Mt Macedon War Memorial, Victoria
Mt Macedon War Memorial
Our holiday in Victoria
September 2007
Yesterday I wrote about our visit to Mt Macedon in Victoria. This prominent mountain about an hour’s drive north of Melbourne is covered in natural bushland near the top. The foothills are largely occupied by large expensive houses.
On reaching the car park at the summit visitors can take a short five minute stroll to the War Memorial (shown in the photo above). This memorial pays tribute to the many Australians who fought and died in the First World War. Every ANZAC Day a dawn service is held at this cross.
Mt Macedon, Victoria
View from Mt Macedon Victoria
Our holiday in Victoria
September 2007
While staying with our friends John and Lorraine in Gisborne (north of Melbourne) they took us on a day trip to Mt Macedon. This prominent mountain looks out over Melbourne in the distance. We could barely make out the tall buildings of the CBD of Melbourne because if the haze.
This was the second time we had been to this lookout. On both occasions I was disappointed with the bird life in the bushland near the lookout and restaurant. We must have just struck the area on a bad day. Anyway, despite the lack of wildlife, we really enjoyed our cup of tea in the restaurant near the lookout. If my memory is correct I had a hot chocolate.
Mt Macedon Victoria
Melbourne, Victoria
Melbourne CBD
Our holiday in Victoria
September 2007
After leaving Cranbourne Botanic Gardens we headed for Melbourne along the South Eastern Freeway.
Mistake.
Big, huge, terrible mistake.
Melbourne on a Friday evening can be gridlocked at the best of times. Throw in an AFL (Aussie Rules Football) Preliminary Final at the Melbourne Cricket ground and the whole city comes to halt. After several frustrating hours we eventually emerged at the northern end of the city and it was then plain sailing all the way to Gisborne where we were staying with friends of ours.
Wildflowers of Cranbourne Botanic Gardens
Wildflowers in Cranbourne Botanic Gardens
Our holiday in Victoria
September 2007
Cranbourne Botanic Gardens are about an hour drive south east of Melbourne (if there is no traffic hold up on the freeway). This was one of the main reasons we travelled along the southern coast of eastern Victoria. We had visited these gardens several times before, but not for many years. As it turned out, we only had about two hours there but we did manage to go for a walk through the bush area of the gardens. We didn’t have time to visit the new planted and landscaped area. That will have to wait until our next visit.
During this walk we managed to see a nice selection of native Australian plants. It was a little disappointing that few were in flower. This is probably because of the dry winter and the early timing of our visit. If we had delayed our visit by three to four weeks much more would have been in flower. All this means is that another visit sometime is a must.
Tall Greenhood orchid in the Cranbourne Botanic Gardens
Bandicoots in Cranbourne Botanic Gardens
No Comments »27th February, 2008; Category: Animals, Botanic Gardens, Holidays, Parks and Gardens, Victoria
Sign in the Cranbourne Botanic Gardens, Victoria
Our holiday in Victoria
September 2007
On a previous visit some years ago to the Cranbourne Botanic Gardens south east of Melbourne we were delighted to see a Southern Brown Bandicoot near the picnic area. On this visit I was hopeful of seeing one again, this time with my camera at the ready. Last time we were so excited at seeing this lovely nocturnal animal out in the bright sunshine that we forgot to take a photo – despite having the camera in my hand!
I was not disappointed. In fact, we saw several bandicoots during our walk. On returning to the car we were pleased to have one hopping around our feet while we had a drink and something to eat. In went under and around the car and our feet as if we were not there. I had to be careful backing the car out of its parking spot for fear of running it over.
Southern Brown Bandicoot, Cranbourne Botanic Gardens