Kiama Coastal Walk

 Headed down to Kiama on the Tuesday to do part of the Kiama Coastal Walk with Deb. Kerrie was off on a wildflower tour in WA and then doing some touring, so Deb and I took the opportunity to do some walking. We headed down through Robertson and Jamberoo. checking out the Belmore and Carrington Falls along the way. It was lovely just meandering down to the South Coast, so green and lush. 

On the Wednesday we did the Loves Beach to Gerringong, we left early and had great weather and lovely views. Thursday we headed back to Canberra calling in at Gerroa for a morning walk along the Seven Mile Beach. Back up through Berry, Robertson and Bundanoon, then home via the back road from  Queanbeyan to Goulburn. It was a great little getaway.

  

Went exploring the town of Robertson.

This was the Big Potato of Robertson, it has now been painted to be the pig from the movie Babe

Robertson was tree lined with beautiful cherry blossom trees

We then went to Belmore Falls

Then onto Carrington Falls- they were lovely and had some walking tracks and we spotted quite a few different wildflowers along the way

Looking down the valley from Carrington Falls

Loved these Spreading Fan Ferns

and one of my favourites- Waratahs

The view from Jamberoo Lookout

We then headed down to Kiama and checked  into our accommodation. We then headed out for a walk, found our way down to the starting point of the Kiama Coastal Walk. We headed north towards Kiama to walk a small section. Tomorrow we will head south to do the 3rd section from Loves Bay to Gerringong

This was the view to  Kendalls Beach

Deb and I headed out around 8:30am Wednesday morning to walk to Gerringong. It was around 10km

It was the perfect day for walking, and we were back at our accommodation before it warmed up.

The walk was along the cliff tops, a fair bit of up and down, but lovely views up and down the coast line. It reminded me of the South West Coastal walk in Cornwall

Finally down on the flats near Werri Lagoon. We walked into Gerringong and got an Uber back to Kiama Heights

After recovering from our adventure we headed out in the car back down to Gerringong. This is the view from the headland which gave us the chance to view where we had walked that morning.

After checking out Gerringong we drove back to Kiama for some lunch then up to Saddleback Mountain which had great views to the north, south and west

This track took us down to the platform that gave us views down south to Gerroa

Thursday morning we packed up early and after breakfast headed to Gerroa where we went for a walk along Seven Mile Beach

Then we headed to Berry, up and over Berry Mountain, through Kangaroo Valley and called into Manning Lookout which had great views back down to Kangaroo Valley

And views of the Illawarra Escarpment

Bit of a hidden gem. Then onto Robertson and Bundanoon for lunch.

We then headed home via the backway from Goulburn to Bungendore and Queanbeyan. Lots of yellow canola fields going that way. 

Final stop at Bungendore before Deb dropped me home. We had a great little getaway.

Ballarat Part 3- Botanic Gardens, Daylesford and Trentham

 Time to head back to Melbourne. We were up and on the road early to do some exploring along the way- or  "coddiwompling" as Kerrie taught me- a new word- enjoying the journey, allowing for unplanned detours, spontaneous stops, discoveries along the way. So we started off at the Ballarat Botanic Gardens, stopped of at Overwrought Metal Art, found a chocolate shop in Daylesford, waterfalls at Trentham, a drive through Wombat State Forest then another chocolate shop in Trentham.

Before we left Ballarat we visited the Botanic Gardens, they were just lovely. This is Pipers on Lake Wendouree, lovely building opposite the Botanic Gardens.

The Conservatory in the Gardens

Two fine specimens in full bloom!

The Fernery Building

Lovely spot in the gardens

The Ballarat Botanic Gardens has an avenue with busts of the Prime Ministers of Australia. This is Julia Gillard-the first, and to date, the only female Prime Minister

 Such green grass and the contrast of the daffodils

Called into Overwrought Metal and Sculpture Garden on the way to Daylesford

Lovely Town Hall at Daylesford

The chocolate shop and cafe at Daylesfod, Vinnie was the owner and maker of the chocolates. He escaped the hectic life as a chef in Melbourne to run this café and make chocolates!

Then it was off to the Trentham Falls

Quite and impressive drop of 32 metres over basalt rock

Then it was into the town of Trentham which won the Tiny Town of Victoria 2025. It was a delightful town and we enjoyed exploring.

Loved this eclectic stone  wall

Then we discovered the delights of the Sisko Chocolate Shop- the aroma was delightful as you walked in.

We just had to try the Sensory Hot Chocolate Experience. We poured our little jug of hot chocolate into the glass which melted the chocolate and out popped a home made marshmallow. It ranks up there in my top 3 hot chocolates!

Then it was time to head to Melbourne, Kerrie dropped me off at my hotel near the airport. We had great time catching up and exploring the Ballarat and Daylesford area. Later that night I caught up with my brother Gary and his family for dinner. I then flew back to Canberra Saturday afternoon.