Jordans Crossing Gazette

“I love coming down here….. it reminds me of South Africa”. These were the words of a visiting lady who was brought up in South Africa until she was 16, when her parents brought her to Australia. After living in East Africa for many years, we agree with her! This is one of the reasons we fell in love with the Highlands. Does that sound strange? Do you think of Africa as being all hot and dry, or maybe jungles? Actually the highlands of Kenya, Tanzania and Ethiopia bear a strong resemblance to the Southern Highlands of NSW. No doubt the many eucalyptus trees in the African landscape, imported in the 1800s for timber and fuel, contribute to that feeling of familiarity. There is a place where I love to take our visiting African friends and we are never disappointed with their reactions. Just down the road from us, near Tallong, are Badgerys Lookout and Long Point Lookout. The views from each are quite breathtaking. There is a dramatic drop down to the Shoalhaven river below, which winds through patches of pine forest, sandy banks and rugged hills. Frequently we are the only people there. I simply stand looking down to the valley below and across to the hills opposite and think, “I wonder if anyone has ever walked on that patch of ground, or climbed on that rock?” For many of our visitors there is a great sense of peace because of the vastness and the sense of isolation, despite being so close to places where people live. Yet the only sounds are of wind and birdsong (and lately cicadas!). From both lookouts you can see across to the stone quarries at Bungonia and there are steep walks of approx. 3 km down to the Shoalhaven river. On the way to the lookouts you will see kangaroos by the score, and at the right time of day, wombats. If you are very lucky you might see a lyrebird, or possibly an echidna. You also pass a deer farm (depending on which way you go). We also take visitors for a walk Shoalhaven River from Long Point lookout Photos: Juanita Manahan Ethiopian Highlands between Addis Ababa and Awanno Reminders of other highlands through the Wingello forest, and they are fascinated by wombat holes! One visitor was the daughter of our American friends, living in Tanzania. She went for a walk by herself in the early evening and still wasn’t back by dark. Eventually we managed to make contact with her by mobile phone, and she apologised for worrying us. She hadn’t noticed how much time had passed while watching a wandering wombat. When we brought our Kenyan friends living in Sydney to the Highlands it was their first time being outside of the city…. how sad! It’s surprising just how many people who live in Sydney have never been this far south. How much they are missing! My husband Colin used to work in Sydney and sometimes he would bring one of his colleagues to the Highlands. As they left the suburbs they would say “We’ve never been this far south before” – and that was at Campbelltown! — Wendy Reed day breaks December 2017 28 jcg