New South Wales (South)

Posted on 2. January 2016 by Markus

After Sydney, we went southwards along the coast seeking swimming- and snorkeling places. Unfortunately, the camping on the Beecroft Peninsula was closed due to the absence of the staff (probably, they were making their holidays before the Christmad crowds) and we draw aside to the neaeby Currarong Caravan Park. For the delight of the children, it had a water playground and even he could weather could not stop them from splashing around. After practising in the camping-pool how to snorkel, we found an ideal bay in Narooma. Even the kids dippend their heads under water and started searching for fish, cancers, jellyfish and mussels. We stayed for 3 Nights before heading on to Merimbula. On the way, we passed Bega, the place where the famous cheddar comes from (not to compare with a piece of good Gruyere-Cheese…).
In Merimbula, we enjoyed two lazy days on a big campsite with lots of childrens’ attractions before going to the mountains. This week-end (20.12.), the school holidays started which means the Australians were invading the towns and campsites at the coast. We went through the northern section of the Kosciuszko National park to the Yarangobilly caves ans campend at Long Plain Hut. On 20.12., we visited the Jillabeneen-Cave. Our guide was originally from Fribourg (Switzerland) and explained to our children exciting facts about the Cave World (thanks to Monica Yeoung). After visitier the caves, she took a Souvenir Photo with our Fribourg Nummer plate and we coole down in the natural pool on that hot day before exploring South Glory car on our own. Somebody (Daniela) still had hot and tried to visit they North Glory Cave. She was stopped by a gate and climed again South Glory Cave to return to the parking.

That evening, we found a wonderful camping-spot at at the Blue Waterhole. The next morning, we hiked through Nicole Gorge where we visited another 3 caves on our own with headlights. Murray-Cave was the most impressive one: 200m corridors with great dipstone formations. On this hike, we finally saw our first snakes: a copperhead snake and a Young Waadtern Brown snake.

The next night was very could at 4 degrees and the next mornin, there was thick fog at three Mile Dam where we had spent the night – we needed a Fire to warm up in the morning.

We went on to the Southern section of the park via Khancoban to the Geehi-River-campsite where we were looking vainly for platypus. Possibly the noise of the Fire Brigade helicopters (due to bush fires in the region) had chased them away. The next day, our Target was the Summit of Mount Kosciuszko (2228 m above sea level), Australias’ highest mountain. The ascent started with a ride on the chairlift over 500 altitude meters and afterwards, there were Steel meshes till just below the summit which was reached on real soil, but a large hiking path. After hiking in Switzerland, we were afraid that the hiking time was too short for our children (each way 6.5 km and 300 altitude meters), but on this highway the two attacked the summit ans back and other hikers admired them.

Mama decided instead of going down with the chairlift to walk down the Dead Horse Fap Track without any technical support, papa and the children opted for the sitting version on the lift. When they got to the car, Daniela called to tell them that it will take longer because she had Met an injured hiker. Now we tried together to organize the evaluation of this lady (Anthea). Nobody could guess at this time that two interesting days with this family were following. Markus drove to the chairlift station where he met Marc (Antheas husband) and their children Oliver and Alexander. He recognized Markus immediatly due to the “funny language” in which he was talking to his children. The Crew from the chairlift could not help, so Markus and Marc decided to bring Anthea themselves. Marc could hire ski poles from a sports store and with the SAM splint of Danielas miraculous pharmacy the evacuation started. After a short instruction of the splint from Daniela, Markus went up the mountain. He met Anthea and Anita on a bank und adjusted the splint according to the medical instructions. Anita is anothergood soul who helfend to bring down Anthea with positif support. Marc followed 1/4 h later and met them when they were limping down the path. Anthea managed the way down with the support of supporting masculine shoulders. Anthea is playing cello and gamba and know some people maligne baroque music in common with Markus. The weather deteriorated and half way down, it started raining buckets and their clothes were soaked within minutes. We accepted the offer of Marc and Anthea with pleasure in this weather. We spent Christmas even in their holiday chalet in Thredbo, the children loved going on the bob slide with the older boys, jump on the trampolines and play hide and seek in the house. Thredbo received for the summerly Chistmas Carols on Christmas eve an alpine horn concert. We “helped” the family with their traditional “turkey à la Yates”. Thanks to Marc, Anthea and family for the hostel!
On Christmas eve, our children wer allowed to Open their first Christmas presents together with Oliver and Alexander – their eyes were shining with joy.

