I bought my first beaten up jalopy before I’d learned to drive – such is my love of hitting the road. By the time I had my P plates I knew my way around its V6 engine so well that I could practically repair it myself. Mind you cars were pretty simple when I was a teenager. You know, back when dinosaurs still roamed the earth.
In spite of my impressive mechanical skills my parents were mortified when, at age 17, I packed my car, my meager savings and a couple of pals and hit the road to discover Australia. They predicted I’d be out of money and back home in a week. They were only out by four months. And I came home with change!
Fast forward a few decades and my adventurous offspring have inherited their mother’s passion for the road so there’s plenty of cheering when I suggest we pack Terry-Lulu – the Ford Territory Titanium that we’re driving for the Voices of 2014 Paint the Town Ford Challenge – for a Jervis Bay family getaway.
Given the Territory Titanium’s boot is the size of a football pitch, the kids take us a little too literally when we tell them they can pack whatever they want. But, even with our luggage, esky, bikes, toys, kites, scooters, stuffed sharks (don’t ask), an arsenal of plastic weapons and enough musical instruments for us to tour with the Rolling Stones, there’s still loads of room left… so the kids suggest we buy a dog!
Terry-Lulu is only on loan and I’m not aware of any timeshare pet emporiums so, sans canine, we program the Ford’s easy to use navigation system, pop the iPod in the dock, stop any potential arguments about the temperature between my icicle loving husband and my warmth loving self by setting the dual-zone automatic air-con and hit the road for our weekend getaway.
To get a feel for a town we try to make the local markets our first stop and, as luck would have it, a monthly produce market is in full swing when we reach Huskisson. The tables of bursting ripe fruit and local delights, pretty pet parrots at a trinkets caravan, eccentric musos, oodles of great food and friendly people are a pretty good indication we’re going to like it here.
At pretty Greenwell Point we scoff luscious local oysters that are expertly shucked in front of us.
Sugarpuff balks at actually eating the moreish molluscs and instead, while we chat to the owners of Jim Wild’s Oyster Farm about the life cycle of their produce, sets up her own oyster shop. When we ask our little entrepreneur if we can buy one of her oysters she explains that they’re not going to be ready for another 2 years… but we can leave a deposit and come back to collect them then.
Whale Watching proves more fail than whale. It’s a little choppy on the water and besides one brief glimpse of a magnificent white tail, the only thing we see on the bumpy boat ride is people trialing the sick bags. We’re kindly offered the option of a repeat cruise another day but given that Raffles drops and kisses the ground when we get back to Husky, I’d say that’s unlikely.
At stunning Hyams Beach we lose the rest of the afternoon collecting shells and building palatial castles in sand that the Guinness Book of Records says is the whitest in the world.
Sunday morning I awake early. With cuppa in hand I take a leisurely stroll along Huskisson beach to watch the sunrise and find myself waxing philosophic with a pod of dolphins who’ve dropped by for a friendly frolic just metres from shore.
Sadly the rest of the family are still snoozing soundly and miss the magic moment.
It’s time to get the kids for the weekend’s main event. As always this mama wants to expose her children to the culture of the places we roam. In Jervis Bay that culture goes back several millennia so we’ve organised a hot date at the spectacular Booderee National Park with members of the Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community, the area’s indigenous custodians.
Booderee, is a word from the regional Dhurga language meaning ‘bay of plenty‘ and is a place of great significance for the local Indigenous people. The lovely Jenny Freeman and her son Clive of Galamban: Extraordinary Aboriginal Experience are here to tell us why and to share several lifetimes of knowledge passed on by an unbroken link of ancestors who lived here.
Jenny and Clive show us how to use plants to protect from mosquitoes and sunburn, make antiseptics and antibiotics and treat stings.
They make ropes from plant fibres, show us vines that can be woven into crab pots and explain how fish and plants react to the same weather changes and how they observe that. An awestruck Raffles rightly declares the Indigenous technologies genius. Sugarpuff? She’s mostly just enamoured with her pretty fern frond hat and callistemon hair brush.
Then it’s time for our favourite subject, food! We’re shown berries and leaves that are safe to eat straight from the bush, those that need heating and treating and those that should be avoided. Raffles tries lilly-pillys and native currants, seeds that taste like bubblegum and leaves that taste like snow peas.
While pretty parrots flutter by Raffles is shown how to use a long thin leaf to make a whistle that will attract snakes (if he should feel like one for breakfast) and told how certain leaves placed in streams can attract and temporarily stun fish by taking oxygen from the water – making them easy to trap and catch.
Before Raffles eats Jervis Bay out of National Park and we bid our farewells, my ever inquisitive son has one last curly question. “How did the first indigenous person get here?” Jenny shares an enchanting tale of how the land and the people were created by ancestral spirit brothers who took the form of wind and sea while my spellbound boy laps up every word. Beautiful.
This is the stuff that cannot be learned from a book or in a classroom. This is the stuff of lifelong memories.
