I woke up in my comfortable hostel bed at around 5 am. Today’s plan involved visiting Ninety Mile Beach in Victoria, Australia. Ever experienced that incredible feeling when you wake up in the middle of the night, glance at the clock, and realize it’s only 3 am when your alarm is set for 6 am? Well, I had that experience now, and with plenty of hours left to sleep, I happily turned over and slept in. Around 9 am, I woke up just before my alarm went off, enjoying the comfort and coziness of the place.
The best part was having the entire room at the Riviera Backpackers hostel to myself, although the space wasn’t necessary – my 30 kilograms of baggage was just 20 meters away, stored inside my car in front of the dormitory. I checked out of the hostel around 9.30 am and dropped the keys into the box next to the reception. The guy running this place seemed a bit surly, but it didn’t bother me; everything was excellent—a clean and tidy hostel. The kitchen was spacious, although I didn’t use it yesterday. I took some pictures of the surroundings and left.
Bairnsdale
Today, I departed from Lakes Entrance and headed towards Sale. Over the past few days, I tried googling information about Sale, but all I got were advertisements instead—quite annoying, haha.
Sale was a mere 80 kilometers away, but I decided to take my time. By around 10 am, I reached Bairnsdale, a town near Lakes Entrance, roughly 20 kilometers from Lakes Entrance. Pulling into a rest area called Howitt Park Playground, I enjoyed some bread and decided to pass the time with a TV show. “How I Met Your Mother,” my latest addiction, kept me entertained.
A few moments later, I took a stroll to explore the rest area. I noticed a hiking route called the Mitchell River Walk, but the weather seemed unreliable. In the end, I decided not to pursue it due to the weather. The hike would have taken me along the river and lasted about an hour, but I didn’t want to take the risk.
I simply crossed the bridge and took a brief stroll. It was pleasant but not particularly remarkable. After about 10 minutes, I headed back to the car – time to hit the road again.
Sale
Approximately one and a half hours later, I reached Sale. It was 1.30 pm when I entered the city center, and to my surprise, there were no Aussies in sight! The center had a charming ambiance, adorned with beautiful stone pavement and cozy small restaurants. Many shops were closed, but luckily, the mall remained open. I returned to my car and parked it in front of the mall, as I needed to visit Coles supermarket for some supplies.
Afterward, I visited McDonald’s for an early dinner around 4 pm. Unfortunately, the experience at McDonald’s was quite disappointing, and I regretted my choice. It was time to leave Sale and head down to the beach, where there was a free camping spot on the 90 Mile Beach. The 90 Mile Beach was a popular tourist spot for locals, and during this time of year, it wouldn’t be too crowded, increasing my chances for a camping spot. I was genuinely excited to explore the beach, and the camping spot I aimed for was called Paradise Beach – a unique and consequently popular section of the 90 Mile Beach. I arrived around 5.30 pm, just as the sun was setting.
Ninety Mile Beach
I captured some pictures on the beach and relished the moment. The gentle, fresh breeze and the scent of the silty water were invigorating. Sipping on a coke, I sat back and observed the waves crashing onto the shore. The solitude was serene, with only a few people scattered at the camping spot just behind the dunes. Experiencing these tranquil moments in nature was truly remarkable. I knew that soon I would find myself back in the hustle and bustle of another metropolis, far removed from such natural beauty. With each passing day, I was inching closer to Melbourne. The 90 Mile Beach, situated only 200 kilometers east of Melbourne, boasts a sandy stretch that extends for 90 miles along Victoria’s coast.
As the sun set, I retreated to my car and delved into my Game of Thrones book. Having thoroughly enjoyed the TV show, I recently became engrossed in the second book of the series. Despite having watched all three seasons, the allure of the books beckoned me. A friend had successfully persuaded me to give them a read, claiming they surpassed the show in storytelling.
Later in the evening, I indulged in a few episodes of How I Met Your Mother and caught up on some chapters of Game of Thrones. It’s fascinating how long my laptop battery can endure. Finally, I called it a night around 11 pm.
