Mildura

After having spent the past week off grid since leaving Canberra, we made a booking at a Caravan Park in Mildura to get a few things done.   We made a couple more stops at free camps along the way - Mulberrygong and Yanga National Park.

Magnificent Eucalypt by our campsite at Mulberrygong on the Murrumbidgee River

Sunset view outside the van at Yanga National Park

Willows Campground, Yanga National Park

 

Judy had to pick up her new glasses in Mildura (which she ordered in Batemans Bay),  the car was booked in for a service and we just needed a restock of essentials.  As we drove into town, we turned left as advised by SATNAV, directly into an RBT.  There was a copper out on the main road selectively directing drivers down the left hand turn.  He didn't choose me to do so, I did!  When I pulled up, the copper said it wasn't often people volunteered to come in.

We paid a visit to 'Rio Vista', which is an historical home from the 19th century.  It has been morphed into the Mildura Arts Centre.  You can do a self guided tour through the house and art exhibitions.

 

Today, we took a trip to Wentworth which is a small historic town back over the border in NSW.  Apart from its historical significance, Wentworth is located at the junction of the Darling and Murray Rivers - the two longest rivers in the country.

 

Darling River in from the left into the Murray which can be seen in the background

Junction Park, Wentworth (from bank of the Murray River)

 

Perry Sand Hills, Wentworth

 

The Palms Caravan Park - our home in Mildura

We've decided, while we are "in the area", to divert our course to Lake Eyre.  We hope to coincide our visit with the incoming Queensland floodwaters.  

We will head westwards into South Australia and make a stopover in the Flinders Ranges along the way to Lake Eyre.

Murrumbidgee Chillin'

Heading along the Sturt Highway, we pulled into a free camp called Kohlhagens Beach.  It's a popular spot for Wagga Wagga locals about 20km to the west of town on the Murrumbidgee River.  

We arrived there Wednesday before Easter and pretty much had a free choice of where to set up camp.  
We chose a spot at the top of the beach.

 

Reflections!

 

We enjoyed perfect weather and with plenty of wildlife, it made a great place to chill for 3 days.

Cool fresh evenings worthy of a campfire each night...

I enjoyed the opportunity to explore the river banks and surrounding bush to take away a bag of small landscapes.

No shortage of beautiful huge eucalyptus trees along the Murrumbidgee

 

We left on Easter Saturday and headed further west.

"The Dog sits on the Tuckerbox"

Left Canberra and scooted down the Hume Highway for a one night stopover at a free camp on the bank of Morleys Creek in Gundagai.  

Just north of the town - I'd say 5 miles to be precise, we dropped in to check out the iconic dog and the tuckerbox on which it sat.

We took a stroll downtown and picked up some supplies on the way.

Next morning, at sun up, I had a poke around the campground area with camera in hand...

 From Gundagai, we headed off down the Hume and veered on to the A20 Sturt Highway westwards.

The Capital

We spent four days and nights in Canberra.

Saturday, we met up with friends, George and Mirielle for a beautiful lunch and lots of catching up.  Mirielle was one of Judy's tuckshop mums from back in Holy Spirit days in the 90's.  

Sunday, we had a booking at the National Museum to see the Pompeii Exhibition.  Prior to that, we took a drive up Mt Ainsley to catch a bird's eye view of the capital.  The entire city was covered in a blanket of fog.

Telstra Tower - the only feature of Canberra visible above the fog

We got to visit Pompeii a decade ago and this was an immersive experience in all things Pompeii including a 3D CGI simulation of the eruption of Mt Vesuvius.  Also lots of artifacts that have been unearthed over the past several hundred years and still to this day.  Really enjoyed it.

Gold and Emerald necklace valued at $1.7M

 A few other exhibits on display at the museum...

Iconic Australian - FJ Holden

Muttaburrasaurus

One of many Architectural images I got of the Museum

This beautiful thing is an Italian Custard Scroll - a treat from the Museum Cafe

Then, we spent a couple of hours at Parliament House...

Then to the War Memorial.  We've visited the memorial a few times previously.  Here I wanted to see the fruits of the AIPP's Reflections Project.  At the end of the WW2 pavilion, you exit through a screen slideshow of the 6500 veterans' portraits I, and 400+ photographers Australia wide captured for the project.  The portraits scroll through on about an 18 hour cycle.  If you visit the memorial and you have somebody you wish to see, you can request at the front desk and they will put the specific image up for you.

One of my portraits

From one of my encounters with three Townsville veterans

The Lone pine tree in the front gardens of the memorial has a link to our extended family.  Lesley is our daughter-in-law's mum.  Lesley asked us if we could locate the tree.  The story on the plaque tells of a young Australian soldier sending some pine cones back to his mum in honour of his brother who was killed in the battle.  The said soldier was Benjamin Smith - Lesley's grandfather.

Lone Pine Tree

 

Eternal Flame

 

Then we checked out the National Portrait Gallery - near on closing time...

 

Before we left town, we met up with George and Mirielle again for dinner at the Kingston Hotel.

Left on Tuesday having had a lovely time delving into some art, culture, history and friendly catchups.