rocket man

possible driving holiday for P's bday


Day 1

Cadell on the Murray Motel Resort - Moama

Deluxe - $115 per night
Queen - $115 per night
both with kitchenette
situated on the Murray

Barmah Public Bar

Mallacoota dreaming

Mallacoota is near the very tip of Victoria (Gabo Island, the BOM's eastern-most weather recording spot for Victoria is just off the coast).
It is shrouded in the Croajingolong National Park and bushland, and is on the shore of a lake and estuary that open out into the Southern Ocean, with the Pacific just around the corner.

Getting there - Melbourne to Mallacoota (6 hours non-stop)

Pit stops

Home - Traralgon 2 hours - 

Bushie's Bakery, Main St, Glengarry
(9 mins outside Traralgon)

 Leave the Highway at Traralgon or Stratford and take the well-marked Route C105
For further details, wander over the map or select your location below


Traralgon - Lakes' Entrance 2 hours -

Awesome fish n chips, 337 Esplanade, Lakes Entrance
If your after crispy fried fish ....this is fish and chips with Asian style frying. Almost a tempura like batter, choose the local fresh fish

Fishermen's co-op - fresh fish for sale (as well as fish n chips) Fishermens Own Leftrade Omega3

Shop 5 Safeway Arcade, Lakes Entrance,


link to map

Mallacoota & Croajingolong National Park :: Coastal Wilderness

"Bush and wildlife, extensive waterways, walking trails, Gabo Island historic lighthouse, on and off shore fishing and a relaxed lifestyle, just 23kms off the Princes Highway. Mallacoota is well known to generations of Australians and by our international guests. You can stand on a beach with the wind in your hair and easily imagine being thousands of miles from anywhere or simply watch the whales passing by or the porpoises at play in the shallows. Throw in a line and fish in the solitude of a morning sunrise or the evenings glow."

(Vist Mallacoota website)

The World Biosphere Reserve of Croajingolong National Park covers 87500ha, it is one of Victoria’s larger parks which includes 100 km of beautiful, undeveloped coastline.

Parks Victoria site

Named after the Aboriginal people of the area, Croajingolong follows the far-eastern coastline of Victoria for 100 kilometres and features eucalypt forest, rainforest and heathland.

Secluded coastal camping spots are a perfect base for beach walks, birdwatching, boating and fishing. Relax in a boat on the Mallacoota Lakes, climb Genoa Peak for panoramic views along the coast or visit the massive sand dunes at Thurra River.

Point Hicks Lightstation, set deep within the park, is an imposing concrete tower completed in 1890. While Gabo Island Lightstation, built of distinctive pink granite, can be reached by air or sea. Both offer tours and accommodation.

WALKS

Mallacoota Coastal Walk

The Mallacoota Coastal Walk opened in February 2013. This easy walk will take you on a fantastic journey of exploration through Mallacoota’s scenic coastline.
From Mallacoota, the track leads through tall forest and rainforest gullies, along the banks of the tranquil Davis Creek, through stunning coastal heathland, woodland to eventually reach the quiet waters of the Betka River. 

From the Betka Beach car park, the track hugs the top of the coastal escarpment to Quarry Beach, Secret Beach and eventually into Croajingolong National Park. A beautiful short loop track along the banks of Betka River is also available. Lookouts along the way provide fantastic vistas of the coastline, taking in vast sweeping beaches, Cape Howe and Gabo Island. The total walk is approximately 9km one way, however it may be tackled in sections, There are a number of car parking areas along the route to permit this (see map). The sections include the Casuarina Walk (1.8km one way), The Heathland Walk (0.8km one way), Davis Creek to Betka Beach Picnic Ground (1.2km one way), and Betka Beach to Pebbly Beach 5.5km one way).
Note: If the Betka River Mouth is closed, access to the Pebbly Beach section is via the beach section. However, if the Betka River Mouth is open, it is recommended that walkers drive to the Betka Beach Picnic Ground to access the southe

rn section of the walk as the Betka River Bridge is for vehicle traffic. 

The Loop track mentioned above is approximately 1.8km in length offering magnificent coastal vistas, heathland communities and enchanting river views as the path wanders through a riparian open forest community with its well defined upper stratum of ancient angophoras, white stringy barks and bloodwoods, a middle stratum of pittosporum, wattles and mellaleuca, a lower stratum of cassinia and Goodenia ovata with a variety of ground covering species. This environment provides a range of protected habitats for many birds, the chorus of their calls adding further pleasure to this section.

The new track joins the Old Coast Walking track to Shipwreck Beach (see Shipwreck Creek Walks below). There are 9 new viewing platforms each offering magnificent seascapes revealing the true beauty of Australia’s Coastal Wilderness.

Excellent access points to Davis Creek Beach, Quarry Beach and Pebbly Beach have been provided and are suitable entry points to sections of the Mallacoota Coastal Walk. 
Many of our walking tracks are also navigable by bike. Bike hire is available from various outlets around town.

Lots more walks here

Shady Gully Walk: (0.6km) (Map1 – E8 to C8) The walk passes through a dry schlerophyl forest of Mountain Grey Gum, Angophora and Stringy Bark and a remnant rainforest. Interpretive boards outline fauna and flora species of the area. 

Casuarina Walk: (1.8km) (Map 1 – C8 to C12) Starting opposite the Miva Miva Centre (on the Mallacoota-Genoa Road), the path goes through a Casuarina littoralis community (seed capsules of this Casuarina provide food for the Glossy Black Cockatoo).  The track leads to Betka Road.

