Sea to Sky Adventure
03 April 2018 / Written: John Purcell, Edited: Chris Cameron, Photos: John Purcell, Lyn Davis, Ian Nunn, David Gazzard
8 cars and their intrepid occupants joined Chris and myself at the twin servos on the M1 for our epic journey south. Leaving the M1 the group turned onto the old pacific highway to warm up on the curves heading to Sydney. Meeting up with Rob we continued to Berowra, re-joining the M1 to traverse Sydney to Heathcote McDonald’s where we were joined by Bruce & Natalie (Sydney) and Ben & Paula (RPM).
After a morning tea stop our now 12-car convoy headed to the Royal National Park for a run through Audley and Stanwell Tops to the Sea Cliff Bridge, only to be redirected up to Waterfall due to a motorcycle accident blocking our road. Diverting via Waterfall we re-joined our route at Stanwell Park to carry on down the coast for lunch at the Albion Park Hotel. Jamberoo Mountain Road was next on our list, winding through lush forest and countryside before turning off past Fitzroy Falls Lake to Kangaroo Valley for our afternoon tea stop. A diversion onto Kangaroo Valley Road to Berry was a must before stopping for the night at Nowra.
Saturday was St Patricks Day, so out with the shamrock necklaces and buttons saying how we love to be Irish? After a carpark reel by Eileen, Jenny and Max we started south, but wait there’s more … did I mention today was also Co-pilots Day? With the promise of a nice easy highway drive to Merimbula, those that usually sit in the left-hand seat were encouraged to be the driver for the day. Kind of forgot to mention the nice windy sections on the Bermagui-Tathra road, but secretly I believe they enjoyed having a go at the bendy bits. A stop at Batemans Bay for lunch and a visit to the ice cream and coffee shops, then on to Bermagui for a delicious afternoon tea of coffee, slices and Orange and Green Cakes. Following the coast road through Tathra, we arrived at Merimbula for our 2nd night.
Day 3 we left the sea and headed to the sky. With a clear sky and calm wind, we headed to Candelo to tackle Myrtle Mountain Road before joining the Mt Darragh road at Wyndham. Much fun was had by all taking the forest curves with aplomb until cresting the top of the mountain only to be hit by a force 7 gale. Then it wasn’t just looking for the next curve or road kill but also flying debris from trees. Leaving the mountain it was into sheep country, with the almost treeless paddocks subjecting us to the full force of the side winds while negotiating the twists and turns of the Snowy River Way into Jindabyne.
Monday was the day for rest and relaxation. Options were taken up by some - to visit Thredbo and try the trek to Kosciusko, a visit the Distillery (always popular), Charlottes Pass or Cabramurra. The evening meal was the BBQ you have when not having a BBQ. Alas fire bans prevented us from lighting up the wood for the barbie, so all cooking was done in the kitchen. And very successfully so!
With two cars leaving us after the weekend, the remaining 10 cars had an early start to a very long day. Following the Snowy Mountains Hwy through Adaminaby and onto Link and Goat Ridge roads for a morning tea stop at Cabramurra. The excellent Snow Ridge and Tooma roads gave us some great driving with nary another car to be seen. With lunch beckoning we headed north to Tintaldra General Store & Post Office, where Betty, our 91-year-old host, regaled us with anecdotes of the early history of the area. Elaine accompanied Betty on the pianola and many of the group joined in the sing-along. After a fine lunch of stew and damper followed by tea and home-made cornflake biscuits it was back onto the Murray River Road to follow the course of the Murray river to Tallangatta for afternoon tea. The day ended with a run on Tawonga Gap road to Bright for the evening.
Our 2nd day in Victoria and a morning optional tour - yes, at no extra cost – to Mount Buffalo and back. With some deciding to sightsee in Bright, the rest of the group proceeded to Mount Buffalo for a run up the mountain, only to be stymied by a V8 Commodore crawling up the hill. Finally, clear road ahead allowed everyone to pass and complete the run to the top. Heading back down the mountain, we turned off for a stop at Mt Buffalo Lookout for the magnificent views. And that was where Rob mentioned a noise from the front wheel of his NC. Barry soon had the car jacked up to discover the drivers’ side wheel bearing was failing. A slow but safe trip down the mountain got Rob and his car back to Bright and a helpful mechanic. Rob, David and Elaine stayed an extra night to wait for a replacement bearing to fitted while the rest of the group headed down the Great Alpine road to Omeo. Crossing the range through Mt Hotham became an interesting challenge as low cloud and fog cut visibility to 2 car lengths.
Overnight in Omeo at the Golden Age Hotel, now this place has character with a capital C. An excellent dinner, (did I mention my choc-mint cheese cake?) and a good nights’ sleep bought us a 6-degree morning so the hot buffet breakfast was a perfect start. Taking the Mitta Mitta road (Omeo Hwy) we enjoyed 2 hours of great twisting, winding roads with no cars in front and only 4 oncoming. After a much-appreciated stop at the park at Mitta Mitta for morning tea to re-energise, we headed back via the Alpine Way to Jindabyne to regroup with Rob, David and Elaine for our final night.
I would like to thank all those who attended the trip. It’s the people who do a long run like this that make it a success. Everyone got on famously, even putting up with my cajoling and threatening to get out a cattle prod to get them moving at the breaks.
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