NSW South Coast + Bright 2023
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A 9-minute coffee detour, after the airport
After an early start dropping off Erin at the airport, we started heading north. Francis had survived for over an hour without a coffee, so she asked her iPhone Maps for the closest good coffee place. Only 9 minutes away! Unfortunately, as we hurtled along the highway, by the time we processed all that, we must have passed the turnoff, so then maps was telling us to go back south along the highway for 15 minutes. We got there in the end, to That Coffee Shop, in Coburg North. Very entertaining coffee signs on the toilet wall. After coffee and breakfast, we headed north east, towards Yea, passing through some lush green countryside along Strath Creek.
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Marmalades in Yea, plus a Tesla steam scare
Stopping at Marmalades in Yea for a cuppa and passionfruit sponge cake. When we pulled into the car park, it looked like one of the cars had an overheated radiator, with steam coming out from under the hood. But we soon realised it was a Tesla (no radiator), and the steam was from some noodles they were prepping from the frunk (front trunk).
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We're going to Bonnie Doon
We finally dropped by Bonnie Doon, to see why the Kerrigan family in The Castle loved it so much. It has a caravan park, three old churches, a couple of eateries and absolute river frontage!
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Lunch at The Mountain View Hotel, Whitfield
Lunch stop at The Mountain View Hotel in Whitfield. Great food and service. Unexpectedly beautiful spot.
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Fruit, chocolate, and a Myrtleford Supercharger
Quick stop in Myrtleford for some fruit and dinner supplies (ok, maybe also chocolate). We needed to stop for a few minutes to get better organised and to stretch my legs, so we drove a bit further up the road to the Tesla supercharger in the town of Ovens.
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An Eskdale Airbnb, further than we thought
Friday afternoon: We looked on Airbnb for somewhere to stay near Bright. Our search showed a homestead in a farm “nearby”. So, we booked it. Rookie mistake: it was in Eskdale, about an hour and a half drive from Bright. Our second mistake was thinking we had booked two nights when in fact we had only booked one – an error we didn’t realise until the next morning when we received a goodbye message from our host, as we were driving to Bright for the day, with all of our stuff still back in the accommodation. A U-turn, quick pack up, and an hour more driving, and we were back on track. I say “quick”, but we also couldn’t get the key to work in the door, so I had to climb in a window. Charming stay, in a valley, with long valley views, cows over the fence and green as far as the eye can see. Our hosts left us a cheese platter, bread, cupcakes which made for a lovely night in.
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Through alpine fog, Eskdale to Bright
Driving from Eskdale to Bright, in country Victoria, through the morning fog. Such greenery. Hard to believe there were devastating bush fires in the region just a few years ago. Alpine forests cover mountain after mountain. Great to see them replanted and harvested side by side. I didn’t realise that cows could read, let alone obey signs. That is impressive!
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Made it to Bright
Absolutely stunning town by the Ovens River. Picturesque walks abound, caffeine options aplenty and it was cold enough for Tom to wear shoes! Love to come back in the summer and watch people tackle the rapids of the river. We enjoyed a scrumptious American style burger (so named because of the orange coloured plastic cheese therein) and crunchy curly fries. We have taken to going halves for lunch, partly to cut costs and also …….. we’re getting too fat!!!!
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A second night at Motel Views Yackandandah
We stayed Saturday night at the Motel Views Yackandandah. I think this is the only place where we’ve stayed twice, in our road tripping. Lovely spot and host (Jackie). For dinner, we ate Thai from Grace’s Place Café. Great food but ordering is a challenge. Maps and TripAdvisor show a website link that doesn’t exist. There’s no online ordering. Phone goes to voicemail. I was lucky enough to have them reply to a text message. Cash only payment. Brekky at Beechworth Bakery. Choice of pies, toasties and wraps. We strolled through the town, checked out the markets, ferrets and patted numerous dogs.
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Lake Hume drive: Yackandandah to Corryong
Driving from Yackandandah, along Lake Hume, through Tangambalanga, Tallangatta and Shelley, Victoria, just south of the border, towards Corryong.
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Lunch at The Black Sheep, Corryong
We stopped in Corryong, heading towards Mount Kosciusko. We shared lunch at The Black Sheep, with a couple of black sheep watching.
