Environs of Ulladulla

A short exploration of our hotel indicated that we are not the sit around a plunge pool in deck chair with drink type. We used our room balcony to relax and investigate dinner. 

Our choice fell to The Italian Guild in Milton, a town a few minutes drive up the highway. It was offering sittings, not our favourite thing, but when we got there the place was large and buzzing- it clearly has a reputation that brings people from further than our drive. A friendly crew of what appeared to be backpacker girls were extremely busy as was the kitchen , owned by a youngish chap making conversation about his Milanese origin, and the supplies, including truffle derivatives he imports from home. We ate a simple shared bruschetta and pasta, 2 glasses each of  Italian wine therewith; all very high standard - we could have been in North Italy, even though there was an offering of Bolognese sauce for spaghetti, never done in Bologna. We were surprised to settle at the counter with no suggestion of a tip - yet all the girls and the owner cheerily farewelled us.

https://italianguild.com/fresh-summer-truffle-milano-to-milton/
Our morning was filled with a leisurely walk through the Ulladulla wildflower Reserve. 36 hectares of bush with short tracks.  It has been dry and so most of the special autumn flowers the Reserve info suggested we look out for did not show up for us, but we found plenty to snap, both large and tiny.

Identification is quite another thing. Those below are from phone; later additions from the camera may follow.

After lunch on the harbour lawn in Ulladulla we followed a path displaying and explaining  rock samples from all known geological periods affecting what is now known as Australia. The accompanying climate information expanded my understanding of climate change, as it seems the several warm and cool changes over the past millennia with varying oxygen, carbon dioxide levels and sea level rise and fall over up 180 metres,  dwarf the change the world is currently fussing about.

“The 500 million year Geological Time Walk on the north side of the harbour in Brodie Park, officially opened in December 2015. This Gondwana Coast Geological Time Walk is one of only seven time walks to be found in the world. (Click here to view the Walk Brochure PDF” This was for me new and useful.

Afterwards we descended to the small beach at the foot of the park which is currently claimed by a flock of pelicans.

Below : three we approached - others near road at the beach end too numerous to count and possibly being fed by humans above.