On Christmas day, we drove to Perisher valley and hiked to porcupine rock with a short scrambling to the rocky summit. On the way back, a copperhead snake was suddenly in Front of us (there was no time for a photo). We spent the next night at the “Island Bend” campsite directly at the river and decorated the Christmas Gum tree. The children received their remaining Christmas presents and before going to sleep, we saw our first wombat.

On Boxing day, we continued to the Snowy River National Park to Victoria till Mc Killops Bridge – there was a dingo on the way. To give Nora and Fiona the possibility to try out their Christmas presents, we had to up our tent beside the car because of the rain. The next morning, the bypassing Ranger adviced us about the Erindundra National Park where we walked through the rainforest and spent the night at “Frosty Hollow” Campsite (which honoured its name with a night close to zero). On the way there, an echidna crossed the overgrown track and several trees tried to block our way.

New South Wales (Nord) – Sydney

Posted on 17. December 2015 by Markus

After Fionas birthday party we staid another day in Ballina befire heading on along the coast into Yuragir National Park (close to Australias banans cspital – Coffs Harbour). We tried a 4×4-Route through rain forest and dry forest into Nymboi-Binderay National Park. This track demanded a lot of our Crocomobile, but it did well even on the steepest passages.

Unfortunately, at the campsite „Platypus-Flats“ we did not see any of these animals because the camground was crowded and the animals very shy. The next days, we hikes in the Dorrigo- and New England National Park, with an overnight staying at Thungutti . The Trail in the New England National Park was pretty steep and rocky and the hike with the children took some time.

Also the road towards the coast was narrow and winding and we reached the Chosen campsite Chose to Port Macquarie only 30 min after the Rezeption closed and we did not get in. So we consoled the two mermaids (they had already discovered the aquatic playground with a waterslide at the reception) to the next day and spent the night at the showground in Kendall. But the next day, we arrived at the campsite Bonny Hills just after 11am and noteingewiesen could stop the two of getingelt into the water.
The beach was not patrolled and we were toll about sharks who attached humans recently, so we only walked along the beach and collected shells. From November 23. to 25., we Carosserie the Barrington Tops. On the way to the park, Nora and Fiona could try riding a horse on the Farm where we spent the night (Cobark Caravan Park).

The Barrington Tops are a huge, Almosen untouched nature reserve. The Information concerning hikes was disappointing (imprecise Maps on the Information boards, no suitable hikes) – so we only did a Part of one of the several-day trees ans spent the night at Dilgry River.

We hoped, the sharks would have legt the coast in the meantime, but that was not the Case. Fortunately, we could offer our girls the promised swim in the artificial ocean pool at Forster-Tuncurry and the Floatings crocodile war tested in the sea for the first time.
We continued through the Booti Booti National Park and the Myall Lakes National Park to Hawks Nest. After a few days on simple campsites (the only luxury were drop toilets), we offered ourselves again a luxury camping for two nights at Port Stephens (Salamander Bay) – with a 10 % discount due to our BIG4-membership.

We wanted to Visit the Blue Mountains absolutely before the beginning of the school holiday. Therefore, on the 28.11., we drove via Patonga through the Mountains to Newnes in Wollemi National Park. In Former Times, oil ans coal were mines around Newnes and were transported to the cities by railway. Only the old railway line and some ruins are remaining, today, the “village” only consists of a hotel Transformers into a museum and a free bush campsite. The next morning, Fiona and Nora had to vomit their beakfast, so we stayed one more day in Newnes. Already during the day, their stomaches calmed and and only Fiona remained with some diarrhea. We decided to walk to the Glowworm-Tunnel the next day because we were interested in the little creatures. After a shirt steep section at the beginning, we hikes leisurely along the old railway to the Glowworm-Tunnel. With headlights, we entered the Old Tunnel and after a few Meters, we saw the first little lights along the Walls. For the cildren, but also for us,t was interesting to see again ans again new glowworms.

