Wrapping Up

During our last couple of days of this trip we got both kayaks out on the lake.

We also drove to the quaint little lakeside town of  Metung where we found some out of the way places thanks to our desire to find all the geocaches the town had to offer. There was only one we could not locate. Walking down one little walking track a local on his moored yacht commented that they don't often get people down that way. That trek was worth it for the view at the end!

We looked around town as well before heading back to Lakes Entrance where we again enjoyed fish n chips overlooking the water, with the usual audience... then we walked over the road for ice creams.

The kids tried the pool again. The weather was a few degrees hotter, so they lasted longer although I suspect the water was still very cold.

On the final morning, I got up early and had a last fly of the drone over the road from the caravan park. It was perfectly still and I got these photos:

We drove home, stopping in Rosedale for morning tea where we admired this grand old tree.

Soon after, we stocked up on some vegies at a farm shop near Trafalgar... where we also found these giant fork'n potatoes!

Leaving the main highway we had lunch in Neerim South before heading home via the Yarra Valley, with the mind already starting to think about where to for the next trip!

Highs and Lows

Another couple of great days exploring which took us both high and low.

After a very colourful sunrise and breakfast we drove the 45 minute journey north to Buchan. We bought tickets for the 10am tour of Fairy Cave.

The caves were 'discovered' over 100 years ago by Frank Moon and have been popular with tourists ever since. European line the valley, which at this time of year are quite colourful. There is a big wooden entrance way and signage that is reminiscent of an American national park.  A lot of that stems from it's development a hundred years ago. It is said that Frank Moon 'felt a breeze coming from between two rocks'... so what did he do? He immediately got himself some dynamite and detonated it... that is how he discovered Fairy Cave! The cave was named because of the sparkly nature of many of its stalactites which look like a fairy world.

We enjoyed the 45 minute tour led by a bearded Andrew! He told us all about Mr Moon and his daughter, Fairy Moon... yes, Fairy Moon. Fairy Moon got married in Fairy cave.

After the cave tour we looked around the park area, including climbing up the Moon Hill walk. We enjoyed lunch at a picnic table under the autumnal trees. After looking in the visitors centre we left Buchan.

Driving through Nowa Nowa we took a detour to drive to the top of Mt Nowa Nowa. A steep dirt track led us to the top which had both an old fire observation tour used up until the 1960s and a modern equivalent complete with satellite dishes and mobile phone transmitters. The view north was over rugged mountains extending to the Snowy Mountains. They were a shade of dark blue.

This marked the literal 'high' point of the day, after the 'lows' of the caving this morning! After a nice cuppa' back at the caravan we decided we could handle some more action for the day, so we set out on the 4.8 km return walk across the footbridge and along to 'The Entrance'. It's a man made entrance cut between the Gippsland Lakes, through the Ninety Mile Beach to allow boats to access the ocean beyond. Because it's man made, nature likes to intervene and it is constantly being filled again with sand, so dredging is a full time job to keep the entrance viable. One of the crewmen on 'Pam' the other afternoons said that the money spent on dredging could have lined the entrance with gold!

It was a pleasant walk, which took in sandy tracks, coastal views,lots of bird life, some old cottages that are still privately owned, before depositing us at the entrance.

The ocean was very rough, with plenty of white foam. The water churned in the entrance area. Out on the stone / concrete barrier that is one side of the entrance we saw up to four seals frolicking in the water! It became a photo op again, like the dolphins, trying to predict when and where the creatures would appear back at the surface!

The walk back was done around sunset which added a whole different light to the walk! A big day, of literal highs and lows, all of it great fun!

Golf Balls & Pearls

This morning we went out looking for a little mini golf fun. Lakes Entrance has around 4 or 5 mini golf places, so the choice was a difficult one... until we located a free game voucher in one of the geocaches we'd found a few days ago. So it was off to Footbridge Mini Golf where we enjoyed a round of 18 holes. At the end is the traditional 19th hole... but this involved dropping your golf ball into one of those side show clown mouths as it rotated from side to side. Everyone was a winner... Jet got the 'Seafood Platter' which was a small packet of jellied lollies in the shape of seafood! The kids also won lollies. The owner asked what I was hoping for... number 4 I replied as that was a free ice cream - a real ice cream. I got the 4 and enjoyed a nice ice cream in a cone!

Earlier in the week, while wandering along the waterfront admiring the various boats, I had noticed the 'Pam' and old Broome Pearl Lugger. They offered sunset cruises. We'd inquired and booked ourselves in for a trip. Today was the day!

From their website this is summary of Pam's interesting history: 'Pam' is a beautiful old ship - built in 1902. Her original name was 'Dominion' and was one of around 200 pearl luggers operating in the waters off Broome WA, looking for the elusive pearls. Divers were sent down and it is said that about 1 in 1000 oysters were found with a pearl. So it was hard work for little reward. The 'Dominion' was damaged by a cyclone in 1924. Rebuilt, she was relaunched as Pam in 1926.  During WW2 Pam was requisitioned by the military. Any lugger not requisitioned was destroyed in order to stop them falling into enemy hands.

By 1960, Pam was a wreck on a beach in the NT. Fast forward to 1988 and she was purchased by Dan and Wendy McLay who had her trucked to Gippsland where a 22 year restoration was undertaken.

We were met at the dock by Wendy and Dan was on-board our voyage this evening.  What a great job they have done, she really is a fabulous vessel.  It was a great 'atmosphere' to explore the lakes!

Once out on the lakes, sails were raised. We enjoyed the journey with some drinks and nibblies we'd brought along. We heard some of the story of the Broome pearling history and got to see some examples of mother of pearl. Fascinating.

We got to Metung before turning around to head back to Lakes Entrance. The sun set behind us and two dolphins spent much of the return journey playing, swimming and jumping in our bow wave. What an experience!

We got back to the dock right on 6pm. A highlight of our holiday that we were so glad we'd done it! http://pearlluggercruises.com.au/