Travel

Wilsons Promontory, Victoria

Posted on November 13, 2014 by John Sear

Setting up for the first challenge we arrived in pretty frosty conditions at Tidal River, Wilsons Promontory. With over 450 camping spots we weren’t sure what to expect but as soon as dusk arrives wombats appear from everywhere, and seemingly oblivious to the campers. They walked straight through a game of football the kids were having – needless to say play halted to watch the spectacle. Rosellas abound and there are hundreds of cuttlefish all washed up on all the beaches. We had to go to Squeaky Beach and yes it does! Big bold boulders abound everywhere you look, even at the peak of Mt Oberon that overlooks the campground

We also took the opportunity to try out the trailer awning – it’s huge!

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Categories: Australian Outback, Camper Trailer, Journey Narrative, National Park, Photography, Travel, Travel Adventure, VIC | Tags: , , , , , | 1 Comment

More from Croajingolong NP

Posted on November 9, 2014 by John Sear

The kids experienced a good old campfire enjoying toasted marshmallows for dessert. The smoke helped ward off the mosquitos, who were competing with the march flies for any exposed skin. Oscar suffered the worst, but everyone’s ankles were bitten by the morning.

 

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Categories: Journey Narrative, Location, National Park, Photography, Travel, Travel Adventure, VIC | Tags: , | Leave a comment

Croajingolong National Park

Posted on November 9, 2014 by John Sear

Heading East from Lakes Entrance we visited Croajingolong National Park. On the way we past the longest timber railway bridge near Obost. We had to stop for a couple of photos.

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Then on to our first stop Shipwreck Creek, 15km dirt road drive from the nearest town of Mallacoota. It was well worth the effort, as there are only a handful of camping spots in the woods, a pristine rugged beach only 300m away. A 3km walk through the forest, heathland, and scrub takes you to Seal Creek. The beaches are similar at both with creeks, dark with tannins,  forming lagoons behind the beach, and forest growing down to the beach. Being one of three key hotspots for biodiversity in in Victoria, once again we found birdlife in abundance and the spring flowers proliferated everywhere.

On Shipwreck Creek beach our peaceful solitude was broken one day by two helicopters flying in, landing for ten minutes then departing again!

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Categories: Journey Narrative, Location, National Park, Travel, Travel Adventure, VIC, Walks | Tags: , | Leave a comment

Camping by the Mitta Mitta River

Posted on November 5, 2014 by John Sear

From a few days ago, the trip could become a big “twitch”, as everywhere we stop there are new birds. Unfortunately we see more than we can photograph.The campsite next to the Mitta Mitta river was in knee-length grass, and a squashed brown snake on the bridge over the river kept us vigilant. No cows here! Still 500m above sea-level we had ice on the trailer at night.

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Categories: Animal Action, Australian Outback, Travel, Travel Adventure, VIC | Tags: , , | 1 Comment

Lakes Entrance, Victoria

Posted on November 4, 2014 by John Sear

Another animal action day on the beach at Lakes Entrance. We took the 4km walk along the beach to the entrance to Gippsland Lakes, then back along the historic bushwalk on the northern side of the strip. Rusty relics lie in the bushes, winches used to build the seawall, timber posts that used to house bells, and much more besides. Seals and dolphins swam into ride the waves at the entrance, while a group of seals basked further out, sunning their flippers out of the water as they lay on their backs.

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Categories: Animal Action, Journey Narrative, Location, Travel, Travel Adventure, VIC | Tags: , , , | 3 Comments

Change of Plan!

Posted on November 3, 2014 by John Sear

With Mt. Kosciuszko off the menu for now we’re heading for the lowlands and warmer conditions. My goose-down sleeping bag had a fatal rupture when I got in at Yarrangobilly and by morning the inside of our Camprite Trailer looked like a snow-scene with everyone covered in and inhaling goose feathers, The weight of the car and trailer on some of the off-road tracks in the mountains had guzzled petrol, and was giving the breaks a good workout so we decided to leave the Alpine region and head down. Into Victoria now the Alpine Highway gave us a direct route south, through verdant green countryside. Every now and then we stop for the cows, who when not being herded to the next paddock, are grazing the long grass by the verge. I’m not sure how effective a deterrent it is but dead foxes are strung up by the side of the road making quite a macabre spectacle.

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Categories: Australian Outback, Journey Narrative, Location, National Park, Travel, Travel Adventure, VIC | Tags: , , | 1 Comment

Yarrangobilly and the Snowy Mountains

Posted on November 2, 2014 by John Sear

Today started with a swim at Yarrangobilly thermal pools(Kosciuszko National Park). At 7am the water was lovely but air temp was 3 degrees. We scraped ice off the stove when we got up. Water dragons were already in the water, obviously familiar with a better way to warm up than solar ways usually used by reptiles. We explored the South Glory Cave then headed over the Snowy Mountain highway, where wild flowers were blooming in vibrant violet and yellow hues. The snow gum forests were eerie, looking quite dead covering much of the mountainsides. We changed plan about climbing Australia’s highest mountain given the temperature and settled for the highest town in Australia instead at Cabramurra.

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Categories: Australian Outback, Camper Trailer, Journey Narrative, New South Wales, Travel, Travel Adventure | Tags: , | 3 Comments

Yadboro flats

Posted on November 2, 2014 by John Sear

Driving on from Pigeon House mountain we stopped at Yadboro flats by the Clyde river. The road had just been graded so everything was covered in dust. After the exhausting climb in the heat cooling off in the river was the best end to the day. Next morning we were up at 6am looking for wombats and found one scrambling around the river bank 50m from the camp. Then we found an ornate satin bower bird building it’s display bower, intricately decorated with blue objects and yellow flowers. A great place that we could have stayed longer at.

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Categories: Animal Action, Australian Outback, Journey Narrative, Location, NSW, Photography, Travel, Travel Adventure | Tags: , , , | 1 Comment

Conquering Pigeon House Mountain

Posted on November 2, 2014 by John Sear

It turned out to be a bit of a challenge but our 6 and 7 year olds lead the way to the top. A 3-4 hour round trip involves a steep climb from the car park, a flat stretch through thick scrub, then a second climb to the base of the mountain top. This is then negotiated via metal steps and ladders to the peak which reveals a fantastic view. A challenging climb rewarded by the spectacular views from the top, especially of the Castle, a flat plateau in the Budawang National Park.

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Categories: Australian Outback, Challenges, Journey Narrative, Location, National Park, New South Wales, Travel, Travel Adventure | Tags: , | 3 Comments

Booderee Wildlife

Posted on October 30, 2014 by John Sear

Possums arrived in droves last night to the campsite, with the sole purpose of raiding any foodstuff that might have been left in reach. Tell-tale footprints on the stove and tables showed the action didn’t stop after we went to bed.

This morning we had many more visitors, wallabies and kangaroos.

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Categories: Animal Action, Australian Outback, Journey Narrative, National Park, NSW, Travel, Travel Adventure | Tags: , , , , | Leave a comment

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