Moruya, NSW Australia

A name like One Tree Point Lookout must raise anyone’s curiousity, including mine. I was delighted to discover this lovely spot in Tuross Head, overlooking the ocean flanked by pristine beaches with a single tree at the end centre of it. It’s a great place to picnic under the shade of the tree while whale watching or dolphin spotting.

The waterways here are a true paradise for watersport enthusiasts. Tuross Head is on a headland between Tuross Lake to the south and Coila Lake to the north. As Tuross River meanders into Tuross Lake and toward the ocean, it develops a system of channels and backwaters that become the perfect playground for kayakers and anglers. 

I arrived in Moruya, situated on the banks of the Moruya River. It is a quiet town steeped in history, especially surrounding Granite Quarry, which was highly regarded for the quality of the granite. In the early 20th century, around 250 stonemasons from Australia, Scotland and Italy moved to Moruya, where they quarried over 173,000 blocks of granite to dress the pylons and piers of the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge. The quarry closed in 1932 after 7 years in operation. 

Today, Moruya is known for its weekly farmers market, where local producers offer fresh and locally grown and harvested goods. After buying some fresh veggies for my cheese, I took a gentle paddle on the river to observe birds frolicking. My highlight was the Australian pelican stretching its incredible wings. Primarily white, the pelican has black wings with a wingspan of up to 10ft (3m). It’s also known to have the longest bill of any bird in the world, with the longest on record measuring 20in (50cm). After a few cormorants, black swans (a native of Western Australia) in flight and a sunken sand barge, I wound up my day and headed for the local bakery, where I’m told that the lemon-filled doughnuts are a must-have. 

The next destination is the very popular Batemans Bay.

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