Swan Hill, Victoria
Our cabin, Swan Hill, Victoria
Our holiday in Victoria
September 2007
Our next overnight stay was at a caravan park in Swan Hill. This delightful town is located on the banks of the River Murray in north-west Victoria. This town is predominantly a service centre for the surrounding farming districts. Tourism is becoming increasingly important too. The cabin we stayed was very nice though rather on the expensive side compared to some we had hired.
Caravan Park, Swan Hill, Victoria
The caravan park is very pleasant and much of it fronts the bank of the river. It is also only a short distance from the Historic Village. We didn’t have time to visit this village on this trip. I’ll share photos of our visit some years ago when I get around to it. I know I have plenty of photographic slides of this tourist village. The replica village is a living museum paying tribute to the early settlers of the area. It also features the importance of the river boat trade before the advent of the railway.
PS Pyap, Swan Hill, Victoria
Reedy Lake Ibis Rookery, Kerang, Victoria (part 2)
Purple Swamphens, Kerang, Victoria
Our holiday in Victoria
September 2007
The Ibis rookery just out of Kerang in northern Victoria has a well appointed bird hide, complete with a very good telescope. This birding hot spot is always worth a visit, and every time we drive through this area I plan to stop there, have a cup of tea and do a spot of birding. Literally thousands of Straw-necked and White Ibis roost and nest in this area, along with a good range of other waterbirds, such as Purple Swamphens, Pelicans, Egrets, Herons and a range of bush birds and birds of prey like eagles, hawks and kites.
Reedy Lake Ibis Rookery, Kerang, Victoria
Reedy Lake Ibis Rookery, Kerang, Victoria
Reedy Lake Ibis Rookery, Kerang, Victoria
Kerang Bird Hide, Victoria
Our holiday in Victoria
September 2007
From Gisborne we travelled north to Bendigo. This is a beautiful city in the gold fields region of Victoria. There are many historic buildings and places in this rural city, but we had only enough time to visit a native plant nursery – my wife’s passion – and to have lunch in one of the parks.
The historic heritage of this city and the natural beauty of the area deserve more than just a quick drive through. It deserves a week or two of exploration, camera in hand. We did have an extended holiday there many years ago. I must have some photographic slides of the city that will be worth digging out and showing here sometime.
As we drove north from Bendigo we were stunned by how the drought had affected the northern parts of the state. A few kilometres out of Bendigo it was as if someone had drawn a line across the road. The rain stopped at that line. Vegetation in the paddocks north of there were bare of feed for the sheep and cattle, despite it being the middle of spring. The fields should have been lush with pasture.
Just out of the town of Kerang we stopped for a half hour to visit the Reedy Lake Ibis Rookery. Every time we use this road I make a point of stopping here for a cuppa and a spot of birding.
Reedy Lake Ibis Rookery, Kerang, Victoria
More Scenes of Melbourne, Victoria
Melbourne, Victoria
September 2007
A few more photos taken in the Melbourne CBD during our visit last year.
Melbourne, Victoria
Scenes of Melbourne, Victoria
Melbourne CBD
Our holiday in Victoria
September 2007
During our stay with friends in Gisborne just north of Melbourne last year we drove into the CBD on the Sunday. We went to a gallery to see a photographic exhibition and then found somewhere for lunch. After lunch John drove us around some of the western part of the city where we had never been before.
Melbourne CBD