Historic winemaker Baileys of Glenrowan in North East Victoria was established in 1870. Set in landscaped gardens amid ageing peppercorn trees the original cellar of mud brick and kerosene tin walls still stands. Continue reading Baileys of Glenrowan
As the summer sun burns through the morning mist families play on the beach. Up on a makeshift, truck tray stage a small child from another place gives thanks to a country that has taught her it’s language and now nurtures her on the path to adulthood. The crowd claps and cheers their faces chiselled through the generations from the genes of a hundred races. Sun hats plopped on heads, ice creams, cold drinks and kids lost in a sea of fun. The Sea Scouts raise the flag and on this gentle bayside beach everyone stops what they’re doing to … Continue reading Australia Day at Dromana
A friend (Yes G, that’s you) recently asked if I would put together a list of our favourite free camps. Here are the ones that we’ve stayed at and that always spring to mind when we think of introducing people to free camping. Before someone says “But what about Nug Nug” Each of these is totally free although there are other temptations to be had at Brown Brothers. Skipworth Reserve, Jamieson I’ve posted several stories about the beauty of this place. Well maintained level sites, good drop toilets, fire pits, friendly birdlife, a gurgling mountain stream and only 4kms from … Continue reading Our Top Ten Free Camps in Victoria
This week we popped down to Little River to catch up with caravanning mates who are suffering itchy feet whilst waiting for the kiddies to return to school after the summer holidays. In short we’re all busting to get our camp sites back when the hordes go home. About 50 kms south west of Melbourne and just off the Princes Highway (Geelong Road) you’ll find the sleepy hamlet of Little River. Known to most Melburnians as the place that inspired the name of the rock band… Little River Band. Hidden in the back of town where the tar starts to … Continue reading Little River Hotel
Something a little closer to my home on Melbourne’s Port Philip Bay this time and a pleasant walk in an effort to shed a few of those extra Christmas kilos. We find that we exercise much more when we are … Continue reading Seaford Foreshore Reserve
Oct 2015 At about 5:30 in the evening it’s all thunderbolts and lightning with large hail as well. The park quickly becomes a white wonderland and the drifts of hail take hours to melt. We’re all surprised that our vans have suffered no damage. Dazza’s campfire somehow manages to survive the onslaught and around the fire, Maria who hails from Brazil, educates us on the Saints Days of Brazil and how to find a lost iphone. Now that involves jumping three times like a kangaroo and calling the name of a saint that none of us knew even existed let alone … Continue reading There’s Nothing Like a Campfire
In our wanderings about the countryside ducking and weaving to avoid kangaroos, emus and feral pigs we have often complained that we are yet to see a camel in the wild. We know that they’re out there, thousands of ’em. Descendants of camel trains that worked the outback now roaming freely in the whoop whoop (desert/bush/mulga or scrub whatever you prefer to call our less populated inland). Imagine our surprise to find a herd of very civilised and inquisitive milking camels in the dairying district of Kyabram in Victoria. And if we were surprised imagine how the cows must feel? Continue reading One Hump or Two?
Here’s a small watering hole that most people wouldn’t even notice when passing even though it’s been here since 1896. In bowling green flat land crossed by irrigation channels, acres of corn and dairy cows ‘cos this is known as cow cockie country. Pull up out front, give the door a shove and you’ll be greeted by a friendly bunch of locals and a bloke called Wayne manning the beer taps. Where is it? West of Kyabram in Victoria and a few minutes south of Echuca. Continue reading Ky West Hotel
Feb 2016 The mercury hits 42° it is searingly hot and even though the wind is blowing across the lake it feels as though we are having happy hour in front of a hair dryer. We’re in Rutherglen, Vic for a caravan club muster and trying to make the best of it when someone shouts “Why don’t we just go to the pub?” Of course! Why didn’t we think of that? In a flash we’re all up and off across the street to the coolest pub with icy cold beer and huge parmas. Oh heaven. And who says seniors can’t … Continue reading Poachers Paradise Hotel, Rutherglen
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