.

With the mozzie coils out and the temperature dropping, the kids headed in to cook some dinner, leaving the parents outside to  savour the peace with cicadas singing. What a great spot.

After an easy dinner it was off to bed as we will look around the area and in particular Ringland’s Point tomorrow.  

[jo-shanenarooma]

Narooma

Located in the area belonging to the Yuin Aborigines, Narooma is a popular holiday destination on the beautiful Wagonga Inlet and almost completely surrounded by the waters of the Wagonga River, its estuaries and the Pacific. It is overlooked by Gulaga, christened Mount Dromedary in 1770 by Captain Cook, to the west. The coastline of lakes, inlets and beaches draw in hordes of tourists who look forward to enjoying all that the area has to offer.