{"id":6637,"date":"2014-12-09T06:12:20","date_gmt":"2014-12-09T06:12:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/soundslikewish.wordpress.com\/?p=6637"},"modified":"2014-12-09T06:12:20","modified_gmt":"2014-12-09T06:12:20","slug":"one-trip-every-month-december","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/soundslikewish.org\/?p=6637","title":{"rendered":"One trip EVERY month: December"},"content":{"rendered":"

It’s early days in December, but I’ve already taken a trip!\u00a0 Jervis Bay was the destination.<\/p>\n

A friend who has a beach house there (and who loves the bay for its small population) says it’s a really awful place;\u00a0 she tells everyone not to go there.\u00a0 Of course, no one takes her advice.\u00a0 Jervis Bay has a number of isolated beaches, clean and white, with turquoise waters and plenty of fun water activities.\u00a0 It’s not awful, it’s awesome!\u00a0 See if you agree.<\/p>\n

\"Huskisson,
Huskisson, Jervis Bay NSW<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Huskisson is at about the centre of the bay shore and is the central shopping area, though there’s not a lot except caf\u00e9s and restaurants, swimwear and souvenir shops.\u00a0 Across the street from the shops is this green landscaped park that slopes down to the water.\u00a0 I sat in the shade of the trees, staring out to sea, wishing it was my back yard.<\/p>\n

\"Hole
Hole in the Wall, Jervis Bay, Booderee National Park<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Hole in the Wall is the name of this spot in the National Park at Jervis Bay.\u00a0 The rock is composed of sand grains solidly stuck together.\u00a0 As I sat in the gap rubbing at the sand walls I had a sense of reshaping nature, brushing the grains off the rock as easily as I brush them from my toes.\u00a0 Yet it’s strong enough to climb on, which my son did, declaring himself champion of the wall.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Cudmirrah Beach, Sussex Inlet<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The water in the bay is calm with small waves, but down around the southern peninsula, on the ocean side at Sussex Inlet, the waves are surfable.\u00a0 If you look closely you’ll see my son waiting for a wave.<\/p>\n

\"Boom
Boom net behind Port Venture boat<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

He enjoyed a number of water activities, especially lying in the boom net as it was dragged behind the tour boat.<\/p>\n

\"Kayaking,
Kayaking, Jervis Bay<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

…and the more peaceful pleasure of kayaking with his dad.<\/p>\n

\"Dolphins,
Dolphins, Jervis Bay<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In the tour boat we were on dolphin watch, and we saw plenty, swimming around and under the boat and even riding the wash.\u00a0 The dolphins are free to swim wherever they like and easily cover the whole bay, which I’ve read is 124 square kilometres in size.\u00a0 Huge.\u00a0 Many times larger than Sydney Harbour.\u00a0 The dolphins are never fed by humans or made to entertain us in any way, unlike dolphins in marine theme parks.\u00a0 The captain announced his firm belief that dolphins should not be kept in captivity, and I can see why he’s so passionate about it.\u00a0 He frequently stopped the boat so we could watch them swimming and leaping out of the water for a synchronised breath.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Cliffs, Beecroft Peninsula, Jervis Bay<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

At the mouth of the bay, cliffs rise from a turquoise sea, their vertical faces and horizontal layers tempting the captain to pull in closer so we can marvel at the geology.\u00a0 At the base of the cliffs are large cavernous tunnels, magnets for divers.\u00a0 Here’s one where you can swim in one doorway and out another.<\/p>\n

\"Keep
Keep clear 5NM – live firing, Honeymoon Bay NSW<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If you don’t like deep water diving you could try a shore dive at Honeymoon Bay (a bay within the bay), but not when this red sign has been planted in the sand:\u00a0 ‘Range is active.\u00a0 Live firing.\u00a0 Do not land’ …\u00a0 Much of the Beecroft Peninsula is occupied by the Royal Australian Navy and is regularly (but not during school holidays) used for weapons training.\u00a0 Of course, the kangaroos can’t read, so they’re oblivious to the danger as they lie back on the beach.\u00a0 Zoom in and you’ll see one taking it easy on the soft sand.<\/p>\n