Rankins Springs, New South Wales
Hotel at Rankins Springs, NSW
On our way home from Sydney last year we stayed one night at Rankins Springs in mid western NSW. I would have liked to have stayed longer and pursued some intensive birding in the area, but we were on a tight schedule to get home.
We stayed in the local motel. This is not the most glamorous motel I’ve ever stayed in, but it did have many good points: the room was clean, the bed comfortable and the hot water made an enjoyable shower. And the price not exorbitant. What more can you want?
We also had a wonderful dinner in the hotel dining room next door and were made to feel very welcome by the owners. Sure, a hamburger with the works is not exactly your meal to die for, but boy, it sure was delicious and filled an urgent need.
The next time we are passing through with our caravan, we must try out the caravan park just across the road (see photo below).
Main street of Rankins Springs, NSW
Rankins Springs caravan park, NSW
Eden, south coast of New South Wales
Eden, south coast of New South Wales
As we travelled south that afternoon we passed through many lovely areas and some beautiful towns. This part of the journey was new territory to us. We had seen the coast further south west in Victoria and to the north in NSW, but had never visited the stretch of coastline between Bermagui and Mallacoota.
Superb Fairy-wren, Eden, south coast of New South Wales
When it came time for afternoon tea we aimed for the lovely town of Eden. We drove down to the bay and found a suitable picnic seat overlooking the magnificent bay. The beach was quite crowded with people from the caravan park walking distance away. It was a very relaxing break from driving.
While we had our cuppa a family of Superb Fairy-wrens decided to join us. The male put on quite a show for us in the nearby bushes, posing nicely for my camera.
Eden, south coast of New South Wales
Mimosa Rocks National Park, New South Wales
Mimosa Rocks National Park, south coast NSW
One of the places I wanted to revisit on our drive south along the coast of New South Wales was Mimosa Rocks National Park. The last time we had been there was in 1981 which was getting on for 30 years ago. Too long, in fact.
I had vivid memories of what it looked like but obviously the years had blurred the image. It was nothing like I remembered! In fact, I think we went to a different part of the park this time. The access roads may well have changed in that time too.
Again, we didn’t have much time to explore the park. We had a quick lunch and a look at the beautiful beach and then off again on our trek south.
The only birds of interest were three Pied Oystercatchers patrolling the beach.
Pied Oystercatchers, Mimosa Rocks National Park
Mimosa Rocks National Park, south coast NSW
Mystery Bay, south coast of New South Wales
Mystery Bay, south coast of New South Wales
While we were having a morning tea break at Mystery Bay picnic area, I managed to get a few lovely photos of the coastline and some of the flowers growing in the Eurobodalla National Park.
Banksia seed cones, Mystery Bay, south coast of New South Wales
Flowers, Mystery Bay, south coast of New South Wales
Mystery Bay, south coast of New South Wales
Mystery Bay, south coast of New South Wales
Mystery Bay, south coast of New South Wales
When we travel we often watch out for local bakeries to visit. It’s an indulgence of ours – and a lot of other people I know.
To be fair we did need to get some fresh bread to make sandwiches for our lunch later in the day. We found a suitable bakery in one of the towns we passed through on our journey south along the south coast of New South Wales.
A little further on we pulled off the main road into the picnic area at Mystery Bay. This is a part of the Eurobodalla National Park. It was a lovely sojourn while we enjoyed a cup of tea and the delights of the bakery.
Morning tea at Mystery Bay, south coast of New South Wales
Mystery Bay, south coast of New South Wales
Mystery Bay, south coast of New South Wales