On the drive home we make a quick pit stop at Nan Tien Temple, the largest Buddhist temple in the Southern Hemisphere, for tea and a moment or two of tranquility and contemplation before hitting the road in the fabulous Ford once more.
Just like the temple, the drive home in the Territory Titanium is whisper quiet as the kids are fixated on the car’s built-in DVD player watching Frozen. Again! But with the two clever wireless headphone sets that come with this magic mobile resting on their little heads I can’t hear a word. Well played Terry-Lulu, well played!
Thanks to Ford Australia and Kidspot, we’re delighted to be enjoying our adventures in a newFord Territory Titanium as part of the Voices of 2014 Paint the Town Ford Challenge. This is the last of the three posts we’ll be sharing on our adventures with the lovely Terry-Lulu (as the kids have dubbed the SUV). For more Painting the Town Ford you can read all about day tripping and urban adventures Territory Titanium style.
An award-winning travel writer and photographer, Aleney de Winter was fresh from school when she first set off to explore the far reaches of Australia with a two-man tent and a beaten-up Kingswood for company. Three decades, and two kids later, and she's still on the go, with her itchy-footed offspring in tow. 
Seana Smith
August 13, 2014 at 6:14 am (9 years ago)Gorgeous, gorgeous. You know that this is my fave part of the world, we’re down at Vincentia a lot… and you’ve captured the feel of the place very, very well, and packed a lot in. I took the twins to Booderee’s Visitor Centre recently but have never done the bush tucker tour – we must do it next time we’re down. Great that you caught the sunrise and that the dolphins came to salute you – such a feature of this pocket of perfection. Great pix and very well written – will share!
BOYEATSWORLD
August 15, 2014 at 8:09 pm (9 years ago)Thanks Seana. It is a special part of the world but the bushtucker tour with the lovely folk from Galamban was the absolute highlight x
acutlc
August 13, 2014 at 7:12 am (9 years ago)What a fantastic weekend trip
Haidee
August 13, 2014 at 8:05 am (9 years ago)Another fabulous family weekend adventure away with the Ford. What a lovely location, the beach looks like paradise!
Karen Gould
August 13, 2014 at 8:45 am (9 years ago)Just perfection! As always, I’m inspired.
BOYEATSWORLD
August 15, 2014 at 8:10 pm (9 years ago)Thanks Karen. Means a lot. x
Tabitha
August 13, 2014 at 9:27 am (9 years ago)Beautiful! We don’t own a car, and reading this makes me rethink our position – so many amazing road trips our family might miss out on. Glad you’re making the most of it!
Elisa G.
August 13, 2014 at 9:47 am (9 years ago)What a great thing sharing indigenous culture and knowledge with your kids is, you are one very cool mum.
Alison Carmichael - Rulten
August 13, 2014 at 10:26 am (9 years ago)Wonderful read and the video – with a little bit of editing just for time – would be the perfect ad for Ford. Love it!
BOYEATSWORLD
August 15, 2014 at 8:11 pm (9 years ago)Thanks Alison. Not sure Tarantino or Scorcese are exactly shaking in their boots but I tried. x
Cooker and a Looker
August 13, 2014 at 12:36 pm (9 years ago)Looks like a divine weekend Aleney. Nice work on the video production! xx
Kate
August 13, 2014 at 12:43 pm (9 years ago)Classic road trip! What a great weekend!
Lisa
August 13, 2014 at 1:10 pm (9 years ago)Love, love, love Jervis Bay.
Kay
August 13, 2014 at 3:24 pm (9 years ago)As always, a great adventure, beautifully described. I felt like I was there with you!
BOYEATSWORLD
August 15, 2014 at 8:11 pm (9 years ago)That’s so kind, Kay.
Louise Shergold-Baker
August 13, 2014 at 8:10 pm (9 years ago)I so want to be one of your children. Excellent vehicle for tripping and kids. Love the sound of duel temp. You have described so many cool features, we are going to go have a look at one this weekend. They are a really attractive looking car as well as so practical. Love your trip sounds so fun and I love the cool learning. Well done family… and Terry-Lulu.
BOYEATSWORLD
August 15, 2014 at 8:13 pm (9 years ago)I can’t speak highly enough of Terry-Lulu. We’re sold too.
Matt Baker
August 13, 2014 at 8:32 pm (9 years ago)Raffles and Sugarpuff seem to enjoy themselves
Pauline laight
August 13, 2014 at 9:58 pm (9 years ago)You made me want to go there to. The sand on the beach looked so white.
I think raffles and sugerpuff are going to miss lulu/terry!!
Colleen Hinch
August 14, 2014 at 6:06 am (9 years ago)What an awesome time!
Louise Barker
August 14, 2014 at 12:16 pm (9 years ago)Do all kids look this happy when driving in a car for hours? Lucky you had the FORD Titanium, Please keep this car forever, I want to come on one of your road trips……..
