MOON OVER THE DAM

This post is part of the Roentare’s Water Meme

and also part of the Nature Notes meme

BUCOLIC

A classic rural vista in Diamond Creek, Victoria, characterized by its rolling green hills, paddock fences, and rustic hobby farm homesteads. This is an outer-northeastern suburb of Melbourne located within the picturesque Nillumbik Shire Council region. 

The outer suburb blends suburban convenience with expansive acreage, horse properties, and semi-rural bushland. It is highly popular among hobby farmers, equestrian enthusiasts, and families seeking open space away from the city centre. 

It is home to scenic shared pathways like the Diamond Creek Trail, local reserves, and nearby gateways into the Yarra Valley.

This post is part of the Travel Tuesday meme

TRANQUIL

A short train ride away from metropolitan Melbourne, towards the East are the green farmlands of Gippsland, forest reserves, rolling hills and natural bushland.

This post is part of the Nature Notes meme

and also part of the Travel Tuesday meme

STIRRINGS OF AUTUMN

The countryside looked autumnal last week, with the first rains for quite a while, and the drop in temperature made me rummage in the wardrobe for warmer clothes...

This post is part of the My Sunday Best meme

COLAC SUNSET

Colac is a small city in the Western District of Victoria, Australia, approximately 150 kilometres south-west of Melbourne on the southern shore of Lake Colac and the surrounding volcanic plains, approximately 40 km inland from Bass Strait. Colac is the largest city in and administrative centre of the Colac Otway Shire. Presently, Colac has a population of about 13,000 people. A commercial centre for a major agricultural district, it was named after nearby Lake Colac and was proclaimed a city in 1960.

This post is part of the Skywatch Friday meme

HELLISH TIMES

We've had three consecutive days in Victoria where temperatures have stayed up in the low 40s (˚C). The extreme heat, strong winds and tinder dry grasslands and Eucalypt forests have created a catastrophic set of circumstances for bushfires to start. Climate change and unpredictable weather events are making each year worse in Australia as fires, floods, droughts, cyclones and storms wreak havoc.

Presently, hundreds of firefighters are flat out out trying to contain many large out-of-control fires as night falls on Victoria, the most concerning fire is the enormous Longwood fire, which has been threatening several townships as it spreads through central Victoria. Firefighters and emergency services are concerned as a change in wind direction expected this Friday evening could hamper their efforts, as it pushes the blazes into new directions.

Three people, including a child, remain unaccounted-for after a house burned down in Longwood. The Country Fire Authority says cooler, calmer conditions might allow firefighters to assess the impact of multiple blazes in the coming days.

This post is part of the Skywatch Friday meme

MAKE HAY...

...WHILE THE SUNS SHINES

This post is part of the Travel Tuesday meme

CLOUDSCAPE

We've had a cool and wet Spring this year, with plenty of opportunity to enjoy dramatic skies like this one here!

This post is part of the Skywatch Friday meme

AFTERNOON SUN

This post is part of the Skywatch Friday meme

SPRING SHOWERS

This post is part of the Skywatch Friday meme

A COUNTRY RETREAT

A peaceful vista in Warburton, a town in Victoria, Australia, 76 kilometres east of Melbourne's central business district, located within the Shire of Yarra Ranges local government area. Warburton recorded a population of 2,020 at the 2021 census.

This post is part of the Travel Tuesday meme

THE GRAMPIANS

The Grampians National Park (also Gariwerd), commonly referred to as The Grampians, is a national park located in the Grampians region of Victoria, Australia. The 167,219-hectare national park is situated between Stawell and Horsham on the Western Highway and Dunkeld on the Glenelg Highway, 260 kilometres west of Melbourne and 460 kilometres east of Adelaide.

Proclaimed as a national park on 1 July 1984, the park was listed on the Australian National Heritage List on 15 December 2006 for its outstanding natural beauty and being one of the richest indigenous rock art sites in south-eastern Australia. The Grampians feature a striking series of sandstone mountain ranges.

Although a bit far for a day trip, some acquaintances of ours have done it all in a day, although I must say it was a bit of a Cook's tour! Best to take your time and enjoy your trip there and back, as well as stay a few days and do all the wonderful hikes and walks.

