After leaving Orbost we had a short journey up the Princes Highway to Mallacoota where we stayed with friends Di and David. We arrived a bit earlier than planned due to the fires and stayed a little longer than planned to avoid the floods further north!

 Melaleuca

 

Since our last visit here a new walking track was been built running along the coast. It was still under construction but will be very popular when it is completed. Near Mallacoota the path cut through the thick Melaleuca bush at the top of the cliffs.

Bekta inlet

 

The views along the coast from the new path were great. This is the view of the inlet to the Bekta River, a popular place for swimming. 

 View from the new walking track

 

The coastline has loads of sandy stretches between the rocky headlands.


Save Bastion Point protest

 

The view might not be so good in a few years as proposals to build an access road, slipway and breakwater had been approved while we were there. The majority of the locals were against its construction but the Shire decided to go ahead with it regardless. We attended a protest meeting at Bastion Point where the slipway is to be built. More information here: http://savebastionpoint.org/ 

 Bekta River

 

We borrowed a canoe and paddled up Bekta River until it was too shallow to go any further. We stopped here for a swim, the water temperature was 22Deg - just right.

Maramingo Creek

 

A few days later we canoed up Maramingo Creek which runs into the Genoa River. 

 Azur Kingfisher

 

We had the river and creek to ourselves and it was very quiet and peaceful. We saw lots of wildlife including this Azur Kingfisher.

Cape Horn picnic

 

Dave & Di took us out on their boat 'Rondondo' with a group of friends for a picnic at Cape Horn. 

 Picnic in the rain

 

It rained!

Girls sunning themselves on Rodondo

 

 

Of course the girls lounged around on the sun deck during the trip . . . 

 
Boys hard at work on Rodondo

 

. . . while the boys were busy working hard navigating and tending the engines at the other end!

Every time you look across the Inlet the view and colours change.
View across the inlet at dusk