A weekend in June (winter) in the Clare Valley 2016-7
We spent a long weekend in Clare alongside the Riesling Trail... Two of our daughters came too, we
hired 2 of the Riesling Trail cottages, one for us and a larger one for the daughters and husbands.
The weather was wet travelling to Clare, but stayed fine for the weekend so we had a very enjoyable
time together.
Melrose and nearby towns in May 2016
Various towns in the Melrose area, including Booleroo Centre, Orroroo, Pt. Germein and the Germein Gorge
after a 4 day expedition in May 2016 with our old friends.
Winter Weekend in Clare and Burra 2015
This particular weekend we stayed in a B/B on the Riesling Trail... a great spot for walking/riding
as you can see from some of my photos which follow...
Traversing the picturesque Clare Valley wine region, the Riesling Trail is one of the first rail-trails to be developed in South Australia. Developed by the Office for Recreation and Sport and the Clare Valley community,
the trail runs for 27-kilometres along the old Riverton to Spalding railway line.
The trail runs between the towns of Clare and Auburn - approximately two hours drive north of Adelaide. It is well compacted,
making it suitable for recreational walkers, off-road bicycles, wheelchairs and pushers. Named after the grape and wine variety that the region is famous for, the Riesling Trail travels past many
cellar doors and other visitor attractions, making it ideal for those wanting a leisurely walk with a distraction or two!
Kangaroo Island, a coast with the most! 2011
Sea-lions basking on white beaches, koalas dozing in lofty eucalyptus, pelicans soaring over shimmering lagoons..Kangaroo Island is a pristine wilderness. All the photos were taken early Winter. Two cameras were in use, the Canon and the Lumix depending on how far we were walking.
The Lumix photos are easily differentiated in this gallery by the wider border.
Port Broughton, Fisherman's Bay & Port Germein
These 3 beaches are in the northern reaches of the Gulfs of South Australia. We
visited briefly in August 2010.
Cullulleraine - Mildura - Trentham Cliffs - Wentworth - Karoonda; winter 2008
We did a lightning trip up to Mildura with some old friends of ours and spent a delightful afternoon on a river boat called "Kookaburra" with friends who live in Mildura.
Beginning this gallery as a BLOG until there's too many photos to scroll.
Birdlife on the Murray-Darling river systems 2008
We were very lucky to spend an afternoon on a delightful tourist boat,
quietly slipping along with so many birds to see
Mildura and the Riverland towns of South Australia
Mildura is a bit of a favourite spot with us for a week's holiday. The last couple of years we've driven up to Mildura with some old friends and stayed a few days. The photos were taken in the Australian WINTER.
Little towns on the Yorke Peninsula
A skinny peninsula down in the southern central area of Australia.
Tothill Ranges, Conservation Park, Porter's Lagoon.
Where farming land meets the station country.
The River Murray
This river is our life-blood - we live in the driest state in the driest continent. During
the summer months we often need to top up our water supply by pumping water from the Murray.
We spent a day by the side of the river and here are a few photos.
~ Try the SLIDE SHOW option ~
The country road
Farming in Australia - beginning with a selection of photos taken on a small family operated grain farm & surrounding area. Every year we drive up to our friends to collect a load of pea-straw
to use as a mulch in our rose garden. Interesting to compare the dry 2004 with a very wet 2005!
UPDATED Sept. 2007 with a few photos taken in the little township of BALAKLAVA.
UPDATED October 2019 a day trip to see an open garden north of Kapunda.
Southern Australian Shores
White sands & wide quiet beaches
Ruston Roses of Renmark
The largest rosefields in the Southern Hemisphere with 50,000 (4,000 different types) rose bushes. Roses grown for the florist trade, weddings, rose shows, budwood etc.
http://www.postcards.sa.com.au/features/rustons_roses.html
http://www.wilmap.com.au/renmark.html
River, billabong & bird sanctuary
Southern Australia relies on one river - the water used for irrigation, recreation and drinking. Here are a few photos taken during a short vacation near the banks of the River Murray.
...Once a jolly swagman camped by a billabong
under the shade of a coolibah tree...
and he sang as she shoved that jumbuk in his tuckabag
you'll come a-waltzin' matilda with me...
Portland Victoria (Australia)
A deep sea port mid-way between 2 capital cities. An important industrial and commercial centre, a popular summer resort with good beaches, surfing, fishing and outstanding coastal & forest scenery.
Home to the largest rose nursery in Australia ---http://www.treloarroses.com.au/index.html
To see more photos of Portland Victoria, go to-- http://www.pbase.com/magpiesyear
Mildura in the winter 2006
About 400-kms inland by the side of the mighty River Murray an inland city and hub of the outback towns both sides of the state border of Victoria/New South Wales. We were there June 11th to 16th 2006 and visited several spots on the river, visited a spot where the River Darling meets the Murray and the Inland Botanic Gardens which features dryland plant life and a myriad of birds besides a huge rose garden with thousands of roses...
A couple of photos taken at Trentham winery can be found http://www.pbase.com/yvonneii/trentham
Historic Mintaro.
Established in the 1850's as a stopping post for the teams transporting copper from Burra to Port Wakefield. Homes and public buildings were constructed to provide services to these teams. The town's historical significance was recognised in the 1980's when it received a State Heritage listing. Many of the individual buildings which you can visit and where you can stay are on the State Heritage register. A quiet little hamlet with a population approximately 80.
Burra & the Burra Gorge
Now a nature reserve where once the Ngadjuri people wandered alongside the Burra-Burra Creek several kilometers out of the old heritage Copper township of Burra. Back in 1845 a couple of shepherds discovered copper which caused a population expansion. Men women and children lived in tiny dugouts in the banks of the Burra Creek. Scots, Cornish, Welsh and English lived in tiny separate villages. Trees were stripped to feed the furnaces and smelting works.
We spent an afternoon enjoying the ambience of the gorge - and I had my camera with me.
Barossa area - home to early German settlers.
Beginning with the Herbig Family Tree - which is still standing & is estimated to be
about 400 years old. Friederich Herbig began establishing his rough but cosy home in
1855. He continued living in the tree for 3 years then married in 1858. They continued
living in the tree with the first 2 of their 16 children. By 1860 a 3rd child was
on the way, they decided to build a pine & pug hut followed a stone cottage at a later
date as their family increased.
I have started a new gallery, see here http://www.pbase.com/yvonneii/late_wint_barossa_09
Here's a link re the history of the area ...http://www.southaustralianhistory.com.au/barossa.htm