Sydney is an amazing city with many beautiful coastal walks – but it can get quite busy here. Just like in London at the time, I make sure to escape the city as often as I can – and it would almost be tragic not to, with all the beautiful getaways in close proximity. On my friend Marieke’s birthday, we hit the road to get down south to Killalea Reserve early December last year.
It only takes just under two hours to get from Sydney down to the beautiful beaches of the Killalea Reserve. I was keener than ever to get out of the city because the bush fires were causing a lot of smoke and I could not wait for a breather (pun intended). When we arrived late Friday evening, it was like a miracle to breathe fresh air again. I set up my little tent, which has seen many places with me over the years and that weekend, it had its first outing in Australia.
The next day started right off with perfect beach weather. The sun was burning down already at 10 am whilst we were having a hearty breakfast of cheesy eggs, spinach and avocado on toast, and we hit the beach right away.
The Farm
There are two beaches in the Killalea Reserve: The Farm and Mystic Beach. We headed towards The Farm as many people in the group love surfing and this beach has better surf than Mystic Beach. The beaches are just a short drive (it’s even in walking distance) from our campground, Killalea Reserve Holiday Park.
This campground is hands down one of the nicest commercial campgrounds I have ever seen. Campers have plenty of space around them and the campground is very large. It features toilets, showers and a large kitchen with dining area for groups. However, due to its’ size and layout, people don’t live in each other’s’ pockets as it can sometimes be the case with commercial campgrounds.
We spent the day lazing at the beach, playing volleyball and surfing. Up the hill from the beach is a little café, which is where we headed for lunch. The burgers at the place are highly commendable!
Mystic Beach
While the group headed back to The Farm the next day, I decided to explore the other beach in the reserve, namely Mystic Beach. It’s just a short walk outside of the campground heading north. When the road ends, some steep steps lead down to this stunning and much quieter beach. I just spent some time there enjoying the sound of the waves and the quietness – I was just one of a handful of people on this massive stretch that day. Then I headed back to join the group for a few more hours of beach bliss at the Farm.
