25 October 2012 - Bega Caravan Park, Sapphire Coast, NSW

There are some days when one has to dig up the rule book of life and regurgitate a snippet to put life in perspective, and today was one such. It was only a few years ago that I took on board the concept of taking time to smell the roses and enjoying the journey not the destination. I had spent so much of my life simply getting through to the next step, in survival mode between one bad decision and the next, which sadly meant that I did not delight in all those wonderful moments that parenting and life generally can offer. For me, new ways and ideas have to evolve slowly before they become lore. My life did not do a backwards flip overnight, but I have managed to make the changes thanks principally to my husband and secondly to retirement.

So why am I mentioning this? Because today we set off north into the Biamanga National Park to see the Mumbulla Creek Falls, a must-see by the accounts of the camp owner, the women in the Information Centre at Bega and the promotional brochure picked up in Bermagui yesterday.

We drove up on back gravel roads through the beautiful rural localities of Angledale and Greendale, then turned onto the more regular road up into the park. The road becomes narrow, steep and simply dirt but has been recently graded so was no problem at all. We passed through a dense gum forest and wound our way down to the falls following the National Park signs. Arriving there we found ourselves parked next to a painting contractor, also called Chris; obviously another nature lover.

Soon however we were confronted by a barricade; the path was closed. No access could be had to the falls. Chris and his mate were up on the boardwalk structure painting. He told us that the National Parks people had advised all tour operator types that there would be closure, so we wondered why we weren’t informed. Or more practically, given that not all explorers consult with tourist advisers, why a sign had not been placed at the road intersections? The painters were apologetic; we assured them that it was not their fault. And it was here I remembered that precious adage about enjoying the journey, and not the destination.

I doubt we will be back to see the falls, so will have to simply repeat what we have been told; do take in the falls if you pass by Bega but perhaps it would be a good idea to call into the Information Centre on the very day you intend to drive the twenty seven kilometres up through the park roads.

We did have a second destination up our sleeve and that was the Brogo Dam, again apparently a must-see. This is thirty kilometres north west of Bega, off the Pacific Highway and is very pretty. The reservoir is situated on the edge of the Warrigal National Park, on the Brogo River of course, that which joins the Bega River here in the town.

The dam was completed in 1976 and was constructed for flood management of the river and for irrigation purposes. It is also used for town water supply and to generate electricity although the power station is very very small.

When we arrived there, we were quite alone except for the wildlife about that had hoped to have a quiet day. We startled a small echidna, a swamp wallaby and a dragon, all within the first five minutes of our visit. We wandered about as much of the surrounding parkland as is available to the public and agreed it was a charming spot.

We were still having our lunch in the company of several crimson rosellas when a couple of trucks arrived full of the road workers from ten kilometres back down the road. Thankfully they parked some distance from us however we did wonder what their employers would think if they knew they had travelled so far from their work for their smoko.

Our day’s touring had taken less time than originally planned however we decided to head back to Bega, calling in at another garage for a quote for the planned landcruiser service. This was more acceptable than yesterday’s so Chris went ahead and booked it in for next Wednesday.

Now with a date to work to and a limit on the days we have to explore the places to the south, we will have to be far more organised than usual. We have stocked up with provisions yet again and will be off in the morning down to Eden to see what we can see. It is always exciting to head off once more into the unknown!