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

AGNES FALLS, GIPPSLAND

Tucked away within the green, hills of the Strzelecki Ranges, the meandering Agnes River cascades from a 59m height over rocks into a deep gorge, forming Agnes Falls. They are surrounded by protected pockets of old forest and native bushland.

With impressive views, cascading waterfalls, much native wildlife and its protected forest, Agnes Falls is a hidden patch of serenity near the Gippsland coastline. A short drive from Toora or Welshpool, it's also a beautiful, scenic stop on a day trip exploring South Gippsland.

A 200m walking track leads from the car park to the falls viewing area, where  the Agnes River can be seen tumbling over rocks and into the steep, sheltered gorge below. The falls are even more spectacular in wet seasons and after heavy rain.

The reserve protects a small remnant of the dense forests that once covered the Strzelecki Ranges, and the tall eucalypt canopy and diverse understorey of shrubs, ferns and trees are home to a range of birdlife. Keep an eye out for playful Grey Fantails and Eastern Yellow Robins darting through the low trees and shrubs, and listen for the calls of Kookaburras, Crimson Rosellas and Currawongs.

This post is part of the Travel Tuesday meme

and also part of the Roentare’s Water Meme

GREAT OCEAN ROAD

The Great Ocean Road is an Australian National Heritage listed 243-kilometre stretch of road along the south-eastern coast of Australia between the Victorian cities of Torquay and Warrnambool. The road was built by returned soldiers between 1919 and 1932, and is the world's largest war memorial; dedicated to casualties of World War I.

It is an important tourist attraction in the region, which winds through varying terrain alongside the coast, and provides access to several prominent landmarks; including the nationally significant Twelve Apostles rock formations. The Twelve Apostles is a collection of miocene limestone rock stacks jutting from the water in Port Campbell National Park, between Princetown and Peterborough on the Great Ocean Road.

The apostles were formed by erosion: The harsh weather conditions from the Southern Ocean gradually eroded the soft limestone to form caves in the cliffs, which then became arches, which in turn collapsed; leaving rock stacks up to 45 metres high. The site was known as the Sow and Piglets until 1922 (Muttonbird Island, near Loch Ard Gorge, was the Sow, and the smaller rock stacks the Piglets); after which it was renamed to The Apostles for tourism purposes. The formation eventually became known as the Twelve Apostles, despite only ever having nine stacks.

This post is part of the Travel Tuesday meme

INVERLOCH

Inverloch is a seaside town located in Victoria, Australia. It is located 143 kilometres south east of Melbourne via the South Gippsland Highway on the Bass Highway at the mouth of Anderson Inlet, in the Bass Coast Shire of Gippsland, Victoria, Australia. Known originally for the calm waters of Anderson Inlet, it is now also known for the discovery of Australia's first dinosaur bone. At the 2011 census it had a population of 4,960.

Inverloch is a popular tourist destination, particularly for swimming, kitesurfing and windsurfing at the calm waters of Anderson Inlet. Fishing and surfing are also popular. The town was first named Andersons Inlet after Samuel Anderson, the first European to settle here. It was later renamed Inverloch after Loch Inver (Lake Entrance) in Scotland. The town is also home to a tennis club which is home to the some of Australia's greatest players.

This post is part of the Roentare’s Water Meme,

and also part of Wordless Wednesday meme,
and also part of Nature Notes 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

GOULBURN RIVER

Goulburn River - 2001, Sony digital camera image.

This post is part of the Roentare’s Water Meme,
and also part of the Wordless Wednesday meme,
and also part of the Nature Notes meme.

SUMMER LANDSCAPE

A typical landscape in the countryside, in Gippsland, about 100 km east of Melbourne.

This post is part of the Travel Tuesday meme

MORNINGTON

Mornington is a sea side town on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, located 57 km south-east of Melbourne's central business district. It is in the Local Government Area of the Shire of Mornington Peninsula.

Mornington is known for its "village" atmosphere and its beautiful beaches. Mornington is a popular tourist destination with Melburnians who often make day trips to visit the area's bay beaches and wineries.  The Post Office opened on 21 May 1856 as Schnapper Point and was renamed Mornington in 1864.

The town centre runs into the foreshore area and local beach, which features a yacht club, restaurant and park with playground facilities. Mornington is an attractive destination for shopping and features some excellent restaurants and cafes. The north of Mornington is also home to several horse breeders and stables.

This post is part of the Travel Tuesday meme

MAKE HAY...

...WHILE THE SUNS SHINES

This post is part of the Travel Tuesday meme

12 APOSTLES

The Great Ocean Road is an Australian National Heritage listed 243-kilometre stretch of road along the south-eastern coast of Australia between the Victorian cities of Torquay and Warrnambool. The road was built by returned soldiers between 1919 and 1932, and is the world's largest war memorial; dedicated to casualties of World War I.

It is an important tourist attraction in the region, which winds through varying terrain alongside the coast, and provides access to several prominent landmarks; including the nationally significant Twelve Apostles rock formations. The Twelve Apostles is a collection of miocene limestone rock stacks jutting from the water in Port Campbell National Park, between Princetown and Peterborough on the Great Ocean Road.

The Apostles were formed by erosion: The harsh weather conditions from the Southern Ocean gradually eroded the soft limestone to form caves in the cliffs, which then became arches, which in turn collapsed; leaving rock stacks up to 45 metres high. The site was known as the Sow and Piglets until 1922 (Muttonbird Island, near Loch Ard Gorge, was the Sow, and the smaller rock stacks the Piglets); after which it was renamed to The Apostles for tourism purposes. The formation eventually became known as the Twelve Apostles, despite only ever having nine stacks.

This post is part of the Roentare’s Water Meme

and also part of the Wordless Wednesday meme

and also part of the Nature Notes meme

GIPPSLAND PASTORAL

This post is part of the Travel Tuesday meme

AFTERNOON SUN

This post is part of the Skywatch Friday meme

SPRING SHOWERS

This post is part of the Skywatch Friday meme

MORNINGTON

Mornington is a seaside suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia located on the Mornington Peninsula 46 km south-east of Melbourne's Central Business District. It is the most populous locality in the Shire of Mornington Peninsula local government area. Mornington had a population of 25,759 at the 2021 census. Mornington is a tourist destination renowned for its bay beaches and wineries, with a town centre that runs into the foreshore area and local beach.

This post is part of the Roentare’s Water Meme

and also part of the Wordless Wednesday meme

and also part of the Nature Notes 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

RELAXING

Having a spot of lunch in Warburton.

This posts is part of the My Sunday Best meme.

DOG WALKER

Taking the dog for a walk along the Yarra River in lovely Warburton.

This post is part of the Saturday Critters 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

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