Edge of Eden
Trip Start
Jan 13, 2010
1
18
26
Trip End
Mar 10, 2010
Where I stayed
Crown and Anchor B&B
Eden, New South Wales, Australia
Friday, February 19, 2010
It was a warm and sunny day as we drove in to Bateman's Bay for lunch. We ate at Monet's on the edge of the bay. The meal was very tasty, infused with Lebanese and Asian flavors. Sitting there, relaxed, with balmy sea breezes blowing over us it was hard to remember the weather being experienced in the northern hemisphere. This is a popular seaside resort for Sydneysiders and it is easy to see why.
We drove down the Princes Highway, no apostrophe, don't know which prince, with occasional glimpses of the sea, to Pambula Beach. We had heard that you could see kangaroos on the beach there. We didn't, but did see kangaroos hanging around a campsite by the beach - very exciting!
Moving on we eventually reached Eden, named, it transpired, not from the garden, but in honor of the British Secretary of State of the time (1840s). It had been a major whaling town with a sheltered inner bay. Our B&B, located high on the peninsula which sheltered the inner bay, was an old inn built in 1845. It has views of both bays and the sea. We were greeted with champagne and cheese nibbles and we sat out overlooking the bay feeling very pleased with ourselves.
The town of Eden has seen better days and most eating places were closed by the time we went out to eat. So we ate in one of the ubiquitous 'clubs' seen throughout Australia, where the Aussies are able to slake their thirst for gambling (and beer). It was the tax revenue from these clubs which paid for the building of the Sydney Opera House. It is necessary to join the club in order to eat there (or gamble, or drink), but this is easily accomplished by filling in a form (no membership fee).
We rose early and drove off to Melbourne in anticipation of a long day.
