We leave Toowoon Bay this morning for Merry Beach in Kioloa, south of Sydney, and around a 5 hour drive. Kioloa is located just north of Batemans Bay.
We stayed in Batemans Bay long ago in the camper trailer when the older kids were Daniels age. We had schnitzel for dinner and Ross was tenderising the schnitzels on a chopping board on the freshly mowed grass … the kids were told it was parsley.
Merry Beach is new to us; one of the new all important dog friendly locations that we now have to look for.
Merry Beach also caused a “situation” a few months back. Merry Beach caravan park has absolute beach frontage with a row of beach front sites … one of which we booked way back around mid year.
Barb got a call before Xmas about a site swap away from the beach front site. We had booked 6 nights, but apparently the beach front site are 7 night blocks (only the beach front sites). The girl who took the booking didnt know the 7 day day rule so months later they naively thought they could just arbitrarily move us … without poking the bear. Grrrrrrr
Barb informed Ross, and then Ross made that call to Merry Beach. Ross bypassed the desk girl and spoke direct to the manager, Angela who had made the arbitrary site change. Angela was a bit if a “matter if fact” type “im in charge” bitch.
She’d clearly not experienced too many Ross’s in her life. The short version story resulted in a few days later Barb received an apology and we were swap back to the beach front site. All was forgiven, and once again all was good in the world.
Packup was easy this morning, with most stuff packed last night for the storm that never was. We were about to drive out of Toowoon Bay and Ross got caught chatting to the old New Age guy.
We eventually hit the road south. The approach to Sydney from the north through the Hawkesbury interchange T Mooney Mooney is a great drive. The road crosses the impressive Hawkesbury River and winds through massive crevices cut through the rock.
We eventually hit the Pennent Hills area which is basically dragging the 30ft 3ton Behemoth through congested inner suburban Sydney streets in peak hour.
Has anyone heard of a Crossback brand of car
This bloke has got the whole boating thing completely backwards
Back on the Fwy, and west of Sydney at Eastern Creek, one time home of the 500cc motorcycle Grand Prix, is the Lighthorse Interchange. The freeway interchange where the M7 meets the M4 is the largest interchange in the southern hemisphere and Australias 1st 4 x level interchange.
The interchange is named in honour of the 1st AIF mounted Lighthorse. Its complexity and 4 levels circling and passing over each other is a very impressive sight.
The drive south of Sydney takes us along the coast through the Gong, Wollongong, Port Kembla, Illawarra, Kiama, Gerringong to Nowra.
Nowra has a Jayco dealer and we broke an awning lift handle last night packing up. Theres a jerry rig work around to see us through, but its needs replacing anyway so now is a better option.
The online delivered price is $38. Jayco Nowra, $50. No problem but Ross will need to use their their blind rivet gun to attach the handle. Oh you want to use our tool …. no, that wont be happening. Ok, keep your handle and park it up your arse.
Barb found a RV Repairer in Ulladulla. He was a little vague and non reassuring but it was on the way so no harm calling past. Luke and Ulladulla RV repair centre could not possibly have been more helpful and accommodating. He removed the old handle and installed the new one for $30.
Ulladulla RV Repairs get a 5 1/5 star review, and Nowra Jayco gets a 1/2 star kick in the nuts, and Thursday’s arsehole of the day award
Back on the road, some fuel and then straight to Merry Beach.
The first impression is Merry Beach is a very big caravan park, very congested with camps on top of each other. Lots of kids for Daniel, and looks like a great surf beach for Daniel ie large dumping waves
The water front sites are spectacular with some, including ours complete with a large fake turf annex pad. We literally back onto the beach with a virtually uninterrupted view of the entire beach.
There will be many hours sitting in this exact position.
Looking back up at camp from the beach
Ross would not come near this place particularly in holiday periods, its just way to intense. On the beach front sites it feel like a little removed from the chaos, but that may change after a full day here
The park feels very clicky with lots of large groups camped together.
There are kangaroos everwhere through the caravan park and on the beach which is both really cool, and a little bit of a potential issue.
The kangaroos are almost like domestic pets, have no fear of people and just wander about and in camps. Max is mesmerised by these wierd jumping dogs who look like they would be really cool to play with.
No sites have water taps. There are bore taps dotted around the park, but there more for washing sand off your feet, and they likely feed the shower block
There are potable taps near the office to fill jerrys. We were aware of the water, or lack of water issue but we carry 164ltrs in the tanks and have 70ltrs in 3 x jerrys. We can drive upto the office when required, fill the jerrys and decant the water into the van.
The water isnt an issue, and we’ve spent plenty of time camping without access to potable water but when your paying inflated Xmas rates its a given you should get tap water.
The sullage from all the beach front sites just flows down the grass toward the beach, which is a little grubby really
Leave a Reply