Fitzroy River, Portland, Victoria {Free Camp}

Under advice from Tina & Paul who we meet at in South Australia {and no I have yet to find out who they are or a way to contact them} we headed to Fitzroy River.  A little way east of Portland, but still close enough to be able to spent the following day in town.


After setting up, having lunch and doing a little school we decided to head into town for a quick look around at the visitors centre.  Good thing we did as we discovered them setting up for a market right on the foreshore for the following day.  Odd timing we thought but then a lovely local man shared with us that they had a P & O Cruise ship docking for the following day and the town was going to be busy busy busy. 

Tina and Paul advised us that it was a lovely spot, free and loaded with koalas.  Well after our trip to town we headed home for some school and then exploring, we didn't see one koala and felt suitably ripped off!

After a slow start to the morning we headed into town, our first stop being a wander around the markets.  It was a lovely little market, we got some lovely hot coffee, a warm shall for me, a beautiful skirt for Kyla and the kids got twisted potato things.

Our first spot to explore was the local blowholes, sadly the swell wasn't there for us to see it but we did get to take in the coastline.  Loads of wind turbines and some lovely limestone tubes that looked like a forest.

 

Cape Bridgewater was our next stop.  We decided to tackle the walk out to see the Australian Fur Seals.  It was hard work, especially for the kids but it was well worth it to take in the coast line. I'm thankful that we had the zoom lens otherwise the seals would've been only tiny black dots to us!

 

       

 

 

We headed back into town, grabbed some fresh rolls and headed to the park to make lunch.  It gave us a chance to sit down, enjoy the sunshine and the view.

After we regrouped we decided to take a look out at the Cape Nelson Lighthouse. What a lovely spot, hats been maintained and the old keeper cottages have even been turned into accommodation.

    

After our full on day we headed home for a quiet afternoon.  We were all rewarded when we went for a walk, koalas.  I think, from memory the kids counted five and loved being able to see them in their natural environment.

 

 

What a beautiful spot that we could have easily stayed in for a few more days had time permitted, on the come back to list.  Next stop.....

Halls Gap Victoria {Caravan Park}

We have arrived in VICTORIA!  It really didn't take long at all, and we almost missed the important sign picture. Proof that we had arrived.

Our plan was to find a nice spot in The Grampians National Park to spend a few nights while we explored the national park but at $38 per night for nothing we ended up picking Halls Gap Lake Tourist Park which was not that much more for a powered site & hot showers! Parks Victoria have got something out of whack here, no day costs {when they have bucket loads of day visitors to places like this} and charge ridiculous fees for the use of a drop loo!

After setting up the kids did a little schoolwork while watching all of the birdlife that came in around the camper.  After this e popped into town to have a quick look around and have a treat of ice-cream.

 

With a full day to explore the national park we got up early to only be disappointed by the terrible weather.  It was going to rain but we decided to brave it, fingers crossed we could at least see some of The Grampians.  Our first point for the day was Boroka Lookout, way up in the mountains and with a lovely view.

 

 

Next stop was Reed Lookout and The Balconies.  When we arrived we could barely see one step in front of us, oh dear here goes our day of exploring was the first thought but we decided to get out of the car and have a look around anyway.  This was the view:

It started to rain so we stopped our walk and figured we would try further up and around, hoping the weather would improve for us.  So off to Mackenzie Falls we headed and as you will see from the pictures below the weather turned around and we climbed more stairs than the kids could count!

 

 

  

What a beautiful set of falls, with so much more to explore but given we had little water {no food for the ever hungrer Kaleb} and Kyla was over walking we decided it was best to climb the stairs back to the top.  The national park also had three spots on the otherside with Aboriginal Art that we decided to drive around and explore, sadly however they had remained closed still after a fire early last year.

We traveled around the outside of the national park and happened to come across, randomly one very large & scary looking Koala.

With the need for lunch high on everyone's list we actually ended up driving around to Stawell, a lovely town on the side of a hill and surprisingly it even has a functioning mine.  We got a lovely lunch from a bakery in town before going for a drive around to explore a little before heading back to the caravan park.

The kids had fun when we got home playing with a few other children and even feeding the birds.  They had birds landing on their heads and eating from their hands, they loved every minute of it.

  

  

Given the weather was still nice and we still had plenty of day light we decided to head into town to take in one of the other smaller walks.  It was a great walk up past the swimming pool that went around in a loop.  Nice and easy for all of us and a great way to end our day.  I am glad we went as we even found a little art.

   

 

Another night watching the wild life fly and hop in before heading to bed ready to head towards the cost tomorrow.

Mount Gambier, South Australia {Caravan Park}

I know I have said this before, and I am sure on this trip I will be sure it again but I am surprised at the size of Mount Gambier.  What I am not surprised about however is the number of amazing old buildings that it had.

We headed right to the caravan park when we arrived, setting up and doing a little school work before heading off the the visitors centre to see what we could explore around the town.

I had never heard of Blue Lake, ever but this beautiful volcanic crater is the towns water supply and is an ever changing colour.  We got to experience it in all it's blue glory.

 

Our next stop was to drive up and around to Valley Lake.  A beautiful picnic spot, with large play ground and loads of beautiful looking water.

 

Heading back towards town we decided to actually drive around Blue Lake to see it from the other side.  It is so crystal clear and inviting looking you just wish you could swim or float in it.

We decided to end our afternoon adventure with a trip to the Umpherston Sinkhole.  A beautiful garden that has been created around what was once an under ground cave. Surprisingly it was filled with bees, who had used the limestone walls to create amazing looking honeycomb and made hives within the holes in the wall. I can just picture what it would look like with water running in it after some rain.

 

 

Saturday we started the day with pancakes before heading into town to do the 'Historical Walk'.  This is a self guided walk that takes in the towns historical buildings, each having a plaque with information on its parts use.  During our walk we also stumbled across two markets within town and also got to explore Cave Gardens.

 

 

 

 

    

We jumped into the car now to go and explore some of the antique shops.  I found a lovely set of kitchen canisters but refrained because how many sets does one woman really need {given they are going to the sea container haha}. There was also a beautiful dresser and kitchenette and bookcase and clock and and and, alright I have a problem.  It was lucky we are in a camper because I am sure I would've easily brought at least two of them because not only did they look lovely, they were an amazing price.

Next stop was a lovely ploughmans lunch at Valley Lake.  Where we sat under the trees, watch the water skiing and the kids played on the play ground.  We then headed into the car and went to look Devils Sinkhole {which is used by cave divers and kind of scared me a little}, Little Blue Lake {which is actually green and used for swimming by locals, some crazy kids even jumping of a cliff into the deep water} and tried to find some other places, with no luck.