8.26.2012

Five Days In New South Wales



Five Days In New South Wales

            Our three-day stay in Sydney was fun-filled. On our way back to Melbourne, we took the Princes Highway.  While the Hume Highway has shorter distance, travellers do not  see the town centers in New South Wales as the highway is diverted away from the populated areas.  The Princes Highway, on the other hand, provides a panoramic view of the Sapphire Coast as the highway runs through the towns situated therein.

            I remember with fondness the beautiful landscapes as we passed through the quiet, quaint agricultural towns of Berry and Milton.  Sights of cows grazing on the meadows and of beautiful flowers in full bloom around farm houses make one forget whatever woes he has and help clear, albeit temporarily, the cobwebs in his mind.  The cool colors of Nature doing wonders !!  

            As the road snaked through rolling hills, we came to a halt at the town center of Berry, giving me the opportune time to rush to the town's small museum.  Berry has a rich history and takes pride in its development as a small township.  Old photos, antiquated farm equipment, the town's first telephone, antique furniture speak well of Berry's rich culture.  We had our lunch at the next town of Milton which is just as beautiful.

            We were now nearing the Sapphire Coast as evidenced by the magnificent view of the coastline.  As we traveled deeper into several townships, namely, Wollongong, Kiama, Nowra, Ulladulah, Narooma and Bega,  gum trees in great numbers provided shade and respite to the sun's sweltering heat. At Merimbula, our group checked in at a fine motel with a commanding view of the ocean. Merimbula is famous for its Rock Oysters and is the site of the annual Jazz Festival. For dinner, we had Seafood Special, Burgers with mashed potatoes as sidings, Olive Tapenade Waterfront Burgers, Exotic Mushroom, etc.  Indeed we were having a good time.


          Early the next day, we continued traversing the Princes Highway, crossing several bridges and enjoying the enthralling sights in Pambula, until we reached the town of Eden.  Eden, as the name connotes, is paradise.  The town center is situated on a hilly portion that overlooks the bay.  It has good hotels and inns, restaurants serving fresh seafood, a small Uniting church and a whale museum. And as one follows the descending road, it takes him to the Port of Eden where trawlers are docked after several days of fishing in the open sea, reaching as far as Tasmania.  

          Eden is a tranquil place.  So quiet one can hear the wind blow, one can hear the chirping of the birds. Everything and every area is clean.  Nothing messy, nothing filthy.  With a population of about three thousand, Eden lures visitors to the place and its enchanting beauty keeps them coming back.  And as I sat alone on that bench overlooking the bay and the museum, the wind seemed to whisper a promise to my ear. That life would still be as good as it is.  Good for me, good for everyone.  Or was I imagining?

Konted

After 3 days of fun in Sydney, we are now bound for the small towns in New South Wales


Taking the longer Princes Highway


Occasional glimpses of the ocean as you travel the Princes Highway in New South Wales


A beautiful country house


Australian cows


The average life span of an Australian cow is 20 years.


A common sight in the countryside


Adirondack chairs are popular in the rural parts of Äustralia


A Harley Davidson rider is flagged down by a motorcycle cop for possible traffic violation


Traffic slows down at Princes Highway approaching the town of Berry


Berry's town center.  The town was named after the Berry Family who were the first settlers in the area.


Wilson & Co. store established in the 1800s


Farm animal figures as props in a store in Berry.  Berry is an agricultural town.


This time a black and white cow and a dog


Berry Bakeshop at the heart of the town.  Famous for their pies.

Clean Berry Lodging Inn


There is an abundance of inns and motels in Berry like the Bunyip Inn Guest House.


Nice Australian Terriers


The town of Berry has its own school of arts.


A bazaar in one of the side streets


Hard to find items


Waiting for their turn at the ATM machine


Berry's Post Office built in 1886


The Berry Museum has Scottish Baronial design.


Berry's Museum was erected in 1884 and is housed in what used to be a bank.


Old farm leather gears and accessories
Berry's 1st telephone that enabled the town to establish communications with Sydney authorities in the 1800s.

Old dairy farm machines and equipment


House wares dating back to the 1800s


WW I & II military uniforms


Things used in the old days.


Lodging Inn with wooden boats and canoes as props


The Princes Highway approaching the town of Milton


Milton has numerous hotels, motels and inns for tourists.


Milton town is historic as it has buildings and houses built in the 1800s. Milton is close to the ocean and is also near the mountain ranges. Milton is classified as historic by the Australian National Trust. The name "Budawangs" here refers to the mountain range visible in the area.


The town center of Milton.  This road is also part of the Princes Highway.


All seats/tables are taken.


