Mystery Bay to Mimosa Rocks

The approach to Billy's Beach

I woke reasonably early at Mystery Bay campsite and contemplated an early morning swim, but decided against it.  Having learned that I don't really want to live with myself if the day gets warm and I haven't showered for more than 24 hours, I headed to the cold water shower, intending to discretely shower while wearing a modicum of clothing to preserve my modesty. The shower was not working, and deciding that the only occupied campsite was extremely quiet, I abandoned some of the clothing and made do with quick ablutions under the tap - with discretion.

Hot coffee is really good after cold early morning ablutions.

Rock formations on Billy's Beach



Caretaker came as I was consuming my second pot of coffee (I believe in some luxuries when camping) and I was finally able to pay. He was a chatty fellow, with a few suggestions of good places to visit or stay further south.

The caretaker also provided directions to get to the end of the campground, and these were further supplemented by a couple of friendly long term (aka permanent) campers who also asked if I intended going on to Corunna Point.  It seemed like a good option.

Billy's Beach



I explored the rock pools at the Northern end of Billy's Beach but the tide was not really low enough.  I was disappointed to find a rather unwell, small abalone with a broken shell.  Presumably prized off carelessly by someone and then discarded as undersized.

Billy's beach was warm, sheltered, calm and I almost wished I had taking my swimming things, but resolved to swim at Mystery Bay when I returned there to my car.  

The track to Corunna Point



I turned around to retrace my steps a little to find the track across to Corunna Point  - the directions for this from the campers were very useful.  On the way I stopped to chat with a couple of women sitting on the beach - they were the shore contingent of a snorkelling group - which consisted of the men with their weight belts and collecting bags and kids minus weight belts.  The kids were to be shown the art of finding crayfish holes.  A conversation about permits, size restrictions and catch limits ensued.

From a lookout on the track to Corunna Point



The track to Corunna Point had a couple of  lookouts - which provided the opportunity for more whale spotting.

The track was rather lovely - it was grassy and had been recently cut and made for very easy walking.  Initially it wound its way through casuarina groves, then into an area where banksias grew prolifically and the varied birds were noisily enjoying the flowers.

From a lookout on the track to Corunna Point




I reached the area that had been the site of a historic recreation ground in the late nineteenth century and a sign with some pictures of ladies in their long dresses, gents in their suits, and children appropriately dressed for the era.

From a lookout on the track to Corunna Point



I returned, but a cool wind had got up by the time I got back to Mystery Bay so I ditched the idea of a swim and looked at the memorial to the mysterious wreck - in 1880 as the men were headed to investigate the Montreal goldfields.

Memorial to the wreck and the (presumed) lost lives




I  explored more rock pools instead - at both ends of Mystery beach.

Mystery Bay






I continued on to Tilba, a village of attractive heritage buildings all converted to shops or cafes and full of delights designed to separate money from the tourist.  I sampled cheese at the cheese factory shop and purchased a particularly good smoked brie which I hope will travel well in my eski.  I visited a few other shops and could have been tempted with the occasional purchase but then would have had to find room in my car for them, so resisted.

Wallaga Lake

I stopped briefly at Wallaga Lake to admire its rather stunning views.

As I drove into Bermagui - I noticed pelicans down to my right, so turned down a side road to get a closer look.  Some fishermen were cleaning their catch and the birds were being most opportunistic about the discarded fish frames.

opportunistic pelicans







I visited a lookout at Bermagui and had a look at the blue pool, but a very cool, stiff breeze discouraged any thoughts of swimming, although to do so with my mask and snorkel would have been potentially delightful, the range of sealife in there, according to the sign, was quite extensive.
From a lookout at Bermagui

Where to stay for the night?  I had a recommendation for Aragannu Beach with its very basic facilities (pit toilets) so decided I would take a look, diverting via the Michael Lerner lookout on the way.  Michael was a US visitor who played a significant part in pioneering game fishing in the area. 

Bermagui's Blue Pool







A sign on the Aragannu Beach road announced that paid bookings were necessary and there was little reception past that point.  I decided to chance it, and if necessary drive the 3km back to make my booking.  

From the Michael Lerner lookout


It proved to be a rather lovely spot, with many of the camping spots separated from its neighbours.   As the lookout above the beach had signal, I went through the booking process.  No thanks to Parks NSW for ease of use of their website booking system.  I needed to actually choose a site based on my need to park a vehicle onsite and that was not the clearest.  Anyway, I chose a site and eventually located it, close enough to a toilet but far too close for olfactory comfort.  Just across from my campsite was a lyrebird scratching about, the first I have ever seen.

From the lookout towards Mimosa Rocks




It was closer to the Mimosa Rocks area than Aragannu Beach but that was OK. Rather than risk setting up somewhere further from the smelly toilet and being turfed out by someone who had actually booked that site, I set up and hoped the direction of the wind would change.

Looking towards Mimosa Rocks




I did think, given my previous camping experiences in NSW, that $24.50 for the privilege of parking my car with only a smelly pit toilet as the available facilities (the nearby bbq was out of order, as were all others at the campsite) was a little excessive.

My campsite companion



I walked to the lookout, via others' campsites as it wasn't totally clear to me where the track started, and the effort yielded a very lovely view.  Mimosa rocks is named for the wreck of the paddle steamer Mimosa which foundered on those rocks in 1863.  

As I prepared dinner a friendly wallaby chose to share my space (and my broccoli stems, I know I should not feed the wildlife, but the possum which visited the roof of my car, left muddy footprints on my awning and its calling card on my table helped itself to my carefully secured rubbish bag - a lot worse for it than the broccoli stems for the wallaby)



























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