Coolart Homestead and Wetlands, Somers

A Sunday afternoon visit to see our happy camper kid at nearby Somers Camp gave us the opportunity to spend some time exploring the Coolart property down the road. 

 

The Victorian mansion is closed from time to time for renovations, but worth a look inside if it happens to be open on the day of your visit. Wrap around verandah, grand staircase, mosaic tiled floors, leadlight windows and original furniture are all cared for by a volunteer group, Friends of Coolart.

If the homestead is closed, there’s plenty to see around the outbuildings and gardens of the mansion.

Wetlands and woodlands trails criss cross the property and a bird hide by a lake is good for spotting some of the hundreds of bird species in the area.

A wander around the grounds can take a couple of hours. There's plenty of spots to take a rest and just sit back and enjoy the tranquil setting.

The property is free to visit, but donations are welcomed by the Friends of Coolart. 

Friends of Coolart

Panorama Garden Estate, Boneo

Thinking of heading down to the Mornington Peninsula one sunny day, we decided to visit Panorama Garden Estate after discovering them on Instagram. I booked online for the  morning Sanctuary and Garden Tour.
We arrived just before 11 and our car was buzzed through the big ol' iron gates at the start of the sweeping driveway.
Our kids were blown away by the automatic gates opening by themselves and to be honest, we could have turned around and gone home right there and then - they were so happy with our outing so far😊
We were greeted by the lovely AnnMaree and her menagerie of critters great and small, feathered and furry, loud and quiet. She introduced us to the gang - Sylvie the pig, Bullwinkle the calf, Archie the pony, Belvedere the turkey and their numerous paddock pals and told us about the property and the self-guided walk we were doing.

We finished eating our apples and handed the cores over to Sylvie, Archie and this very odd looking pony. 😜

Annmaree gave us a map and pointed us off towards the sea. "See you in a couple of hours", we said. And off we went, down the stone steps  of the Orchard Terraces, through the Vineyard and Walled Garden.

I could feel someone watching me as I walked and spied a couple of faces peering at me from behind a log. They were part of the property's mob of 6 rare albino kangaroos.

Dad was not far away from Mum and Joey.

A flurry of flying fur came barreling towards us, before screeching to a halt at my feet. It was the meet and greet crew checking on our progress/hoping for a quick game of fetch with the stick they had brought down with them. How could you refuse these two cuties?

At the bottom of garden, the path took us around Palm Lake...
...where a few golf clubs and balls allowed for a quick swing across the water to a hole on the other side.
Past the bountiful vegie patch, where even my food nemesis - the brussels sprout - actually looked good. I loathe these little green balls of bitterness so much, I did not even know that they grew in a bunch on a stalk like this. I shall continue to loathe them, despite this momentary distraction.

The next section of terraced garden was made for slow wandering. 
For taking time to smell the roses...

...for pirouetting in the sunshine...
...for reading a book on the  lush lawn...
...and for stacking rocks under a shady palm.
Further up the hill, the views stretch out for days. The Sorrento-Queenscliff Ferry could be seen chugging its way across the water and the dark peaks of the You Yangs were visible as they rose on the other side of the bay.
A family of 3 Wedge Tailed Eagles soared above us as we walked. 

Sculptures along the walk added an artistic touch to the property...

...and it was lovely to feel the warm sun on our face and the sea breeze in our hair.
A hairy coo, some kangaroos, a sensational view...
...and a game of peek-a-moo with this mum of two.
The lovely old timber barns and stone arbors added to the beauty of the place.

In the cool shade of the Ferny Creek track, we met some interesting inhabitants...
...and a few more cuddly ones on the way back to the car. 
I took approximately *5,345 photos on my visit and I'm sure you will do the same. It's a lovely place to spend a couple of hours on your day off. With the changing of the seasons, the gardens will be probably even more vibrant as the Spring blooms come to life.
*not even joking

What: Panorama Garden Estate
Where: Boneo
When: Wed - Sun via online booking
Why: gardens, views
How much: $30

Mushroom Reef Marine Sanctuary, Flinders

Mushroom Reef Marine Park at low tide is great for beach walks and exploring rock pools and looking for marine life in the mushroom shaped reef.

