Redwood Forest

Standing silently near the banks of a river, they reach towards the sky. 

The ground underfoot is a soft carpet of pine needles. The smell of damp earth permeates my nostrils.

The forest is quiet, apart from a few bird calls. I am tiny in a land of giants.

Emerging from the darkness, into the sunlight. A picnic lunch at the edge of a forest. 

Living in unnatural circumstances, connecting with nature is good for mind and body. 

Wombat Bend to Westerfolds Circuit

When the world is a little topsy turvy, it's nice to have your feet on the ground, exploring the great outdoors. 

One of my favourite places is Westerfolds Park. When my daughter was born, I pushed her around the park in a pram. When she was older, she played on the adventure playgrounds with her brother. Later, I joined a friend for weekly walks after the morning school run. 

These days, we just go there on a whim, knowing we're sure to see something interesting each visit and kids are never too old to go on a swing, a slide or a flying fox at the playground.

Sealed paths cover the entire park, allowing access for everyone on foot or on wheels. A few steep hills get your heart racing and your blood pumping, but you feel  so good afterwards.

From Wombat Bend carpark, a short walk leads to a suspension bridge crossing the Yarra. The river is very wide at this point and home to a platypus or two. The bridge is home to approximately 20,000 cockatoos. 

Just kidding. *wink*

Across the other side, a steel boardwalk takes you towards Westerfolds. A myriad

of paths meander around the place - take your pick which one you choose, as they mostly join on to main tracks.

Birdwatchers will love this place, with so many different types of birds to be found. Here's a few that I've spotted.

Ok, that last pic isn't birds, but it fits on the page. The huge mob of roos moves around a bit throughout the park. Sometimes the young males perform a morning boxing match for our entertainment . Thanks, boys!

The lovely old Westerfolds Manor sits high on the hill, with views for days. A perfectly positioned park bench nearby makes a good stop to rest for a few minutes. 

At dusk, back at Wombat Bend bridge, the cockies have gone to bed...

...but this guy is out looking for dinner and you might see him splashing about near the rapids. 

Tasmania Travels - Cataract Gorge, Launceston

At Cataract Gorge, we boarded the chairlift to the northern station.



































At the Gorge Cliffgrounds, we wandered around the shady gardens, spotting wildlife like the glamorous peacocks, with their peahens and pea...babies? Baby Peas? Chick Peas? Whatever they're called, they are the cutest little fluff balls ever.

Wallabies hopped around the place, not at all bothered by the tourists...


This rock was sitting by the track,  having a salad for lunch...
























We walked along the river via the Cataract Walk, before taking the footbridge back across the water to our car. 

It was a great place to spend a few hours, and we hope to return one day to do

the river cruise and stay in Launceston for a little longer.

But now, we're off to Beaconsfield. 

T

All Saints Winery, Wahgunyah

Meandering around the countryside one weekend, we decided to go for lunch at All Saints Estate. On arrival at the front gate on a very warm day, we were immediately enchanted by the avenue of elm trees that provided a shady entry to the estate.

And as if the driveway wasn't grand enough, the winery had its own castle! Perfectly groomed hedges and manicured lawns adorned the front garden, with outdoor seating to allow you to sit back and admire the setting, or stop and smell the roses in the glorious sunshine.

The Terrace restaurant looked very tempting, but at $85 per head and with 2 kids in tow, we opted for the more casual eatery next door, Indigo Food Co. Tasty toasted focaccias and a chilled glass of wine made for the perfect lunch by the duck pond. Dragonflies buzzed around the water's edge, ducks lazed in the sun and a group of beautiful blue Superb Fairy Wrens hopped about our table, looking for stray crumbs to feast on.

We ambled around the grounds on a self-guided tour, starting with the historic Chinese Dormitory. 

The building was erected over 100 years ago, to house Chinese workers who came to the vineyards when the goldrush was over. The group of men slept in bunks and cooked on a huge old iron stove.

Other historic buildings on the property include the cool store, original stables and homestead, all built in the late 1800's.

Some of the vines date back to 1920, like the Old Muscat. Other varietals include 1982 Riesling, 1955 Cabernet Sauvignon and 1994 Shiraz. Each row of vines is planted with a rose bush, apparently the early sentinel for diseases that affect vines.

The estate holds weddings, functions, concerts and tours, but is equally good for a spontaneous lunch stop and a stroll around the place.

What: All Saints Estate

Where: Wahgunyah

When: Every day (except Christmas Day)

Why:Winery, historic buildings

How much:FREE to wander around

Nagambie

Visiting Nagambie for the first time, we took a stroll up and down the main street of town to check out the shops and historic buildings.

This gate was on the side of a huge building, which appeared to be no longer occupied...

...apart from these feathered squatters.

This rustic timber door caught my eye, a nice contrast with the brick and various tiles.
 

The ivy covering the old water tower looks like it is winning the battle - I think the tower would look pretty cool completely covered by the green foliage.

A wooden boardwalk around the lake looks like a nice way to spend an hour or so. We didn't have time to do the walk, but plan on a return visit to explore the lake, the dam and the river.
A huge flock of corellas circled the lake, landing momentarily in a tree on the shoreline, before heading to the skies again like a big noisy cloud.
A Bunya Pine tree on the water's edge had an unusually large bare section in the middle, as did the other trees nearby.
On closer inspection, the reason for the bare branches was revealed. These guys looked like butter wouldn't melt in their (beak) mouth, but the destruction they cause is evident.
 
The lakeside sculptures added to the beautiful scenery, like this pelican...
...and Nagambie's famous racehorse, Black Caviar.

Leaving town, we headed off to visit some local wineries, following the Black Caviar Trail along the back roads. 

Nagambie is the Horse Capital of Victoria, with just about every property featuring statues of horses, or real life thoroughbreds like this handsome boy.

We stopped for a look at Chinamans Bridge, the historic timber bridge built around  the 1890's. It was one of the earliest timber road bridges in Victoria and had a lift span section that allowed boats to travel along the Goulburn River. 

A small tinny motored under while I took photos, adding some nice little waves to my pic.

We continued meandering around for a bit longer before arriving at our next stop - Tahbilk Winery.

What: Nagambie Lakes District
Where: Nagambie
When: Daily
Why: Lake, walks
How much: FREE to explore
Nearby: Tahbilk Winery  Mitchelton Winery