The next stopover in the Blue Mountains were the Jenolan Caves: a Karstadt with beautiful limestone caves. On the 02.12., we visited one of the caves (Diamant Cave). The mini-Speleologists loved discovering the impressive underground world. We went on to the Kanangra National Park und walked at Kanangra-Wall to the Kanangra-Falls. On the way down, our children are always fast, but on the way up, they are lacking motivation and to bring them up, we have to persuade them and Fiona even needs “riding opportunities”.

The most famous Region in the Blue Mountains we kept for the end: The Ridges around Katoomba and Wentworth, where we spent there days and did nice walks. It is always amazing: you start the hike in crowdy of touristes and shortly afterwards, you can enjoy the nature in the valley for a few hours. Towards the end of the hike when coming up to the top, there are again lots of tourists who only walk a few steps.

Our hikes: 1. Three Sisters, Giant Stairway, Katoomba-Falls (Furber-Steps); 2. National Pass, Wentworth-Falls

We spent the week from 06.12. to 13.12. in Sydney. We visites the hotspots of the city:
Operahouse and Harbourbridge, one day Bondi-Beach (for the 2 mermaids), Australia-Museum, Maritime Museum, Sealife (Aquarium) etc. One highlight for all of us was the musicals „The three little Pigs” in the opera house, mainly because the story was the first class theme in Noras preschool. Nora and Fiona asked us already days before whether they could put on dresses and their new opal-kangaroo-earrings. There should be more opportunities for pretty dresses, they have never been dresses up that quickly…

During the night Santa Claus was here!

Santa Claus also stopped at the crocomobile for the children and since then, our crocomobile is illuminated with colourful a colourful light-chain…

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Posted on 22. November 2015 by Markus

After the southern Flinders Ranges we also wanted to see the northern ones. By sunshine we drove to Aarkaroola and set up our tent next to the Aarkaroola Creek. The caretaker of the campsite warned us about possible thunderstorms and a rising water, so we moved up to the caravan park. Luckilythere was no flooding, but we made our first experiences with Australian thunderstorms. The car was rocking but we staid dry in the tent on top (even if we had to refix one of the bars). We trief to explore the surroundings the next day, but frequent showers stopped the enthusiasm. So we tried to refix the leaking gas stove together with the caretaker, but the spare parts were lacking. So we used the petrol stove still we reached the camping store at the coast.

When drove the only open road to Copley in order to escape the rain towards Port Augusta in the south on 4.11., we lost our front number plate when crossing a creek. We were stopped in Leigh Creek because the water level of the Windy Creek was still too high – so we had lunch and went shopping.

Two hours later, we could do the crossing, but there were several flooded zones on rhe way to Hawker where we spent the night. Because the weather forecast changed and the tracks reopened, we decided finally to go north and so the Strezelecki-track. Fortunately, it was already sufficiently dry and there were only few muddy spots to negotiate, but we imagined how it was in the rain…Half way to New South Wales, we spent the night at “Montecollina Bore” (warm waterhole).

At Cameroon Corner, we tried the famous burger and went then into the Sturt National Park. We never saw that many kangaroos, even on the little bushwalk it was bouncing everywhere between the trees.

The sidetrip to the Currawinya National Park was not possible due to flooding and closure if the road, we had to spend the night in Hungerford. On the 09.11., we drove to Lighening Ridge which is famous for opal mining and black opals. We visited a mine which did not get famous because of the opal findings but because of the sculpture-making skills of the owner ans the carvings (animals, famous persons,…)he made in the hard sandstone layer above the opal-containing clay layer.

A good place to relax for the mine workers (and for us) were the Artesian Pools. We continued our trip to Goondiwindi (beautiful Vampground in a Nature Reserve directly at the river) into the Girraween National Park. We tried to climb „the pyramid” but we had to turn back Because the Rocks before the summit were that steep that we would have needed climbing harnesses and a rope for the children.

Of this hike. We mainly remember the noisy crickets. The second hike in that day on „Bald Rock“ in the correspondant park was sucessful thank to the climbing equipment and our little capricorns were even admired by a ranger.
On the 14.11., we arrived in the “Prawn capital” Ballina on the beautiful Headlands Holiday Park an (Pool, Spa, playgrounds, camp kitchen with oven) – just in time to celebrate Fionas 4. birthday with cake and presents.

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Category Archives: New South Wales

New South Wales (South)

New South Wales (Nord) – Sydney

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