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Hiring snow chains for the Alpine Way
Venturing from Corryong to Khancoban, we decided to keep going east, through the Snowy Mountains along the Alpine Way, past Thredbo to Jindabyne. The road has signs that require all two wheel drive cars to carry snow chains. So we hired some from Khancoban, which could be returned in Jindabyne (“one way hire”). In the end, we never actually had to fit them, since all the roads were cleared. We stopped a few times along the way, including a rest stop next to the origin of the Murray River (pictured). I left the cap/cup from my thermos on one of the garden border markers near the toilet block, so I wouldn’t drop it as we clambered down to the river. But I forgot about it as we walked back to the car and drove off 🤦♂️. If you happen to be driving past Mount Kosciusko, please keep an eye out for it 😉. We returned the snow chains on the other side of Mount Kosciusko at in Jindabyne. The service stations were packed with people queuing for petrol, I guess on the last day of the school…
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Ice on the car, in Cooma
Cold start to the day in Cooma. Ice on the car. From the app, we preheated the car before the morning coffee run. The cold reduced the tyre pressures from 42 to 38 psi, until the car got moving.
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A visit to Snowy Hydro Discovery Centre
Monday morning: We visited the Snowy Hydro Discovery Centre. Very interesting wide screen video presentation, models, and other exhibits. Amazing how we can generate electricity from rainfall and melting snow.
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Out of Cooma's fog, east to Milton
We left the freezing foggy morning in Cooma, climbing above the clouds (well, the fog) into the sunshine. We decided to head for Milton, on the east coast, near Ulladulla. We entered it into the Tesla navigation and proceeded along the “fastest route”. But the maps don’t seem to tell you what kind of road to expect along a particular route. Initially, I laughed at the sign we passed that read something like “No petrol for 160km”. Then we passed by some grading work on a dirt road stretch, where I thought the driver waved, but later thought maybe he was pointing to say “go back”. The navigation showed 97km along this road before the next required turn off. The dirt roads probably went for 60km of the trip. We only passed a handful of vehicles. As it turned out, the road was pretty good, dirt and all. We’ve been on much worse. The issue is just not knowing, along the way, if the road will deteriorate, so you should turn around. We arrived in Braidwood at the end of it. Time for lunch.…
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Pooh Bear Corner, in Monga National Park
We headed east from Braidwood towards the coast, when Pooh Bear Corner. Monga National Park caught our eye. Someone has set up a bunch of Winnie The Pooh characters in a cave by the road. Cute. A bit further down the road, we spotted a couple of fallen logs (one pictured) with more toys on them. Weird but cute.
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Italian dinner in Ulladulla, overnight in Milton
We're staying overnight in a unit in Milton. Dinner in Ulladulla at Tony’s Italian Restaurant https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090048066600&mibextid=LQQJ4d
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Doughnuts at the Berry Showgrounds
On the final leg of our trip, from Milton to the Central Coast today. We stopped at the Berry Doughnut Van, then took the doughnuts to the Berry Showgrounds, to have a stretch and find a loo. I did spot in the Tesla’s sentry camera that Francis had already started on the doughnuts before I got back to the car! 😉. Doughnut cam!
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Pie in the Sky, by Tesla this time
Last stop before reaching the Central Coast, at Pie in the Sky. This used to be a favourite stop of ours when out for a ride on the motorbike. Great to take a spin in the Tesla along the familiar curves of the old Pacific Highway.
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Toes in the water at Terrigal Beach
Finally got to dip my toes in the ocean again, at Terrigal Beach. Then a walk along the boardwalk to Terrigal Haven for brunch at The Cove Cafe.
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Margaret's villa, and an EV-community legend
We arrived on the NSW Central Coast on Tuesday night, July 18. A very generous friend, Margaret, offered us her villa while we’re staying here for a couple of weeks ☺️. Margaret is a bit of a legend in the EV community. She bought a Kona EV several years back and made the occasional road trip when there was less infrastructure than is now available for us. Other residents in Tarragal Glen Retirement Village started to take notice. One day they told her "did you see that Hugh Sykes up the road has bought a Tesla?" She thought she'd best go and meet the new EV owner on the block. They soon fell in love and got married! They now do a few speaking circuits to tell others the benefits of driving an EV. You can see their story here: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-07-20/electric-vehicle-romance-leads-to-myth-busting-talks-to-seniors/101233122
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Killcare Beach Kiosk, and the Bouddi Coastal Walk
Lunch at Killcare Beach Kiosk followed by a walk along the Bouddi Coastal Walk.
