Day 31-36 Rainy journey back North

Day 31 - 1st December

My alarm clock this morning was the sound of heavy rain hitting the campervan. Not the awakening I'd hoped of! We were expecting this as lots of locals and staff at the caravan park had mentioned that they were expecting a months rainfall over the weekend. 

On the way out of Phillip Island we stopped at Pannys Chocolate Factory where we had a little look around and a coffee in the cafe. 

We then started the journey back up the way Coast. Our first stop on the way back up is McLoughlin. We are staying at a free area near the sea. It's so windy tonight I feel like our little camper may tip over!!

^The sunsetting at the camp area

Day 32 - 2nd December

It's just sunk in that this year I don't have an advent calendar! That's definitely a first. Last year I treated myself to the Selfridges beauty advent calendar and this year I'm on a budget every day living in a Campervan! Swings and roundabouts I guess!...

We left the camp site in the rain. Last night it was torrential. That campervan was rocking from the forceful winds all night, so neither of us got a great nights sleep!

We are used the rainy day to travel for a few hours back to a rest stop in Murrengowar. We've been here once before already and quite liked it so we are back!

If both of us are honest we want to get closer to Sydney and then Brisbane again. Both of us definitely preferred it up there and I think this is because it's just more chilled, there are more free camp sites about, the weather is warmer there (well at least not torrential downpours!) and it was easier to go from beach-to-beach. Whereas when we travelled closer to Melbourne the beaches we went to weren't as nice, it was fairly dead and it was mainly National Park area. 

We cooked a spaghetti bolognese tonight which was delicious. It's feeling quite cold considering yesterday was officially the first day of Summer here. So tonight will be spent snuggled in the camper. And I don't mind that! 

Day 33 - 3rd December 

We woke up to the heavy rain... again :(

We decided to use a rubbish weather day wisely by driving nearly 4 hours. We are now near Batemans Bay again where we should be spending the day tomorrow before heading up a little further for the night. 

Now we are closer to the coast again we are really hoping for some nice weather for chilled beach days. Let's hope the sea is a little warmer here now. 

I felt really gross today and just wanted to wash my hair, we couldn't find a free public shower anywhere so 2 big bottles of water did the job of washing my hair nicely! We may of got a few funny looks in the camp site, but when push comes to shove these things have just got to be done!!

Day 34 - 4th December 

Yet another rainy and miserable day. I didn't want to say miserable but our morale did hit an all time low today. 

Everything seemed to stress us out and feeling cabin fever in our small camper didn't help as the rain means another day cooped up. Which we don't mind every now and then - but for 5 days on the trot now, well, let's just say we are over the rain now!

My boyfriend keeps saying 'come to Australia they said, it's boiling hot they said'. Which is so funny and true. 

I guess every country has rain but we didn't expect this in Australia's Summer season. Maybe it's our own faults for not researching the weather at this time! 

The other things getting on top of us today was mainly money/budgeting. My boyfriend has been amazing at the financial side of things. But when we work out our allowance per day, stick to it, at still somehow be over budget somewhat it's very frustrating. If we aren't spending money on food shops we are spending it on fuel. And this has cost us SO much. We havie been given an unleaded van, so it is absolutely guzzling the petrol. We have to be so on the ball with spending and careful with what we spend it on. 

I'm sure as soon as the weather brightens up we will back to our usually happy selves!! 

Day 35 - 5th December

We went to Hyams Beach in the rain this morning. This is actually where we went before in the trip when we thought we were in Jervis Bay. This time are actually followed the signs to Jervis Bay but turned around when we saw the payment booths to get into that area of the National Park. I know it's classed as ACT (Australian Captial Territory) but I'm not too sure why you have to pay to enter the park. 

Anyway, another rainy day it seems. I hope this ends soon! Earlier on in the trip when we came here it was so hot and the most stunning place. So sad it's not like that now!

Day 36 - 6th December

It was a little brighter today and only lightly rained a couple of times. We are still near Jervis Bay waiting for the hot day tomorrow (hopefully)

We got some bits for a nice pasta sauce tonight. It felt quite stormy and humid so neither of us felt too great.

I had another hair wash in the sink of a public toilet! We had a chilled afternoon in the camper. 

