Mini Lap Part 2 - SSC to Mildura via NSW & VIC

A journey within a journey. From Sunshine Coast/Brisbane to Mildura via Stanthorpe, central NSW, Ballarat, Bellarine Peninsular (for a nephew's wedding) Great Ocean Road, Warrnambool, Port Fairy, The Grampians, Horsham, Warracknabeal, Silo Trail and finally back to Mildura to continue our Murray River journey.

Stanthorpe

18th January 2018

First stop - Pyramids Road Wines for a visit with Sue & Warren Smith. It is always so great to see these guys and wander around the vineyard.

Pretty good camp site!

Warren hard at work in the vines.

Luscious grapes ripening to be made into delectable tipples.

Back into NSW.

Coolah
19th - 21st January 2018

This was a wonderful visit with Lyn and Tony. Great buddies that used to live on the Sunshine Coast. Coolah is a lovely little town just north west of Mudgee.

The town is a service centre for the surrounding rich Liverpool Plains which are noted for their grain crops, cattle, mixed farming, lucerne and hay, fat lambs and wool. The main attraction in the area is Coolah Tops National Park - a little known, but impressive, destination for bushwalkers, cyclists and campers. It is a parkland noted for its waterfalls, its 120 species of birds, its wallabies, and its nocturnal possum known as the 'greater glider'.

There was plenty of laughs and catching up with these guys.

Dez and 'Chooky' worked together for many years.

Loads of birds in the yard.

We took a scenic drive up to Coolah Tops National Park.

Spectacular views.

Holiday shots.

So we've been to the 'Back of Bourke' and now we've been 'Beyond The Black Stump'.

"The Black Stump Run is described in the Government Gazette of 19th June 1850, as an area estimated at 16,000 acres with grazing capacities of 640 cattle. It was bounded by the Coolah Range on the south, on the north by the (Binnaway) road leading to the big river (the Castlereagh). Governor Darling’s proclamation of Limits of Settlement meant that no-one was to go beyond the Black Stump Run." Beyond the black stump came to mean "country beyond the reach of civilised comforts and facilities."

The Stump!

Mudgee

21st January 2018

Mudgee is a beautiful town. However, the summer heat was well and truly upon us. 40 degrees! We had planned to stay at a free camp just out of town, but instead headed for the Mudgee Showgrounds and 240 volt power to give the aircon a work out! Bloody marvellous. Loving the Penthouse.

Plenty of space, and cool, cool air!

A wander around the town.

This park was so lush.

Plenty of beautiful old churches and buildings.

And lunch!!! No shortage of cafes to choose from.

After an 'interesting' night at a roadside stop complete with trains all night on one side and a sprinkler system that came on at 2.00 am in the morning and doused the van for 3 hours, we headed to Junee for coffee and a visit to Junee chocolate!!!

Junee
23rd January 2018

Junee Chocolate Factory was a wonderful surprise find. Housed in an old flour mill, it was filled with yummy handmade treats and....coffeeeee!

Some great memorabilia.

Quirky.

The old flour mill building.

Polishing the chocolate licorice bullets.

I love these rustic, heritage buildings. So much character.

After a reviving coffee and laden with chockie treats, back in the car to the aircon. Still 40 degree temps.

Picnic stop lunch at Jerilderie.

We have been through this town a few times, and always love to stop at the lake.

Not too much further down the road and a stop at another favourite town - Tocumwal. Still a scorching day so a plunge and float in the Murray River. Heaven. Dezzi even went in up to his knees!

Floating heaven.

Greens Lake - Corop
23rd - 25th January 2018

Greens Lake is just south of Kyabram in northern Victoria. An absolute gem of a free camp when the mercury is hitting 38 - 40 degrees. We had two nights here literally on the banks of the lake. Most of my hours were spent floating in the water. Aahhh - love it!

Cooling off heaven.

Fantastic camp.

From Corop to Ballarat via a very scenic drive through Heathcote and Kyneton. Yet another wine region. No stopping today though.

