Wilsons Promontory National Park to Mimosa Rocks National Park

Day 368

Wake up feeling refreshed after a good night’s sleep and ready to go on a nice long walk along the prom (prom, prom). Unfortunately no one has told the weather of our plans and it is (excuse my French) pissing it down and blowing a gale. Check the weather on the internet and it appears that there are severe weather warnings for Wilsons Promontory today and it looks as though it has set in for the day. Keep ourselves amused with copious amounts of tea and watch a few films to pass the time.

There is finally a break in the rain just after lunch and so we brave a trip to the beach, both wrapped up like Christmas but as soon as we have we made it to the beach the heavens open again and we beat a hasty retreat to the safety of the van for more tea and another film.

Day 369

Of course as we are packing up to move on out comes the sun and it’s looking like a nice day today (typical). We carry on all the same and just a short drive along the coast we come to the holiday town of Lakes entrance, the entrance to over 5000km² of inland lakes separated from the sea by a thin strip of beach. In the summer months this place must be heaving under the weight of a million holidaymakers but on a cold and windy Saturday in May it’s more like a ghost town, most of the shops are shut and we seem to be the only car on the road. There must be at least 20 caravan parks here and with so much choice neither of us can decide where to go. We park up and walk along judging each one on external appearance and distance to the pub and end up settling for one of the closer ones. Once we have set up and plugged in we go for a stroll along the (mainly shut) high street and end up at the (thankfully open) pub where we drown our sorrows and treat ourselves to a fish and chip supper on the way home.

Day 370

Sunday morning and after a lie in and a leisurely breakfast we decide that we might like to go fishing today so we jump in the van and head off in search of a good spot. Drive around the town and down to the wharf to have a look but there are some vicious looking pelicans there and they start making evil eyes and flapping in our direction so we continue on to a spot at the lakes entrance which looks like a nice spot until we get out of the van and the freezing wind hits us.

Neither of us fancy sitting about in this weather for long and so we abandon all thoughts of fishing and instead head across a bridge and down to the beach for a stroll.

Again the wind and cold gets the better of us before long and we return to the caravan park for a hot shower and an early night.

Day 371

Time to pack up and move on and today we head another short drive up the coast to the town of Mallacoota and an excellent foreshore campsite with the promise of some great fishing. As soon as we have set up I’m off to get a fishing licence and some bait. Carmen is feeling a bit under the weather and so whilst she has a lie down in the van I head literally 100 metres to the shore and throw a line in.

Several hours later and only having had 2 bites (neither of which were converted into actual fish) all afternoon I head back to the van, disappointed and console myself with a hot shower and a cold beer.

Day 372

Up to a nice sunny day and we hop on the bikes and go for a ride around the caravan park. The place is huge with over 450 sites but at this time of year you could count the number of campers on your fingers and toes. We ride right around the foreshore gazing out over the ocean and back up the inlet before returning to the van and walking up the high street to get some shopping. It’s a tiny place and so 5 minutes later we are back at the van and decide to give fishing another go (at a different spot this time).

Once again the fish are not biting but I am made to feel slightly better when we get chatting to some other blokes who have been fishing all day and they haven’t had any luck either. We retire to the camp kitchen in the evening and warm ourselves around the open fire discussing all the fish we should have caught.

Day 373

An overcast morning today and Carmen is still not feeling the best and is suffering from dizzy spells so whilst she has a lie down I jump on the bike and head off for a ride through the town, along the inlet and into Croajingolong National Park.

The ride is excellent and on the way back I spot several potential fishing spots and even witness someone catching a good sized Bream and vow to return later on.

Carmen is feeling slightly better in the afternoon and so we pack up the rods and head down to one of the purpose made fishing platforms along the inlet.

Just as I am setting up my tackle a nosy Pelican arrives on the scene and expecting he will get something hangs around looking menacingly at us and as it turns out scaring off all the fish.

Try as we might (frantic waving and shouting) he will not go away and if anything the waving seems to attract him even more. So after a few hours and with sore arms and a horse throat we give up, pack the gear up and head off back to the safety of the van.

Day 374

Pack up and leave the lovely little town of Mallacoota and just up the road we find ourselves leaving Victoria and crossing back over into New South Wales and our home state.

The first town along the highway is Eden and we stop to get some provisions and try and find the garden. Carmen is still not well and has a dizzy spell in the shop and so we decide that we better take her to the Docs and see what is up. Luckily there is a medical centre just up the road so we head straight there and thankfully are in to see the Doc within 10 minutes.

Turns out she has a middle ear infection which is making her feel dizzy and sick and she is prescribed some tablets which should help and we are on our way again. Not much further up the road and we turn off into Mimosa rocks national park where we follow 4km of interesting gravel road and reach the campsite.

It’s a lovely spot with sites right next to the beach and fire pits in each one and we are welcomed by a family of kangaroos as we set up. Head down for a stroll along the beautiful sandy beach with excellent waves (If only it were a bit warmer) and return to the van to light a warming fire and settle in for the evening.