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A charging spot near Sydney Airport
I drove to Sydney Airport to pick up Francis, coming back from Hamilton Island. Found a convenient charging spot in a nearby suburb, to park while waiting for her plane to land.
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Family time on the Central Coast
While on the NSW Central Coast, we managed to catch up with our kids, and grandchild. One is living and working in Hamilton Island, so Fran flew up there for a few days. Love you all 🥰
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House-hunting at Murray's Beach and Caves Beach
We continued our search for a new home, this time looking again in Murray’s Beach. Then we popped down for a walk beside the Swansea Bridge, and then as cuppa and cake on Caves Beach. 24°C – much warmer than -2°C in Cooma a couple of weeks ago and 15°C near Melbourne a week before that.
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Setting off, again, for Yarra Junction
Sunday afternoon: Started driving from the NSW Central Coast towards Yarra Junction in Victoria, to look at a another house, on Tuesday. As you do 😉. Tonight we will stay somewhere around Goulburn.
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A Goulburn night at Bakehouse Motel
Sunday evening: First overnight stop, on this trip, at the Bakehouse Motel Goulburn. Breakfast the next morning at the adjoining Trappers Bakery Goulburn, and continued the drive past the Cullerin Range Wind Farm.
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Dog on the Tuckerbox, then The Coffee Pedaler
We stopped briefly next to The Dog on the Tuckerbox, at Oliver's Real Food Gundagai. We had just eaten Oliver’s for dinner last night, in Goulburn. Then on to The The Coffee Pedaler - Gundagai for coffee and cake.
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Diverting to Yackandandah for lunch
We diverted off the Hume Highway to grab lunch in one of our favourite towns, Yackandandah.
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Wednesday parma at Turfside Bistro, Moe
We stopped briefly at Coles in Moe to get some milk. Followed by Wednesday parma dinner special at the local Turfside Bistro Moe.
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A loo stop, and the Big Bear Donuts van
Time for a loo stop. Found a nice rest area next to the channel, and the Big Bear Donuts van!
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Salad sandwiches and a metal bird in Orbost
Our stomachs demanded something more healthy than the donuts we had devoured in Sale. We grabbed a couple of salad sandwiches in Orbost, and wandered past the giant metal bird sculpture.
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A quick stop in Bega
Quick stop for a wee in Bega. Last stop before our destination in Tuross Head.
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600 km of bugs to Tuross Head
After driving over 600km in seven hours today (and hitting a few hundred bugs) from Yarragon in Victoria, we arrived in Tuross Head in NSW. We visited some friends for dinner and marvelled at the moon reflecting over the ocean in the distance.
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Stalking kangaroos at dusk in Tuross Head
More cruising around Tuross Head. Made our gourmet peanut butter and banana on toast for brekky. Bought coffee from the local Lure Cafe Tuross. Found different office views from which to work. Stalked the local kangaroos at dusk.
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Thai by the water in Narooma
Day trip from Tuross Head to Narooma, on the NSW south coast. Beautiful clear water under Narooma Bridge. Thai lunch special by the water’s edge. Watching the sea lion and stingray near the boat ramp.
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Free Bega coffee on the way to Victoria
Starting our trip back from Tuross Head in NSW to Victoria. First stop at a service station to clean the windscreen, and _not_ buy petrol. A quick stop in Bega for a coffee and free top up electric charge. A rest stop in Timbillica to expel the digested coffee. Our first time stopping at Cann River, to use the new Tesla superchargers and try out the pies (recommended by Daniel Rond). Beautiful and convenient place to stop. The charging was finished before we were.
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Big Bear Donuts, finally
Arrived in Lakes Entrance, Victoria. We had been thinking about the Big Bear Donuts from a week ago at the donut van in Sale. So, in transit today, Fran preordered donuts from their shop in Lakes Entrance, for pickup at the Tesla navigation’s predicted arrival time. High pressure driving! We may have a problem 🍩. We stayed in a great cabin at the Eastern Beach Holiday Park. I caught up on a little bit of work (and wine). We chatted to the couple in the cabin next door, who also had an EV. They were on their way from Tasmania to family on the NSW Central Coast, in Empire Bay, just across the water from where we used to live.