I didn’t mean to stop at all at Wolumla, only that I thought I’d left something back at Merimbula, 15km away in the Bega Valley (thankfully I didn’t). After checking the boot, I noticed this interesting building…
The sign says “Gunpowder Trading Post”. I don’t think it’s within the law to sell such things anymore, but it tells you a lot about the history of the town, don’t you think?
Central Tilba is comprised of a series of restored miners cottages. They are very colourful, and very cute! It is no doubt a tourist area, remeniscent of the Southern Highlands town of Berrima, with a bit of Far North Coast new age style thrown in.
The cottages themselves are lovely. My work colleague, a former country boy, was all very blase about my fascination with cottages, but they are lovely. Even the pub is rather cute! I really wouldn’t mind having one of these cottages on the edge of town, with a little garden, overlooking the valley.
The Tilba Valley is the cutest place. About an hour south of Batemans Bay, and only 5km long, it has two villages, former mining towns, overshadowed by limestone outcrops.
Like in most towns in Australia, one can’t escape the shadows of war. This memorial, however, is more scenic than most.
A new theme today – sleepy hollows. Namely, peaceful/sleepy/scenic/cute places in the country side.
I’m going to start with Jamberoo Abbey cottages, my own little sleepy hollow. I try to get away there about twice a year since it’s only a 1.5 hour drive from home. It is on the side of the Illawarra Escarpment, surrounded by pastures and rainforest.
I like walking through the pastures and listening to the many birds.
I’ve saved the best till last on South Coast Line, because it is the end of the line for this theme. Pambula is about 6km south of Merimbula, but feels like a world away, especially on this isolated stretch of beach at the Pambula River Mouth. It’s in the Ben Boyd National Park, and you can see why the place is protected. Look at that brilliantly white river sand and the unusually crimson coloured rocks (a colour which I’ve never seen before).
Though it was a bit choppy, I managed a little walk and a swim on an isolated stretch of beach. A lovely way to relax.
Thanks for journeying with me down the South Coast! I haven’t really covered the little inland sleepy hollows I passed through, so these will be next.
It was a fine day, so a little morning meditation on Main Beach is the perfect and peaceful way to start the day.
Day is done: the canoes are stacked, the gates locked, the boat shed empty. But there is still the glorious late afternoon light, and the hefty chorus of cicadas to keep me company.
This is Top Lake, the smaller of the lakes that Merimbula is nestled around. It’s late afternoon, and while on the beach side it is blowing a gale, the lake is peaceful enough.
Lake side.
Beach side.
The only activity on the lake are the birds having their afternoon feed and an eager parasailer.
Ah, Merimbula – the jewel of the Far South Coast. I was so surprised at how pretty the area is on the drive past Moruya. Towns on the banks of spectacular rivers, backed by long beaches and craggy hills. It beats anything near close to Sydney coast-wise – and it is unspoiled in comparison to the North Coast, or any other coast in NSW.
Merimbula is about the most developed town in the area, but it’s still only a fraction the size of Port Macquarie. I can see why people have chosen to settle here. It’s nestled in between two lakes, backed by long, sandy beaches. It makes for some great swimming spots, such as Bar Beach below – a sheltered beach just inside the inlet that the locals head for when it’s blowy elsewhere.
Now we’re getting to the pointy end of the journey. Tathra is right in the heart of the Sapphire Coast of NSW. It’s sleepy little place, with a long, long beach, and a really old pier that’s really popular with fisher-people.
Static and Silence 