I'm going to litter this post with some piccies to whet appetites:
Jimi wrote:The original plan was to go via the National Park, but there was little incentive in the wet and cold, so we took the freeway to Albion Park, then the Illawarra Hwy to Robertson.
No WONDER you got up there so early, i was just heading off to breakfast when you passed me.
Jimi wrote:From Robertson, took a slight back road to Kangaroo Valley, then on to Nowra.
That slight back road out of Robertson is my 'street'. Popular route with bikes on the weekend. Here i am taking my old crew along there:
I love the descent down into Kangaroo Valley from Fitzroy Falls nearly as much as Macquarie Pass. At 7am in the morning, bit of fog...brilliant.
Jimi wrote:I think Huskison is a bit far, and there's not much in Nowra that I know of... Any suggestions? CoffeeBoss?
Well, it depends upon your ETA at Robertson, considering you will be going through the Nasho. Normally an early departure from Loftus, via the Nasho puts you in Robertson around lunch time, which means you eat in Robertson or Burrawang, or down in Kangaroo Valley. To be honest, there's no single place that springs to mind that supports large groups. The options that i can see are:
1.
Burrawang Pub + Cafe - they are adjacent to each other on Hoddle Street, both serve excellent food, but both usually quite packed out on weekends. Frequented by other enthusiasts as well!
2.
Lunch in Kangaroo Valley - you could descend on the township there for lunch, there are quite a few cafes and the pub, all very close together. Plenty of parking next to the pub and nursery.
3.
Lunch In Berri - Proceed through Kangaroo Valley township, turn right (or go the longer way over Mt Camberrwarra and double back down the Princes Hwy) and finish in Berri. Again, lots of little cafes dotted along the main street (The Emporium is quite good), parking can be quite scattered on weekends though.
As a rule of thumb, it's likely to be coldest up on the escarpment (Robertson/Burrawang), cool in the valley, warmer at Berri which is on the coast. For my money, Kangaroo Valley is probably the best option logistically (easiest place to park), plenty of eating options all close together so you can say "meet back here in an hour", and gives people a few different options for heading home (via Higlands/M5, via Jamberoo or Maq Pass/Princes Hwy, via Berri/Princes Hwy or via Mt Camberwarra (good lookout!)/Princes Hwy).
Matt