Wednesday 22 May to Tuesday 28 May

Ok, so why do I reckon Mallacoota is a “special” place.  I preface my remarks by saying “beauty is in the eye of the beholder”.  In brief – stunning location, magnificent coastal scenery, great facilities for visitors, friendly and very helpful locals, wonderful place for walking and, from what I saw and heard, a terrific fishing spot.

Yep, it is a coastal holiday town and you may get a different impression if you came here in peak season but it wouldn’t change the setting and scenery or, I think, the friendliness of the people.

The town itself is similar to other coastal holiday spots I have visited although certainly not as commercial as Lakes Entrance or Bairnsdale.  There are lots of holiday houses, accommodation options and retirees.

It is the setting of the town smack in the middle of the Croajingolong National Park that makes it special and totally different to other towns along the coast.  The photos below show aerial views which I hope sort of gives you an idea of how it fits in the landscape.

 

While the main industry is tourism there is a substantial abalone processing plant supported by numerous divers.  The opulence of some of the houses in the town reflects their presence and that of wealthy retirees.  However, the town’s wealth does not make it pretentious.  It still has a bit of a frontier town feel about it which reflects its colourful history from the 1970s.

Talking of history, Mallacoota and Gabo Island just off shore, played a significant role in the protection of shipping along the south east coast and through Bass Strait during World War II.  Did you know…………….

More detailed information can be found in the local museum in a restored WW II bunker located near the airport.

 

 

Unfortunately my budget would not stretch to a trip to Gabo Island (you may recognised this name from Sydney to Hobart yacht race commentaries).  I have cheated and taken a photo of photos.

 

 

Walking

Heaps.  All lengths and grades.  Just fantastic.  The walk around the lake side from the main town wharf to Karbeethong jetty (this is where the cruise departed) is very easy and gives excellent vistas of the lower lake, inlet entrance, expensive homes and bird life (the feathered kind).

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Mallacoota Coastal Walk is just simply stunning.  Starting in the town it takes in coastal landscapes of unusual rock formations, lovely beaches, varying vegetation, bird life and vistas to Gabo Island.  The day I did it was showery which added to the “atmosphere”.

Mallacoota Lookout

Drive back out to the Princess Highway at Geno and turn right and head into New South Wales to Maxwell’s Road where a very pleasant drive, on dirt roads, through temperate rainforest takes you to the Mallacoota lookout.

When you come back to Geno have a look at the free camp ground I previously mentioned.  Quite pleasant.

Inlet Cruise

I spent a pleasant 2 hours on a sunny but slightly breezy Sunday morning cruising the two lakes that make up the inlet on board the Porgy Bess, a wooden lake boat built in Paynesville in 1946 of Kauri timber.  A pleasant little craft that could use some TLC but sturdy enough for the purpose (sorry Ainslie I forgot to take a photo so you’ll just have to go there!!!).

The skipper, Simon, is a bit of a character and had tales to tell of skullduggery, gold mining, yuppie foolishness and some interesting facts and figures eg. the shoreline of the inlet is greater than that of Sydney Harbour!  Well worth the $30 (May 2013) for the 2hours.  He also does fishing

I stayed at the A’Wangralea Caravan Park.  $22 per night for a powered site because I was solo (May 2013).  Very pleasant and a great camp kitchen.

Summing Up……

You had to be there!!  Just great, stunning, fantastic, welcoming………a “special” place!!!!