Beautiful Bermagui 2021

The gang at Bermi
Ready and waiting The Bridge - Wallaga Lake On the road to Eden The Blue Pool Bermi Marina The Sea Horse Inn at Boydtown Smiling after lunch at Mimosa Two pirates Searching for alien life Francesca at Bermi A wet day on the Clyde

04 March 2021 / Words: Steve & Cecelia Wakeling. Pictures: Norm & Roz Barker and Rod & Maryanne Nicholas

Beautiful Bermagui
19-22 February 2021

It was the 19th February and a sunny Friday morning at the respectable hour of 10:30 am when eight MX-5s set off from Bungendore for a 4-day run down to and around Bermagui. I had nominated Bermagui as the destination as we had such a great time there last year around the same time.

We encountered light to medium rain going down the Clyde mountain and into Batemans Bay where we had a brief stop to raise our roofs. Last year we passed kilometre after kilometre of burnt-out forests but now most of the trees are recovering, but I feel many more will never recover.

We bypassed Batemans Bay and headed to Mogo for lunch where we met up with two more club members for lunch. After a noisy lunch (compulsory with large numbers of MX-5 people) we proceeded to visit all the shops still functioning in Mogo. Although I had been to Mogo a few times since the bushfires it is still strikes me as a severely impacted town. The eastern side of the town is still reasonably intact so we did our bit to help with their customer recovery.

We headed south to Bermagui arriving about 3pm. Although there were large areas of burnt-out forests along the way, there had also been recent heavy rain, in some places flooding, so there were now large expanses of green fields. Amazing country.

After booking in at the Bermagui Motel, right in the middle of town, some headed off to check the place out while a group of us drove out to Wallaga Lake for a 30-minute bush walk out to the mouth of the lake. The walk passes through the forest to a headland with distant views in all directions (drive to the end of Wallaga Street and walk over the footbridge).

Bermagui still has one trawler operating so it is possible to buy fresh fish at the trawler owner’s fish and chip shop adjacent to the wharf. We headed to the pub (the only one in town). It overlooks the bay and serves Reschs (it’s an acquired taste). Dinner that night was next door to the pub.

Saturday morning saw us head down the back way to Tathra, Merimbula and onto Boydtown for a long leisurely lunch at the Sea Horse Inn. This is a great drive for MX-5s.

We headed back via the Princes highway and stopped in Cobargo for a look around. A few shops were still open, and purchases were made. This is a magnificent drive from Boydtown to Cobargo with lots of fast sweeping curves and distant views of mountains.

Dinner that evening was at the local Country Club, a short walk from the motel. They were very busy, but we were not in a hurry. The meal was excellent with some of the serves being on the very large size.

Sunday morning was free time with some of the members going for a swim. The Blue Pool was popular. Seventy steps down from the headland, the Blue Hole, a natural swimming hole, was worked into rectangular baths and used for training and competition swimming and renamed the Blue Pool. It is now apparently rated ‘six’ out of ‘eight’ as one of the best ocean rock pools in the world and has been inducted into the TripAdvisor Hall of Fame!

We had arranged something special for lunch. Mimosa restaurant and winery is in the middle of nowhere. It’s on the back road from Bermagui to Tathra, about 20 minutes from Bermagui. One end of the restaurant is open to the views over the vineyards and to the mountains beyond. It made the internet a few years ago when a very large goanna entered the restaurant and was chased out by a young waitress. All part of the job when you work at a restaurant in the middle of the Australian bush. Lunch was long and excellent. James and Giulia meet us for lunch.

Dinner that evening was local pizza and really fresh fish and chips in the motel’s covered BBQ area as rain was forecast. When it did not eventuate, we moved out under the trees for wine, beers and nibbles. Lots of laughs.

Monday morning saw us depart and head back up the Clyde for lunch at Braidwood.

A great drive and a magnificent time were had by all.

Cheers

Steve & Cecelia (Run Leaders)

Words: Steve & Cecelia Wakeling
Pictures: Norm and Roz Barker and Rod and Maryanne Nicholas (Note: Rod’s photo album also includes photos by Norm and Roz)