Kiama or Bust

 My son, Ben, has been so busy studying for his exams. I decided to give him a break and get him out of the house. So we did a road trip to Kiama.  Then head to Robertson to the pie shop for lunch.

 Ben decided to drive, my car. We left home early in the morning it was overcast with light showers. Ben informs me that we needed petrol. Oops I forgot to fuel up. We had to stop for a quick pit stop. Then we on our way. Ben said how every time he hopes to someone else car. The mirror is too low and he has to change it,  Hello son you are tall.

 Looking around as we driving along the country side, Its looking a bit brownies. The country really needs rain. Today there was not much rain. There was much traffic so it didn't take long to reach Albion Park.

 We always make McDonald at Albion Park our pit shot when heading South. Today was no different.

It's a always very busy. But today was quite empty. We stop here as we know it's going to be nice and clean.

Today Ben has a quarter pound meal deal. He was going to have pancakes. But given time as it was after 10:30, he said the pancakes aren't cooked as nice.   

               

I had a large cappuccino, ham and cheese toasted sandwich.  I have to say the young gentleman who served me was lovely. He had a beautiful smile and very friendly. Only let down the cappuccino was a bit cold.

 We were talking about how much the playgrounds have changed over the years.

Not long we arrived in Kiama. Kiama has fond memories for my family and I. We have come here every year for our summer holidays. For about 20 odd years, sadly we haven't come the last couple of years. But it's always good to come back for a visit. 

 Originally thickly forested, the area had attracted cedar-getters by 1815. Kiama was the major supplier for the Sydney cedar market by the 1820.

In 1819 the area was surveyed by James Meehan, and also investigated by surveyor-general Oxley. In 1821 David Smith, a cedar-getter, became the first permanent settler. His house (1832) became the Kiama settlement's first hotel, the Gum Tree Inn, in 1837.
 We head straight to the lighthouse and blow hole. It was cold, over cast and windy.

We headed to the blow hole. Not much action today.

 We walked over the lighthouse. It was opened in 1887 in response to a number of shipwrecks along the coast and was converted to electricity in 1969. The lighthouse is small compared to some. Standing at 15 m tall and can be seen from 27 km out at sea. Once it was maintained by a lighthouse keeper but today it is automated. 

   

 We decide to have a walk around. There's a pool on the other side. As we walking along we notice a man heading to the pool for a swim. Now that a brave man. The water would have been cold. 

 The Pilot's Cottage Museum is just down the the hill. Built in 1881 and has been restored. In is good to set back in time and see the history of Kiama. But today unfortunately it was close.

We gone back into the car and headed to the little blow hole, cos we know that it always give a good showing. Today it didn't disappoint us. It put on a good display and we were sprayed a couple of times.

After the little blow hole we headed back to the main street to have a walk around. 

Didn't get much of a look at the shops cos Ben wasn't really interested. 

Get Ben in a book shop and it's hard to get him out.

Leaving Kiama we were heading to Robertson. We were driving along I said to Ben "That's a cute cottage."  Ben tells me that it would be haunted. I asked why he thought that He tells me anything over 50 years or older are haunted. If someone died there it was haunted. LOL God love him.

as we driving closer t the mountains he tells me that he hopes we drive up the mountains. That it would be cool. Hello son we driving up the mountains.

It was very foggy and in some parts dark. 

Arriving at Robertson what a different day. The sun was shinning and quite warm. 

First stop the pie shop for lunch. 

After lunch we drove into Robertson to have a look. Stopping in at the Old Cheese Factory.

The old cheese factory was built in 1939. Robertson was a dairy farming became famous. until the mid 20th century. Now is a cafe and  antique store. Which is lovely to visit.

We stop at the Big Potato, which is open of Australia's Big Icons. Robertson is famous for there potato's 

One thing on my bucket list is to photography Australia's Big Icons. So one of my list a few to go. It does need a bit of work to it.

Ben wanted to go and have a look at Hindmarsh Falls. As we were drive the road change to a dirty road. Which was too bad to drive on, We been on worst. By the time we got there I was busted to go. Thank god they have a toilet. The falls were lovely, we had a lovely walk.

Then we head our trip home. 

  

The highlight for both of us was the little blowhole. A wonderful day with my son.

Levendi

Well we were at the lighthouse, we decide to have fish'n'chips. We drove to look for somewhere that sells them. Straight away I spot the sign, Fish'n'chips. Did the circle around. We were lucky to get parking out the front.

OMG they were so busy. We looked at the menu, wait a which to get served. I ordered the barramundi pack and cappuccino . Dear Husband order the john dory pack and peach ice tea. As we waited for our order We  were lucky getting a table outside looking out at the cover.

Well you can't go wrong with ice tea. The cappuccino was good nice and hot. 

While we waited for our meal we enjoyed looking out at the cove. Boats, lighthouses, and the ocean it was lovely.

