Camping and hiking in The Kangaroo Valley.

I had a wonderful weekend at The Kangaroo Valley this weekend with Sydney Explorers.


Highlights of the weekend included:

• Driving down on Friday evening with Srini.
• The wonderful camp-site in Kangaroo Valley, set on huge lawns, separated by giant rocks, and a lovely river running through.
• Being Dave's birthday on Friday night, Rudy brought a sinfully good chocolate cake. So delicious!
• Great fun and hilarity, especially with JC and Srini.
• Wombats wandering through the camp-site after dusk. I'm amazed how big they can get.
• A 14 km return hike on Saturday to an amazing lake and flooded forest. A perfect spot for a group swim and some leaps.
• Elna and Srini's very impressive one legged poses. Very flexible and graceful, both of them! I would have fallen flat on my face.
• Some fun banter with JC, Srini, Anne Maree and Tony in the car after the hike on the way to the pub. 
• Delicious "crossbow" cider at the pub and back at the camp site.
• Scrumptious cheese and crackers and cherry pie supplied by the lovely Rob and Kim.
• Srini's enormous camping chair that I kind of stole. Sorry Srini, I really must get myself one!
• Gorgeous swims in river at the camp site to cool off and freshen the armpits to make up for the lack of a shower.
• Joining some kids to swing into the river on a rope tied to a tree.  So much fun;  never to late to have a happy childhood.
• A very scenic 11 km hike on Sunday to enjoy three spectacular views of the valley, river and dam.
• The enormous bull ants that seemed everywhere on the hike.  I got bitten again but nothing compared to last time!
• The most delicious pie I've just about ever tasted at The World's Best Pie shop. 
• A last drink at the pub before heading off for our return journey.
• The very picturesque and quaint town of Kangaroo Valley. It has a great vibe.
• The most amazing thunder storm breaking out as we left Kangaroo Valley. Amazing clouds and then rain so hard that we had to stop driving.  Only lasted 5 minutes thankfully.
• A much needed coffee at The Shaggy Cow on the way home. What a great name for a cafe!
• Some nourishing heart to heart chats with Srini on the drive home.

Saturday hike

The amazing flooded forest that we hiked to on Saturday.

Quite a surreal place and the perfect spot for a swim ...

... and of course, some leaping!!

Some impressive one-legged poses by Elna and Srini.

Having an awesome swim

Life at the camp site

The camp site with its huge lawn, lovely river and wombats wandering through. Srini and I gave the tree swing a go.

Sunday hike

Our Sunday hike included three great views.

Beautiful cliffs and views of the river below.

Views of the Tallowa Dam.

JC and Srini have fun on the cliff.

The 3 Amigos

The flowers were out in force again, especially on the Sunday hike.

I loved the different patterns and colours in these leaves.

World's Best Pies

For once, the sign didn't lie. They really were that good!

Kangaroo Valley Town

Lots of old buildings and a quaint, relaxed vibe.

Having a well deserved final drink at the pub.

A wonderful group, as always.

Storm clouds on the way home

I love stormy, dramatic skies!

Hike through Shoalhaven Gorge

I spent a lovely weekend spent with South Coast Campers, hiking along the Shoalhaven Gorge.  I love hiking along rivers where you can swim anytime and this was an absolute beauty.


Highlights of the weekend included ...