Millbrook (Ballarat)

25th - 26th January 2018

Millbrook is on the outskirts of Ballarat and the home of Dezziz most wonderful Auntie Sheila and Uncle Tom. We are always welcomed with open arms and made to feel so at home. They are an absolute delight, and Auntie Sheila is a mine of family history.

Camped up out the front.

There is something very comforting about a country kitchen. A heart warming night with these wonderful people.

A foggy start to the day.

Barwon Heads (Bellarine Peninsular)

26th January - 2nd February 2018

Having never explored this area of the coast, just south of Geelong, we are keen to get about. However, the main focus for visiting this area was the wedding of our nephew - Curtis Young - to the beautiful Chelsey.

We arrived the day before the wedding, which was Australia Day. Appropriate attire had to be donned.

Young Harland, our grandson, made this hat especially for Poppi before we left. Stunning!

The annual wearing of my fabulous tea towel dress!

A pre-wedding gathering was held at the Flying Brick Cider Co. A great, relaxed event for people to catch up before the big day. Very exciting getting together with family and friends rarely seen.

Curtis (groom) and Peter (Dad) enjoying the relaxed atmosphere.

The wedding was held at The Barn, Wallington. A gorgeous bush setting. Hot, sunny day. So much love and happiness in the air. who doesn't love a good wedding!

Here comes the bride - and her father. A picture of loveliness.

Wedding vow humour.

Beautiful family photo of Peter and Cathy with their son and daughter-in-law. Peter is Dezziz brother.

All the Youngs.

All glammed up guests.

Adele and I. We went to high school together! A bit of catching up!

And the stunning happy couple. Such a fun wedding.

Barwon Heads sits at the mouth of the Barwon River, and the caravan park overlooks the bay. Fabulous spot for a daily walk.

Looking back towards the caravan park and Jetty Restaurant from the bridge.

The Jetty Restaurant. Who doesn't love an outlook like this.

Soaking up the ambience, and a drink or two with lunch.

Looking over the caravan park from the headland.

Another wonderful family re-union with Dezziz cousin John and his lovely wife Cynthia. We worked out it had been over 36 years since we last saw each other! So good to see them and have great conversation and plenty of laughs.

Portarlington and Queenscliffe are another couple of towns on the Bellarine Peninsular - so off for a day excursion to these sleepy beachside towns.

Portarlington jetty on a dreary day.

Portarlington is a very popular fishing spot.

Queenscliffe Marina. Had the best fish and chips here.

Queenscliffe is the ferry port between Sorrento on the Mornington Pensinsular and the Bellarine.

After a chilly, wet day nothing better than a hearty dinner in our Penthouse. A parting gift from Joel - slow cooked beef cheeks in red wine. Mouthwatering deliciousness! And still some more in the freezer!

Great Ocean Road
2nd - 5th February 2018

The Great Ocean Road is touted as one of Australia's top drives. There is no argument that the coastline and forest are spectacular. The actual drive, though, is not so great these days. The condition of the road, road works and worst of all foreign tourists that like to stop in the middle of the road to take photos make it harrowing for the driver. As for me.....I loved it!

The weather was picture perfect for our drive to Port Campbell to meet up with our besties, Deb and Harry.

Plenty of good times had at this grand old pub back in the teenage years. Growing up in Warrnambool meant plenty of trips along this coastline back in those days.

Never tire of this awesome coastline view.

And the forests through the Otway Ranges are equally spectacular.

Three days reminiscing in Port Campbell. This was a very regular destination with friends back in the teenage years. Looking forward to more walks, going to the old pub and sitting on the beach.

Dez and Harry relaxing.

Best friends re-united after 5 months. Time to break out the slow cooked beef cheeks for a belated birthday dinner for Harry.

A Blue Wren. I have been trying to get a photo of these cute little fellas for months, but they don't sit still long enough. Finally got one.

Another stunning sunny day just right for walking along the Port Campbell cliffs.

Deb and Harry tourist shot.

A stop at the jetty to see what's happening on the fishing front - not much!

One guy did catch some squid.

