20 May 2012 - Sydney Tourist Park, Miranda, Sydney, NSW

We spent Thursday winding up in Canberra. This included a brief trip to National Archives of Australia despite previous dismissals, and a return to the National Capital Exhibition where aside from reviewing some of the pertinent facts and displays about the genesis of Canberra, we decided that this really was a perfect spot, apart from the elevated mountain and tower lookouts, to look out over the Griffin-inspired capital city of Canberra.

On the return to camp we dismantled our awning “porch” to avoid the dew and frost that was bound to be present the next morning. We had spent some time before venturing out in the morning watching a fellow camper ponder over his very frozen stiff water hose; this was an entertainment that delighted us in the most evil manner because of his inability to arrive at any solution.

Yesterday morning dawned as cold a morning as we had experienced. There was no fog immediately about, in fact the sky looked promising; just streaks of cloud across a pale blue un-Australian sky.  I had not been as diligent in the exercising of the plumbing during the night, but after five minutes of trickle, the force of the water won out and we were able to enjoy the wonders of running water. Even the toothpaste had started to freeze and as I assisted Chris to pack up the last of the outdoor bits and pieces, my hands became so cold I felt quite nauseous. We had woken on daybreak and would have broken camp earlier had the ice on the rig melted sooner.

As we hit the highway heading north, I was overcome by a great sense of freedom; back on the road again. This is not to decry the wonders of Canberra but it is always so invigorating to be out travelling through bush clad hills and not absolutely sure where the wheels will be resting that night. As old friends, were the many wombats and foxes, lying road killed beside the highway. How weird is that!?

By 9.19 am we had crossed the border, once more in New South Wales and soon passing Lake George, a disappearing lake of some twenty five by ten kilometres in a good year. It has little catchment and no outflow so relies mainly on rain for inflow and evaporation for outflow. As a result it is one of the saltiest lakes in New South Wales. Fortunately for us, after several years of good rain, it was visible from the road as a water filled lake, as we travelled for some kilometres up the western shore.

Goulburn's Courthouse

Soon we arrived at the exit for Goulburn and left the highway to stop long enough to say we had been there. The southern end of the town, or rather city of over 20,000 people, is graced with large industrial buildings, a massive concrete merino sheep and a MacDonalds with an excellent large car park. We pulled in to use the facilities and enjoy a cup of coffee, then checked out the Bakery just down the street. The bakery doubles as a café and has a wonderful array of bread products, all at ridiculously exorbitant prices. Perhaps we would have enjoyed our coffee more there in front of the big open fire had we not already taken advantage of our complimentary Senior coffee up the road at MacDonalds. Instead we left in disgust and drove further on in to the city. The residences which Chris unfairly described as “not very salubrious” soon gave way to a bustling centre full of wonderful old brick and stone buildings. One would not expect too much of a sheep farming service centre on a Saturday morning however Goulburn was buzzing. We walked up through the central park adorned with exotic trees dressed in autumn colours and filled with families taking the air and exercising their tots, past the Italianate styled courthouse, and along the street to the supermarket where we picked up some wonderful bread rolls and the Weekend Australian.We then drove on out fully aware that we had not done Goulburn justice; perhaps some other time?

The highway became a freeway, but did not alter much in the name change and we drove on over the Great Dividing Range joining the increasing traffic. Twice we stopped at a layby to telephone the caravan park we were hoping to stay in and twice left messages on the answerphone and twice I berated Chris for not agreeing to my emailing them earlier in the week.

Finally we reached the outskirts of south Sydney, proceeded on to the toll road then turned on to the Sydney city streets that Chris had not enjoyed driving when we were here early last year. Alas no miracle of change has occurred in the meantime however the good news was that it was Saturday afternoon as opposed to the busy weekday when we had towed the caravan out of the city last year.

When we arrived here in the camp, we found the office unmanned but a telephone number to call. This time there was someone at the end of the line and we were directed to a site with the promise of personal contact tomorrow.

So here we are at the Sydney Tourist Park, a place which has improved with further investigation. Firstly it is a delight to enjoy warmer temperatures albeit right now 23 degrees midmorning with the heater on. Flanking our very narrow drive-through site are cane palms. Beyond, near the boundary, are banana palms and the resident kookaburras, cockatoos and myriad of other birdlife are undeterred by the fact that we are in the middle of Australia’s largest metropolis.

We touched base with the owner this morning and have agreed between ourselves that this park will serve us well for the week leading up to our departure for New Zealand and more importantly, will be a good place to store the rig for the duration of our absence.

Yesterday afternoon we walked up to Miranda central to find the railway station; it took us under fifteen minutes. We also found there is an excellent Westfield shopping centre there on the hill so we will be well served by the suburb. This afternoon we hope the rain will clear a little and we will undertake a recci rail trip to the airport. We understand we will have to change trains at Wolli Creek. Once we have done this we will be satisfied all practical preparations are in place for The Trip. Then we shall simply take advantage of the intervening days and check out some of the wonderful treats that Sydney has to offer.

Based on our experience so far, would we recommend this as the caravan park to stay in Sydney? No, we will always recommend the Lane Cove National Park as being the superior place to stay. It is cheaper, closer to the rail and bus stations, is far more attractive and has better amenities. The amenities here are like those I imagine to be on mining sites in the distant outback; temporary sheds functionally sound but little else. But they are clean and will do in the interim.