Seal Rocks / Arriving in the Dark

When embarking on a six week road trip with a two year old there were several ‘rules’ that Kim and I agreed on to minimise stress. One of which was not to arrive at caravan parks in the dark and try to put up the caravan in the dark at Maggie's bedtime. Mmmmmm I guess you know what’s coming next hey? When we left Sydney we decided to spend a whole day driving to get to our next stop, the Forster-Tuncurry area. Kim and his mate had been talking about this “amazing surf spot” which was sold to me with promises of beautiful white sand beaches, aquamarine ocean and isolated camp spots.

So we’re on our way, we’ve stopped in Bulahdelah for groceries and it’s tea time but we decide to push on and have tea when we set up camp. All I see roadside is bush, bush and more bush. Great I’m thinking, more bush camping, we needn’t bothered leaving Tassie! Where are those beautiful white sand beaches and aquamarine ocean I was so looking forward to! I try to remain optimistic but it’s getting dark now and we’ve hit a gravel road. Anyone who knows me knows that since ‘the accident’ gravel roads feel more like ice rinks than traffic highways to me so I was also feeling a little dodgy. Through the bush I could see an eerie haze and I say to Kim “is that mist, or a big drop or water or something?” What with the gravel road, darkness and eerie haze I start feeling a little anxious. After about a kilometre I realise the eerie haze is actually water and the landscape starts looking more like the Norwegian Fjords. We are afterall in Myall Lakes National Park. At last we see our sign Seal Rocks 2kms. Thank goodness, I was starting to think we were seriously lost! We carry on to Seal Rocks and all of a sudden we find ourselves right alongside the ocean in a small little caravan park. The office sign says closed but we optimistically knock on the door and make hand gestures pleadingly towards Maggie. Fortunately we get into the caravan park, it's now 9pm. We set up the caravan at record speed and eventually sit down to eggs on toast for tea.

In the morning we wake up to find ourselves in the most amazing secluded bay of beautiful white sand and aquamarine water. We take a walk in our pyjamas to the surf break and spend time sitting in the sand dunes watching dolphins. It's just beautiful. Thanks Patrick, you came up trumps.....Seal Rocks rocks!