ET’s Kangaroo Valley Camping Adventure Words & Images by Andrew Ettingshausen
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s a child growing up, I always wanted to be a dairy farmer, and often set up my ‘toy farm’ on the lounge room floor. I’d have the farmhouse and sheds, with a good menagerie of chooks, ducks, sheep, horses, pigs and a herd of cows spread out across the floor. This fascination with a farmer’s life was built on my father’s upbringing in the beautiful southern NSW town of Kangaroo Valley. We would often go and visit my Grandparents there, and I loved heading out on the farms with dad as he did the rounds catching up with his old school mates. I loved this part of NSW, and whilst the relatives are no longer living there, I still get down a few times each year to enjoy this magical valley. Camping in the Valley is one of the highlights of the year, and setting up the Coleman campsite is still as much fun as ever. Instead of the big Coleman tent, which used to house the whole family, we now carry a few ‘Instant-Up’ 4-person tents and within seconds the campsite is ready to go. These tents are amazing! Gone is the worry of sorting out the gear and making sure you’ve got all the pegs and poles. It’s all contained within the Instant-Up and within a few minutes you’re putting the last of the tent pegs in the ground and setting up the rest of your camping gear.
From top to bottom: For more shade and protection I always add a Coleman Event 14 deluxe with sun wall and attach it to my main family tent | I always pack a fishing rod because most Australian rivers have great sportfish like this Aussie Bass | My favourite time, sitting around the campfire with family and friends 24 |
With dinner over, sitting around the fire at night watching “bush television” with your friends is one of the great things in life. We are fortunate to be able to camp on one of dad’s old school mate’s properties, right beside the Kangaroo River, which is another reason why I like to head down to the Valley. The fishing can be awesome off the bank or in a kayak as it’s home to a native Australian Bass. Bass love the crystal clear fresh water that runs off the escarpments through the creeks to the main river. The habitat is perfect with lots of fallen trees to call home and an abundance of frogs, grasshoppers and cicadas to feast on. Nowadays I’m showing my daughters’ boyfriends how to catch these hard fighting native fish and they’re loving the challenge! Of course, a visit to the dairy with my kids at milking time to watch our good friend and farmer Graham in action is always on the top of the list. The Valley is definitely one of my most favourite parts of the world.
GO CAMPING, FISHING & 4W D ADV ENTURES