Buchan, Bally Hooley and Corringle Slips

Hello all
Just for something different I have been away again...............I had planned to head to Wilsons Promontory but it was still booked solid, so a backup plan was needed...........
I headed to Buchan Caves Reserve, a beautiful campground (expensive as all Victorian DSE Parks are)
$27.90 for one night is a bit rich for a campground, a good caravan park with all facilities aren't much more expensive.
Unfortunately I was not aware the Canni Creek Bush Races were on nearby and a lovely camp was ruined by loud drunk ferals carrying on till all hours.
The DSE (Department of Scorched Earth) lady in the office recommended I visit Bally Hooley, the junction of the Snowy and Buchan Rivers. The area was lovely, although the Snowy was very dirty thanks to heavy thunderstorms a day or two prior. The campground was average and a fair way from the river.

The Snowy at Bally Hooley

an old shed near Bally Hooley

 I headed off to spend a night at Lakes Entrance amongst the hordes of people. I stayed at Eastern Beach Caravan Park which was very nicely presented.

Lakes Entrance

Gippsland Lakes

 After Lakes I headed to Corringle Slips, a place I found on the Independant Camping website. http://ozcamps.net/index.php?option=com_wrapper&view=wrapper&Itemid=29
This is a great place, especially if you are a fisherman, it has good campsites, good clean longdrops, rainwater supplied, 3G mobile coverage, and being directly across the Snowy River from Marlo at the mouth of the Snowy full TV reception (no power 12v TV only). the only negative was if you went to the beach it was a long hot slog over the sandunes, but once there you had the beach to yourself.

Boardwalk at Corringle Slips (Marlo in the background)

Pellican at Corringle Slips

the beach to yourself

The Slips

 Corringle was used as a dock and slipyard for the settlement of the Orbost area in the early days and was a bustling small port many years ago.

my camp at Corringle Slips

Marlo across the water

The next morning I woke at sunup, so grabbed the camera and went for a walk, It was beautiful looking over the water in the early morning light. Unfortunately I was still half asleep and didn't realise the noise I could hear was a dolphin frolicking in the lake until it was too far away for a photo.

Corringle Slips

Across Lake Corringle towards Marlo

1.5 metre red bellied black snake

 There is about 15k of gravel road out to Numerella and I had to stop at one stage to let some wildlife cross. A red bellied blacksnake.
I drove up to the highway bridge and headed down the other side of the river to Marlo.

where the Snowy meets the sea

While I was in the area I had a look at Cape Conran and Banksia Bluff Campground, both places I thought were fairly average, but then again maybe I have been spoiled and my expectations are high.
The fire situation in Victoria is severely restricting places to go and with the high country out of bounds people are flocking to the coastal areas.
With the weather only reliable until Aprilish I hope to include Mansfield area (fires) Licola (fires) Wilsons Promontory and the Great Ocean Road while the warm weather hold out.

until then.................