Beachlife - but, no kangaroos yet!

 

Miscalculation this morning in regard to the weather,,, Rain in the morning, when we got up, but, in the course of the day, it warmed up considerably. Didn't have bathing suits with us and were wearing jeans!!! Much too warm !!!

After breakfast, we left our cozy cottage towards the west. First, to  Morton National Park with the Fitzroy Falls (left photo, on the left). Beautiful scenery with clouds and fog hanging low. The water plunges dramatically into the untouched valley 81m below.

 

We drove on, down from Southern Highlands through the Kangaroo Valley to the coast. Kangaroo Valley is lush and green – though, we didn't see any kangaroos! - with morning mist and a patchwork of farmland. We drove over Australia’s last existing wooden suspension bridge, Hampden Bridge, constructed between 1895 and 1898 (below).

 

 

 

A winding, steep, narrow road went down to Jervis Bay, through the woods. The whole area is called "Shoalhaven" – promoting its 100 beaches, 49 towns and villages strongly. It's a favorite destination for Sydneysiders and day-trippers from there. Since it was a weekend, it was accordingly packed along the coast.

Huskisson (photos further below) - in the heart of the bay - was our first stop. We walked over to the beach and had fish/calamari & chips for lunch. Usually, never do lunch while traveling, but this was too appealing!  

Driving on to the small village of Hyams Beach in Jervis Bay - renowned for its pristine, powdery white sand and crystal clear waters. Long beaches, one after the other, not a whole lot of shade, though,,, and, no swim suit!

Booderee National Park on the south side of the Bay was our next stop, mainly because of the Booderee Botanic Gardens. It's the only Aboriginal (Koori people)-owned botanic gardens in Australia, beautiful landscape, though,  frankly, there is not a whole lot of information offered. No visitor center, just a couple of signs, no "educational walk" or such,,, Seems to be a problem for us in Australia: it's not like in the U.S.A.: clear signage, preannouncements, maps and instructive trails, etc. Rather "self-explanatory" in some regard,,,

At least we learned the names of some more plants and had a pleasant stroll through the gardens.

Grevillea Honey Gem (below), dried and fresh

Banksia aquilonia Jingana (above)

Eucalyptus racemosa (Northern Scribbly Gum) - above 

More Eucalyptus above,,,

On the way back sky had cleared and it was much warmer. We stopped at another "antiques store" - owned by two elderly gents, being fully involved in horse racing (another favorite passion of many Australians!) - on the way "home". On the terrace in front of our cottage (below) we enjoyed the sunset and played around with horses, cats and dogs and watched the cockadoos attacking a fruit tree.