Bbbrrrrrr! Harry braving the southern ocean. It was very short lived.

I went solo for another walk along the eastern cliffs.

Came across this amazing spider web along the path. It was huge and covered in tiny spiders. No bugger than your pinky fingernail. Many having a feast on bees and flies caught in the web - so much larger than them.

Saturday night and time to put the lippy on and hit the town.

First up - the brewery.

Then to a local cellar door.

And we couldn't believe it. After not seeing Adele and Wayne for at least 30 years, and only seeing them the week before at the wedding - in they walk. Very funny.

Next stop - the old Port Campbell pub. So many great memories here. Couldn't resist a pose under this picture!

Our niece, Misty and her family live nearby, so came to visit the next day. Another fabulous, well overdue get together.

Family fun.

Meeting her gorgeous, happy little Regan for the first time.

Zara and Regan.

Zeb with the crazy hair.

Misty's wonderful man, Ashley.

Time to move along the rest of the Ocean Road to Warrnambool. We took a detour into Timboon. Because, you know, they have the BEST ice-cream!

But the ice-cream shop wasn't open yet, so we had to go to the Distillery for morning tea while we waited!

This is seriously the best ice-cream I have ever had. Bugga not having a HUGE freezer! We did try every flavour though!

One bay that I really wanted to stop off at is little known. Crofts Bay. We used to camp here as teenagers, and there were little fishing huts built into the hill. They're not there anymore, and I was a bit disappointed. Still a beautiful bay.

The track into Crofts Bay.

Love these coastal heath flowers.

Crofts Bay. Many fun times here.

Next stop - Bay of Islands.

We have travelled this road so many times, but always love it.

Warrnambool
5th - 11th February 2018

Back in the old home town. Lots of good times to be had with family and friends.

Sharyn and Keith - friends from pre-wedding days generously allowed us to camp on their property just out of town at Grassmere. A friendship renewed only a year or so ago thanks to Facebook. Many, many great memories laughed about over nightly drinks and dinner.

Best free camp. Like camping in a botanical garden.

The old shed.

One of those lovely gardens that have little hidden corners. Lavender covered in moths.

And not forgetting 'the girls'. Accidentally leaned against the electric fence taking this photo. Holy Moly - not to be repeated!!!

The afternoon gathering on 'the lawn'.

Yum scrum.

Nothing quite like cuddles from my little brother, Simon.

Out and about in the old town.

No visit to Warrnambool is complete without a burger from Kermonds. Established and family run since 1949! They make the best egg and tomato rolls.

Chance meeting with a friend walking past a café!

Warrnambool really is beautiful when the sun is shining. Soaking up the view of the Lady Bay.

A stroll along the old breakwater.

Middle Island - where the Maremma dogs protect the little penguins.

After a few days with Sharyn and Keith we spent a couple of days by the beach in the caravan park. Off for another big walk.

Granny's Grave is a well known landmark in Warrnambool. Also a local top surfing spot. I never knew the history of the name, so went for a walk along the beach path to find out.

The spot that marks Granny's Grave.

Further along the path is the mouth of the Hopkins River and the old boatshed that is now a restaurant. It is beautiful.

Across from the river is the cemetery. I love a good wander around historical cemeteries, but today I stopped by to visit my Granny's Grave. Still miss this gentle, wonderful grandma.

Up the road and a walk through Fletcher Jones Gardens, which happens to be across the road from the first flat that Dez and I lived in back in 1977/78! Where it all began.

Now. This statue sits at the top end of the main street and is commonly known as The Dirty Angel. He is innocently holding a wreath, which looks fine straight on, but when viewed from the side....well...you see for yourself!

Looking over the Lady Bay and Lake Pertobe park and playground. This is the best recreational zone we have ever seen in all our travels. It used to be a swamp.

And back to the surf club at the edge of the caravan park. A 7klm loop of memories.

Random photo. My brother Simon cutting a hole in the top of the ranger canopy - eeekk! Fitting a roof vent.

This is the Merri River at Woodford, where we sprinkled my Dad's ashes. There is a lovely little bridge across the river, so sat and absorbed the peacefulness and let my memories drift.