Day 24-30 Narooma and Phillip Island

Day 24 - 24th November

Today we left the camp site near Canberra and heading on the road out towards Batemans Bay. We went along the coastal road to a place called Narooma. We had a little chill before going on the search for a public shower. Sometimes these are easy to find, but other days like today it proved harder. We ended up going to a swimming pool to use the showers. We paid $5.20 each for entry to the pool. Then had a long shower after. This was worth it as it had been a few days (gross I know!).

Tonight we are staying at a free camp site in Delmany near Narooma. 

^Bar Beach in North Narooma 

Day 25- 25th November

Today we drove for a couple of hours to a place called Tathra. My boyfriend bought a skateboard yesterday so he went to the skatepark which was right on the beach, and I sunbathed on the beach! Tried to go in the sea but it was SO icy cold! Which is so crazy considering the weather is so hot. But I guess after summer the sea will be warmed up. 

My boyfriend left his phone at the side whilst he skated, came to the beach to see me then realised he left it there. It wasn't there when he went back. He asked the young boys there who said they saw it on the side but aren't sure where it is. I gave one of them my number to call me if it 'turns up'. We logged into find my iPhone on my phone and played the annoying beep. The boys then came over with the phone and said it was 'in a bush'. How strange !... but at least we got it back. 

 ^Tathra Beach

Day 26 - 26th November 

Today we had a chilled morning before leaving the campsite to endure another longish journey. 

After a couple of hours we arrived in a place called Marlo which is in Victoria! We've made it across 3 states!

Marlo looked so stunning from the pictures, but sadly it was overcast and started to drizzle. This was so disappointing because the beaches looked so untouched and picturesque. If it was a nice hot day this would be amazing. Hopefully we can stop here on our journey back up to Brisbane. 

We went to a free camp site 30 minutes away in Murrengower where we had a chilled after noon and an early evening meal. 

^Marlo

Day 27 - 27th November 

Today started off very cold and rainy again. We drove for a couple of hours to a town called Bairnsdale where we got a coffee and did our laundry! The man who ran the laundrette was from Greece, he was so friendly and nice! He started talking to us in German because he thought we were German. It was so funny we didn't know what he was saying!

After this we headed to the camp site and had a chilled afternoon. 

The sun came out in the afternoon so we sat outside for a little while - before the flies took over and were EVERYWHERE!

Hopefully we can find a nice beach tomorrow. 

Day 28 - 28th November

We went to a beach called Golden Beach. It was really nice weather so we had a few beers on the beach in the sun! 

We wanted to swim in the sea, but as we walked closed we saw lots of white washed up things with what looked like blood in it. We think they were jelly fishes as we also heard other people say that. 

In the end we didn't go in the sea! It's a shame, but it would of probably been cold as it seems that way the more South we travel!

Tonight we are staying at a free camp site called Minneha'ha Falls campground which is lovely! It's in the country side, we have hills all around us with sheep on! Theres even a waterfall right next to us and we have the whole place to ourselves!

In a couple of days time we should be in Melbourne which is very exiting. Then our journey back up to Brisbane begins- this part should be more chilled as we have travelled south in just over a month and have two more months to go back up!

^Our spot for the night - all to ourselves at Hiawatha. 

^Minneha'ha Falls

Day 29 - 29th November 

Today we drove across what felt like North Yorkshire! So hilly with sheep and cows everywhere. It was lovely. 

We went to a place in Agnes to have a shower (luckily we found free ones in public toilets!) we also treated ourselves to some chips here. The town felt so weird and eary here it was so strange. No one was about it was completely dead. Apart from one man who got out of a lorry and walked about in his shirt and boxers ??!

It was SO hot today. And it was so annoying that we weren't near a beach to cool off in the sea. Definitely the hottest day we've had so far! 

We are staying at a free camp site on the M1 called Longwarry which is set back a little from the main road. 

Day 30 - 30th November 

Our friend from England is staying near Melbourne for a while, so this morning we went to the farm he is staying at to see him. 

It was so hot again this morning. We found a camp site for $33 on Phillip Island which we were told is beautiful. 

We arrived on Phillip Island and somehow arrived at the wrong campsite. We went to one right next to the one we had in mind. It was only after booking in and looking on the map for the swimming pool (which we couldn't find) that we realised we were at a diffenent site! This was so frustrating as it was no ones fault but our own and we ended up paying nearly $40 as we couldn't work out why this was more than it originally said?!  

Nevertheless we are parked in a beautiful location - right on the beach. 

There's supposed to be a thunderstorm tonight which I'm secretly looking forward to watching over the sea from our little camper!

