Judy & Brian Tour Oz

Holbrook NSW 17 April 2019 We left Ballarat this morning, determined not to take the short-cut across to Seymour, or the wimp's way via north Melbourne. Instead we struck out for Bendigo, following the Midlands Highway (almost a misnomer, I'm sure) until we reached Bendigo. Determined to take a rest we tried to follow the Caravan Parking signs only to end up back in the city centre again. Giving up we headed out of town until we reached a nice little park next to Lake Weeroona, on the outskirts, where they thoughtfully provided parking exclusively for vehicles over 7 metres. We stopped, bought refreshments, the children ran amok in the playgrounds and we took a rest before heading out across country toward Violet Town. The road is not a shocker, but it's not great, being uneven, bumpy and narrow in parts. We were all very releived after the 107km to reach Violet Town where we patronised the only shop opn and had some lunch. Two minutes east of town and you are back on t...

A bit of  a grey and gloomy day - the temperature has plunged to 15 or so,  so to brighten things up, a tram ride is order. We choose to go to the Central Deborah Gold Mine end, but as we've done a few mine tours over the years, a 75 minute walk through this old mine didn't really appeal Central Deborah Gold Mine. Bendigo Victoria Instead we bought our tram ticket and waited for 302 to arrive, which it did in only a few minutes. Ding! Ding! Talking Tram. Bendigo Victoria It's a beautifully restored 1925 'Birney Safety Car'' tram built by Brill of Philadelphia, USA and originally seen in service in Adelaide in these colours and with this number. The remaining railway kept for us tourists goes from the mine, up the main road, past the cathedral : Sty Mary's Cathedral Bendigo Victoria and then the Alexandra Fountain on Pall Mall named after the Princess of Wales (in 1881) : Alexandra Fountain,  Bendigo Victoria and into the old depot...

Bendigo March 23, 2015 Last ones (well, almost) out of the van park this morning, funny how easily one slips back into ones old but not so bad habits! Anyhow, we headed south down the Long Track (Hume Highway to you), fuelled up at Albury and continued on to the Violet Town turnoff. We stopped in this little town for a rest - too late really for coffee and definitely too early for lunch - so settled on the coffee and a muffin instead. More motorbikes lined up in front of us. It seems that the Ulysses motorcycle clan is all descending on Wodonga for their annual meet and show-off day. Some 5000 of them reputedly going. Will there be enough Chardonnay in town for them all? Here’s one man’s ride: Worlds Flashiest Indian. Violet Town Vic Here’s a few more, talk about doing it tough: Violet Town Vic From Violet Town one has to wend and wiggle one’s way as always through the back-blocks of Victoria to get to a major city, Bendigo. Actually we had booked the v...