Kings Around Oz: Merrimbula to Wilsons Promatory

Upon leaving Canberra we drove through Cooma which has the Snowy Mountain Hydro Education Centre. We found this very interesting as you looked at everything that went into this project and how much power it generates. It is actually listed as one of the 7 Wonders of the Modern World. We then kept driving and had a night of bush camping as we were missing our marshmallows, then the next day we made our way to Merrimbula where we caught up with some more family. We found Merrimbula to be a very pretty town and we enjoyed walking along the boardwalk, going to the local markets and spending time at the beaches. We were sure it was too cold for the kids to swim but you know kids and water. They had a great time splashing about but the highlight would have to be the rock pools on Bar Beach where Haydan loved getting the sea urchins to squirt water. From Merrimbula we made our way into Victoria and spent a few nights at Cann River. This was a great Caravan Park as it was like a bush camp where you could have a camp fire but with hot showers and power!!!! We once again enjoyed our damper and marshmallows around the camp fire at night. From here we did a day trip to Point Hicks. This is the place that Captain Cook's crew first sighted land on Mainland Australia after coming across from New Zealand in 1770. It is also the home to the tallest lighthouse on Mainland Australia and we saw the remnants of an old shipwreck. The kids then spent some time at the beach after a big 6km return walk to the lighthouse. From Cann River we made our way to Lakes Entrance which was another pretty seaside town. We did the big 6km walk out to the 'entrance' where the lake and the sea meet along the way we saw some of the original houses that were part of the early settlement. They are across the lake and some even have little boats tied up out front to get across to the mainland. Wilsons Promontory was the next stop for us. This was originally a Commando Training Camp for the Second World War and the camp grounds are still pretty much in the original lay out. We did a huge day of hiking where we clocked up about 10km, Haydan was a real trooper. We did some short walks down to the different beaches and then we did our first big walk up to Sparkes Lookout. We were so luck here as when we got there it was nice blue sky and the view was great but then 10 minutes later a sea fog came in and you couldn't see a thing!!!! We then did another walk to Lilly Pilly Gully, this walk was much flatter and easier so Emmalisa could go in the stroller and somehow on the way back they both ended up in there and Haydan was being a race car driver with Emmalisa giggling all the way back . . .very cute!!!! The kids once again braved the cold water and had a great time on the beach. However on the Monday it rained all day long and since we were on a non - powered site there was no such thing as TV or movies. So we built the kids a cubby and they built a whole Jurassic Park with the bucket of dinosaurs and used torches to make the sunset and sunrise. Plus there was a lot of colouring in, cards and the odd "I'm going crazy locked up in this caravan" tantrum, but we got through it.

Next stop . . . Phillip Island.