After Hobart Beach I thought I had a handle on who goes camping in National Parks. Middle-aged refugees from urban life. 'Communities' of people returning year after year from all over the country gathered without sounds of industrial life. Solar-powered and gas-fueled fridges. Generator hums replaced by cicadas. But of course you can never generalise. Bittangabee Bay harboured a new species, the hunting, fishing species. The gung-ho, goanna-tossing, spear-fishing, night prawning variety. But I think the refugee camp image prevails. Clothing strung on trees, logs and rocks; blackened cooking pots piled around wood fires. Makeshift showers with water bags hanging from available branches. Small groups of people sit around in various states of undress doing nothing much in particular, children play as they always do. But there the analogy ends; the luxuriousness of leisure, no worry ... read more

You're only staying one night?' Kerrie the ranger enquired as we paid up our money,'that's what the folks next to you said and they're up to their fifth night!' She went on to expound the virtues of this beautiful little campsite right on the estuary of the Congo creek winding its way behind the beach. Swimming in the tidal creek, canoeing up to the wetlands, surfing on two beaches and a 14km walk along the coast to Tuross Head. Don't camp here if you want luxurious amenities. Two pit toilets and a cold beach shower together with a few washing up sinks comprise the facilities. The view, however, is outstanding. We were lucky enough to sidle up alongside an old boat ramp area and settle ourselves with our table and umberella. Dining with a millionaire's view; ... read more

City meets country. Literally. Enforced rest. Quiet contemplation as I sit gently swaying in my Peruvian hammock, a keepsake from a former adventure, under the gum trees. Deserved rest I should say. Yesterday, a walk down quiet Mystics Beach reaching the estuary of the Minnamurra river where a very rabble of people met our view, swimming, boating and playing. This morning an early morning stroll to the 'world-famous' surfing beach, The Farm. This is Killalea State Park nestled on a peninsula between Minnamurra and Shellharbour. A strangely ordered and manicured campsite encroached on one side by the sprawling McMansion estate of Shell Cove. An environmental disaster of monolithic proportions. Look South, look South out to the ….range circling Kiama. It is not hard to see the volcanic crater that this must have been long before you ... read more

Hurtling through time and space in a coffin shaped enclosure brings thoughts of life and death to mind. Perched high in our double sleeper bed of the night coach to Udaipur I fleetingly contemplated joining the 4 or 5 metre high club. Briefly. The kamikaze bus driver made sleep well nigh impossible so you might need to do something else with your time. I keep forgetting that we do have an ipod loaded with stories which took us four weeks to work out how to turn on! Winnie where are you when we need you? The hotel Rangniwas came highly recommended by our previous hotelier, and the fact that it came with hot and cold running dachshunds was just a wonderful bonus! The pool from the sitting balcony looks so inviting but the winter warmth here ... read more