Sanctuary Point was our very first stay as Jazz Nomads – although at the time we didn’t actually know that we would become Jazz Nomads – we were just intending to try out some different locations to live outside of Sydney. For this reason we were carrying a few things that may have been surplus to requirements – such as a cheese-making kit and a mint plant.

Our criteria for a six week stay was a washing machine, wifi, and full kitchen facilities. Our other requirement was that the weekly cost should be less than what we had been paying as rent + bills in Sydney. This requirement reduced the options somewhat – which is why we ended up south of Sydney instead of north of Sydney (where we had been looking to move).

The place that we eventually found was the lower part of a holiday home located about ten minutes drive from the ocean – but within walking distance of a large lake (St Georges Basin). The owners of the property were semi-retired and they came to stay in the top part of the house (self-contained with seperate entrance) every two weeks from Thursday through to Monday.

There was plenty of wildlife nearby (including a resident tawny frogmouth), and it was also very close to Booderee National Park. Pretty much every evening after work we went somewhere for a long walk as it wasn’t getting dark until around 8pm.

On most weekends we also managed to go out for day trips, and as well as Booderee National Park we went to Fitzroy Falls, the Beecroft Peninsula, Seven Mile Beach National Park, and on a special trip out to find some wombats.

On one extremely hot day of 40 degrees we drove along the shore of St Georges Basin to a few nearby suburbs, and then on to Sussex Inlet (opposite Bherwerre Beach) and Cudmirrah.