We have started driving north, heading up the coast, through oh, so picturesque NSW, towards Queensland.
With places highlighted in my well used road atlas and information from the wonderful information centres we are ready. I seem to have collected
so much information - maps, brochures and the like, I am overwhelmed. I don't know where to start. These parts of NSW are all new to us. I often feel that I fail in my duty as "The Minister of Tourism"......I am supposedly "The Minister of Finance" too....strictly overseen by the Chief Minister who always introduces me as such to people we meet!!
We mostly choose to stay out of big towns and explore by driving from smaller, outlying towns - like Clarence Town - first settled in the early 1800s - from where we visited Newcastle and Nelson Bay.
We thought that Newcastle had a "Fremantle feel", and we had a lovely, long walk along the foreshore on the edge of the harbour. People living in the outlying suburbs of Newcastle on Lake Macquarie must be permanently spoiled by the views. Water everywhere. It definitely is a city far more manageable than Sydney. Its slogan is "See Change". A senior can catch a train from Sydney to Newcastle for $2.50. Amazing....for a day out and a walk along the foreshore.
One often hears that Nelson Bay is a great place for a holiday. It is a very pretty place from the highest point but too populated for us at sea level. We had a wonderful drive around, seeing Nelson Bay from a distance and seeing all those Gymea Lilies that flower in the bush.
We are loving having the time to "have map, will travel."
 |
| Crossing the Hunter River from Wisemans Ferry, an hour out of Sydney, on the ferry. |
We drove all along the lower Hunter Valley which was very quiet, peaceful and beautiful though the road was extremely bumpy and in a poor state.
 |
| Nelson Bay. |
 |
| One of Newcastle's beaches - Nobby's Beach. |
 |
| A tanker leaving Newcastle port. |
 |
| A suburb on the edge of Lake Macquarie. |
 |
| This is obviously allowed in Newcastle! We were on a busy, busy road. They weren't fussed. |
 |
| The birds in the trees around us at the park in Clarence Town. A lovely, lovely place to stay. |
