Pangarinda Arboretum
Flowers of a Eucalyptus Tree
One of my enduring passions is birding, or birdwatching. My wife’s passion is Australian plants. So our interests are complementary; I walk through the bush with eyes glancing ever upwards, my wife always looking down looking for plants and their flowers. We both love the Australian outdoors and exploring the wonders of nature that abounds in this wonderful land.
Banksia flower
Sometimes I find myself torn between looking at, identifying and attempting to photograph the birds I see, and the wonderful challenge of taking shots of the wonderful flowers all around. Over the next few days I plan to post a few of the flower photos I have taken at one of our favourite picnic spots, the Pangarinda Arboretum at Wellington, a small town about half an hour drive from our home in Murray Bridge.
Eucalyptus flowers
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Hakea multilineata
Cruising on the River Murray
Captain Proud at Swanport Reserve Murray Bridge
A major focus for visitors to my home town of Murray Bridge is the River Murray. As it is Australia’s largest river most tourists inevitably head for the the river for a significant part of their holiday in the region. There are so many ways to have a really relaxing time near or on the river, including:
- picnics
- fishing
- canoeing
- boating
- water skiing
- sailing (yes -there is a sailing club here)
- restaurant boats
- cruise boats
- house boat cruises
- birdwatching
- photography
- walking trails
Picnics
Even though I live in Murray Bridge, I have enjoyed many of the above activities. My wife and I often take a picnic lunch, or buy lunch from our favourite local bakery to take down to the river reserve to enjoy the peaceful river environment. It has been many years since we last tried to catch fish, but many people do enjoy this relaxing pastime. Our favourite canoeing spot is near the Swanport Reserve. Birdwatching and photography have also been a favourite activity for me (see my birding blog here).
Sailing and Canoeing
I have only tried sailing on the river once. This was near Swanport Reserve just south of the town where the river has a long straight stretch of water over 100 metres wide. It was on a two person, twin-hulled catamaran. This proved to be an exhilarating experience heightened somewhat by the timidity of my sailing partner for the afternoon. Both of us were first-timers yet we managed to keep the craft upright and did not suffer the indignity of a dunking. Years ago we also canoed several times in this part of the river.
River Cruises
These days one has a choice of several different ways to cruise the river in larger boats. House boating is very popular with visitors but I have only ever been on one, and only then for an hour or so, not to sleep on board. I have been on several cruise boats. These cruises can extend from an hour or two to a whole day and several even have weekend or week long cruises. I’ve been on several of the shorter trips and these are always very relaxing with great food and a wonderful platform to experience a different perspective of the river environs, including the bird life.
Noisy Miner at Swanport Reserve
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The Bunyip, Murray Bridge
7 Comments »24th June, 2006; Category: Murray River
Murray Bridge has a few claims to fame. For example, the first bridge over the River Murray was opened in 1879. The local rowing eights team, the Cods, represented Australia in the 1924 Paris Olympics. There is one claim to fame, however, that usually goes unnoticed by many.
The only captive bunyip is on display at Sturt Reserve on the river bank near the CBD. It lives in a specially constructed watery cave near the playground. Little is known about the habits of this mythical creature, and until a few years ago it was not known whether we had a male of female. That debate was laid to rest when a baby mysteriously appeared.
Now I don’t have a photo of this amazing animal and its offspring. It is quite easy to get to see them but it does require a small sacrifice. On placing a coin in the appropriate slot one is treated to quite a performance. I’m not sure that taking a photo is the right thing to do – it might just take offence and grab the camera from my grasp. It’s not worth the risk.
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If you are interested in finding out more about this wonderful creature go to these special pages:
- Bunyips – enter the lair of the bunyip if you dare – stories, photos, pictures, games and other interactive stuff.
So the next time you visit Murray Bridge, pay a visit to the Bunyip and her little one – if you dare!
Swanport Reserve, Murray Bridge
Picnic at Swanport Reserve, Murray Bridge
We are fortunate here in Murray Bridge to have a number of delightful parks and reserves to enjoy. One of my favourites is Swanport Reserve about 5km south of the CBD. This reserve is right next to the River Murray (in the background of the above photo) and provides a safe lawned area for the children to play, plenty of shady trees for those warmer days and a safe beach for swimming. One section of the beach is reserved for fishing.
Abundant bird life
This reserve is just downstream from the Swanport Bridge which was opened in 1979. It is also opposite the Swanport Wetlands, a haven for water birds. One of the things I like about having picnics at this reserve is for the bird life. Pelicans, cormorants, swamphens, moorhens, swallows, terns, gulls abound, while in the gum trees (eucalypts) of the picnic grounds one can see Peaceful Doves, honeyeaters, Magpies, Magpie Larks, parrots and kingfishers. In nearby bushes I have sometimes been lucky and seen some Superb Blue Wrens, the bright blue of the males shining brilliantly in the Australian sunshine. More often than not I only hear them.
For more about birds check out my birding blog (click here)
River traffic
One of the relaxing aspects of spending a relaxing few hours at this reserve is the passing river traffic. On any given day there are fishing boats, speed boats towing water-skiers, canoes, small yachts,houseboats and large tourist boats, like the one shown in the photo below.
Boat on the River Murray at Swanport Reserve
Sturt Reserve, Murray Bridge
No Comments »18th June, 2006; Category: Murray River
PS Madam Jade
The PS Madam Jade has been moored at Sturt Reserve in my home town of Murray Bridge for some time now. The Jade is a trading boat, with all kinds of second-hand items for sale. It is one of several boats moored in the port of Murray Bridge. There are several boats available for short morning, lunch time or afternoon cruises on the river. Several even have full catering facilities. Several other larger boats take tourists on weekend or five day cruises upstream.
Relaxing Cruises
Having been on several of these cruises over the years I can say from experience that a cruise on the river is an excellent way to spend a few hours. The passing panorama of houses picnic grounds and dairy farms is always interesting. The birdlife on this stretch of the river is prolific. Pelicans, swans, whistling kites, gulls and terns make up only a few of the species one can witness on a boat trip.
First Boats
The first boats used on the river were carved from the bark of the eucalypt trees by the original inhabitants, the Aborigines. I don’t know of any canoe trees in the immediate vicinity of Murray Bridge. The closest I know of is on a tree near the road to Goolwa, about 45 minutes drive away.
Early Explorers
The first European contact with this area was the small group of explorers led by Captain Charles Sturt. Sturt had explored the Murrumbidgee and Darling rivers before finding his small boat in the river he named the Murray River. On February 8th 1830 Sturt and his crew camped on the bank of the river near where the PS Madam Jade is moored. The area is now known as Sturt Reserve and is only a gentle five minute stroll from the CBD of Murray Bridge.
Picnics
Both locals and visitors enjoy the facilities on the riverbank at Sturt Reserve. There is a lovely playground, extensive lawned area, barbecue facilities and three land restaurants in addition to the restaurants on the boats. Every few weeks my wife and I take a picnic lunch to a favourite spot of ours along the river front. It is so relaxing just watching the river craft pass by and the passing parade of birds.