I roused around 10 am with a mission to reach Cann River near Australia’s southern coast by the end of the day. Anticipating a dull and rainy day, my first order of business was to head to the library and charge my laptop. As I began my day, I planned to grab breakfast at the rest area. There, I struck up a conversation with a friendly Australian couple—a retired duo currently exploring Australia at a leisurely pace. With an abundance of time on their hands, we exchanged some Dutch words, discovering a shared connection as the man had previously been married to a Dutch woman. They shared stories of encountering many Dutch travelers throughout their journey in Australia.
Bad Weather
I invested a total of two hours at the library, patiently waiting for my laptop to reach a full charge. Despite the slow progress, I wasn’t bothered much, as the weather outside was dreary. The unfavorable weather had a dampening effect on my mood, especially considering the dismal conditions awaited me at my destination—the southern coast of Australia.
Later in the afternoon, I made a quick stop at the supermarket to grab some essentials before embarking on the approximately 100-kilometer drive to the coast. En route, a humorous interlude unfolded when I had to pause for a group of cows. Capturing the amusing event, I took a photograph to immortalize the unexpected encounter.
In certain stretches, the rain was pouring down heavily, significantly hampering visibility. Despite the challenging conditions, numerous drivers behind me persisted in tailgating, maintaining speeds of 110 kilometers per hour. However, I refrained from adopting such risky driving, particularly due to the presence of pothole-riddled roads. Unfortunately, as the waterlogged roads persisted, I found myself aquaplaning intermittently, especially when it became unavoidable to navigate through standing water.
Cann River
Arriving in Cann River in the evening, I continued charging my laptop until it reached 100%. While having a drink at the cafe, I grew restless and planned to watch some series at the rest area later. Despite the nightfall, I still had to cover another 15 kilometers to reach the rest stop.
Best Rest Stop near Cann River
I spent a total of 30 minutes at Relics cafe restaurant before leaving. Regrettably, as soon as I departed Cann River, the rain resumed, and this time it was more intense than any I had encountered throughout the day. The reduced visibility compelled me to slow down to 60 kilometers per hour on the winding road through a vast forest area. After fifteen minutes, I reached a rest area, specifically the McKenzie River Rainforest Walk. I parked the car and prepared for the night ahead.
Seated on the backseat of my car, I watched some series and worked on typing reports. By midnight, I decided to call it a night. Despite the eerie feeling of being in the middle of nowhere, it didn’t bother me much. I reassured myself that I had encountered far more unsettling rest areas during my time in New Zealand.