BOYEATSWORLD
August 15, 2014 at 8:13 pm (9 years ago)We’d love you to join us on one of our adventures lovely Lou
stephiemesh
August 14, 2014 at 2:25 pm (9 years ago)Nice work. Need to revisit these places and see them now through my child’s eyes. Thanks for the timely prompt!
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella
August 14, 2014 at 7:03 pm (9 years ago)What a fun adventure with Terry Lulu. You know I can see a lot of you in Sugarpuff’s cheeky grin! She’s adorable 🙂
BOYEATSWORLD
August 15, 2014 at 8:14 pm (9 years ago)I take full credit for her cheekiness, Lorraine
Lisa@RandomActsOfZen
August 15, 2014 at 10:29 am (9 years ago)What a beautiful adventure, Aleney! And look at the smiles on your gorgeous babies, they’re such happy little dolls xx
BOYEATSWORLD
August 15, 2014 at 8:04 pm (9 years ago)Happy children makes for a happy mum, Lisa
Jodie@Fresh Home Cook
August 15, 2014 at 12:13 pm (9 years ago)What an amazing little road trip! Love, love, love those beautiful little people of yours – such a pair of little stars – just beautiful. Great job on the video too – you are indeed a clever clogs! xx
BOYEATSWORLD
August 15, 2014 at 8:03 pm (9 years ago)Thanks Jodie. I kinda dig my gorgeous little people too.. 😉
Deborah Dickson-Smith
August 15, 2014 at 1:31 pm (9 years ago)I sympathise with Raff kissing the ground after the fail-whale trip. I’ve done a few whale watching trips with the kids – mostly unsuccessful and mostly involving sea-sick kids. I daren’t suggest it to them ever again in fact!
BOYEATSWORLD
August 15, 2014 at 8:02 pm (9 years ago)I think Raffles would punch me if I suggested a repeat performance. LOL
Emily @ Have A Laugh On Me
August 15, 2014 at 1:56 pm (9 years ago)This is awesome!! What an adventure they had, and so cool to know which plants and berries are edible, what a special gift they were given! x
BOYEATSWORLD
August 15, 2014 at 8:01 pm (9 years ago)Thanks Em, it really was very special and something I think all Aussie kids should do. x
Agnes Nielsen
August 16, 2014 at 4:50 pm (9 years ago)looks like you guys had an awesome time! Great article and I love the photos Aleney
Julie
August 16, 2014 at 6:17 pm (9 years ago)You know I could get lost in your blogs for an entire weekend. That you blogged about my favourite place just makes me very happy. But please stop telling people how wonderful it is, it’s already so hard to get accomodation there 🙂
BOYEATSWORLD
August 16, 2014 at 6:37 pm (9 years ago)Sorry Julie. Promise I’ll never mention it again 😉
Daria
August 18, 2014 at 2:25 am (9 years ago)What a fab weekend away! Do your kids get antsy on road trips? I’d love to do this getaway but I fear we would be making a million pitt stops!
BOYEATSWORLD
August 18, 2014 at 8:31 am (9 years ago)It’s doable with baby, Daria. I’ll post by top tips on travelling with a baby soon. 🙂
Lou
August 18, 2014 at 12:02 pm (9 years ago)Brilliantly entertaining read as ever! Fab photos too – Raffles, Sugarpuff and Terry-Lulu all ridiculously photogenic! Photos of you next time?!
nadiastennett
August 18, 2014 at 7:41 pm (9 years ago)WOW! Stunning photos! So want to do this trip now!
BOYEATSWORLD
August 18, 2014 at 7:50 pm (9 years ago)IT really is the most beautiful place. Well worth the drive 🙂
Kylie Purtell - A Study in Contradictions
August 19, 2014 at 10:28 pm (9 years ago)If it wasn’t for the fact that I would be disowned by my Father for buying and driving anything other than a Toyota, you totally had me at dual-zone air-con! That is the catalyst for many a road-trippin argument with Dave!
The Aboriginal Experience sounds amazing. I would love to do it and I know Dave would too. I am definitely bookmarking that so we can head down and do it once the girls are a little older (or at least until once Zee can walk!).
BOYEATSWORLD
August 20, 2014 at 7:57 pm (9 years ago)Thanks Kylie. The Territory Titanium is fantastic (I bet even your dad would love it!). I highly recommend every parent try an Aboriginal experience with the kids
Tegan Churchill
August 19, 2014 at 10:28 pm (9 years ago)I’m sitting here completely jealous right now! I don’t even know where to start. The oysters look delicious and that sand is just gorgeous. Your kids are adorable too!
BOYEATSWORLD
August 20, 2014 at 7:55 pm (9 years ago)Thanks Tegan. It’s such a special spot (and those oysters were the best!)
John Laight.
August 21, 2014 at 1:07 am (9 years ago)wow, just spectacular, and what a way to travel in style.
our next oversees trip must be to the wonderful world of Aus.
MrsDplus3
August 21, 2014 at 6:29 pm (9 years ago)I SO need to get to Jarvis Bay. It’s getting higher and higher on my places to go list!!