Australian Adventure – Day 9 – Sale Nature Reserve

2013-12-15 | puppy1952

It was windy and cool at Lakes Entrance today and we decided against a guided boat trip of The Lakes deciding instead to explore on our own.

Lakes Entrance

We probably chose to drive too far but it ended up being a very worthwhile trip when we discovered Sale Nature Reserve on our way back. Earl, of course, was in search of harbours and boats but the sea was not visible from the roads we drove along as the coastline is lined with trees and bush and very few houses were on the beach front too. We did get out to look at the 90 mile beach and found a lone fisherman trying his luck.

90 Mile Beach

As usual we looked everywhere for bird life and found plenty. Rainbow lorikeets flew overhead but eluded photographs, galahs were noisy and arboreal birds called tantalisingly from the trees granting us only the occasional glimpse for their beautiful colours.

There are many lakes and rivers hosting waterbirds and we stopped to watch them too. The Australian Purple Swamphen which got us all excited in the beginning is so common that we hardly give it a glance now! There are also myriads of coots and white-faced herons. We were pleased to find the Pacific Heron today.

Yellow Wattle Eye

Purple Swamphen

Coots for Australia

Pacific Heron

Covered by Red Gum woodland and grasslands, the Sale Common State Game Refuge off the South Gippsland Highway covers approximately 300 hectares. Over 70 percent of the refuge consists of freshwater marsh where myriads of water birds make their home. There are boardwalks for visitors to walk along as well as one or two bird hides. Vandalism even in this pristine place has reared its ugly head and one of the shelters is in the process of being dismantled because of it. We were delighted to find two Rufous Whistlers in a mating sequence in the trees above our heads. He sang to her tunefully while she bobbed and spread her tail feathers in a mating dance then they swapped places and he spread his feathers and sang some more. He must have hit the wrong note because after a while she got bored and flew off leaving him still singing but with less enthusiasm.

Rufous Whistler birds courting

Male singing and displaying

We were looking intently into the trees for birds when a young girl came running back along the track she had walked, specially to inform us that there were ring tailed possums in full view. This was the highlight of the day for me. They are supposed to be nocturnal so to be out in the middle of the day was quite unusual. We were able to get right up close to them and took tons of photographs and they were not fazed by us at all.

What beautiful eyes

Note the ring tail hooked onto the branch

Two at play

The wetland

Welcome Swallows

Another Rufous Whistler

Back at Lakes Entrance we found a gull that looked very familiar but it is not a Kelp gull and Aunt says she has not seen these in Australia before. There was only one but the book tells us they are often seen in this area.

Pacific Gull -red tip to both upper and lower bill and black tail

I couldn’t resist taking a photograph of some teenagers at the skate park – looked like lots of fun.

After our lovely day we decided to have an early supper. The local fish shop provided us with ready cooked prawns which we had with salad followed by ice cream and fruit salad, cheese and biscuits and then Earl went down and got us ‘real’ coffee and truffles from the restaurant. A perfect end to a glorious day!

Our Delicious Supper

Cheers till tomorrow

Australian Adventure – Day 6 – Ballarat to Yarra Valley

2013-12-12 | puppy1952

Oh my but it was freezing again this morning. We headed to the Ballarat Botanical Gardens and had breakfast at a restaurant opposite which has a magnificent view of The Lake. Because of the cold we sat indoors next to a window and the view was to die for. After putting in our order I went outside to take photographs. The Purple Swamphen in Australia is not a shy bird as it tends to be here. In fact there were hoards of them prancing about on the front lawn – Really these exotic birds are quite boring here in Oz!

Piper’s Restaurant

My Breakfast Club would love this place It has ambience, style and the menu would definitely caters for our gourmet tastes. How about it girls – A breakfast in Ballarat?

What a menu – What a view

So the visit to the Gardens afterwards was okay – but it’s not Kirstenbosch. I loved the arum lilies in different shades thought. And the Prime Ministers Avenue was quite a nice touch. The staff were friendly and it was interesting to note that all the labour was white. I love the Australian attitude that any job is a good job. There is so little class distinction and people are respected for whatever they do.