Surfing, swimming and hang gliding are all popular activities here.

We arrived at the wrong time of day, but still enjoyed our visit. Here's a tip: check the tide times first. A steep wooden staircase led down to the sand. The tide was high, but we were holding on... (thanks for the tip, Blondie).

Landing on the beach, I immediately spotted some beach treasures - the antlers of a rare Sea Moose...

 ...and a perfect beach bonsai plant, attached to a stone and slowly sinking into the sand.

What: Mushroom Reef Marine Sanctuary

Where: Golf Links Rd, Flinders

When:Daily

Why: Beach, marine life

How Much: FREE

Cape Schanck Lighthouse Museum and Walking Trails

After our tour of the Cape Schanck Lighthouse, we were free to explore the Museum and walking trails of the lighthouse grounds.

The Museum was  interesting, telling the history of the lighthouse, the Keepers throughout the years and the shipwrecks nearby.

The trail is narrow, and there are a few tree roots on the path, (I may have tripped over...twice, if you really must know...too busy looking out to sea and not watching where I'm going), but worth the short walk for the spectacular views of both the Lighthouse and buildings, and the coast in both directions.

Picnic tables and a BBQ are available for a BYO lunch.

There are also 4 buildings on the grounds, all available as accommodation. Putting that on my to-do-list. How ace, to look out your door at night and see that huge beam pointing out to sea!

As we were leaving in the late afternoon, we looked up at the Lighthouse one more time, and caught a glimpse of it guiding a cargo ship out to the safety of the open waters.

What: Cape Schanck Lighthouse Museum and Walks

Where: 420 Cape Schanck Road, Cape Schanck

When: Daily 10:00am-4:00pm

Why: Lighthouse, history

How Much: $16.50  (Lighthouse Tour cost - admission to Museum and grounds included)
Nearby: Bushrangers Bay Walk

Bushranger's Bay Walk, Cape Schanck

A small carpark on the side of Boneo Rd was where this adventure began - the Boneo Rd to Bushrangers Bay section of the Two Bays Walking Track.

There's not much at the carpark  besides a few picnic tables... 

...and a few kangaroos.

The neighbouring farm and its spectacular location had me daydreaming of a seachange. Or at least setting up a tent on the hillside overlooking the ocean below.

One solitary tree stood in the middle of the lush green pastures and a dirt road made its way down to the ocean.

Luckiest cows in the world, I reckon.

The track was mostly flat, with a few rocks and tree roots along the way. Many other paths crossed ours along the way - we figured they were 'roo tracks heading to and from the farm.

We climbed down a wooden staircase that leads to the beach...

..and was rewarded with a gorgeous beach, tidal inlet and great views.

Elephant Rock to the left...

...Cape Schanck to the right, another 2.6km along the track...

...and a big ol' stretch of wild surf inbetween. 

Apparently the place is named after a couple of bushrangers who arrived by ship from Tasmania, and landed here.

The basalt rocks, with their rusty colours and eroded crevices, reminded me of Wilsons Prom.

We hung around for about an hour, then began the walk back to the carpark. Along the way we confirmed the ownership of those tracks that crossed ours - as our walk coincided with peak hour traffic - kangaroo style.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

Noises in the bushes to our right signaled the arrival of a small group of 'roos at an intersection. 

There was a bit of "you go first" , "no, you go first" and "no, Skip, I insist". This went on for a few minutes - neither of us brave enough to proceed.

Eventually, we took a few steps back and they went on their way. This happened about 6 more times along the track. Some were braver than others and just barrelled on through, others were more courteous and waited until we had passed by. 

I'm looking forward to tackling the other end of the track another day.

What: Bushrangers Bay Walk

Where: Boneo Rd (near Cape Schanck)

When: Daily

Why: Walks, wildlife

How Much: FREE
Nearby: Cape Schanck Lighthouse