Wycheproof

The halfway town between Melbourne and Mildura, Wycheproof is a great place to stop for a breather mid-roadtrip.

We arrived  late morning, drove up and down the Main St, Broadway, to get our bearings, then headed straight for the first thing on our itinerary - climbing a mountain.

Not just any old mountain, Mt Wycheproof is the smallest registered mountain in the world. Less than 1km from the town centre, it's an easy walk (or ride/drive) to its 43m summit.

Put that on your bucket list!

The surrounding plains below are a patchwork of colours; brown earth, golden grasses and fields of bright green signalling the new growth of the local crops, barley and wheat.

Large boulders sit atop the mountain, providing a great place to sit and soak up the views of the town and countryside below, as well as park benches, a sheltered picnic area and a BBQ-with-a-view. I could spend all day up here.

The adjoining Flora and Fauna Reserve was fun to explore. We clambered over rocks and traipsed across a thick carpet of knee deep clover.

A few wildflowers were dotted here and there, but the only wildlife we spotted was the very rare Prickly Pear Bunny (Cactus Wabbitus), peeking up through the clover leaves.

Having worked up the World's Biggest Appetite, we headed for Bakery On Broadway for not only a hearty lunch of baked goods and a great coffee, but this certificate to show our conquest.

That's going straight to the pool room!

Next door is the quirky and creative Wycheproof Coin Art Gallery, where Jimmy Johnson has used scrap metal to assemble wonderful sculptures for display and for sale. Old pennies were used to recreate huge portraits of Aussie icons like Sir Donald Bradman (6,996 coins) Ned Kelly (16,100) and Phar Lap (a whopping 23,000 coins).

My favourite piece was this map of Victoria. I just need to find somewhere to put it...

 

Historical buildings sit along both sides of Broadway, like the former Commonwealth Bank...

...and the beautiful Art Deco style of the Council offices, pictured behind these cool old petrol bowsers.

The railway track runs down the middle of Broadway and although we didn't see a grain train during our visit, at peak harvest times they  often run twice a day. Up to 60 carriages long, chugging along the centre of town - it must be a fantastic sight.

On the edge of town, the Million Bushel Silos stand tall and proud, an integral part of the huge grain industry in the area. An old steam train and turntable sit alongside the tracks where the modern trains now reign. 

Our final stop on the way out of town was Centenary Park. We stretched our legs, exploring the park with its 4 bird aviaries, historic log cabins, shady trees and water refill station, before hitting the road.

Thanks for a fun day, Wycheproof!

What: Wycheproof
Where: Calder Hwy
When: Daily
Why: scenery, agriculture
How Much: FREE to walk around and explore
Grab a coffee at: Bakery on Broadway

Winton Wetlands

Halfway between Benalla and Glenrowan, the Winton Wetlands is a sight to behold, even on a grey Winter's day.

Farms were purchased by the government in 1971 and the area was turned into an irrigation supply, Lake Mokoan. In 2004, the lake was then turned into wetlands and is now the largest wetlands restoration project in the Southern Hemisphere.

A very wet day when we arrived, we put on our rain gear and set off on a short walk around the place. We weren't going to let the weather 'dampen our spirits' (see what I did there?)
We parked at the Mokoan Hub and wandered the nearby tracks, suitable for both walking and cycling.
We got drenched, but that's half the fun of an outdoor adventure, right?

The mist had settled over the ground and through the dead trees, creating an eerie background to the area.

Back in the car, we drove down the road a bit to Boggy Bridge Rd, where these colourful pallets were set up either side of the entrance.
I'm not sure if there is actually a bridge, but it certainly looked like the boggy part was possible, so we stopped at the cows on a barge.

You heard me right, cows on a barge. Big, bright and beautiful cows on a barge. Part of a local street art project and a wonderful surprise to come across.

Apart from a few lorikeets, these cows were the only wildlife we saw, but I don't blame the resident fauna for taking shelter somewhere cosy in weather like this.
The wetlands are home to over 180 species of birds, including many birds of prey, so we'll definitely return later in the year to have another look.

What:Winton Wetlands 
Where: Winton
When: Daily 
Why: wildlife, walks
How Much: FREE to walk around and explore
Nearby: Benalla Street Art

Benalla Street Art

Flicking through the Benalla tourism book on the way home from a very wet weekend roadtrip, one of the first things to catch my eye was the Wall to Wall Street Art project. Images of the artworks almost popped out of the pages - stunning murals, portraits and abstract art in vivid colours and incredible detail. 
Rain, hail or shine - we had to stop and have a look, and we were not disappointed.

 

A quick visit to the the Visitor Information Centre, and advice from a very friendly staff member, had us armed with a Street Art Trail map and cruising the streets.

The works began in March 2015, and continue to be added to the town's landscape. Some signage remains of the inaugural Wall to Wall Street Art Festival, which was staged again this year and the organisers hope for it to become an annual event.
Other artworks have been added since the map was printed, leading to surprise discoveries on the sides of buildings... 
...in carparks...

...and in laneways inbetween.





























Local tributes include the nearby Winton Motor Raceway...

...and my favourite - Ned Kelly polishing his iron mask.

What: Benalla Street Art  

Where: Benalla  

When: Daily 

Why: public art 

How Much: FREE to walk around and explore
Nearby: Winton Wetlands