Small bar in Milton where local residents meet and drink beer


Chatting with a local resident


Business is  good in Milton.


Milton's old Town Hall


Old Post Office built in 1880.


Milton Theater was built in 1923. It is still operational and has been remodeled.


Old Court House built in 1877


Way to the store selling antiques made by the famous Turnbull Bros. These are considered treasures from the past.


IGA wine and liquor outlet in Milton


A bus loaded with tourists passes through the town of Milton.  This road is part of the Princes Highway.


A heavy duty truck uses the Princes Highway in Milton without causing traffic at the town proper.


Robert M. & Family of Melbourne


Crossing a steady bridge on our way to the next destination.


Beautiful country house in the town of Narooma in New South Wales.  Best photo of the day.
A road bend at the Princes Highway  in Narrooma


Princes Highway is a busy highway during the holidays.


Tall gum trees along the Princes Highway provide shade from the heat of the sun during summer.


A group of Harley Davidson riders take a break.


Road to the town proper of Quaama


Spending the night at a nice motel in Merimbula in New South Wales


The signage tells it all.


Ocean view from the balcony


View of the beautiful landscape


Swimming pool as well as the ocean can be seen from the balcony.


Private vacation houses as seen from Hillcrest


U see this cockatoo and a gala bird in the morning


A flock of sedentary Australian birds




Merimbula's jetty


San Miguel Beer is everywhere.


At the Promenade Resto near the wharf


Mother and daughter going over the menu


Good presentation


With three little tomatoes on top


Big burger with mashed potatoes and lettuce


House specialty


Time to stroll


Canberra Times is sold here as Merimbula is closer to Canberra.,  the capital of Australia


For your fishing needs


Why go fishing when u can buy them at the stores anytime? Ha, ha !


Fresh supply of seafood


Ice cream in summer


All motels and inns in the area of Merimbula are clean.


Small gasoline station at the outskirt of Merimbula


Our final destination is the town of Eden.  Best photo of the day.


A good ocean view


Whale museum where Old Tom the whale's  remains are preserved.  


Know the story of the Killer Whales at the museum.  Killer Whales help local fishermen hunt down humpy whales by  leading them to the shores where whale hunters strike them down.


Spending about an hour at this vantage point where u have a good view of the  Two-Fold Bay


Souvenir shot


An art gallery overlooking the bay.


Theme of most portraits is about ocean waves


The angry sea as shown in portrait


Snack house in Eden


Great Southern Hotel provides a panoramic view of the blue sea.


First Uniting Church built in 1866.


A bazaar near the church


No shortage of motels and inns in the town of Eden


Eden generates about $150 million annually through tourism.


Road leads to the residential areas.  


Cottage for hire


Man takes it easy while sitting on a bench overlooking the bay.


Rene R and Robert M of Melbourne


Eden has a population of about 3 thousand.
A fine restaurant overlooking the bay


Fishing vessels seen from a distance


Trawlers docked at the wharf


Road to the port


A view of lighter and smaller fishing vessels berthed at a separate jetty


Entry to the Port of Eden


Seagulls at the Port of Eden


Wharf accessible to land vehicles

Philip poses for a souvenir shot.


The Trawler Warringa from Sydney berthed at the Port of Eden


Warringa sails to the high sea.


Philip is dwarfed by the huge fishing vessel Bulimba from Brisbane


No oil slicks in and around the pier


Unique stone slabs


Philip in a fighting stance


Tourists flock to the town of Eden for whale watching.


Eden is about 500 kms away from Sydney.  Eden was named after George Eden who was the 1st Earl of Auckland.


Customs police


Everything is in order at the Port of Eden


Goods about to be unloaded from a small fishing vessel.


A Taste of Eden resto


Nice wooden table


Fresh seafood available near the port.


Seafood store near Snug Cove


Price list


Working on the oysters


A nice view of Snug Cove in the town of Eden


All Melbourne Oldtimers -- Robert & Fe, Rene & Dev


One more shot 


Nice name for a store


Specializing on mussels


Almost full parking


Rene R looks at the menu board at A Taste of Eden


Fresh Mussels


Bigger Fish n Chips with sidings


Rene R adds salt to his Fish n Chips


Specialty of the House


Seafood noodles


A Taste of Eden is only a few meters away from the wharf.


Most fishing vessels sail to and from Tasmania.


Nice bikes


Drivers taking power naps at a designated area off the Princes Highway


Lakes Entrance is part of the State of Victoria.  


The famous Lakes Entrance where fishing buffs spend the holidays.


A red-brick Church in the state of Victoria


Final refilling


Getting nearer Melbourne
Bonus pics:

Vintage Holden parked near the Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne


Still in good running condition