11 - 12 September 2025

11 September - Moruya to Kiama

Up betimes to leave Moruya in "The Juke" our newly acquired motor car. The Juke is comfortable, drives well but is nearly 30 years younger than the Tadpole and therefore lacks experience - and it doesn't provide the occasional overnight accommodation!

We took morning tea at the Mollymook Beach Hut at Mollymook after previously passing through Mogo, Batemans Bay and Ulladulla.

         The Mollymook Beach Hut

Then on to Kiama via Fisherman's Paradise, Jerrawangala, Tomerong, Falls Creek (not the one in Victoria), Nowra, Bomaderry and Jaspers Brush.

The Kiama (Alan) Blow Hole - an impressive sight

Spent the night in Kiama and on the way back from dinner we passed "Parsons Ladies Funeral Directors (incorporating Stan Crapp Funerals)"

             Crapp Funerals in Kiama

12 September - Kiama to Batemans Bay

Up betimes to check out of Kiama Motel 617, the street address of which is 123. So, either this is the 617th motel constructed in Kiama OR there is another explanation.

Made our way in The Juke to Cathedral Rock which, by comparison with the Organ Pipes on kunanyi, pales into insignificance.

Cathedral Rock. An 1828 painting would suggest that the height of some of the "spires" have since been much diminished.

Then on to Gerringong to take morning tea at the Sea Vista Cafe. 

The Sea Vista Café - evidently named due to the very fine vista of the sea available therefrom

Then on to Lake Conjola to view not just the lake but also the very fine coastal views. 

One of several very fine coastal views

Not to mention the excellent and beautifully painted public toilets which cater to "Ladies", "Gents" and "Ambulant Unisex"

The quite splendid public conveniences at Lake Conjola

Finished the day at Lincoln Downs Resort at Batemans Bay. 

9-10 September 2025

           DEATH OF THE TADPOLE!

           Pambula Beach to Moruya

Up betimes to leave the very satisfactory accommodation at Pambula Beach intending to head north via the coast.

     Pambula Beach - very satisfactory 

Had we known what was soon to happen we might well have stayed where we were!

After a serious navigation error made by the Prop (he instructed Mrs P to enter our destination as Cowra instead of Nowra) we soon realised that we were heading west instead of north. 

But worse was yet to come.

Stopped for an early lunch at Narooma after which changing gears in the Tadpole became increasingly difficult. By the time we reached the outskirts of Moruya changing gears was almost impossible. As (bad) luck would have it we managed to limp in to the "Eurobodalla Toyota Service Centre" in 3rd gear.

IT WAS HERE THAT THE TADPOLE DIED!

The very kind staff at Eurobodalla Toyota gave theTadpole the once over and determined that the slave cylinder for the clutch was leaking badly and that the master cylinder was also looking very dodgy.

With limited options we arranged for the Tadpole, which was now un-driveable, to be moved by tow truck to a nearby caravan park for further consideration of the aforementioned limited options.

With no-one in Moruya (or nearby Batemans Bay) apparently able to undertake repairs within the next fortnight - even assuming that the necessary parts were still available for this 38 year old vehicle - we decided overnight to let the Tadpole rest in peace and to purchase a replacement vehicle to continue our journey, which still has 2 weeks to go!

And that is what we did!

The replacement vehicle - not the Tadpole but, it is to be hoped, somewhat more reliable. (We were not allowed to keep the ribbon.)

The Tadpole - being taken to its final resting place

Very sad to say goodbye to the "Taddy" but for some years now we were fully aware that something like this was likely to happen. 

We first purchased the Tadpole in 2003 to drive around Australia to watch the 2003 Rugby World Cup but after 23 years it is finally time to say goodbye!!

8 September 2025

       Lakes Entrance to Pambula Beach 

          (via Cann River & Bombala)

Up betimes to say a fond farewell to the "Cunningham Shore". Upon returning the keys, the "landlady" informed me that the staff had cleaned both our front and rear windscreens. While the Prop was unfailingly polite at this disclosure he was nevertheless concerned that the staff may have taken a dim view of the Prop's management of the Tadpole!

Mrs P was very keen to visit the Platypus Reserve at Bombala in the neighbouring State of New South Wales. Accordingly we programmed the GPS for that location which inevitably took us through the  Victorian town of Cann River where we stopped for "elevenses"

        The impressive Cann River Hotel

The somewhat less impressive (but nevertheless nourishing) Cann River Bakery

Bombala has an elevation of about 775 metres (2542 feet) but it was surprisingly warm - about 21c.

Interesting factoid: Bombala is located 530 kilometres from Melbourne and 520 kilometres from Sydney.

  The Main Street of Bombala - a bit less interesting...

                The Hotel Bombala

Intriguing signwriting but no clock at the Hotel Bombala

The Imperial Hotel, Bombala - probably now larger than necessary?

We attended the Bombala Platypus Reserve but were bitterly disappointed. Apparently one's best chance of seeing platypuses (platypii?) is first thing in the morning or just before sunset! Nevertheless, Mrs P had a bloody good look just in case!

Mrs P on the lookout for platypii! (There were about the same number of platypii as there were anglers at Rhyll the previous day)

The Bombala Platypus Reserve is more or less co-located with the Bombala Racecourse - at which, it would seem, there have been no meetings held recently

We left Bombala at about 2.00pm and negotiated a very winding and steep downhill road back to the NSW coast at Pambula Beach and checked in to our cabin at the "G'Day Discovery Park" at Pambula Beach.

