Daylesford, Victoria, Australia

Ah 2020. In a covid-free alternative universe we’d be traveling along the East Coast of Queensland this week, in a campervan, from Cairns down to Brisbane. C’est La Vie.

Instead we’re making the most of some of Melbourne’s winter sun, by taking a long weekend road trip to Daylesford. Here are the highlights:

1) The Daylesford Hot Chocolate Company. It’s impossible for anywhere this cute not to be delicious.

2) Hepburn Mineral Springs Reserve. The kids loved shouting into the tunnels to hear the echos. We enjoyed pretending not to know them whilst sipping on the fizzy bubble water. You can help yourself and your own fill bottles from the old fashioned pump.

3) The Sunday Railway Markets

4) Trentham Falls

5) Hanging Rock, Mount Macedon. Technically not in Daylesford, but our trip was designed to visit it on the way.

A note on this…

I recently read Joan Lindsay’s novel Picnic at Hanging Rock. I liked the re-booted tv series. I was half tempted to shout ‘Miraaaaaannnndaaa’ when I arrived here today. The book is about 4 ficticious private school girls that mysteriously disappeared on Valentine’s Day 1900. This is the inspiration for thousands of visitors a year. I repeat: ficticious.‎‎
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But also, ‎

The rock’s aborigional name is believed to be ‘Ngannelong.’ It was an important ceremonial meeting place, and a significant landmark for business, song, dance, storytelling and rituals. Europeans invaded the region after 1770, massacred huge numbers of the aborigional population, and forcibly removed any survivors from their land. This is non-fiction.‎
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There’s a whole #mirandamustgo campaign which makes vital points about the whitewashing of history. I’m not sure if I agree that we should to erase either story, but I am re-learning to value both more equally, and re-learning how to separate convenient fiction and uncomfortable facts.

Pic of the week: Redwood Forest Warburton

A long weekend in Launceston….

Since Launceston is home to our daughter’s Grandma, it was the perfect location for an Anzac weekend family trip. As i’ve blogged before, Launceston is a great fix for any faint homesickness, since, as one of the first settlements, it’s architecture reminds me so much of England. It’s also one of the rare cities in Australia where the distances are nice enough to walk, as long as you can brave a few San Francisco-esq steep hills.

Fresh off the 50 min Saturday morning flight from Melbourne, we headed straight to Harvest Community Farmer’s Market in the centre of town, where we stock up on Kombucha, organic sourdough and quite possible the best salted caramel brownies in the world. This was followed by Evendale Sunday market. Here I picked up classic 80’s toys in mint condition for under $5 and a Nepalese yak bell, whose sound will forever fondly remind me of my Everest Base Camp adventures.

Amazingly (for parents of a 13 month old) we managed to time our weekend (and our baby’s afternoon nap) to coincide with the Fresh Hop Beer Festival. The rest of the time was spent visiting the fantastic Launceston Aquatic Centre, with it’s awesome toddler pool and water slides. Finally, a must do for anyone visiting Launy with kids; the macaque monkey enclosure at City Park. Again, coincidentally, next to the lovely Victoria Cafe where we sampled Tasmanian white wines and lounged on comfy beanbags in the Autumn sunshine.

 

Wilsons Promontory National Park, Australia

Tidal River is just a 3 hour drive out of Melbourne CBD (I’m thinking like an Australian now with my new attitude to distances!) It’s a perfect family campsite in the beautiful Victorian National Park that is Wilsons Prom. As well as great hiking and the shallow tide river for kids to play in, it has the best feature I’ve heard of in any campsite; an open air cinema! I also got to see my first wombat (although the kangaroo silhouette is steeling it’s limelight in above gallery photo, as its so much more photographic.)

We loved the nearby Squeaky Beach – named due to the sound of the sand squeaking under your feet. Our 11 month old loved every second of having dirt, water & sand to crawl around in. She looked beside herself with excitement when she realised we’d be sleeping outside under the stars. A true happy camper.

 

 

 

Pic of the week; Moonlight Cinema

A summer evening sing-a-long in Melbourne’s Botanical Garden.  Moonlight Cinema runs Dec – March. My tips are to bring a blanket & spring for a comfy beanbag. We saw 70’s classic Grease.