^Dusk on Cowes Beach at Phillip Island 

I can't believe December is here tomorrow. This is definitely the best November I've ever had and one I'll forver remember. 

We've had some challenges along the way with not everything working in our favour, but all in all it's been the most amazing experience so far. I can't quite believe we picked up the campervan 30 days ago today.

It's very strange that I would be freezing back home at the moment! It's even snowed a little back home which makes me realise how far from reality I am at the moment!!

I'm feeling quite sad that the trip has gone so quickly so far, but I guess 'time flies when you're having fun'. And to say I'm having fun be an understatement. 

Day 18-23. Blue Mountains,Jervis Bay & Canberra

Day 18 - 18th November

We went to Echo point lookout on the Blue Mountains. It was very foggy so hard to see anything. But once it cleared a little we could see the Three Sisters mountains. We walked to them which was along a path and then very steep steps going down. It was so scary! Especially because the steps were metal and slippery from the rain! 

We are staying at another campsite in the Blue Mountains tonight. Hoping the weather clears up soon because I'm so ready for some sun now! 

Day 19 - 19th November

Today marks 2 months until we give back the campervan. I guess that's still a while, but I already feel about the fact that it's going so quickly. Don't get me wrong, I miss the luxuries of a hot shower, clean bed sheets, my family & dogs, my car and electricity... but I don't want the experience of a lifetime to ever end! I don't want to say it in past tense. 

Anyway, lets make the most of it! Today we did a food shop at Aldi. This started as a weekly thing spending $40. Now we seem to do two a week, usually at $40 each, but today it came to over $70 ooops! There goes the budget. 

We stopped at a bakery on the way back from the food shop and got some pastries and rolls for breakfast (just carrying on the spending!) then headed back to the camp site as stayed at 2 nights ago as this is more on the route out as the plan is to leave the Blue Mountains tomorrow. 

Ben introduced me to the game 'hungry shark' and we are both addicted! Tonight we have a steak din dins with fried potatoes and coleslaw which we are very excited about. And of course, some tim tams later! Yay. 

Day 20 - 20th November 

We headed out of the Blue Mountains and towards Wollongong. 

On the way we stopped off at Bulli Lookout to take some photos. I had a wee here and then saw a lizard sharing the toilet with me! I don't think I even flushed I wanted to get out of there so badly!! 

We went to a beach just below called Bombo. It was so lovely as it was really quite - just a few surfers and us. I soaked up as much sun as I could before ben got itchy feet. We went for a wander along the cliff at the side of the beach and took some amazing photos. 

After this we went to a bottle shop to stock up on beers! This time we ditched the 'Gold Lager' and went for 'Victoria Bitter'. It feels like an upgrade. Hahah. 

We also went to a bakery and shared the most amazing pastry, creamy, fruity thing! It was so good. 

^Bulli Lookout

^Bombo Beach

^The most amazing treat from a bakery!

Day 21 - 21st November 

We went back to Bombo Beach quite early on. We cooked some breakfast here and had a little chill before heading to Jervis Bay. The beaches around Jervis Bay are beautiful the whitest sand I've seen. The sea was very choppy but so clear and turquoise. We had such fun here in the sea!

We then drove down further to Milton Showgrounds where we will be staying tonight $25 for a powered site. 

Day 22 - 22nd November

I can't believe how quick this is going. Each day is so amazing I never want it to end. 

We left the Showgrounds and headed to Batemans Bay. We sat at Surfs Beach which was really hot but a slight breeze on the beach, it made it so nice to just sit and not get too hot! 

Ben and I sat on the beach for a couple of hours and had some really lovely chats about life! 

We cooked some cheese toasties for lunch (we've mastered making these in a frying pan now!)

Then headed on the B52 to a free camp site. It's about half way to Canberra which is perfect for tomorrow. 

^Malua Bay at Batemans Bay

Day 23 - 23rd November

We arrived in Canberra and went straight to the War Memorial. This was recommended to us by a local man we have met along the way- and we are so glad he did. 

It was so moving and touching going somewhere like this, I felt really emotional throughout our visit there. There is so much to see and read, you could quote easily spend all day here. 

After this we headed back to the same rest area we stayed at last night as it's on the road in/out of Canberra. We didn't see much of Canberra but felt it wasn't so easy to take a Campervan into the city centre. We are really glad that we at least visited Canberra for a short while. Another place to tick off the list.