Blog 35 - 8th to 17th March 2014

Saturday 8^th March – we decide to leave Naracoorte Caves and drive towards the coast, stopping in at Struan House along the way – this is currently being used by the Dept of Agriculture as offices for staff – a magnificent old mansion.

From here we turn right at Penola and drive out to Yallum Park, which is another old estate home, that just happens to be open for tours today, so we park and walk up to the front doors.

The tour has just started, so we listen in, and then the great grandson gives us a review on the 10 minutes we had missed – what a magnificent old house, with all original furniture and carpets and even the wallpaper form the late 1800’s.

We then drive to Beachport for lunch by the jetty

and then drive a bit further around the coast which is very rugged,

before continuing south to Millicent. Stop at the info centre and they tell us about a nice spot nestled in the sand-dunes at Geltwood Beach in the Canunda NP. We set-up for a few days and relax with a late afternoon walk down to the beach.

 

 

Sunday 9^th – a very relaxed day, with not a lot happening – some reading, painting, sewing, drawing, and not really much else – a lovely way to waste a day.

Monday 10^th – whilst making morning coffees, I found out that a mouse had got into the canopy area of the car and eaten holes in most of our UHT milks – had to pour out 7 litres, and clean up all of its mess too. After this we go exploring along the coast, first to Cape Buffon where the rocks along the coast are very rugged.

Then to Cape Banks lighthouse, and then to Carpenter Rocks. From here to Cape Northumberland, and then to Port MacDonnell where we had a take-away lunch overlooking the foreshore park. On our way back to camp along some back roads, we hit the skids as we pass a massive hole in the ground, which turns out to be Little Blue Lake, a natural crater in the ground that is full of fresh water – very bizarre to see.

We chat to an old bloke who is about to go cave diving as it is over 70 metres deep. Back to camp we chat with our new neighbours who are moving from Darwin down to Victor Harbor.

Tuesday 11^th – we wake to find more milk has been sampled by the mouse, so pour out another 4 litres and vow to buy some mousetraps at Mt Gambier. After the drive into Gambier, we set-up at the showground and head into town to have a drive around the crater lakes (lots of volcanos in this area only a few thousand years ago),

and then to the town hall but the art gallery is closed, so we watch a film in the cinema about the volcanos that exploded in the area. There were 5 just near town, and that is what has created the lakes area, and also the caves and sinkholes in the area. Just behind the town hall is a sinkhole which has been converted into a garden you can walk down into.

Back to camp, and we wander up to the local pub for dinner and a few drinks.

Wednesday 12^th – back up to the volcano craters today, this time to do some walking. We climb the steep hill to Centenary lookout and the views from the top are amazing out over the lakes and surrounding flat countryside. Another walk around Leg of Mutton lake, and then a drive around the park area. Next to Umpherston Sinkhole which is another larger garden that has been created in this large hole, and was a popular tourist attraction for many years.

Back to camp for lunch and then into town to wander through the art gallery. Home via Woolies for a re-stock of the pantry.

Thursday 13^th – we leave Mt Gambier, and finally make it into Victoria.

First stop is Nelson for some info and a coffee – we sit by the Glenelg River and take in the views. After a bit of time traveling along the highway, we decide to do some exploring and take a turn off to Swan Lake along a dirt road – at the end of the road we find an offroad dune buggy area that has been set aside by Vic NP’s for their use – what a great idea. Back along the dirt, and a wrong turn finds us at Mt Richmond NP, where we decide to have some lunch. A quick check of WikiCamps tells us about a free spot just out of Portland in the Narrawong Forest, so we head there to set-up camp, with the plan of staying a couple of days and exploring the area. As we drive into Sawpit Picnic Area, we see lots of other travellers, some nice new toilets, and also lots of fire pits – after a quick check, we confirm that we CAN have a fire, the first time in over 3 months – woohoo!!!! We go for an afternoon walk to Whalers lookout, and back to camp to collect some wood, and then sit around the fire and chat with our neighbours.

Friday 14^th – out exploring again today, firstly to Cape Bridgewater, with spectacular views along the coast. We walk first to the petrified forest, which limestone columns have been eroded by the ground water and hollowed out to leave tubes like tree trunks.

Then to the blowholes, where the waves are smashing against the coastline and sending spray high into the air. On the way back, we stop in at Bishop Rocks and the views along the beach are really nice, with waves breaking way out from shore.

Then south of Portland to Cape Nelson to the lighthouse for a quick wander around, before into Portland itself for lunch and a short walk to the motor museum. A bit more of a drive around town, with hectares of timber and woodchips in yards all ready for export. Decided to stop in at Woolies again to buy a roast beef and veges for a camp oven dinner tonight. Back at camp, more wood gathering, then set the fire and waited for coals, before loading up the oven for a succulent dinner, with enough left over for another night. Chatted to some more neighbours before a late night around the fire.
Today we clock up 50,000 km's since we left Sydney on the 21st March - just less than a year ago - a big year of driving, but we have seen HEAPS, and are still excited about the coming 7 or 8 months to go.

Saturday 15^th – packed up and left camp, back towards Portland, and then north to Heywood and then Casterton.

Stopped in at the art gallery and chatted to the artist for a long while – great paintings with lots of detail and investigation work to ensure accuracy. Had a coffee, and then decided to drive to Harrow to a small campsite with hot showers that was only $12 for the night, including power to recharge the batteries – what a bargain. Got talking to our neighbour, and before you know it, he is handing over 2 freshly caught ducks that he shot that morning that go straight into the freezer for the next camp over roasts - duck season has just started in Vic (but not rabbit season). A cold night, so we chat around the fire.
Sunday 16^th – as we wake up, the rain starts for only 3 minutes, before stopping, so we get out of bed – to a lovely sunny day. Breakfast whilst the tent dries, and then pack up and head out of town to Horsham, where we hit the info centre, and then a coffee and then the art gallery – weird arse contemporary stuff this time, so only a quick visit. From here towards the Grampians, stopping first at Mt Zero

for a quick walk to see the damage from the fires.

Driving into the park, there are lots of black, but some green is starting to break through as re-growth occurs. We drive past McKenzie Falls and take some pictures,

before descending the mountain to Halls Gap and booking into the caravan park for a few nights.
Monday 17^th – up early to do some washing first, and then breakfast, before dropping into the info centre to get details and maps for the walks. Decide to drive to Wonderland Carpark and see how we go, as it is overcast and drizzling. We do the walk to the Grand Canyon which is only a couple of hundred metres,

and the weather holds out, so we continue to The Pinnacles, which is another 1.7km’s. The weather alternates between nice sunshine, overcast and windy, and then light drizzle, but we keep walking – they don’t tell you the entire 1.7km's is uphill, with lots of steps to climb, rocks to climb over, and with the rain, a slippery surface. But the views from the top are astounding, with views into the valley below, and our campsite and the dam off in the distance.

Walking back, we take more photos of the narrow gorge called Silent Street where the walls are only a few feet apart, and the rocks are sort of like those in the Bungle Bungles.

Finally back at the car after 4.5km’s, we drive back to camp for some lunch, and have a relaxing afternoon checking whether the washing is dry yet, and doing some reading.

We will probably stay for another day and do some more walking tomorrow, before heading back south to the coast to start the Great Ocean Road.

More to come soon.

Di and Hammo