The Hot House

Yellow Arum Lily

Prime Minister Avenu

The thing that has impressed me is that so many places of interest have free entrance. I am not opposed to paying to see something interesting but when we went to Sovereign Hill which shows off an old Gold Mine Town we were hugely disappointed. To get in it would cost $47 each! That is just ridiculous. We decided to give it a miss. It included a visit to the Museum and a Light show. Maybe it was worth it but we didn’t want to take the chance. Remember that converts to R470 each- more than I would pay to see live theatre!

Australian School Children on an outing to Sovereign Hill - No Hat No Play

Australian School Children on an outing to Sovereign Hill – They’re in Civvies but are still required to wear hats – NO HAT NO PLAY is the slogan at every school.

So instead we headed for Yarra Valley. As I said it was cold this morning but by the time we arrived at our accommodation – Mecure Yarra Valley the temperature had risen and it was beautifully warm.

Lovely to see mountains in Victoria

Mecure Yarra Valley

We were at an hour early for check in so went to the restaurant for a cold drink – a bowl of delicious warm olives, a beer and two sparkling waters set us back $20.00

Aunt and Me in the larney Restaurant

We decided that dinner at this establishment would be out of our budget! The place was divine. It is set in a wine growing valley surrounded by beautiful mountains – which made us feel very much at home and how lovely to finally see some mountains in flat Australia. The resort has a Spa so we immediately booked a massage each. There is also a gym albeit it small. We have been over indulging in rich food so I thought I needed to work some of it and before the massage at 5 I took myself off to do a workout – (Hope you’re proud of me Steve!) I did the Big 5 that Steve tells me are essential for good back maintenance as well as Suit-case Squats and Turkish Get-ups. Then I got onto the treadmill and did a good 25 minute run. I felt great afterwards and felt that I earned my massage!

Our accommodation is beyond luxurious. We have a jacuzzi/shower, self catering facilities and a view. We decided that after all the rich food we have been eating we should shop and self-cater for the next few days. We loved Iga Super Market – excellent quality fruit and vegetables. We got a ready cooked chicken, salad stuff, fruit and vegetables, cheese and biscuits and local wine and beer. Our meal was stunning and dinner, breakfast, lunch and possibly another meal cost us way less than yet another rich meal out!

Australian Adventure – Day 5- Warrnambool to Ballarat

2013-12-11 | puppy1952

It was pouring when we woke this morning and it continued for most of our drive to Ballarat. We took the scenic route, travelling through picturesque villages and towns steeped in the history of Australia. I love the way the Australians decorate the outside of their homes for Christmas – we certainly saw some interesting decor in the countryside. We stopped to explore the tiniest town I have ever seen. At the 2006 census Linton had a population of 355. It is amazing that people still live there. There were some interesting old buildings but everything was closed – even the Pub which advertised coffee served all day! It was dead! Not surprisingly, the only place open was the Undertaker’s.

Linton was first settled, in about 1840 and was named after a pioneer family in the area. Gold was found there in 1848. Chinese people, among others, mined the local shafts until the gold ran out. There is a monument to one of the Chinese men who was arrested for mining without a license.

The Public Library – I wonder how many books it has?

Once a jolly Swagman

The Miner’s Memorial – his European wife with a small child at the back.

Christmas Spirit

Kanagaroos pull the sleigh in Australia

Along the way we stopped when I spotted a bird that didn’t look quite like the ibises we’d seen before. It turned out to be a straw-necked ibis and stopping proved fruitful as some other birds were enjoying the puddle too.

Straw-necked Ibis

Pacific Black Duck

Hoary-headed Grebe

Purple Swamphen (a little different to the one in South Africa)

The weather cleared up in the afternoon but was still a little cold when we arrived at our B&B in Ballarat. We found a note from our hostess on the door explaining where we were to find our room and key. What a charming place. It is a hundred years old and set in a lovely shady garden. It’s a pity we only have one night here. I googled Ballarat and found the following information.

Ballarat is Victoria’s largest inland city. It started back in 1838 when a squatter called William Yuille camped on the shores of the Black Swamp, now known as Lake Wendouree. “Balla” “Arat” was derived from the meaning resting or camping place.

