We left Twofold Bay reluctantly, but we needed to get to Melbourne in time to catch the Spirit of Tasmania on the 23rd Feb.
Our first stop was supposed to be Lakes Entrance. We had booked Waterside Caravan Park, Lakes Entrance. It sounded grand.. Yeah? Na. It was not waterside and the sites were tiny and on top of each other. I'd heard lots of lovely things about Lakes Entrance but after 3 Caravan Park walk throughs we had to give it a miss.
Riverside Holiday Park Bairnsdale was recommended to us for its position and views so we motored further along the highway. I think someone was having a lend of us.
Yes it was beside a river, but no you couldn't see it! Yes it was easy access... right on the highway. Road noise was constant and loud. Sites were small, service was non existent and we were not happy. See reviews. So bad we didn't take a photo!
We only stayed one night at Bairnsdale and looked up other options on the road to Melbourne. Evidently Melbourne was going off with numerous festivals this weekend so getting anywhere to stay was difficult.
We drove to Sale but only stopped for a coffee at a great vibey place called Mr Raymonds in the main street. Would recommend it. Plus we looked in on a lovely old pub called The Criterion. Would have eaten there but it was too early. Looked amazing.
We had to stay somewhere so we checked Trip Advisor. It recommended Warrugal Gargens in Warrugal, as its only 100 klms from Melbourne. We booked for two nights. It was called Warrugal Gardens and Retirement Village ( I call it Warrigal Care (the place that doesn't care at all) This was a challenging experience, really challenging. After being a single mum and pretty hard up I thought it would take a lot to shock me. Well consider me shocked!! See reviews.
The upside was that we found a great little bar in Warrugal. The locals don't frequent it much yet but hopefully they'll work it out. It's called 'The Bank' and we had a delightful lunch there today. The locals were in Subway, Kentucky and Maccas but I guess it takes time to try new things.
Warrugal Gardens looks quiet and retiring...... it isn't. Its beside the railway line and once the trains stop running you can hear the rev heads on the local roads. That is all beside the fact that you are jammed into sites half the size of sites in NSW. Plus, most of the caravaners are English and permanents here? not sure, but maybe working in the mines?? Not an issue but truly a great place for a tobacco health promotion intervention here I can tell you.
35 degree heat and second hand tobacco smoke streaming from every direction. Not my idea of heaven.
Onwards and upwards we say!!! Melbourne tomorrow.