We had several lovely visits with Deziz mum, Dawn.

Sad to say goodbye to these guys - we had so much fun after all these years!

Killarney / Port Fairy

11th - 12th February 2018

Just west of Warrnambool is the lovely little town of Port Fairy. No trip to Warrnambool is complete without a visit there for a walk around the harbour and some fish and chips. Killarney has a great camp by the beach at the local sportsground. $20 with free washing machines. Time for some chores. I did the washing, and Dez did something to the car.

Just a stroll down the track to the beach. Love it.

Nearby is Tower Hill National Park. An ancient volcano, and the first National Park in Victoria.

In the early years of European settlement much of Tower Hill’s natural vegetation was cleared and the land was used for farming and quarrying. In 1961, Tower Hill became a State Game Reserve under the then Fisheries and Wildlife Department and a major re-vegetation program began. This program was largely guided by a painting created by Austrian born artist Eugene Von Guerard in 1855. The Fisheries and Wildlife Department developed a planting scheme using Von Guerard’s detailed painting as a reference, it shows grass and ferns on the island, and tea trees, wattles, sheoaks, banksias and eucalypts on the cones with reeds and tussocks in the marshes. Botanists studied the painting to identify plants, and re-planting was based on species known or believed to have been Indigenous to Tower Hill.

By 1981, around 25,000 trees and shrubs had been planted with the help of volunteers along with herbs, grasses and rushes. Native wildlife also suffered through decades of clearing and removal of habitats. After the re-vegetation movement began and efforts increased to eradicate introduced weeds, plants and animals, native animals were reintroduced to the Reserve. By the 1980’s, wildlife successfully reintroduced to Tower Hill included: koalas, grey kangaroos, wallabies, echidna’s, brush tail and ringtail possums, sugar gliders and over 160 species of bird.

The regeneration is fantastic.

But now to Port Fairy for those fish and chips.

Top notch.

As it turned out, the annual Jazz Festival was on in town! Bonus.

Port Fairy has the prettiest marina walk.

Always love it here.

And they have big, fat seagulls down here. Not getting my chips though.

A great walk around the Griffiths Island Reserve.

Griffiths Island has a large Shearwater nesting colony.

The old lighthouse built in 1859.

Black Wallaby.

Plenty of wildflowers.

And birdlife.

And back to the marina on the Moyne River.

Soaking up the sun, sand and surf before heading inland again. How I will miss you.

Rocklands Dam

12th - 16th February 2018

Took a right hand turn at Killarney to start heading north. On the way to the Grampians we stopped off at Glendinning camp on the Rocklands Dam. The last time we camped here, Dez and I were only just dating. Great bush camp, and very quiet. A lazy few days.

Looking a treat, and happy to be doing not much at all except check the yabbie pots.

Loving the bush setting.

Success at last!!! Many a pot has been in the water over the last two years with nil result. Very happy with this haul.

One of the female yabbies had her babies on the tail. Have never seen this before. Amazing!

The Grampians (Hall's Gap)

16th - 20th February 2018

The Grampians is a National Park and features a striking series of sandstone mountain ranges. There are plenty of lookouts and hikes to investigate. The last time we were here was 1978!

Day one set up camp in the National Park about ten klms out of Hall's Gap. Hall's Gap is the main village in the Grampians. Task number one.....cook up those yabbies!

Oh yeah! Garlic, chilli, lime flash fried making our fellow campers envious with the aromas.

Soooo gooooood!

Day two and off to do a big lap around the ranges stopping at various look outs and walks.

View over the valley towards Bellfield Lake from Reed's Lookout.

Looking down towards Hall's Gap from Reed's Lookout.

Such majestic rock formations.

Little rest on this cute chair!

View from the Balconies lookout.

The Balconies rock formation.

Nice, easy walks.

Next stop McKenzie Falls.

It's a long, long, long way down.

Very steep, narrow steps. All good going down, but nearly killed me coming back up. Daily temps still in the high 30's.