Gold was discovered at Poverty Point in 1851 by John Dunlop and James Regan who found a few ounces while panning in the Canadian Creek. By the following year there were around 20,000 diggers searching in the shafts of the Ballarat Goldfields. Due to this population explosion, Ballarat was proclaimed a town in 1852. By 1855, Ballarat was a municipality, a borough by 1863 and a city in 1870.

We had a rest and then went out to ‘The Boatshed’ which overlooks the lake for dinner. We drove around the town too and have made plans of where to go tomorrow before we leave for Yarris Valley.

The lake foreshore is a hive of activity – there is a path that goes around the lake and people walk their dogs, jog entertain the kids on the lawns and swings or simply sit on a bench and enjoy the scenery and birdlife.

Black Swans with chicks

A flotilla of swans

Catching the rays

Australian Wood Ducks

A table with a view

We enjoyed the delicious Lamb Shanks

We took coffee and dessert on the deck

Picturesque Scene

We certainly dined in a beautiful setting

So today was a bit of a rest day but still very interesting. What an amazing place Australia is – the wide open spaces, the sea, the lakes, .the friendly people and wonderful lifestyle. No wonder so many South Africans migrate here!

Australian Advenure Day 3 -Melbourne to Warrnambool,The Bay of Islands and The Twelve Apostles

2013-12-09 | puppy1952

It was a very early wake up time this morning. Earl was not feeling well last night and getting up at 3:00 a.m. did not help either. By four o’clock we were on the road with Aunt in the driver’s seat. She did not need the Garmen to find the way. It was a perfect morning and after dropping off the hire car and checking in – quite a mission because of the distance one has to walk – we checked in. Do you know you have to pay for a trolley at Australian Airports? I thought $3.00 was a bit steep! I was a little nervous when I saw the terminal was like it was used to be in the olden days when you walked onto the tarmac to board the plane. The first one I saw had propellers and Earl almost had me convinced that this was ours! The name Jetstar put me at ease!

A day to depart from Newcastle to Melbourne-

Dawn departure from Newcastle to Melbourne on a Jetstar Flight

It was a bit of a shock to land in a wet and windy Melbourne. I was so sure that Australia was a hot country that I didn’t pack any long sleeved shirts or warm jerseys – my jeans, fleece and school jacket would have to do!

It was a long drive to Warrnambool (Maria I promise this is really how you spell it!) Fortunately Earl was feeling better and took the wheel. We stopped for coffee at a quaint little coffee shop in one of the small town en route – excellent and Aunt assured us that $3.00 for a long black was cheap by Aussie standards.

It poured most of the way so stopping to sight see was not on the agenda. It cleared up when we arrived and so we explored the town and surrounds for an hour.

Water everywhere

Birds abound. This is a Blue-billed duck

Our accommodation is a two bedroomed, two bathroom, open plan livingroom/kitchen apartment and very comfortable. It has all the mod-cons of home including a washing machine!

After a rest we set off along the Great Ocean Road and took in the compulsory tourist must dos. And boy were they worth it. The weather was awful but the beauty was still sensational and it was well worth travelling all these miles to see these incredible natural phenomena. Also there were no crowds and no entrance fees to spoil the experience. We could just take it all in and enjoy. Of course we looked out for birds en route too!

We stopped at an old fashioned diner for delicious take away ham, cheese and tomato rolls.

Still need to find out what this bird is

Me at The Bay of Islands

Bay of Islands

Amazing rock formations

The gale nearly blew us away at the view point of The Twelve Apostles

The photographs do not do justice to the magnificence of these rock formations. I would also love to come back on a sunny day although I think that the wild weather added to the beauty of the experience in many ways. The sea was turbulent, the wind blew through our hair and we felt both awed and invigorated. It was good to feel the rugged beauty both in the rocks, the sea and the weather.

Australian Wood Duck

Spur Lapwing

Wood duck again

Australian Black Bird (type of thrush)

Black Swans

We got home quite late and went straight to Beu Jangles for pizza. I loved the Christmas hat sported by one of the chefs. Typical Aussie – the prettiest bush hat I’ve ever seen!