Our number was up. our order was ready,

Our packs were fish with chips, lemon and tartar sauce. Wow look at the size of the barramundi. We to split the fish in half. So we had a bit of both. The fish were cooked perfect. I'm a bit fuss with my chips. They were good. A prefect.

Summary:  Be patient they are very busy. The fish was cooked perfect. My favourite was the barramundi.

Location: Cliff Rd, Wollongong.

Opening Hours: 

Monday - Sunday 6.30am to 8.30pm

                                                                  

Wollongong Here We Come

Today on our road trip the goal was to cross off two things on my bucket list.

1. photograph the moon raising. 

2. visit the Fo Guang Shan Nan Tien Temple. 

Before we left I went online checking and did a bit of plan.
So on the website for the Temple said to allow 2 - 3 hours to walk around. The moon rises at 8:35. I found about the  Breakwater Battery Museum in Port Kembla, which I thought would be interesting.
So the plan was to go the Temple, have a look at the Museum and have dinner in Port Kembla then go and set ourselves up on the coastline to photography the moon rising.  Good Plan in action.
Checked my camera equipment. Printed map of Temple.

We left just after noon. looking out windows with all the clouds was getting worried with all the clouds. Maybe I may not get to photograph the moon. Excellent trip down. The signs to the Temple were good to make it easy to find.
Nan Tien Temple known as "Southern Paradise" is the largest Buddhist temple in the Southern Hemisphere. Opening hours are 9am - 5pm Tuesday - Sunday and all Public Holidays.  There is no cost to enter, There is a Donation box or you can make a offering.
A "Offering" originally refers to the offering of material good such as food and clothing to the triple Gem - Buddha, Dharma and Sangha, to our teachers parents and the deceased.

Arriving the car park was full, lucky for us getting a park spot just near the entrance. Decide to have to go the cafe first.  The cafe was very busy, a bit of a wait. 

At the front there's a bit of fencing, due to building a bridge over the highway. Wasn't really a problem. 

Having to remove shoes to enter the Shrines. Lol I had a hole in one of my shocks. Oops next time I go make sure I don't have any holes in my socks. The moment walking in its just so relaxing and tranquil.  No photos are to be taken inside the shrines. Waking around is so peaceful. There are a lot of different statues.

  As we walked around we could hear a bell ring every couple of minutes. We discovered on the top of the hill is a bell which you could ring.

As  my Dear Husband having a toilet break. I was standing waiting. I notice a young lady walk to the information desk. She was returning a wrap and shawl. As she had shorts and single top on. She couldn't enter the Shrines.  They will lend you a wrap and shawl to wear so you can enter the Shrines. It had taken us 2 and half hours to walk around.

Back in the car car we going. Heading into Port Kembla. Not really nice drive as it very industrial. Seems very old and dirty. We drive down the main st. It was dead, all the shops were closed. we got bit lost. The GPS Navigation took us round in circles. There were no signs to the Breakwater Battery Museum. We arrived where we though was the museum but later on found out we were at the Port Kembla Lookout Hill 60

I was a bit disappointed, it wasn't much. But walked to the top of the building. Wow what a view. 360 degrees view. amazing. 

Due to none thing open we decided to go into Wollangang. First we went to the lighthouses. 

The area was very busy. lucky to get a park. I just love lighthouses. Something about them makes my heart move.

 Built 1936 to guide maritime traffic into Port Kembla Harbour located to the south. The light is coloured white and red. White with a 4.5 second duration is visible through 100 degrees, while red is visible through 80 degrees. The latter indicates the presence of shallow water. Three 68 pounder cannons (now defunct) were installed near its base in 1879 to repel any possible attacks by the Russian navy. It finally became the sole functioning lighthouse at Flagstaff Point,

Belmore Basin's Lighthouse the Breakwater Lighthouse is located on Wollongong breakwater was commissioned 1872. The height of tower is 42 feet (12.8 metres). 

This now disused lighthouse was initially powered by vegetable oils and in the 1910s by gas. It was a prefabricated structure. A larger, improved lighthouse on the headland replaced it in the 1930s.

There is no access inside the lighthouse.

By now we had worked up appetite. What to have for dinner. Fish n Chips of course. We saw a sign for a cafe. So we walked along to the Yachtie Cafe. No fish n chips on the menu only burgers. So we decide to drive around to find somewhere. Didn't have to drive far and found  levendi. Very busy. We were lucky to get a table out the front. Woo hoo we got our fish n chips. Seating looking at the basin. Lighthouses and boats. A prefect ending to a prefect day. Just now to photography the moon.

I decide to position myself near back lighthouse. We had hour to kill. Sitting the car talking. Watching young ones arrive and leave. I would say it's a popular hang out for them. As their headlights shinning we could see rats running around.

8:25pm comes around. Time to set myself up. It's dark, cold and windy. But the moon decided not to show it self. Stayed until 8:45. Called it a night. Packed up. Headed home. Feeling disappointed. 

I said to Dear Husband  " you want to bet we get home and the moon will show up"

And guess who showed up. the moon. A end to a wonderful Day. So one think tick off the bucket list.