Holiday to Gerroa

This year has been full on. With everything that has gone on we haven't been able to have a holiday as a family since Christmas time. Yes, we did go to Hervey Bay in July, but that was for Boompa's funeral. It wasn't really a break for any of us. James and I were feeling the strain. We were being impatient with the kids, tired, emotional, frustrated. We both felt that we needed a break. We decided that we would take the kids out of school for a few days to head away and James found the perfect place at Gerroa. I haven't really done holidays down south so we kinda made it up as we went.

The weather wasn't great on the Thursday when we left so we took our time to head off. We packed the car that morning. James was keen to have a drive through the North Connex. Even though it was the wrong direction, we headed north to then go in the tunnel. It's a pretty cool tunnel. Nice to drive and no traffic. Didn't see any trucks either which was interesting. 

We decided to drive along the Sea Cliff Bridge for a bit of fun. We weren't in a rush to get there. It was pretty cool! The kids liked driving on it.

We stopped for lunch just after the bridge. We decided to go to a little cafe. The lady there was really lovely. Because of covid we had to sit down and weren't allowed to move around (not that we normally do). We each ordered our meal and she kindly brought them out for us. We asked her how she has been going with Covid and she said that this year had just been a write off. First the drought, then the fires, then the floods and then covid. She had stayed open when she could but it was because she was paying rent for the place. But really she wasn't making a profit each day. So heartbreaking to hear. I do hope that these holidays business picks up for her and that 2021 will be a different story. The kids loved having milk shakes as a treat!

We made it to Kiama in the late afternoon to see the blow hole. With it being a drizzly and windy day we were ready for quite a show. The kids didn't really know what to expect though because they hadn't heard about a blowhole before. They got so excited when the water blew.

Eliza and Alexander made a game of trying to jump up when the water blew up. They tried counting down but that didn't work because the waterhole went up at random times. They tried just guessing when it would blow. They then just waited until the water started going up. They had many giggles as they played.

Just look at the joy on their faces!

This was one of the times when they weren't quite getting the timing right. The giggles from them were the cutest!

Daniel enjoyed watching it and watching the waves come into the rocks.

Eliza and Alexander didn't get tired of the blowhole. So much excitement!

Alexander made himself comfortable to watch

We went for a walk up to the light house to have a look. It was interesting reading the sign about the blowhole and how it had formed.

Eliza wanted to look over the other side of the cliff. As we went over Alexander ran to keep up with us. Of course with it being wet and slippery he fell over and got quite upset. He had scraped his knee pretty well, poor guy. I was a bit frustrated because he slipped just as I said 'Don't run or you will fall'. He eventually settled down and we were able to put some bandaids on his knee to help.

The blowhole was a success, but very windy!

We then went for a little adventure to find the Little Blowhole. James hadn't heard about it before so was interested in going. I have very fun memories of us going to see it when I was little. It's so much cooler because you can be closer to the action and it didn't disappoint!

James decided that he would go down for a closer look. The kids loved watching him get sprayed by the water.

The kids were keen to go down too which I was a bit nervous about. We'd already had one fall because of the rocks being slippery and wet, I didn't want another one, especially next to the water but James thought that they would be fine. I'm so glad that he did. I think this was my favourite moment from our trip!

The pure joy was just so special!

Just look at those faces!

Really glad that we went here and we will definitely go back again to visit it.

We made it to our accomodation and James did a wonderful job of finding a great place that was large enough for us all, had a beautiful view and was close to the beach. It was rainy and overcast so the view wasn't the nicest when we arrived but we knew it would have potential. This is the view from the dining room. 

The other great thing about this place was that they had lots of activities for the kids - board games, toys, DVDs, even a table tennis table down in the garage. 

For the first night Alexander had his own room, Eliza slept in a double bed under Daniel who slept up the top of that bunk. The down side was that every time Daniel moved James and I heard the bed squeak and creak. It was so noisy through the night. So he moved downstairs to his own bed and we slept much better.

While we were away it took me a while to settle and enjoy the time. I felt anxious and found it hard to wind down. I think I have been going so much this year and thinking of what to do and back up plans, I just wasn't ready to stop. I also found that because we haven't really holidayed down south, I didn't really know what we would do to fill in our time. The kids were very hypo being in a new place, with different toys and places to run round. We needed to get out but I didn't know what we could do. When we holiday I like to plan. I like to know options and we just hadn't thought about what to do besides just getting away as a family. James was good in listening and helped me to take a breath and just try and go with the flow. And we used the internet to give us ideas of where to go and who to do to fill our time. Ideally I'd have loved to sit on the deck and read a book while listening to the beach but holidays with kids don't really allow that at the moment.

