from Lilli Pilli to “One Mile Beach”, Anna Bay, Port Stephens

We said good–bye today to our lovely suite in Lilli Pilli as well as to our hosts Nona and Richard. One last look over Cronulla Bay, and off we went, first crossing Sydney and then onto the M1 going north. Traffic was heavy with holidaymakers heading to the various beaches up north with surf boards, bikes and camping gear strapped to the roofs of their cars. Our drive took us through forests of Eucalyptus and mountains as well as bush land closer to Newcastle.

We had booked a suite at the “Samurai Beach Resort” on Gan Gan Road in “One Mile Beach” close to Anna Bay and Nelson Bay. The area is called Port Stephens, and many communities belong to it. We found a great resort with Eucalyptus groves in which koala colonies live, a super pool and hot tub as well as very friendly, helpful staff. The receptionist told us where to go for dinner to see the kangaroos come out of the woods at dusk. It was the “Nelson Bay Golf Club”, and indeed, that’s where we went. We had just finished our fabulous dinner when a crowd of 12 kangaroos hopped onto the fairway and started eating away. What a sight! Unfortunately they didn’t come close to the club house, so we had to zoom them in with our cameras.