KANGAROOS IN THE KITCHEN

Guests for tea at Maloney's Beach

After Lake Brou my next point of call was to be a little place called Potato Point just up the road. It promised flat, green lawns, toilets, drinking water and an abundance of kangaroos. And it didn’t disappoint! Although only a hop, skip and a jump from Lake Brou,(no pun intended regarding the masses of kangaroos, though I can see why they prefer Potato Point!), it was about as far away as you could get in scenery. It was like entering another country! Lush and tranquil, it sits on a river teeming with fish, the Ocean to it’s back. The grassy park, where the RVs  rest up, is beautifully manicured. I’m just not sure if someone actually goes around with a mower or if the Roos do it all for them. I counted 25 as guests that evening, I munching on my meal of pasta and fruit, and they on the tender shoots of green grass around me. They were very good guests, but way too party going for me. I left them, to sink thankfully into my bed at 9pm. I swear they were still there at 10pm.

Gorgeous McKenzies Beach, just before Moruya.

The next day, having filled up my water, I intended to head for the beach at Congo Point, though this one would cost $10 pr night as National Parkland. Somehow I never made it there. Not quite sure what happened but I went on to the lovely town of Moruya. Winding up and over the hilly A1 there I decided to take the tourist drive over the estuary and turning left. The first stop was Bar Beach Lookout. I love this place. It is only a day stop area with a big car park, but there is so much crammed into such a little place. It has breathtaking views of Moruya, the countryside and the Ocean. There’s a great picnic area, a sheltered swimming hole, surfing beach and the bar itself. The bar is manmade of huge stone, blocks , jutting aggressively into the Ocean, staunchly sheltering all within from the damaging waves. I enjoyed my walk out there, despite the wind battling my every step. And the view was worth it.

Mosquito Bay

And so onto Broulee, a place I was surprised to find myself liking so much. Very nice, fairly well to do, area with a good beachy feel to it. Guerilla Bay a bit further up was well named, in comparison, let me tell you. Definitely more bushland than beach. A little rough around the edges and not a place I would like to be in after dark! Malua was next, and a joy to see. Great curve of a beach, very family friendly. I like it a little further on near Mosquito bay. I stopped at a

Caseys Beach

friendly café there with a wonderful outside area to sit and enjoy the view. And I did. Afterwards, I went through Lilli Pilli without even realizing it! I almost turned around to check if I’d missed the road or something. But there was only one road- and I was on it. So up to Surf Beach, Denhams Beach, Catalina Beach….Oh, you get the picture. They were all excellent, but sadly all blurring into one, by now. The only one that really stood out was Casey’s Beach. A sheltered cove with a little picnic area, that somehow just stood out as the best of them all.

I was, of course, by now at Bateman’s Bay! Again I was surprised to like such a busy place. Not usually the sort I want to spend much time in. But Bateman’s Bay has that certain something. In my case it was “The Mockingjay part1’ DVD!  I’d been waiting to get for a while and found it in Target. I cannot tell a lie, this put a bit of a rosy glow on Bateman’s Bay for me, though even so, I liked the easy layout of the shopping area where nothing was difficult to find and the beach was only across the road.

I left Bateman’s with a big smile on my face and an air of urgent anticipation. I was headed for Maloney’s Beach North Shore Camp area, and a night spent watching The Mockingjay. Look I love nature and great scenery… BUT….. there’s a place and time for everything. Tonight was the turn of the Movie. Which was a great idea. Shame that the process wasn’t quite as easy. I got to Maloney’s Beach easily. That was only 15minutes from Batemans Bay. But could I find the camping area? No way. The signs here said ‘no camping’. Frustrated I contacted a mate who had passed a blissful night there he said, for directions. Turns out it was right here that he had camped. “Oh don’t worry Di” he said” The beach is stunning there, the locals are really friendly, and the signs are only for the forests and beach. Just park anywhere.”  Bless him!

But This is something I hate doing. If there’s a ‘no camping’ sign it’s there for a reason! It means if you are caught there’s a hefty fine! But I was shattered and so I pulled over onto the only flat surface I could find, far from the beach, ludicrously trying to hide from the houses, behind the only (and incredibly sparse) tree there. 

However he was right. Maloney’s Beach is stunning, especially to have a long walk on an evening on! And the locals are extremely friendly. And inquisitive. I stopped counting after 67 Roos joined me in the field, and closed my door when one came in for a cheeky look, craning their neck to suss out the insides of the Grey Chihuahua. Bunkering down for the night, I closed all curtains, and set the DVD on. Biscuits and tea at the ready. Taking one last sneaky peaky outside, I looked through a crack in the curtain. Straight into the eyes of yet another all too friendly local. The Roos were multiplying, and none too understanding of personal space. I turned off the lights and turned on The Mockingjay.

And So-May all your meal times be blessed with welcome guests.
The Grey Chihuahua