NORTH EAST VICTORIA
Life has been a struggle for many people this year. Covid19 has meant holiday plans have been thrown into disarray.
Caravans have been left to sit idle! Tourist towns have been devoid of tourists.
The Victorian regional areas were allowed to travel sooner than residents of Metro Melbourne, but must remain in our home state. And soon those metro Melbourne residents will be able to hitch those vans up and leave the city behind.
It was a very easy decision for us to decide that it was time to pack our caravan and head out for some rest and relaxation.
North East Victoria is an area bursting with a variety of attractions. The hardest choice is which town is the best one for your base.
We chose Myrtleford; a town which we were curious to explore.
There are still many Tobacco kilns to be seen
standing tall on farms. This one is in Rotary Park.
It is only a bit over 3 hours from Bendigo and is easily reached after turning off the Hume freeway. We had a incident free run from Bendigo, with first stop at Rushworth Bakery, with a tasty coffee and bakery goodies to sustain us along the way.
As you continue on your journey the road is narrow and not in great condition. And when you are approaching the bridge in Murchison, if you have a UHF, it pays to let the truckies know which direction you are heading over as it is a tight squeeze for both truck and caravan. And the truckies will appreciate it, so be prepared for them to cross before you take your turn and head over the Goulburn River.
There are some welcoming stops between Bendigo and the north east and Violet Town is one of them. The toilets are always clean, and the staff in the shops are friendly. And ladies, I have bought a couple of nice bits of clothing from the dress shop.
Once you swing onto the Hume freeway it is an easy north east run along the asphalt ribbon, but the road is busy, so you will be constantly passed by all manner of vehicular traffic. No worries as a holiday break beckons.
The scenery in the North East is breath taking. Mountain ranges pop up from the horizon, green grass is in abundance. And take note of the produce available along the way. There is wine, berries, vegetables and meat to name just a few.
We checked into the Myrtleford Holiday Park. A caravan park which is just a few short steps from a supermarket.
https://myrtlefordholidaypark.com.au/
We set up on a large grassed site, close to the amenities, which are dated, but very clean and spacious. Apparently a new amenities block is happening soon. Masks do not have to be worn on your site but if you are heading to the amenities block or taking a walk, then yes you must wear them. And sanitiser is positioned at doors to use on entry and exit. The staff are friendly and will freely offer any information. The local swimming pool, bowling green and tennis courts are directly next door so if you are after some physical activity then you are well catered for. And cycling is a popular pastime as the town is criss- crossed by bike trails.
Our first day was spent at Milawa. Morning tea at the bakery, where we met up with our friends ,Lorraine and Terry and planned our day. And it was decided that we only needed to take one car so we gratefully climbed in the Pajero, and Terry was our tour driver.
First stop was Milawa cheese.
https://www.milawacheese.com.au/
No product tasting due to Covid19 but you could purchase a tasting plate. It was a difficult choice as to which cheeses to purchase, but after some discussion we had quite an array in hand; and an acacia wood cheese board as well. Good cheese needs to be displayed nicely even if you are caravanning! So armed with our little travel platter we headed to our next destination. Brown Brothers here we come.
https://www.brownbrothers.com.au/
Some beautiful old brick buildings at
Brown Brothers
I have always been a huge fan of Brown Brothers wine so I was very excited to actually be at their winery. You might say that "I was like a kid in a lolly shop "! We knew the quality of the wines that we wished to purchase , and as there was no tasting due to Covid19, our choices were very easy. So boxes containing Cienna and Processco were loaded up in the rear of Terry and Lorraine's car and off we went.
https://www.hurdlecreekstill.com.au/
We did not have any idea where our next stop was going to be, but Gin was mentioned. Mmmm, where were we going, a local pub perhaps. But a drive through the lush farming area soon had us traversing a dirt driveway and into the property that housed Hurdle Creek distillery. Sadly, again, Covid 19 has prevented tastings but a small sample box containing a variety of flavours has been created for purchase. I have never been tempted to taste gin but could not help but buy some to taste at a later time. Maybe it was a memory of my Father that pushed me, as I was quite taken by a crop of fennel by the door. This was a plant that my Father grew in abundance back in the 1980's and is now quite popular, and at Hurdle Creek, is used as a flavouring in gin.
The history of this small business is quite interesting and I congratulate the owners for following their passion and wish them all the best.
If you are in the area, take some time out and explore Milawa as their is a diverse range of food and drink to tempt the taste buds.
We wrapped up our day sitting on the verandah of Terry and Lorraine's accommodation in Whorourly, while tasting our spoils and enjoying the surroundings.
Mt Buffalo has always been in our sights: all those years of driving up and down the Hume Freeway, it has loomed on the easterly horizon. So this holiday is the one, the one where we will finally visit the mountain.
Comfy shoes, food, water and suitable clothes are all a necessity. The weather can change quickly, and the higher up you get, the cooler the air. The scenery is stunning; tree ferns, big bare rocks, tall trees and surging water falls.
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| The launch pad for the Hang Gliders |
Gotta love Australia's landscape.
There are plenty of marked walks and signs heading to points of interest. The road surface is solid but drive with caution as there are hair pin bends and steep drop offs, and be prepared to share it with mountain bike enthusiasts. Also the nearer you to get to the top the rougher it becomes and the bitumen disappears and it is only a dirt surface. The grand old lady, the chalet, was a must visit and the little coffee cart was doing a roaring trade.
The Chalet
Driving up to the Horn was where you could see the devastation from the recent bushfires. The dead trees showed the nudity of the landscape. Tree trunks stood naked for all too see. No sounds of birds and no animals seen scurrying away from unwelcome tourists. The air was cool and crisp and the view went for ever. But you could see the harshness of our land. It brought a feeling of sadness wondering about the cruelty of bushfires.
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Lake Catani
There is a great deal of history in this region and much of the scenery is testament to the life that the old timers lived. A small cemetery in the Buckland Valley gives an insight to some of the sadness endured. The mounds which are scattered throughout the bush show the difficulties faced in the race to find that elusive gold nugget.
For the tourist there is much to do and plenty to explore in the Myrtleford region whether it be by car or bike. We certainly did not see it all. And each season would bring a different range of activities to keep you entertained . So plan a visit and enjoy the hospitality of this beautiful region of Victoria.
The Buckland River
Happy travels
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