I will probably receive a bit of flak for this next statement but I find driving in Australia to be totally boring. I would much rather fly between centres and hire a car locally to drive out to interesting places.

So after a fairly long drive I have had enough of being behind the wheel so we decide to stop and take a pit stop at the Cheese Factory in Bega.  Val is a connoisseur of cheese was quite happy at the prospect of cheese tasting and he is also happy that we are supporting local products as Bega cheese is 100% Australian owned.

The loos are named ‘cows’ and ‘bulls’ which tickled the fancy of a group of seniors on a bus tour through the area.

It was fascinating seeing the old implements that were used to make cheese when the factory was started in 1900.  They have certainly come a long way as the factory is now almost fully automated.

After we had finished strolling through the museum and looking at the old milking and cheese making artifacts we headed down to the cafeteria to try the different varieties of cheese. I settled on a very smooth local cheese  named ‘Kameruka’. Bega began manufacturing this particular cheese in 1971 and I found it to have a nice texture and flavor.

Val liked the ‘Old and Bitey’ (and smelly like old worn socks). This cheese is too tart for my taste. 

If you are passing through Bega then take some time out to have a coffee  and check out the museum, the really informative video and the cheese tasting area.  It is well worth a visit.

I was taken with some pictures that are completely made from varying types of seeds. Some people are just so talented.

After we left Braidwood we drove straight on through to Bega.  Usually we stop at Batemans Bay but with a 4 hour journey ahead of us we decided to carry on through.

Batemans Bay is the largest town on the coast south of Nowra, it has a small town atmosphere with attractions and facilities for tourists of all ages. It is a popular getaway destination for residents of Canberra who head of in droves during the holiday season, to experience the coastal lifestyle.
While you are visiting make sure you try the local seafood. As an oyster lover I can thoroughly recommend the delicious Clyde River oysters.
Take the kids and check out the gentle shallow waters or for head off to the great surf beaches if you so desire.
Not far from Batemans bay is the historic township of Mogo. It is only a 5 minute drive south of the bay. You will find a wide variety of craft and antique items in the village, or visit the dinosaur museum, the zoo or even pan for gold in the traditional pioneer way.

Although Lieutenant James Cook discovered the expansive waterway at the mouth of the Clyde River on his voyage of discovery along this coast in 1770, the township of Batemans Bay wasn’t established until well into the 19th century.

We stopped at the Braidwood Deli for a sandwich and cup of tea.

Braidwood is approx 300 klms from Sydney and is a lovely old style, heritage listed town has many examples of 19th century architecture.

There are a number of beautiful churches, old time pubs, restaurants, galleries, craft and antique shops, all operating in restored old buildings which been in existence since the days of the Gold Rush

On Monday, Val and I headed off down to Eden. My daughter had been talking to us over the weekend, about this former whaling town. So we decided to go and have a look and check out other places of interest on the way.

After some discussion on the best way too go, I relented and let the MOTH (man of the house) have his way, which of course turned out to be the long way, but there you go.

The first place of interest is the village of Bungendore which is only a thirty minute drive from Canberra.

The area was once occupied by the Ngarigu people and the first Europeans to visit the area are believed to have been part of team of exploratory team of Charles Throsby. Although Throsby is not as well known as other Australian explorers he was influential in opening up the country beyond the Blue Mountains.

A stock station was set up by Captain Richard Brooks set Turallo Creek in 1824 and the Bungendore village was established around 1835. The town began receiving mail in 1836 when it was included in the Queanbyan mail route. Bungendore was proclaimed as a townsite in 1837 and in 1838 a jail lock-up and the Harp Inn were built, two factors that cement the establishement of Australian towns.

There are a number of specialty shops such as craft and antiques, and quaint old stone, brick and timber buildings. Bungendore is a crossroads which links Goulburn, Braidwood, Queanbeyan, Canberra and Cooma. It is located 701 m above sea-level in a beautiful valley near Lake George.

So if you are driving through the area make sure you stop for coffee and good look around. Bungendore is 265 km south-west of Sydney and 26 km north-east of Queanbeyan.