Millicent, South Australia

Ratings: CP **  Surroundings ***

View from our site

Azure waters at Beachport, a small village on the Limestone Coast with the second longest jetty in South Australia. The jetty was completed in 1882 (1220 metres) and is currently 772 metres long. The town was first settled as a whaling station in the 1830s but today it provides a safe harbour for crayfishing boats and trawlers.

Limestone cliffs sculpted by winds and waves at Cape Buffon.  From as far back as 10 000 years, Aboriginal members of the Boandik group lived along this coast in summer and we discovered one of their shell middens on a walk.

A running figure emerges from sea mists along Geltwood Beach in Canunda National Park!

Giants across the landscape dominating the Woakwine Range skyline near Millicent. These wind farms form the largest wind-farm development in the Southern Hemisphere and consist of 135 wind turbines in the Canunda and near Lake Bonney. They will generate one eighth of South Australia's energy needs when fully operational.

Edenhope, Victoria

A jetty leading into the parched Lake Wallace, where fishing and boating were part of the lifestyle in Edenhope until a year ago when waters dried up due to poor rainfall.

An gnarled face appeared on the banks of the parched lake attracting my attention!
These red gums are able to survive droughts due to their deep root systems.

The annual Henley on Lake Wallace Festival.... a day of family fun with a vintage vehicle and float procession, music and air displays. Despite the drought, people come to Edenhope from nearby communities to share and enjoy the day. This float of exuberant muddy young people with eucalyptus branches, was raising awareness about the predicament of the lake. Their placards stated " Fill our Lake". Lakes have been filled in some drought affected areas where water from old mines is treated and used.

The festival ends in bursts of crackling sparkles of colour over Lake Wallace.

Horsham, Victoria

Ratings: CP ** (ants) Surroundings ****

Reflections of Wimmera River

Leisurely Maned wood duck in search of breakfast on this tranquil river.

The sun rises over houses on the banks of the river while a lone pelican paddles contentedly.

The low rainfall between 2006 and 2010 caused this river to dry up and activities in Horsham such as fishing, boating and rowing stopped altogether, Although the floods of 2011 wreaked havoc, the river is in the process of recovering and activities have resumed. It also has special significance for the dreamtime narratives of the traditional inhabitants of this area.

Sun sets over the river and noisy corellas begin to settle and eventually roost in surrounding red gums.

Halls Gap, Victoria

Ratings: CP **** Surroundings *****

A view of the man-made Lake Bellfield with our caravan park centre left below the 55m high dam wall. The lake is situated in the Grampians National Park (Gariwerd in the Aboriginal languages of the Djab Wurrung and the Jardwadjali, the traditional people of the area).

Morning light on the sandstone rock formations of the Grampian ranges form a backdrop as some of the wild life enjoy breakfast in the caravan park. Four hundred million years ago, this area was an inland sea. Sedimentary layers interspersed with siltstone and mudstone were laid down and later earth movements and the weathering process assisted in creating the spectacular scenery. It is also rich in Aboriginal rock art shelters.

A walk to the surprisingly dry Clematis Falls the day after rain.....sparkling drops of water trickled over ancient rocks feeding thirsty waterfall plants...and allowed me to catch a few cooling drops!

Time to rest and reflect on the wonders of this ancient landscape at MacKenzie Falls, one of Victoria's largest waterfalls. The steep descent and ascent challenged our fitness levels and included 347 steps!

Heading towards the Pinnacle through the Grand Canyon where some rock passages deep in the landscape narrowed allowing one person through at a time.

Vast valleys of the Grampians from Reed Lookout on a perfect day when wispy clouds added to the beauty of this vista.

Brambuk building, a place where indigenous culture of the Gariwerd region is interpreted and explained by local guides, displays, educational activities and two short films on the Gariwerd Creation Story and the geology and history of the area.The  Aboriginal owned and operated building is shaped in the form of a cockatoo in flight, the totem animal of the Djab Wurrung and the Jardwadjali. Within the building there are symbolic representations of important aspects of culture and traditions including a ramp leading to the upper level representing the Eel which was a staple food. A wooden seat represents Bunjil, the creator Spirit of Aboriginal people in south eastern Australia, with arms out caring for whoever sits there looking into the fire.