The morning we woke up with he sun shining which was great! The view was pretty amazing.

We decided to head to the Illawarra Fly Treetop Adventures. When we were in Tasmania we loved walking in the treetops so thought it would be a fun thing to do. We also noticed that they had a Gruffalo Spotters Trail which the kids were keen to do. It took a few goes for us to work it out but we got there. The videos gave instructions for the kids to do and then that would help make the Gruffalo characters do different actions. Fun to watch back.

They had a little fairy garden that we explored. Eliza's favourite fairy house was the rainbow one.

We found mouse just next to the fairy garden. This was our first go of trying to work out how to use the phone to follow the instructions. I didn't get it fully right. But the kids were able to wave hi to mouse.

We continued down the track and I really enjoyed the peace and the prettiness of the bush. Well, as much peace as you can have with the kids walking along with you.

We found Fox's log that he was having a nice sleep on. The kids rudely woke him up.

Just before we started the treetop walk we also found owl. He was enjoying his time perched on the stump but then enjoyed a nice fly through the sky. Alexander wanted to do his own video with the owl.

We then headed up into the treetops. James and I loved it! Daniel seemed to enjoy it and liked leading us. Eliza and Alexander were a bit nervous about being up in the sky so were a bit clingy. I do hope that they aren't scared of heights because it's so much fun to do things up high. Still they did the walk, did enjoy different parts of it and were glad to be on the ground again at the end.

Starting the walk

Spot the kids up in the tree tops

My 3 sweet kids

We tried to redo the photo of Daniel and Eliza in Tasmania. It is one of our favourite photos, just so sweet. They didn't do too badly (eventually). It did take a few goes and reminding them that they do like each other.

Alexander didn't want to miss out

Treetops selfie

Another family was behind us and asked if we wanted a photo taken of us all.

I liked the tree fallen

Off we go again

Heading up the tower

Stunning view!

I love seeing the layers of the forest

With my girl

So fun doing another adventure with James

Towards the end of the treetop walk the kids started to complain that they were hungry. We told them we'd stop and eat once we made it to the end. As soon as we had finished we had to stop to eat (of course).

My sweet boys

Once our tummies were full we continued on our way to find the snake. Eliza and Daniel enjoyed dancing with snake and made him quite dizzy. By now the kids were getting pretty good at spotting where the animal would be making the video look a bit more realistic. Alexander didn't want to dance with snake, he just wanted to find the Gruffalo.

I love Eliza's pose here!

Eliza did well to look right at the snake!

Daniel flossing with snake

We continued down the path, the kids had a few nice photos next to trees on our way to find the Gruffalo

And then we found him... well, the sign was actually on the ground and quite dirty (probably after the rain). Daniel decided to pick it up and try and brush it off. It worked! We hung it back up as best as we could and then each kid had a turn scarring the Gruffalo before he ate the mouse. They loved roaring at him.

 

I then had all of them do one together.

This was their favourite one by far. To leave we had to go through the gift shop. This was a bad idea. Daniel saw the Gruffalo and really wanted to get it. I said no, James paused and said that he could get it. Of course this lead to the other 2 wanting one. James said no but I felt this wasn't very fair. I suggested that we get the Gruffalo as a family toy. He agreed this was a good idea. Then Alexander really wanted snake and just couldn't understand why we were getting Gruffalo and not snake. We tried saying no. Then decided that the kids could each pay half of it and we'd pay the rest. So we ended up leaving with Gruffalo for Daddy and I, Owl for Eliza, Snake for Alexander and Fox for Daniel. They were pretty cute toys. (James then found Mouse online so bought it to complete the collection).

We headed back to our place for a late lunch. Another thing that we loved about this place was the egg seat out the back.

We then got ready for an afternoon trip to the beach. The sun was shining, the kids had found a beach cricket set and off we went. For me the water was way too cold to go into but it really didn't faze the kids. It was an easy walk down the hill (a bit of a pain on the way back but the kids did pretty well and didn't complain too much). First stop was some beach cricket.

Eliza lost interest in cricket pretty quickly so decided to make sand angels instead. She just loves the sand!

While the water was really cold, the kids had a blast running into it and out of it. They build sandcastles and walls to try and stop the water coming in.

