We drove south at a leisurely pace to a remote coastal haven Peaceful Bay, our next destination. It was a welcome relief to know the long hours of driving were behind us. Over the next five weeks we would drive shorter distances as we explored the beautiful south-west coastline of Western Australia.

Pemberton is one of the largest towns in the Southern Forest region, surrounded by national parkland filled with imposingly tall and wonderfully endearing Karri trees. We spent the next three days exploring this beautiful region and its local community. On our first day we didn’t want to go anywhere fast and instead relaxed in our very comfortable chalet, with a slow morning and a simple cooked breakfast enjoyed on the lovely deck overlooking the farm and forest. In the afternoon we took a stroll around the Foragers Field Kitchen property to see the farmhouse, the kitchen garden, the orchard and the many farm animals including a variety of hens, ducks, a jersey cow, a pet rabbit and some very contented looking Wessex Saddleback pigs. There was also an abundance of wildlife, content to be observed from a distance, including vibrant, emerald green parrots and inquisitive kangaroos.

The Nullarbor Plain, at it’s widest point, stretches about 1,100km from east to west across the border region between South Australia and Western Australia. It is well worth pulling in at the sign posted lookouts along the road for more breathtaking views. Each lookout is just a few minutes detour from the main road and did bring us welcome relief to see something different than the endless sealed road and monotonous landscape we had been travelling through. It was quite surreal standing at the top of the eighty metre high Bunda Cliffs and looking back across these sheer cliffs that line the Great Australian Bight, it really was spectacular.

Returning to our campsite in the late afternoon we enjoyed the shade of those beloved trees and sat down to feast on our seafood Christmas dinner. A feast it was too featuring cooked and chilled Spencer Gulf prawns and Streaky Bay blue swimmer crab, lightly crumbed calamari rings, salads, bread and McLaren Vale apple cider, all laid out on our camp table. Our table centre piece a branch of gum tree, steadied in a jar of sand and lavishly decorated as our make shift Christmas tree. It was the perfect end to what had been a very different and yet unforgettable Christmas day for us three.

From Queenscliff driving south-west through Ocean Grove and Barwon Heads, by mid afternoon we had reached Torquay and the beginning of the 253km stretch of the Great Ocean Road.It began to get quite windy as we wound around the continual twists and turns, following the road as it ran alongside the ocean and rugged coastline for many, many kilometres. Every half hour or so, a decent-sized town would appear Anglesea, Aireys Inlet (where we spotted the towering Split Point Lighthouse) and then the largest town of all Lorne. Further on smaller, more secluded spots appeared such as Wye River and Kennet River. These offered a chance to pull over off the road, take a break and grab a bite to eat from their character filled general stores. They also looked lovely locations for quiet camping.

Excitedly we entered the Wilsons Promontory National Park and, after a magnificent half hour drive in, arrived at the Tidal River camping ground. Contending with a persistent wind and with rain clouds hovering we set up camp.

Six hours south of Sydney, after travelling down the picturesque south coast of New South Wales, we spotted the turn off to Wallaga Lake. Winding downhill from the main road, we caught our first glimpses of the lake and were suddenly curious for what we would discover there. As we rounded the final bend in the road, we were greeted by a magnificent, weathered wooden bridge that offered a truly grandiose entrance to the peace and tranquility that is Wallaga Lake.