My final word on South Gippsland

This is my last rave about South Gippsland.  I know I am repeating myself but it has much to offer.....we will definitely be going back there when we return to the mainland.  

Here are some random photo’s…thanks heavens for the digital age because I have taken heaps of photos.  




Our first camp at Franklin River Reserve outside of Toora. Liked it so much that we double backed and returned there for a further five days.









The reserve was lovely and grassy...it had also been raining and the council guy got bogged twice...His mate pulled him out once and Nick and John pulled him out the second time.  










The Franklin River meandering through the reserve.  

One of our favourite things........

Coal Creek Community Park and Museum is a Heritage Village on 15 hectares.  It was a small town in its own right but it is now a suburb of Korumburra.  The coal mine operated there from the 1880's to 1958.

Entry is free, there is a bush tramway to ride, the Pig and Whistle Cafe, General store and more that 26 other buildings, each has a story to tell.  Once a month, a farmers market is held there.  

A view of the town ... there are so many interesting buildings there

One of those lovely old shops that sold everything

Do you remember Cod Liver Oil.....yuk

Wattle and Daub Cottage.  

Welshpool Marina

Swans....so graceful... there must have been more than 50 of them

The roses at the Morwell Centenary Rose Garden - and guess what....they mostly smell like roses.  

The rose garden is a community project that has more that 3000 roses in manicured beds, edged with paving stone.  

Squeaky Beach, Wilsons Promontory

Yes, it was somewhat windy

On the way back to Melbourne to board the Spirit of Tasmania, we called into Phillip Island for 3 days.... staying at Cowes.    

Phillip Island was a delightful surprise and not at all what I pictured it to be....an Island with a race track. 

Yes, the race track is there and we did visit it.  There was a track day being held...very interesting.

Did the normal stuff....toured around the Island, some very big houses there, went to a cafe for lunch as well as going out to The Nobbies on the western tip of Phillip Island.  We didn't go to the penguin parade but took a walk on the board walk to see all the penguin nesting boxes....it was incredibility windy with roaring rough seas.  Quite an experience. 

Nick and John on the Boardwalk at The Nobbies.  

Can you feel the cold and the wind?  

Look carefully..... to the right of the photo and you can see little boxes...those are the nesting boxes for the penguins.  They come up from that rough sea and spend the night in them before heading off to the sea in the morning .

Nicks Birthday was celebrated in the Camp Kitchen, it was cold and windy but the company was warm....had to dash back to the van though...not pleasant outside at all.    

Next stop....The Spirit of Tasmania...see you there.