|
While our van was being serviced we went to the Royal Australian Navy air station HMAS “Albatross”, where the Australian Museum of Flight is situated on an operational airfield. This excellent display includes a Sopwith Camel WW1 biplane (which was Snoopy’s favorite and regularly features in the cartoon).
The museum also houses restored aircraft such as MIG’s, Dakotas, a German Glider, models of ships and a large collection of historic photographs. A well stocked Kiosk and souvenir shop are available for welcome purchases. After picking up our caravan, we retired to the nearby caravan park to relax for the night.
The next day we drove along the Kangaraoo Valley/Nowra Road to the Camberwarra Mountain lookout which provides one of the most spectacular coastal views in Eastern Australia. At an altitude of 680 metres, the lookout is often shrouded in mist giving you a hauntingly beautiful panorama of the surrounding countryside. From here we drove to the nearby tranquil pastoral haven of Kangaroo Valley. This lush river gully lies in the shadow of the Great Dividing Range.
The entire township of Kangaroo Valley has been classified by the New South Wales National Trust and the quaint shops include cafes, restaurants, galleries and craft outlets. North of the township, the Kangaroo River is straddled by the medieval-style Hampden Suspension Bridge. Completed in 1898, this bridge features two pairs of castellated stone towers and stands near the entrance to the worn landscape of Morton National Park.
At more than 154,000 hectares, this is one of the largest National Parks in New South Wales and its star attraction is the impressive Fitzroy Falls which plunge 80 metres to the valley floor. The Park offers a visitors centre, quiet picnic grounds, walks and lookouts and is an ideal location to complete our tour of the Shoalhaven Paradise.
|
