The few weeks before Christmas is a great time to get away down here, before the summer crowds, and if it's cold, all the better. We wanted to take the Landrover for a bit of a camping trip so ended up at a few of our favourite places, starting with Beauchamp Falls. Recently they've put a few free camps in with magnificent views so we waited there for my folks to arrive, enjoying the beautiful view.
After they arrived we headed down the track to the waterfall. It's not a very long walk but still decent enough, so I was impressed Dad was fit enough to do it, but he had been down last week as well taking photos. If you know anything about my Dad's illness and recovery over the last few years you will get it.
The track takes you through the beautiful forest with treeferns, tall trees and tiny lichens and mosses. With all the logging here over the years it's amazing these pockets of beauty still exist.
There's still signs of old industry around the area, like railway for the logging carts, old bridges and rusty machinery. Here it was relatively pristine bar an old bridge rotting in the water.
The stream was full as it's been raining alot and crystal clear and cold. I wanted to drink from it and could have but it was pretty slippery due to the rain so didn't want to risk it.
Large bracket mushrooms clung to trees, and veils and sheets of moss and lichens and prehistoric ferns painted everything all shades of green. In the distance we could begin to hear the waterfall. Dad and I spoke about going mushrooming in August in the area. Last season he was in hospital and we didn't even know he'd live to see the next Autumn, and I kept saying don't worry Dad, we can search for fungi to photograph NEXT year. Well here he is, alive and kicking and that's an absolute possibility now, if not a certainty!
Mum and I played around with the pro settings on our phones whilst Dad took photos with his real camera. I discovered I could take photos in RAW format which was impressive. I could really tell the difference between ones taken on auto and ones I used the pro settings for!
The above were taken below - it was super slippery and I'm surprised I didn't injure myself as I seem to a lot lately 馃槺馃槀 The following were taken from up top. I do prefer this waterfall to the nearby Hopetoun falls so if you are in the area this one is highly recommended!!
Afterwards we sat in their van and drank tea and ate dark chocolate and thick slices of walnut and cranberry bread with apricot jam. It was only 12 degrees outside so it was good to warm up.
After they left we drove down to the Aire River crossing. There's a lovely ford across the river and a couple of free camps but it felt a little claustrophobic for us and as it was still early, we decided to keep going. I do love this crossing in the summer when it's warmer for a cold dip in the river but today was not that day.
We ended up in one of my favourite camps at Hordern Vale. You do have to book online but the site we had was only $15 so that was fine, and it wasn't busy either. We had a great view to make our first dinner - good old veggie pasta. Everything worked well, but sadly we have decided we DO need a pop top so a bit more work has to be done. Oh well, one day we will have the perfect camper!
To me, Hordern Vale has everything. It may not be right ON the beach but the beach is a twenty minute walk (and is STUNNING - just couldn't do it with my sore foot) and if you don't want that, there's the river! We have paddle boarded to the beach from here before and it's a great thing to do.
There's also a river beach so you can swim there too, or sit on the old bridge and fish. There's also fishing and kayaking and boating if that's your thing. Despite all the activity it's usually quiet.
Although the koalas can be noisy at night! Another thing that drove me mad in the morning was hordes of biting thrips, a reminder I need some natural insect repellent!
From here we went and had breakfast in Apollo Bay because we had run out of metho and forgotten to get more, and then headed to do some 4WD tracks, but that's another story.
Do you have a waterfall near you? Please share in the comments below!
With Love,
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