This was as far as I got into the water.

We found a pipi

No idea why, but shadow fun

We enjoyed reading the Gruffalo's Child at our place. Daniel really enjoyed acting it our with our new toys. Pretty cute to watch.

We got to see a lovely sunset from our place. Daniel was keen to enjoy it with me for a bit.

The next day we went to do the Minnamurra Rainforest Walk. I saw that they had some rope bridges which was fun and a pretty waterfall at the end so we decided to give it a go.

The rope bridges were lots of fun to walk over! And the rainforest was just stunning. I am always amazed at the design of the rainforest.

The walk to the waterfall was straightforward but it was steep. The kids did find it tricky and we stopped along the way for drinks and some food but we managed to make it and it was worth the walk. The kids agreed too.

The blue sky even came out

We then started the walk back to the car. The kids again found the uphill part tricky but they enjoyed the downhill back. I tried to soak up the lovely scenery.

I found an Eliza tree

The trees are so tall!

She loved to spot the vines as we walked along

That afternoon the kids were keen to head to the beach again. It was quite windy so we told the kids that they wouldn't swim but we could go for a walk along the beach. When we got there there was so much sea foam. They wouldn't have been swimming even if we planned to!

The kids started with running after the bits of sea foam on the sand.

With a quick google search to understand what sea foam is and to see that it was fully safe, the kids moved to walking in the sea foam.

Alexander wasn't too keen to walk in it to start with but he got there in the end and joined the other 2 walking and running along the sea foam.

Look at the joy on their faces!

Our foamy feet!

Walking back James thought it would be ok to go a bit into the water. The kids didn't quite understand what a bit was. They didn't get too wet but it got close at times.

I love this photo! The look of love, trust, safety from a girl with her Daddy

Once we got back we set up the table tennis table for the kids and I managed to have a moment of peace to sit outside and read my book. It wasn't too long before the kids kindly interrupted but it was nice to have a few moments to myself.

The next morning we headed back down to the beach. James had managed to get this place that also allowed a late checkout, so instead of needing to leave at 10am we didn't have to check out until 4pm! This meant that in the morning we could head down to the beach, then come back to clean up before heading off. The kids were so cute holding hands (by choice) as they walked down to the water. I mentioned to James that this was why we needed the time away. The kids have been a bit short and impatient and unkind to each other. This time away they have been able to remember care, love and kindness towards each other. Not always, but more often.

Because it was low tide we walked across the water instead of across the bridge (it was quite high when we went back though. We just made it through)

The kids had a blast playing in the water but it was colder this time. Daniel didn't last too long. But it was nice to have one last trip to the beach.

We got warm by having showers back at our place, packed up the house and hopped into the car. James found a really good fish and chips shop that we went to, and then we headed to a small beach to enjoy it in the shade.

We then headed home via Berry. We had told the kids that we would get ice cream at some point but we just ran out of time or there weren't ice cream shops where we were. The other time we had gone out for dinner and were too full to enjoy ice cream too. So Berry was the place for us to go. We found the ice cream and lolly shop and had to join the line. They were only letting in a certain number of people because of Covid, but the kids did pretty well with waiting. We each chose our flavours and then we found a seat to enjoy our ice cream. This was Alexander's first time choosing which flavour he wanted (normally in Hervey Bay he has had vanilla). He chose strawberry.

Happy kiddo

The man who owns or works at the bead shop looked out his window to us and signed that it was a nice photo. I just laughed and gave a thumbs up. As we finished our ice creams he came out and said it was too good a photo to not take so took one for us.

We returned using the tunnel the other way just so we could say we had been in it.

When we got home my beautiful friend Anna brought around some dinner for us (wraps with chicken and veggies) to make out own ones. Brilliant idea! She was also amazing and brought some fruit for the kids to have for lunch, morning tea muffins and yoghurt and poppas. Amazing! We really appreciated that we didn't have to rush out to the shops to get anything that night and instead could unpack and then just relax, because let's face it holidays with kids are more tiring than staying home a lot of the time and you feel you need a holiday from the holiday).

It was a much needed time away for us, time to be away from home, time to have fun and go on adventures together. It was nice for James and I to pause and be away from home and be able to chat while the kids swam and when they slept. It was nice to do some new activities. It was nice to be outside in the fresh air together as we walked along the beach. It was nice to see the kids getting along with each other. Gerroa we think we will be back in the future.