MT PLEASANT, ADELAIDE HILLS - POPULATION: 593

WED 27 - THURS 28.5.2015: Began the day at Lloyd Brothers Winery - a beautiful vista, glass of wine and platter. A family owned Winery and Olive Grove, located in the heart of the renowned McLaren Vale wine region. Just had to visit DogRidge - DogRidge Vineyards is a family owned venture built up since the first vines were purchased in 1992 by Dave and Jen Wright.
Some 40 odd years ago Carole visited Hahndorf and was keen to  see the village again. 

Hahndorf's claim to national significance is that it was the first settlement in Australia planned specifically for non-British immigrants and is the oldest German town in Australia. Whilst the buildings are distinctive, retail therapy is the main focus in the area. Our European founders emigrated from the eastern provinces of Prussia to escape religious persecution because of their staunch Lutheran beliefs. The majority of Hahndorf's fifty four founding families were passengers aboard the 'Zebra', the third ship of Lutheran immigrants to arrive in South Australia in 1838.

The Hahndorf Information Centre advised that Mount Pleasant had an oval that you could stay on for a small donation. We had not planned on visiting Mt Pleasant, but we trundled off in pursuit of an oval. Not before a few L-I-T-T-L-E stops on the way - Udder Delights, Woodside Cheese and Melba's Confectionary - nice! Onward to what turned out to be Mt Pleasant Showground ($17.00 per night for a powered site).

McLAREN VALE - POPULATION: 3,861

TUESDAY 26.5.2015: Where do we begin - what an awful predicament to be faced with, too many wineries and eateries to know which ones to visit - as usual, went with the smaller wineries! We are prepared for a decadent two days in the McLaren Vale Wine Region. The township was formed in 1923 from a merging of the two original villages of Gloucester and Bellevue, which were established in the 1840s by British pioneers. The McLaren Vale wine region surrounds the town.

d’Arenberg is one of the most significant wineries in McLaren Vale. In 1912 Joseph Osborn, a teetotaller and director of Thomas Hardy and Sons, purchased the well established Milton Vineyards of 25 hectares in the hills just north of McLaren Vale. Joseph’s son Francis Ernest (‘Frank’) Osborn left medical school, choosing to forsake the scalpel for pruning shears. He soon increased the size of the vineyard to 78 hectares. Fruit was sold to local wineries until the construction of his own cellars was completed in 1928.

The Fox Creek story began when a small group of doctors and their wives decided to pursue a lifelong passion – creating wine from bare earth and sunshine. Between them and their families Fox Creek Wines was born and what a success their venture has been! When Jim and Helen Watts bought the 32 hectare Fox Creek Vineyard property in 1984, they were advised against planting vines in the black clay soils that had previously been used for growing barley.

Undeterred by the sceptics, they nurtured the young vines which bore fruit – exceptionally high quality fruit –  and lovingly converted it into supreme quality wine!

Battle of Bosworth makes single vineyard, organically grown wines. Battle of Bosworth was established in 2001 by Joch Bosworth and Louise Hemsley-Smith. The wines take their name from the original Battle of Bosworth, fought on Bosworth Field, Leicestershire, England in 1485. Stayed at McLaren Vale Lakeside Caravan Park - fairly impersonal after last night.

HOW N-I-C-E IS THE OWNER'S HOME!

FOUND A FRIEND - LABRADOR/POODLE CROSS

 

MOUNT COMPASS - POPULATION: 1,731

MON 25.5.2015: Had to take a photo of this home situated just out of Goolwa. Given the historic architecture of the area the house is a little out of character!  

GOOLWA BARRAGE

Goolwa Barrages 1935-1940 - the Living Murray program was created to help stop the serious long-term decline in the health of the River Murray. Dams, weirs and barrages along the Murray have altered river flow as well as the frequency, intensity and duration of flooding events. Before the barrages existed fish moved freely between the lake and estuary to breed. Fishways have since been built into the barrages to allow for fish migration. It is debatable how many fish actually "move freely between the lake and the estuary". The pelicans were having a lovely time feeding!



 

 

 

 

    

 

 

Drove across the Hindmarsh Island Bridge to visit the mouth of the Mighty Murray. The Murray Mouth, the place where the fresh and salt waters mix, is a place of creation where their 'ngartjis' (totems, or special friends), breed. The Murray is currently being dredged. On the way back to Goolwa we drove past a rather lavish property development at Alexandrina Cove - houses face out onto the manmade lakes that feature individual boat ramps and marinas. Very reminiscent of the Gold Coast.

Down to Goolwa Beach in search of cockles - actually just wanted to look at the water!

Spent a very relaxing night at Mount Compass Caravan Park - reasonably priced for the area and lovely managers. A dedicated "Shayden Play Area", with kangaroos, native birds and rabbits to entertain us, plus beautiful proteas all in flower - stunning!