• Lovely people as always on South Coast camping trips including the wonderful regulars; Kim, Chris, JC, Anne Marie.
• My first delicious swim in the river after our hot descent into the gorge from Longpoint Look Out.
• The amazing place where we had our first group swim - a huge expanse of water, so deep we couldn't touch the bottom.  The only drawback of this perfect spot was the boiling hot sand that scalded our feet!
• Doing several exciting river crossings. On the first day, many of us did it bare foot (ouch, the rocks hurt!) but on the second day, we wizened up and kept our boots on (much better!!)
• Our great camp site in the trees on soft grass by the river.
• Launching ourselves down a little stretch of rapid on Jimmy's lilo; a lot of fun!
• The relief of sitting my burning posterior in the river after sitting on the top of an ant nest and being bitten to smitherines!
• Great French movie recommendations from Rahima.
• A great night's sleep - I don't usually sleep so soundly in my coffin of a tent!
• Very wisely getting up early (6 am) to get an early start on Sunday morning to try to avoid the coming heat (35 degrees by noon!)
• The beautiful reflections in the river as we hiked.
• A last dunk in the river to cool ourselves down for the mega climb ahead.
• The elation at the end of the steep and exhausting 90 minute climb out of the gorge in the sweltering heat. 
• The stupendous view from Badgery Lookout, looking down on the big climb we'd done.
• A delicious (and very good value) meal at the pub in Marulan and feeling so dehydrated that I forsook delicious cider for copious glasses of orange juice.
• Laid back Ben, who looked like Ryan Gosling's younger brother.  Sorry, Jo, he's taken!
• Some great philosophical discussions with Howard.

All in all, another fantastic weekend.

The hike into the valley from Lonpoint Look Out

Arriving at the Shoalhaven River.  I was the first in!

Enjoying the river, eating our lunch.

The Spring flowers, still out in abundance

Our first group swim at a perfect swimming spot.

 

Hiking on to our camping spot.

Our first two river crossings, sore on the feet!!

What a great spot to camp!  Just don't sit on the ant nest!

Local wildlife. The blue dragon flies were exquisite, but I didn't manage to get a great photo of it unfortunately.

The section of river where we camped was fast flowing ..

... perfect for some fun in the rapids

Beautiful reflections in the river.

Crossing the river on the second day, wearing my boots this time.  

Kim wearing her yellow socks, Rahima crossing the river

The hot, steep climb out of the gorge.

The beautiful view from the top (Badgery Lookout)

Rahima, me, Sara

Palm Beach to Wagstaffe, Pretty Beach, Killcare, Maitland Bay and Putty Beach

Another lovely day out; a scenic 12 km hike at The Central Coast including the gorgeous Maitland Bay which Chrisèl introduced me to a few months ago.


Highlights of the day included:

• Pouring with rain while we were on the bus getting there; then the sun coming out soon after our arrival in Palm Beach.
• A scenic ferry ride from Palm Beach to the start of the hike in Hardy's Bay.
• The fantastic view from the outlook point a quarter of the way along the hike.
• Invigorating swims at Maitland Bay - the water was the perfect temperature.
• Srini bringing his umbrella and Mexican hat for some great leaping and water shots.
• The beautiful sculptured rocks at Maitland Bay, perfect for leaping and one legged yoga poses.
• The stunning Bouddi Coastal Walk from Maitland Bay to Putty Beach, especially the sandstone cliffs.
• A delicious Mocha and berry cheesecake tart at The Fat Goose in Hardy's Bay.
• Running a kilometre for the ferry and just catching it in time.
• A lift home from Kenny and Cloris, saving me at least an hour on my return journey.

Catching the ferry from Palm Beach.

Views from the ferry.

Our ferry destination near Hardy's Bay.

Lots of boats.

Views on our walk from Hardy's Bay to Maitland Bay.

 

A great leap at the first outlook point.

Srini brought an umbrella as a prop for leaping!

Some bushwalking down into Maitland Bay.

Once we arrived at Maitland Bay, we leapt straight into the water. Absolutely gorgeous. Srini brought out his great Mexican hat as another photo prop.

Me, Cloris, Kenny, JC

 

Maitland Bay is a seriously beautiful spot ...

... with amazing sculptured rocks on either end.

Srini did some one legged yoga poses ...

... and I did some precarious leaps.

Our lunch spot in the shade.

From Maitland Bay, we walked along the coast to Putty Beach, a beautiful section of the Bouddi Coastal Walk.

One of the outlook points along the way.

These sandstone cliffs were one of the greatest highlights of the day ...

... providing a great backdrop for some leaps. 

A map showing a section of our walk. I'd love to do the full Bouddi Coastal Walk some time.