Heathland Walk: (0.8 km) (Map 1 – C12 to C14) This walk starts opposite the end of the Casuarina Walk on Betka Road just past the Davis Creek Bridge. One feature of this walk is the vegetation change from forest to heathland. Typical heathland plants which may be seen include heaths, orchids, scrub casuarina, banksias, acacias, daisies, hakeas, grass trees etc. Birds which have been observed include Whistling Kites, Ground Parrots, Emu Wrens, and Swallows. The walk ends at the Davis Beach access car park.

Beach Walk: (2.1 km) (Map 1 – C14 via H13 to G12) This walk is accessed by a set of steps leading down through a coastal plant community from the car park serving Davis Beach or by turning right on the beach below the Bastion Point Lookout and proceeding around the point.   At the Davis Beach end, there is a rock formation you may have to climb over if the tide is high (take care).  Rock pools are at Bastion Point.

Pittosporum Walk: (1.4km) (Map 1 – G12 to E10) This walk can be accessed from Bastion Point car park. The walk provides excellent views of islands, sand flats of the tidal delta (the largest in Victoria), Gabo Island and the Howe Range. The endemic Pittosporum thrives in the moist gullies. Some access and departure points of the gullies are moderately steep. Mistletoe Birds, Scarlet Honey eaters, Firetails, Lyrebirds and Whip Birds may be seen or heard. A commemorative plaque is a reminder of the indigenous heritage of the area.

Heritage Trail: (0.5km) (Map 1 – E10) A brochure is available for this walk at the Visitor Information Shed . It will introduce you to some of the cultural and natural features of Mallacoota including the rare Mallacoota Gum (a hybrid of Mountain Grey Gum and Blue Gum). There are approximately 40 specimens. Evidence of aboriginal occupation, early European settlement and a range of plant species will be seen.

Mallacoota

link to map

Coota Beach House (via Stayz)

38 Terra Nova Drive, Mallacoota 
$125 / night
a nice, calming place to relax and be on the ocean side of Mallacotta
a 20 minute walk into the town centre




While we're there

Melbourne to Sydney Coastal Drive (The Guardian)

Trek to Point Hicks lighthouse: Getting to the start of this walk, along an unsealed 45km road through Croajingalong’s forested slopes, is part of the adventure. The 4.5km return trek winds behind beaches framed by granite boulders before ascending to the lighthouse, reaching 37m above a rocky headland that was Captain Cook’s first sighting of the Australian mainland, in April 1770. Weekend tours at 1pm.

Visit the Eden killer whale museum: “Which is the second most intelligent creature on the planet?” asks guide Barry Smith during our tour before answering his own question: the killer whale. There is plentiful evidence for his claim, including the symbiotic relationship between killer whales (actually the largest dolphins) and man going back to early Koori habitation of this area.

adelaide anniversary

Cathy Brooks - signs of life installation

it's the anniversary of my stroke in july, and we've been encouraged to take a holiday to commemorate our recovery from that time

noosa - no, we'd just returned from there last year when i had my stroke
mission beach - warm, remote but too far, 6 hour flight + 2 hour drive = too much
daylesford - small train trip but too cold, it sometimes snows in july

so ... adelaide!
we almost got there last year for turner but that had to be cancelled at the last minute

places to stay 

criteria - kitchen, separate bedroom, central & relatively quiet locale, and free wifi if possible (though it seems the whole of adelaide is a hotspot)*

La Loft Apartments	104 North Terrace	shares foyer with Oaks Horizon reviews on tripadvisor best rates via hotelscombined - $472/4 nights
iStay Precinct	185 Morphett St	reviews on tripadvisor best rates via hotelscombined - $371/4 nights

*  turn on WiFi on device & choose AdelaideFree -- 

View AdelaideFree WiFi Hotspot locations

View Adelaide in July in a larger map

look up the 5000s for ideas

eating / drinking

market -  

buy fresh produce at the market ...

Sun/Mon	CLOSED
Tues	7am – 5.30pm
Wed	9am – 5.30pm
Thurs	9am – 5.30pm
Fri	7am – 9pm
Sat	7am – 3pm

market map (PDF)

getting around

free bike hire - details here
Adelaide City Bikes are free to hire during opening hours of any of the 14 hire locations in Adelaide City, 2 locations in Unley and 5 locations in Charles Sturt. You can hire a City Bike from any of the participating hire locations during their opening hours.  Helmet and bike lock rental also available.

Adelaide Metro - City map (PDF)

free city connector bus - map / timetable (PDF)

airport to/from

JetBus services travel to and from the city, Glenelg and the north-eastern suburbs.
All JetBuses are Metroticket services. Single trip and daytrip tickets can be purchased from bus drivers.
Click here to go to the Adelaide Metro website. Look for the J1 and J2 route information.

tram to/from glenelg

old time glenelg

spend the day at glenelg

lunch at the beach (lots of pubs on the esplanade)
walk along the foreshore to henley beach and catch the bus back, or stroll further to semaphore and catch the train

things to see & do

Art Gallery of South Australia, 10 - 5   M - Su

Museum of Economic Botany - Adelaide Botanic Garden, North Tce

10 - 4

plant samples, papier mache fruit, and a cabinet of curiosities by local girl, fiona hall

visiting exhibition – Urpflanze Street Plants, by Caroline Rothwell
references Goethe's theory of the "archetypal plant" as inspiration, in which she has created hybrid "uber-weeds" ... "Weeds go where we go … like humans, they're mega colonisers," she explains.

Himeji Garden  South Terrace, between Charlotte St and Louisa St, City

Built to celebrate Adelaide and the Japanese city of Himeji becoming sisters in 1982, the garden employs traditional Japanese design features to create a Zen oasis amongst the grind of city life. As you step through the slatted bamboo gates, the noise from South Terrace and Glen Osmond Road recedes into the background. Walk through the meandering paths, stop and sit by the sand garden, and watch the turtles swim slowly through the pond.