                 Pambula Beach

Some of the local residents at the Discovery Park.

Yet another curious resident of the Discovery Park shortly after attempting to eat a spider before spitting it out!

7 September 2025

Woodside Beach to Lakes Entrance

Up betimes and checked out of the Woodside Beach Caravan Park at which, in the light of previously forecast high winds, we elected to stay in one of their cabins rather than in the Tadpole.

Having neglected to purchase any Vegemite® or peanut butter to spread on our breakfast crumpets, we decided to head for Woodside in search of sustenance. 

Few if any cafés in Woodside so we made for Sale in search of an egg and bacon McMuffin for me,

and pancakes for Mrs P.

Well sated and in the light of continued warnings about high winds and rain we elected to head to Lakes Entrance having earlier booked a room at the Cunningham Shore Motel.

We arrived at Lakes Entrance about 90 minutes before we could check-in, so we took a walk along the Esplanade and over the Cunninghame (sic) Arm Footbridge.

A view of the Esplanade from the Cunninghame Arm Footbridge

I was a little surprised (and Mrs P even moreso) to find that there is a local lookout which has apparently been named in my honour. Very gratifying indeed.

Checked in to the "Cunningham Shore" at about 2.45pm.

      The Cunningham(e) Shore Motel

The Tadpole at rest at the "Cunningham(e) Shore"

6 September 2025

          Cowes to Woodbridge Beach

Up betimes to check out of the "Phillip Island Park Lane Holiday Park" and make our way to Rhyll (which, unlike its namesake in Wales, is spelt with two l's which will, no doubt, infuriate the UK and Welsh followers of of this blog)

        Checking out of the "Park Lane"

But not before photographing the somewhat endearing koala "statue" which adorns the entrance to the Rusty Water Brewery & Restaurant. Stunning!

Rhyll is located to the east of Cowes and early on a Saturday morning there didn't seem to be much going on. Even the Rhyll-Phillip Island Angling Club was not open - even to members!

The Rhyll-Phillip Island Angling Club but not an angler in sight!

       Nary an angler on the Rhyll Pier

We left Rhyll in a sort of medium-high to moderate dudgeon and left Phillip Island via the aforementioned bridge.

We then made our way to Kilkunda, Wonthaggi and then to Inverloch for morning tea.

A pleasant view of the coast from our morning tea location near Inverloch

 Then on to Tarwin Lower (we gave Tarwin Upper a miss) before deciding to take our luncheon at Foster adjacent to the town museum.

The Tadpole outside the Foster Museum

We decided to end our day's  journey at Woodside Beach (where there is no mobile phone service or internet - which explains the late publication of today's blog).

Woodside Beach (or part of it). Not that interesting if I am completely honest!

September 5 2025

Hastings to Cowes - a very English- sounding Journey.

Up betimes to check out of the "Marina View" (which a poster in the gentleman's facilities curiously described as being "a haven for the over 50's") and went shopping at the Aldi at Hastings. (There are no Aldi's in Tasmania so it is always an interesting experience to shop there.)

Having left Hastings we decided to head for Inverloch but about halfway there we changed our minds and decided to go to Cowes (on Phillip Island) where we had previously never been - and what an inspired choice it turned out to be!

Although Phillip Island is technically an island it can (like the Isle of Skye in Scotland) be reached by means of a bridge.

Unlike Porarlington (see 4 September 2025) the construction of foreshore apartments proceeds apace

View from the foreshore at Cowes looking towards Hastings

Looking in the other direction

Drove to Ventnor, a small settlement on Phillip Island, west of Cowes and, rather by accident, saw the grave of an early settler who, having prepared a double barrelled  shotgun for his guest gave the gun to his guest who then accidentally shot and killed his host. 

A large Cypress tree which marks the grave of the late Captain Grossard

For more information about this mildly fascinating event see:

https://www.phillipislandpoint.com.au/attractions/grossard-point/

We then made our way to the "Rusty Water Restaurant & Bar" for lunch and to wait to check in to our overnight accomm - The Phillip Island Park Lane Holiday Park. Having done so we made our way to the nearby Koala Conservation Reserve to observe a number of indolent koalas

An indolent (possibly intoxicated) koala

Yet another indolent koala

4 September 2025

Somewhere in Bass Strait to Hastings

(via Geelong, Portarlington, Queenscliff, Sorrento & Flinders)

Woke at about 5.00am after a moderately rough crossing - although not as bad as some we have had previously.

The view from our deluxe cabin at 6.00am

On the road by 7.00 am and heading to Portarlington to check out progress on an apartment purchased "off the plan " by one of Mrs P's relatives. No progress evident!

Then on to Queenscliff to take the ferry to Sorrento (thereby avoiding Melbourne).

The Queenscliff -Sorrento Ferry disgorges itself.

At the suggestion of Phillip Kimber we attempted to catch up with Chris Jaeger at the small but picturesque township of Flinders but he was too busy buying tyres to rendezvous!

No sign of Chris Jaeger at Flinders Pier. Out buying tyres apparently!

Ended the day at the somewhat grandly-named "Marina View Caravan Park" at Hastings. It IS just possible to see the masts of several yachts moored about a mile away.

The Tadpole at rest at the Marina View