This post is part of the Travel Tuesday meme

SUNSET IN THE COUNTRY

This post is part of the Skywatch Friday meme

YARRAWONGA

Yarrawonga is a town in the Shire of Moira local government area in the Australian state of Victoria. In the 2021 census, Yarrawonga had a population of 8,661 people. The town is located approximately 264 kilometres north-east of the state capital, Melbourne, situated on the south bank of the Murray River, the border between Victoria and New South Wales. Yarrawonga's twin town of Mulwala is on the other side of the Murray River.

Yarrawonga's main attraction is Lake Mulwala, formed by the damming of the Murray River. The lake is a popular location for activities such as boating, kayaking and fishing. There are two crossings of the Murray between Yarrawonga and Mulwala; across the weir (Walking path only); and a bridge over Lake Mulwala. This bridge contains an unusual bend and dip in the middle, a result of miscommunication between the two state governments...

The "dead trees" in Lake Mulwala are a distinctive feature of the landscape, resulting from the lake's creation in 1939. Originally, the area was cleared for the lake, but some trees were left standing when the area was flooded. These trees have since died and become a unique part of the lake's scenery, providing a striking visual element and habitat for some wildlife.

This post is part of the Travel Tuesday meme

FOGGY COUNTRYSIDE

Wintry landscape in country Victoria. The fog is lifting ever so slowly in the morning, but the grazing horses don't seem to mind. Gum trees are evergreen, and normally snow doesn't fall in low country such as this. However, there are plenty of cafés, pubs, delis and restaurant where fire is roaring in the fireplace and lots of delicious local food is served with piping hot drinks.

This post is part of the Travel Tuesday meme

CRAIGIEBURN

Craigieburn is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 25 km north of Melbourne's Central Business District, located within the City of Hume local government area. Craigieburn recorded a population of 65,178 at the 2021 census.

Craigieburn is a satellite suburb located on the urban-rural fringe of Melbourne, ranging from the lower half of Bridgewater Road to Mount Ridley. A large majority of the suburb is more than 200 metres above sea level, with Mount Ridley being the northernmost hill in northwestern metropolitan Melbourne with clear views of Melbourne's central business district 29.7 km away.

Many parks and rural areas make for a pleasant place to live, but also there are many options for short stays and weekend getaways.

This post is part of the Travel Tuesday meme

GIPPSLAND HILLS

Gippsland Hills are rolling, verdant hills of the Gippsland region in Victoria, Australia, particularly in the South Gippsland area. This region is known for its picturesque landscapes, agricultural activities (especially dairying), and charming coastal towns. It's a popular destination for travellers seeking a peaceful escape and experiences like exploring coastal paths, visiting local farms and markets, and enjoying the region's natural beauty.

This post is part of the Travel Tuesday meme

VICTORIAN COUNTRYSIDE

This is a typical rural vista in central Gippsland, showing the rich farmland and occasional hills in the background.

This post is part of the Travel Tuesday meme

WILSON'S PROM

Wilsons Promontory is a peninsula that forms the southernmost part of the Australian mainland, located in the state of Victoria, about 200 km southeast of Melbourne CBD. Coastal features include expansive intertidal mudflats, sandy beaches and sheltered coves interrupted by prominent headlands and plunging granite cliffs in the south, backed by coastal dunes and swamps. The promontory is surrounded by a scatter of small granite islands which, collectively, form the Wilsons Promontory Islands Important Bird Area, identified as such by BirdLife International because of its importance for breeding seabirds.

Wilsons Promontory is home to many marsupials, native birds and other creatures. One of the most common marsupials found on the promontory is the common wombat, which can be found in much of the park (especially around campsites where it has been known to invade tents searching for food). The peninsula is also home to kangaroos, snakes, wallabies, koalas, long-nosed potoroos, white-footed dunnarts, broad-toothed rats, feather-tailed gliders and emus. Some of the most common birds found on the promontory include crimson rosellas, yellow-tailed black cockatoos and superb fairywrens. There are also many pests, including hog deer, foxes, feral cats, rabbits, common starlings, and common blackbirds.

This post is part of the Travel Tuesday meme

and also part of the Roentare’s Water Meme.

BUSHFIRE SKY

And the stars shine on...

This post is part of the Skywatch Friday meme