Willsons Prom, Yarra Valley, Mt Evelyn, Eildon NP, Mt Buller 21st Jan - 2nd Feb 2011

Hello to everyone,  Matt here today on the blog...

We hope anyone reading this blog is safe and well from the bad weather being experienced around the globe at the moment!  Many thanks for those of you who asked about my folks on Magnetic Island (off Townsville, Qld) regarding Cyclone Yari;  they have lost some power but the house is ok and so are they, but the streets are littered with trees and debris;  all good...  As one wag spray painted on a boarded up shopfront in Townsville; