We
headed out of Sydney and drove down through the Royal National Park.
We were hoping to get close to the coast on this route, though that
turned out not to be the case. The drive through the park was green
and lush, but no sea view was had. I think if we were to do this
again, I would take the M1 to the town or Waterfall or Helensburg and
then cut over to the coastal road from there. Once we made it to the
coastal road, we drove through quaint little towns right on the
water. Most had beaches and parking tended to be free.
We
eventually made it as far as Wollongong before we looked for a place
to stay. Along the way, we searched Airbnb.com and were lucky enough
to find Jack's place right near the beach.
At
$161 USD per
night for
four people, the apartment was a
great deal.
Street parking was free and we were right across the road from not
only the water, but also from a public pool and a man made tidal
pool. |
| Enjoying the tidal pool |
For dinner, we ate at The [M]eatery. We decide that if we couldn't be home for American Thanksgiving, we would gorge ourselves on multiple meats instead of the traditional turkey. We had been told that is was a pricey restaurant, but I thought it was reasonable for what we received and how full we were when we left. At about $40 AUD per person, we ordered a shareable platter of meats, a few appetizers, desserts, and drinks.
While
we weren't in town long, but we did enjoy some time at the Crown
Street Mall. In the afternoon, we stopped in a little bar and
restaurant called His Boy Elroy for happy hour. It's a small joint
with great drink options and a diverse menu. We returned to the mall
the next morning (a Friday) for a craft fair which was set up right
between the two main buildings of the mall. I thought combining a
traditional shopping mall with booths for handmade crafts and produce
was a wonderful idea.
Also
while in Wollongong, we visited the Nan Tien Buddhist Temple. This is
not just a single building, but an entire complex of breathtakingly
beautiful structures. As I was not dressed appropriately (I was
wearing shorts), I did not go into the prayer halls or other
buildings. Instead, I peered in from the doorways and wandered the
grounds which are beautiful and serene. The
visit was free and was a calming change from the hustle and bustle of
Wollongong.
 |
| Nan Tien Buddhist Temple in Wollongong |
