Tathra NSW, Canberra ACT, & Ulladulla NSW

Tathra, VIC
After a great visit with family in VIC, it was time to move North and cross the border into NSW. On the way to a 3 day stay at beautiful Tathra NSW, we stopped in (with caravan in tow) to the Bega cheese factory. Now WA peeps know how amazing the Margaret River Cheese Company is, so we were a little disappointed to find out the NSW'elshmen are not nearly as enthusiastic about sprucing their cheese wares. Tourism opportunity...c'mon Bega!!! 

On to the beautiful coastal town of Tathra for 3 nights, and as usual the rain followed us the day after our arrival. We now joke that we are the rainmakers, as everywhere we have been for the last few weeks it rains after we arrive!

Much more sadly, our first morning in Tathra bought the news that a woman had gone missing while swimming on the beach. We were on the beach as the search effort was underway, however by the next day it was confirmed that it was a fatal shark attack that had claimed the life of a local surf life saving legend, Christine Armstrong (63yrs).
http://m.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/tathra shark attack

03 April 2014 - Police interviewing fellow swimmers around 2hours after missing swimmer disappears - Tathra, NSW

03 Apr 2014 - Rescue boats and locals searching from the wharf for signs of the missing swimmer - Tathra, NSW

Canberra, ACT
After a wet and quiet few days in Tathra, we headed west into the ACT to visit our great nations's capital, Canberra. First stop was the electoral office to vote (again) in the WA senate election, followed by a trip for some indoor fun (it wouldn't stop raining) for adults and kids to enjoy.

The face of another happy voter, go Clive! (ha ha) - Canberra, ACT

One of few places that had beer AND play equipment, the Canberra Raiders clubhouse. We became proud members, even if they did get Damien's name wrong. Look closely! - Canberra, ACT

The following day saw us visit the National Art Gallery, where you are not actually supposed to take any photos... I snuck one in (above), but had the security guards shadow us for the rest of the time we were there...whoops! - Canberra, ACT

Getting an impromptu cuddle from Cooper on the miniature steam train at - Cockington Green Gardens, Canberra, ACT

Cockington Green Gardens is a to scale (1:12) miniature English Village set within beautiful landscaped gardens. It is a beautiful place, my green thumb was itching! And so funny to see the kids look like giants in comparison to the buildings - Cockington Green Gardens, Canberra, ACT

If you were paying attention, there were lots of little hidden scenes playing out in the miniature characters throughout the gardens. Do you remember who these two characters are?

A family shot (from top left), Alison, Cooper, Damien and Blaire. In the background to the left is the 1:12 scale miniature of the english cottage that is full size in the background on the right - Cockington Green Gardens, Canberra, ACT

Canberra is home to Questacon, the National Science and Technology Centre and a great place for adults and kids alike. We had loads of fun with the kids..maybe a little too much 'inner-nerd' was unleashed!  - Questacon, Canberra, ACT

Blaire discovering how perception of things can change under a magnifying glass. She was fascinated with inspecting things - Questacon, Canberra, ACT

Learning cause and effect - throwing starfish. Water play for the youngsters - Questacon, Canberra, ACT

Cooper playing with the volcano smoke - Questacon, Canberra, ACT

Trying not to lose balance in the light tunnel as the lights move in a circle around the room to distort your sense of movement... think sea-sickness and you are halfway there!  - Questacon, Canberra, ACT

Damien trying to beat his shadow and the camera flash in a jump! Glo-in-the-dark wall on steroids!  - Questacon, Canberra, ACT

A visit to Old Parliament House and across the road is the Aboriginal Tent Embassy. You can see some of the 'tents' in the left background - Old Parliament House, Canberra, ACT

 Old Parliament House now houses the Museum of Australian Democracy - Old Parliament House, Canberra, ACT

Parliament House, and a sneaky stop for a photo with our caravan in tow. The Australian Federal Police were there in flash to tell us to move on (pictured) - Parliament House, Canberra, ACT

Ulladulla, NSW
Heading east back to the NSW coast, we enjoyed a few relaxing days in Ulladulla on the recommendation of some locals travellers we had met. Ulladulla is a great little tourist town, and apart from the rain (yes more rain, every day we were there), it was a beautiful place.

Each day at 3pm, the Rainbow Lorikeets flocked in for a feed at the caravan park we were staying at. They are super noisy, and the kids had lots of fun feeding them - Big4 Bungalow Park, Ulladulla, NSW

Having fun on the paddle boats at the Burrill Lake edge at the back of our caravan park - Big4 Bungalow Park, Ulladulla, NSW

Pelican taking flight - Burrill Lake, Ulladulla, NSW

Pelicans chattering away to each other - Burrill Lake, Ulladulla, NSW

Burril Lake, Ulladulla, NSW

A break in the rain saw us take a trip out of Ulladulla to Pebbly Beach to stretch our legs and get some fresh air - Pebbly Beach, Yuraygir National Park, NSW

Blaire found the biggest pebble (more like a boulder) to bring home at - Pebbly Beach, Yuraygir National Park, NSW

Cormorants airing their wings after fishing - Pebbly Beach, Yuraygir National Park, NSW