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Published: January 28th 2011
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On Sunday we had some flexible ideas about going to Portland, a coastal town some 85 kms away, and then on to Port Fairy, another coastal town a similar distance from Hamilton. We set off fairly early and hadn’t gone far when the first junction we reached was the one for Port Fairy. So we made an instant decision to go that way. At the caravan park Graham had been talking to a couple from Warnambool which was yet another possible destination but we realized we couldn’t do all three in one day so had settled for Portland and Port Fairy, but not necessarily in that order. We duly arrived in Port Fairy and found a delightful coastal road which took in a lovely bathing beach and a more rugged but ideal surfing beach. We decided to have an early picnic lunch overlooking the bathing beach. I managed to have a quick paddle here (which was lovely) while Graham relaxed by the car. After a while we made our way back to the town, driving past an interesting river estuary, and on out towards Portland, some 80 klms away. After about 10 klms we stopped at The Crags, a coastal lookout
which boasted some unusual rock formations. They were fascinating and well worth the stop. However, thinking and planning ahead, Graham felt that we could easily move on to Portland on our eventual journey west so it would make more sense to go back to Port Fairy, which we both felt justified more time, and then on to Warnambool. That way we would be able to visit all three places.
So we returned to the interesting estuary area of Port Fairy and went for a walk. We were so pleased we did as the area proved really interesting with an outlook towards the sea, a delightful remote beach and a colony of shearwaters, though not many on show as they spend most of the daytime out at sea. From the end of the riverside walk, through binoculars, we could see another splendid and very busy beach so we determined to find it before we left Port Fairy but first we walked alongside the harbour and popped into the only cafe we could see, which was a Fish and Chippery, for a cup of tea. Imagine our surprise when the 'tea cups' were glasses (no handles) and the milk was delivered
in small tea cups! We had to use the serviettes to hold the hot glasses but we managed and enjoyed what was actually a very nice "glass" of tea. We were just about to leave Port Fairy when I spotted some camels so we went to investigate. They are fascinating creatures and I always think how my sister, Daphne, loves them when I see them. I could have had a short 10 minute ride or possibly a longer, one hour ride, and I seriously considered it but if I ever ride on a camel I want it to be on a beach, somewhere like Broome. I don’t think Graham fancies riding on a camel at all!
By the time we got round to the other busy beach some people were just beginning to pack up although it was still busy. Judging by the number of surf and paddle boards on show we suspect it was a “family surf” day. After that we made our way to Warnambool which is a much bigger place than we imagined. The main highway took us through easily enough to Flagstaff Hill where the information centre is, together with a reconstruction of the original
town. Unfortunately, although the information centre was open, it was past the time for last admission to the old town or we would have taken a stroll around the fascinating buildings which, from the outside, looked well worth a visit. There was also another night-time light and sound show, this time about the many shipwrecks that have occurred along this stretch of coast. We’ll keep these things in mind and if we get the chance to come this way again we’ll try and go to these attractions. We visited a waterside development and a couple of ocean view points before making our way back towards Hamilton.
Since visiting Warrnambool I’ve come across this interesting fact about the famous Aussie song Waltzing Matilda:
Christina Macpherson was at Warrnambool's Annual Steeplechase Race Meeting in April 1894 when she heard the Warrnambool Town Band play the traditional Scottish tune, Thou Bonnie Wood of Craigie-Lea. Christina memorised the tune and played it to Andrew B. (Banjo) Paterson at Dagworth Station in Queensland in 1895. Banjo Paterson, inspired by a local event, wrote some words to match the tune and the national song, Waltzing Matilda, was born. Christina's original 1895 manuscript of the
music is held in National Archives Canberra.
On the way back from Warrnambool we happened upon a sign for Mt Rouse Lookout and curiosity got the better of us. We're glad it did as the view from the top, which involved a lengthy drive and a stiff climb up some steps, was absolutely stunning. It was a clear, bright evening with plenty of daylight left so we could see forever, well as far as the Grampians anyway!
We were quite late getting back to Hamilton and as I hadn't anything in mind for supper and there didn't seem to be too many options available to us on a Sunday evening, we got a take-away from a noodle bar and it was pretty good. What a wonderful day it had been!
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