Rugby World Cup Gerroa Camping News 2000-2001 News 2002

November 2003.

Rugby union wasn't a sport that I had much interest in before the World Cup. It looked brutal, what with huge men piling on top of each other in rucks, pushing and shoving each other in mauls and bulldozing each other in scrums. However, since Australia is hosting the 2003 Rugby World Cup I've really gotten into it. Actually, the violence is part of the attraction, so much so that it's actually put me off watching the round ball game. The most violent football got lately was the comparatively little on-field tiff between Arsenal and Manchester United!

Even though the Wallabies (the Australian national team) did quite well and got into the finals they aren't my favourites because I have a very soft spot for the New Zealand All Blacks, in particular their gorgeous fly-half Carlos Spencer who can thrill me to bits!

Since my company sponsor the Wallabies there were free tickets around and I managed to get a freebie to the playoff for 3rd and 4th place (a.k.a. the game no one wants to play). So although I was very depressed from the All Black's semi-final loss to Australia, I was still quite grateful to get the chance to see my beloved team and Carlos.

They didn't disappoint, scoring six tries to one over France in a 40-13 win.

Camping at Gerroa

January 2003.

My partner in the outdoors, Melanie, and I decided to try camping this year. We started 'small', camping at a caravan park next to the beach, but we made sure that it was a particularly scenic beach in Seven Mile Beach at Gerroa, 1 1/2 hours drive south of Sydney.

Despite the heavy rain and a leaky tent we had a really relaxing time. We sampled the Friday night action at nearby Berry, attempted to feed the birds at Greenpatch in Jervis Bay, relaxed for the afternoon in the coastal town of Huskisson. Had dinner at a great little cafe overlooking Werri Beach. And went crazy taking photos of the sunset (well, I did anyway).

Nearby Gerringong is a cute little place. It still has a 'sleepy seaside town' feel that its neighbour Kiama as certainly lost. It's also got the best golf course, surrounded by cow paddocks and overlooking the ocean. On the way home we drove over the hills via Carrington Falls (which thankfully was flowing after recent rains) and Robertson (where the film 'Babe' was apparently filmed. A great little weekend, even if we didn't get to swim.

See some pics of a previous visit to Gerroa and Kiama.