Judy & Brian Tour Oz: Tathra NSW, Nelson Beach, Mimosa Rocks NP, Australian Fur Seal

Yesterday. Thank heavens we were here yesterday as the weather was fabulous - bright sunny cloudless sky, gentle breeze, low 20's - Ah - lovely! But that was yesterday.

Today wasn't anywhere near that, overcast and coolish, but not windy. Judy took herself off to the 'bowlo' for a game of housie, that reputedly would run 2 1/2 hours, but which included a lunch break. She hit the jackpot by winning the first house, and a small meat tray as a prize, and then nothing for the rest of the day. Oh, well, next time perhaps.

Meanwhile I took myself off exploring. Just up the road is the Mimosa Rocks National Park, and a 2km dirt road takes you to the first beach: Nelson Beach. Imagine my surprise when the first thing I see stepping onto the beach is a beached Australian Fur Seal pup. There didn't appear to be any damage except for perhaps a dodgy eye. My guess was that he was totally exhausted from battling the big seas over the last week, and was obviously separated from his mother. Having just been to the AFS centre on Kangaroo Island, I knew that they hunt for 2-3 days then climb up on their home beach for a big sleep of three days. This obviously wasn't his home beach, but maybe they can take a nap on any convenient beach if necessary. I left him undisturbed except for my snaps.

I also took the 450m walk out along the trail to the Wajurda headland, where there is a look out but not terribly exciting otherwise.

Then I went up the road another 2 km to Gillards Beach, which is 4 km in down dirt road. You can camp at this beach and was entirely empty. Miraculously, the sun came out bright and sunny and warm, so a nice long walk along the beach was a given.

After I had picked Judy up, we went back to check on my seal, who didn't look real good and so I made a call to the local WIRES people who promised to pass the message on to the Park Rangers asap.

We also went fishing down on the actual Tathra Wharf where Judy caught a tiny flathead in the face of stiff but fruitless competition from the Macho Mob, who caught nothing. Another woman came along and proceeded put them all to shame. Mind you the big winners were the Cormorants who were grabbing anything that was being thrown back fish-wise, goodness but they are fast!

Anyhow a couple of snaps: