Saturday 14th March 2009

It rained overnight and blew a gale.   Luckily we packed all the gear away and rolled up the awning last night before it got dark cause I read about the weather report on the Internet.  We went into town this morning and had a coffee on the 'Cappuccino Strip' on Bentinck Street, near the foreshore of the harbour.  Afterwards we drove out to the Gannets Rookery near the Aluminium Smelters.  It is supposedly easy to find but we drove past the turn-off twice. We finally found the dirt track that led to the car park.  We then walked to a lookout point and could just see the birds about 200m away on a cliff overlooking the ocean. The area is fenced off and patrolled by special guard dogs to prevent interference by humans.  Good thing I had the long lens on the camera.  Might be able to see the birds if you look carefully!!  Point Danger is Australia's only mainland colony of Australasian Gannets.

Gannets Rookery, Point Danger.

Lawrence Rocks, near Point Danger.

We then went back into town and hopped on the Historical Cable Tram which took us for a ride along the foreshore to the Powerhouse Motor and Car Museum.  We got off at the Botanical Gardens instead as we have seen enough museums for the time being.  Every town we visit has one!!  After a walk around the Gardens we hopped back on the tram for the return journey.  It began to rain and everyone got wet.  So much for sitting on the sundeck, lol!!  We spent the rest of the afternoon after lunch back at the CP and had a nap. 

Walking through the Enchanted Forest	Customs House, Portland, still used today.
Starlings join us for morning coffee.	The Portland historic Tram

Sunday 15th March 2009

We packed up this morning in between the rain squalls and headed for Port Fairy about 65kms away.  It only took us 45 minutes to get there  at 1030am.  I was a bit worried that we may have been a bit early to get in the van park but it was no problem and we were set up in the Gardens Family Park just in time to go into town for a look around and then have some Sunday lunch.  Port Fairy is pretty small but interesting with a lot of history.  The wharf area is very commercialised and there were some nice looking boats in there as well.  The seas were pretty rough outside the harbour so there was not much boating movement.  Weather forecast is for strong gales today and tonight.  

One thing we didn't plan on was for the TV to pack up today.  It worked ok in Portland this morning before leaving, but when I put it on to test it in Port Fairy, it didn't work.  Making strange clicking noises though!  We will be with out TV for the rest of the trip.  Oh no, what will we do in the evenings!!  Play cards, read books, talk!!!  Now we will have missed two episodes of the 'Underbelly' and Geraldine can't do without her 'Miami Vice'.  On the good side, we have the latest C&M magazine which came with a DVD of Tassie.  Will watch this on the laptop.

Port Fairy boat Harbour	The Boat Harbour
Port Fairy Lighthouse on Griffiths Island	A 34 pounder cannon
The Royal Oak Hotel, Port Fairy.	Port Fairy Lighthouse.

Monday 16th March 2009

Woke up late and had an early brunch!  Today we toured the Tower Hill State Game Reserve which is  found between Port Fairy and Warnambool.  It is classified a 'Maar Crater', being formed about 30,000 years ago by violent steam driven volcanic explosions.  When rising hot magma contacts water within the limestone, steam is formed and the pressure blows the top off , forming a wide crater. After the eruption the water may return to form a lake.  Tower Hill is one of the best preserved 'maars' in the world.  There are numerous lookouts and an Interpretive Centre and picnic area within the crater.  You can drive your car through the crater surrounded by picturesque  flora and fauna.

On the way back to Port Fairy we stopped at Killarney Beach.  The mysterious 'Mahogany Ship' wreck is supposedly hidden under the sand dunes in this area.  We didn't find it!!  When we arrived back in Port Fairy we decided to walk the Griffith Island reserve to the Lighthouse,  whilst the wind had died down.  The island is home to a large colony of mutton birds that arrive in late September from the Aleutian Islands near Alaska for breeding.  In late April the birds leave again for the northern hemisphere.  

The Tower Hill 'Maar' crater	Geraldine points to volcanic rock on the beach
A Gull with .......food!	A windy day!

Tuesday 17th March 2009 (St Patrick's Day)

We left Port Fairy behind and drove to Naracoorte in S.A. via Hamilton, Coleraine, Casterton and Penola.   The roads were in excellent condition for secondary country roads. There was a small detour of 5kms near Hamilton as the road was closed for some unknown reason.  We saw the golden arches in Hamilton so pulled over and had our coffee break there.   After that, the journey was uneventful. We stopped and looked at the Wannon Falls but it was dry.  After passing through Penola we drove through the Coonawarra Wineries Region and then turned off the highway at the Naracoorte Caves sign.  There is a camping ground in the National Park so we decided to stay there instead of a CP in town.  There are about 8 caravan sites with power/water located in the camp ground.  Cost is $13 per person per night.  We are only staying one night so that we can see the Caves.  Luckily we arrived at the NP Information Centre just in time to join the 2.15pm tour of the Victoria Fossil Cave.  The Naracoorte Caves National Park has several caves within the park and is now a World Heritage Area and Australian Fossil Mammal Site.  The tour lasted about an hour and took us 18m under ground and 250m into the cave.  The tour guide gave us interesting information about the history and management of the park and the caves.  We also saw a Uni student working in one of the fossil areas of the cave.  Afterwards we looked at another cave by ourselves as this one (The Wet Cave) is a self guided tour.   There is also the Wanambi Fossil Centre which had various prehistoric mammals displays and brings to life the mega fauna fossils found in the caves.

On returning to the camp ground we prepared dinner and rested in the evening listening to music on the radio and I worked on the website.

Wannon Falls, near Casterton.	Stalactites hang from the ceiling of the cave.
Looking down into the Wet Cave.	Naracoorte Caves National Park
Sample of the fossils found	Working a fossil dig.

Wednesday 18th March 2009

Morning mist covered the paddocks around the campground when I woke up this morning.  It was only 7c,  when I dragged myself to the showers before the school kids took all the hot water.  I needn't have worried as they were all still in bed hiding in their sleeping bags no doubt.  Originally we had planned two days in Naracoorte, but because we had seen the caves the first day, I came up with the idea that we could head for Adelaide, but stop for a couple of days in Mannum instead, before finishing off this trip on Friday.  So off we went following the road through Keith, Padthaway (another winery region), Coonalpyn, Tailem Bend and Murray Bridge before turning right and heading for Mannum.

Arrived in Mannum around 2pm and set up in the caravan park adjacent to the river ferry.   We walked into town and looked at the shops but found we didn't need anything really so walked back to the van and had a tea break. We watched the Mannum Ferry operate in the evening. Even though the river is lower this year because of the ongoing drought, it did not appear to effect the operation of the ferry. They operate 24/7 at no cost to the vehicle owner.  

Not planning anything in particular for these couple of days as I have planned to come back here later in the year for a week.   Just a rest period to get over all the travel we have done in the last two weeks.   Getting used to no TV at night.  We sit around and read or listen to the radio, whilst I work on the website and process the photos we take each day.  Typical caravan park, everybody disappears inside their vans at night to watch TV, not a soul about!!  

Sunrise over the campground at Naracoorte Caves National Park	The mist slowly rises over the fields
The Mannum Ferry works 24/7	Mannum Ferry
Mannum Ferry unloading	Paddle Steamer 'Marion'

Mural at Mannum Caravan Park	Map of the region.
Ferry	Mannum from Lookout
Houseboat near Big Bend	Murray River near Swan Reach

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