Very pretty.

Tourist shot.

The last stop of the day - Zumsteins. Back in the early 1900's the Zumsteins built some cottages on the banks of the McKenzie River and opened a holiday destination in the Grampians. A couple of the cottages still remain.

Early holidaymakers.

Look at that. The Youngs came here on holidays!

Some of the flowers still pop up each season.

One of the cottages.

This was amazing. The pool was dug out by hand over several years. With many visitors lending a hand. The water was pumped up from the McKenzie River.

The pool site now.

Day three and into Hall's Gap to meet up with Peter and Tracey. Peter was Dezziz apprentice back in the 70's at Warrnambool Hospital. We last saw Peter in Glenelg, Adelaide. He and Tracey live in Horsham not far from Hall's Gap so came down to visit. A terrific day.

Leisurely afternoon in the park.

There was also a "Show and Shine" event on in town. Just a couple of the cars.

Day four and a 4 klm hike up to 'The Pinnacle'. Dez did a sterling job and made it all the way to the top.

Rocky path.

The jumbled rock formations are spectacular.

Checking out the view.

Devil's Gap.

Made it. Halls Gap in the distance.

The view.

Now to trek back down.

So the Grampians done and dusted. Waterfalls. Walks. Spectacular views. Loved it all.

HORSHAM
20th - 22nd February 2018

Next stop a few days with Tracey and Peter at their home in Horsham. They welcomed us with open arms, great food and of course, a drink or two.

While the poor things had to go to work, we went out and about the area. Not far from Horsham is Mt Arapiles which has a spectacular view. So off for another walk up a hill!

The view from Mt. Arapiles overlooking Lake Natimuk.

Looking out over the Wimmera farmland.

There is a Fire Tower Lookout, and Ron (a volunteer fire spotter) gave us a hoy to come up and have a chat! Very interesting. The vertical string to his left is used in conjunction with the markers around the top of the walls to pinpoint where there is a fire. How about that!

Lunch at a great old pub in Natimuk, and back into town for a wander around the Botanical Gardens.

These chainsaw carvings fascinate me. Very clever.

Lots of beautiful roses.

Back at the ranch and time to pop some bubbles with Tracey while Pete got the BBQ organised. We had so much fun with these guys, and were made to feel so incredibly welcome.

Silo Trail
22nd February 2018

Silo art is becoming increasingly popular across country Victoria, NSW and South Australia. It is a drawcard to tourists who in turn will spend some money in these small towns.

The first on our Silo Art Trail was at Rupanyup. The monochrome mural was created by Russian artist Julia Volchkova on the huge metal grain storage bins – a work that was inspired by the local Rupanyup Panthers Football & Netball Club.

Next along the trail is at Sheep Hills. The artist, Adnate is an internationally renowned artist, famous for his work with Aboriginal communities across Australia. Completed in December 2016 and spread across all six silos, the work consists of four indigenous faces watching over the tiny community of Sheep Hills; with a starry background that has a symbolic significance to the local people.

Our drive north through the Silo Trail took us to Warracknabeal where we called in to stay with more friends from years ago. This time Gail and Robert-the-gardener Jackson. Robert was the gardener and a great friend for many years at the Caloundra Hospital. Yet again, we were made to feel extremely welcome. Their aircon was also very welcome in the 40 degree heat!

Guido van Helten’s famous ‘Farmer Quartet’ located on the Henty Highway. Stretching out across all four of the Brim silos, this massive mural was painted in 2015 as a tribute to the drought-stricken farming community. Created in van Helten’s famous monochromatic photo-realistic style, the mural instantly became a regional landmark and provided the inspiration for The Silo Art Trail project.

Completed in late 2017, Kaff-eine’s artwork in Rosebury depicts themes that she says embody the region’s past, present and future.

The tiny town of Lascelles Silo Art Trail spotlights with by celebrated Melbourne artist Tyrone 'Rone' Wright. Rone turns his intimate portraiture to giant grain silos, depicting local wheat farmers Geoff and Merrilyn Horman looking out over the rural landscape.