Melbourne to NSW 2023

 Wed 10 May – Taxi pickup at 3:30 and an uneventful flight to Melbourne where were met by the guy from StoreMyVan and taken to “Andy”. All good, but unfortunately we have some uninvited guests. (mice!!). They had made a bit of a mess which we will sort out in the next few days. A 60km drive across the northern outer suburbs of Melbourne to Doncaster where we did a huge shop before checking to a camp. Val washed some mouse infected items and we remade our bed from scratch. In bed before 9:00pm, strange for us!

Thurs 11 May – We drove down the west side of Melbourne stopping at a car wash, and a Bunnings for mouse bait. Out onto the South Gippsland Hwy and across the bridge to Phillip Island. Checked into a nice camp and walked thru to a sheltered harbour beach. All very good so we decided to stay here for two nights.

Fri 12 May – Had to change sites for the extra night and did some minor fixes and clean ups from our messy guests. In the afternoon we biked along the esplanade to the largest town on Phillip Island, Cowes. Back at our camp we had a swim in a great heated indoor pool.

Sat 13 May – Checked out of the camp and drove to the famous Phillip Island GP motor racing circuit. There was a National Speed Series meeting in progress and we parked outside the circuit at an area called “Siberia” where we got a great view of a large part of the circuit. Lots of classes trying to record qualifying times. Highlight was the GT World Challenge Sportscars and the Formula 5000 open wheelers.

Back on the road, off Phillip Island and along the Bass Hwy to Cape Paterson to a camp overlooking the surf beach with an historic rock swimming pool. A lovely coastline.

Sun 14 May – We drove around the coastline to Inverloch and thru farmland to the start of the Wilsons Promontory National Park. This park is the southern most point of mainland Australia. We camped in the park at Tidal River. In the afternoon we followed one of the many tracks to Norman’s Point with great views of the beaches and islands, returning along the beach to our camp. (6kms)

Mon 15 May – Another beautiful day. We packed our lunch and set off to Squeaky Beach first crossing the foot bridge at Tidal River, climbing up the ridge to Pillar Point, with spectacular views of Norman and Squeaky Beaches and down to Squeaky Beach. It is well named as all the other beaches are golden sand but this beach is fine white powder sand and indeed Squeaky. We ate our lunch and climbed back up the ridge and returned to our camp via the mouth of Tidal River even came across a Wombat, a slow moving small bear- like creature. Another great walk of 6kms.

Tues 16 May – It rained hard in the night and a much cooler morning as we drove off Wilson’s Promontory and out of the National Park. We followed the coastline east and stopped for the night at Port Albert in a free area overlooking the port. The sun came out and we rugged up for a walk around the harbour (mixture of pleasure and fishing boats) and along the waterfront. A pretty small village. No power, so a bit cool in the evening!

Wed 17 May – We continued east along some back roads to Seaspray and then along the coast of Ninety Mile Beach. Near the town of Golden we stopped at another free camping area. The sun was out and we enjoyed some time outside before walking along Ninety Mile Beach stretching as far as the eye could see in both directions. Outside in the sun until 4:00pm.

Thurs 18 May – Very cold outside and cool inside when we woke. Soon warmed up as we followed the South Gippsland Hwy thru the towns of Sale and Bairnsdale to Lakes Entrance, a large tourist and fishing town at the entrance of the large Gippsland lake. Water on all sides (the lake and the sea). We are at a camp where we cleaned out the last of the mouse dirt and threw out two bags. Went on a short walk along the lake frontage.

Fri 19 May – Shopped on our way out of town and crossed another arm of Lake Gippsland and drove to a small town of Nowa Nowa where we turned inland on the Snowy Mtn Hwy. We ended up in the Buchan Valley at a National Park where there are some caves. Our camp was under oak trees which have turned golden. We had pre-booked a guided tour of one of the caves and were joined by an Indian family, so just a small group. We have toured many limestone caves but this one was right up there as one of the best. A great 45 minute underground experience.

Sat 20 May – After a short walk to the Devil’s Punchbowl, we left the National Park and drove back out of the hills thru mostly rain forest, crossing the Snowy River, to the small town of Cann River where we camped without power. We walked back into town for a drink at the pub but it was closed. Settled for home baked biscuits at the bakery. Found another dead mouse taking the total to three and hopefully the last!!

Sun 21 May – A cold day as we drove in sunshine and rain, crossing the Victoria/NSW border to Eden, a small town on the coast. To our surprise this part of Victoria is very isolated. There only a couple of very small towns on the 300kms of hilly forested road between Lakes Entrance and Eden. We are at a camp close to the beach south of Eden. Sunny but windy and heavy showers of rain. We got caught in one when we made a quick dash to the beach. Tomorrow we head inland, into the NSW mountains and the ACT.