I have just returned from Shoalhaven on the south coast of NSW, the weather was magic, fine sunny days around 22 degrees during the day, a great time to be out on the crystal clear blue waters of Jervis bay.
This area is world renowned for its white sandy beaches and clear blue waters, I was visiting Jervis Bay home to the Royal Australian Navel College, my Grandson Steven Vallance was graduating as a naval officer.
It’s a full on ceremony as the graduates show their skills on the parade ground, on this occasion the chief of Navy Vice Admiral Michael Noonan, AO, RAN was the reviewing officer, as he made his way around the new officers standing on parade he stopped at Steven’s position and asked him where he was from, Steven replied Shepparton Sir, the Vice Admiral replied so am I, it appears he grew up in Shepparton and still has rellies in Mooroopna (it’s a small world).
It’s currently the whale watching season through until November, we decided to go whale watching with Jervis Bay Wild, the company has many years’ experience with whale and dolphin tours. As we headed out into the bay I was talking with one of the staff on board, she asked me where I was from I said Shepparton, she said she was from Echuca and used to work on the paddle steamers, went on holiday here and stayed (it’s a small world).
Right now it’s the start of the whale watching session, as we made our way out into the big blue, there they were water spouts all around us as the whales exhaled, then some rose up as their bodies came to the surface and their tails rose out of the water before splashing down, it was amazing we saw 15 whales that day much more than I expected.
These majestic Humpback whales are on their northern migration where they will breed. On their southern migration, you will see mothers and their young calves taking time out in Jervis Bay before continuing their journey.
As well as the whales, the area is well known for its seal colonies and large numbers of Bottlenose dolphins. The bay is surrounded by towering sea cliffs of the Beecroft Peninsula, it’s quite spectacular, the sea cliffs have many caves to explore and a history that once saw guns mounted on the cliffs as defensive measures.
You could spend many days exploring the many beaches with their bright white silica sand and even in winter it was 22 degrees while I was there even warm enough to go splashing through the clear blue water.
I stayed at Huskisson or Husky as the locals call it, it’s a small village-like town, with an RSL club and a pub and plenty of places to dine overlooking the blue waters of Jervis Bay, yes the NSW South Coast has lots to offer.
Until next time,
Safe Travel’n,
Geoff Vallance.