VICTOR HARBOR

SUNDAY 24.5.2015: The Cockle Train travels along the oldest steel railed railway in Australia dating back to 1887 when it was constructed to provide a link between the River Murray and the ocean wharfs at Pt Elliot and later at Victor Harbor. Why is this icon journey called the "Cockle Train"? In early days of settlement the local residents would take a horse drawn train to Goolwa to collect Cockles from the sandy beaches near the Murray mouth. The train travels from Victor Harbor to Goolwa, with stops at Middleton and Port Elliot. Spent our time completing a 'mini' pub crawl round Goolwa. Goolwa is a beautiful village with grand old architecture.

FIRST STOP - MURPHYS INN





 

 

 

 



LUNCH AT HECTORS ON THE WHARF

 



B & B AT GOOLWA



One final stop at the Wharf Barrel Shed and we then boarded the train for our return trip to Victor Harbor. We had hoped to arrange a cruise on the 105 year old wood fired heritage Paddle Steamer Oscar "W". The cruise is along the Lower Murray River. Not sailing till late June, but we were able to board for a look round. 

HOW WE PARKED

After a wonderfully relaxing day we returned to Victor Harbor to find a Parking Infringement Notice for $46.00 perched on the windscreen. We had been fined for not parking in one allocated parking spot. There was no designated parking for long vehicles, nor signage on the required direction. We have contested the fine with Victor Harbor Council, but do not expect a positive outcome - not happy!

How we should have parked, but as we advised the Council, no-one else would have been able to enter the parking bay.

VICTOR HARBOR - POPULATION: 13,841

BLUFF POINT VICTOR HARBOR

SAT 23.5.2015: First stop was at the 'Salvage & Save' (operated by Finding Workable Solutions), at Goolwa in pursuit of seaside garden features - had to be one of the most organised Council Waste Transfer Station depots that we have visited, even found a poodle statue! Victor Harbor is a town on the coast of the Fleurieu Peninsula,  and is the largest population centre on the peninsula, with an economy based upon agriculture, fisheries and various industries. Traditionally home of the Ramindjeri clan of the Ngarrindjeri people, the bay on which Victor Harbor sits was discovered by Matthew Flinders in HMS Investigator in April 1802.

BLUFF POINT

The Victor Harbor Horse Drawn Tram is a nostalgic reminder of the olden days of this popular seaside town. Increased shipping at this ideal port soon necessitated an extension of Victoria Pier to Granite Island and the construction of two more jetties. By 1875, the rail line had been extended along the Causeway to Granite Island to service the jetties. The original service began in 1894, taking passengers across the Causeway to Granite Island. Absolutely loved the trip over - you have the option to travel on the tram or walk across.

Granite Island's little penguin colony has declined dramatically since the 1990s. A count conducted in October 2013 totalled 38 penguins. In 2001, the population count was 1,548 penguins.

 

 

The Breakwater completed in 1882 using 200,000 tons of  granite gouged out of Granite Island by human muscle, horse power and primitive equipment. The breakwater is 1,000 feet long, 30 feet wide at the top and 200 feet wide on the seabed. No  granite block on its surface weighs less than 20 tons. In 1837 HMS Victor anchored in the lee of Granite Island. Captain Francis Crozier named the locality Victor Harbor after his ship. 

FEW MORE STAIRS!

Meaning of the Rocks - "I stood down there and looked around. I saw Ngarrindjeri Yunthian (old Ngarrindjeri man), looking out to sea. He's looking out for the whales, seals and penguins". Henry Rankine OAM - Ngarrindjeri Elder.
Are there any clouds in the sky today? If so, what do you see? If it's easy for you to pick up different shapes and forms in the clouds then maybe you are closer to seeing this landscape in the same way as Henry.

Final stop for the day at 'The Crown', after what was a thoroughly enjoyable outing.

 

TRAVEL DAYS

YES THAT IS THE OCEAN BEHIND US!

WED 20 - FRI 22.5.2015: We are heading for the Fleurieu Peninsula. The first stop was at Meningie - asked about free camps and were advised that just out of town there was  a plot of land that people tended to stay on overnight. Found the land by the Southern Ocean, add a storm and it felt a little like we spent the night at sea! Next adventure was the crossing of the 'Mighty Murray River' at Wellington - another interesting adventure.

Onward to Langhorne Creek and our free camp stay for the evening - we have reached the Fleurieu Peninsula! Stopped at Strathalbyn for supplies and a drive round this historic village. As you would expect in this area, even in the off season the caravan costs are higher and the free camps non-existent. As such we have decided to make our base at the Victor Harbor Holiday and Cabin Park - the cheapest of all the caravan parks.  

KINGSTON SE

KINGSTON JETTY

TUESDAY 19.5.2015: Kingston Jetty - in 1863 the first jetty was opened and named "The Lacepede Bay Jetty". In 1880 the second jetty was opened alongside the original jetty to cope with the demands of the growing port. A small lighthouse used to be situated at the end of the Kingston jetty. In 2000 the jetty was again upgraded. We spent a relaxing day - took in the sights and visited the Royal Mail Hotel. Ah - just an update on the food situation. We have finally finished ALL the pre-cooked vegetable meals, but we are yet to see a quarantine bin and definitely no formal border crossing!

PUDDLES TAKING CAROLE FOR A RUN!