June 15 came around and as we'd very poorly planned, we packed up our bus 'Bessie' and set off on what would be the next 6 weeks of our lives. The only things we had planned were a few animal parks, rain forests and beaches along the way, and a rough time to meet some friends in Brisbane, but that was it. We figured we stay one to three days in each place depending on if we liked it, talk to anyone we meet and we'd just hug the coast the entire way up.
Now, that's a lot easier said than done. I think the trip totalled about 5600Kms and that's stopping at A LOT of places. If we'd visited every small town we went past, the odometer would've had to add another digit (not really, but it's a looong way).
All we had was a limited amount of cash and a promise to our jobs that we'd a) come back and b) do it by the end of July.
It turns out that the beginning of winter is a perfect time to see the east coast of Australia. It's bloody cold in Canberra, and it's beautiful everywhere else. That pretty much sums it up.
We packed everything we needed, only forgetting some chairs (didn't think it was worth the space - wrong) and mistaking an omelet maker for a sandwich press. Don't laugh, the van has multiple power outlets. Who wouldn't take electrical appliances of you have the space?
That metal grate is see-through and it SCARED THE SHIT OUT OF ME. I didn't know I was standing on it and looked down. Urgh.
First night, Huskisson, Jervis Bay. Powered site (how lazy are we? first night in!)
It looks pretty cramped but it was comfy as hell. Sure it got cold but that's why you take 4 blankets with you, durh.
And these were basically the clothes I wore the whole time.
HYGENIC.
May to October is northern migration season for humpback whales. Ash talked me into going on a whalewatch tour and I obliged.
Went out past the headland and Bowen Island (on the right) and maybe only a nautical mile or so south east of the coast.
They are surprisingly active hey. I mean, my camera was not fast enough, but they jump quite high out of the water and you can get pretty close. Really neat stuff.
One snuck up behind us then swam right underneath us and surprised everyone. It was directly at the end of the boat, so crazy.
Dad told us about Hymes Beach from his days at the Naval Academy. The sand is some of the whitest in the world (if not the whitest) and is mined for production into glass fit for the hubble telescope. That's what Ash told me anyway. Neato.
We left Jervis the next day and trundled north stopping at Kiama to show Ash the blowhole. (I'm not that good at driving and taking photos - hence the sudden arrival)
Shit weather equalled no swell equalled lousy blowhole.
We continued up through Wollongong (seen it) and Cronulla Area (seen it) and through Sydney (everyone's seen it) to a place called Lane Cove. Still technically Sydney as it's only 10Kms north, but you're on the edge of a National Park and you don't feel like you're in Sydney at all. Crazy.
We took a stroll down to the river but it was getting dark so we assigned it to tomorrows adventures.
That nights adventures included meeting the locals.
and tiny bouquets of nature.
The rainbow lorikeets were waiting inside this guys annex for some food.
They took us up to the lookout to whale-spot some more.
After lunch it was along to Terrigal to check out more beautiful headland and get an icecream.
There were lots of bogans out because there was a football game on, but hey, they live here, so who's the dumb one, really?
"Maximum Chur"
Just a quick stop since we had to beat the rotation of the earth and head to Monmura Nature Reserve. We bought an annual NSW Nat. Parks Camping Pass back in Lane Cove so we directed ourselves towards any national parks where camping was permitted. Awesome.
We were the only ones at this place, save for a few intrepid fisherman.
Headed north the next day through Newcastle (which I didn't feel was worth photographing) an on to Port Stephens, Nelson Bay to be precise.
Street has changed a bit.
This was the street I bailed down in rollerblades when I was younger. Hit a gutter and took a HEAP of skin off my side. Still got the scar. Ahh, memories.
We went to the tourist info place (seemed the staple activity we did in each town) and found a backpackers resort to stay in at nearby Anna Bay.
The place is called Melaleuca Backpackers and it was fucking awesome. Sure there were only 2 other backpackers there, but hey, I think it worked out alright. It was this tropical backpackers set on 6 acres with two houses on it (where the owners lived) big outdoor toilet and shower blocks connected by board walks and a seperate block of huge dorm rooms. Since we had the van, we just pulled up in their woodchipped parking lot for kombi's and used their facilities. Cheap and awesome.
Talking to the owners, they told us to stop by Bellingen on our way North. I took this photo to remember.
They also said drive up the road and check out the whale from Boat Harbour Point.
Hard to see but there were a few whales there playing and jumping out of the water. By this point we'd seen 20 or so whales up the coast already so we first-wordly didn't think too much of it. Pricks.
There was this dip in the rocks where you could go forward and scale the hill and get on the Eastern most point of the headland. None of the golden oldies could do it though so there were younger people on one hill, and oldies on another, haha
Back to camp!
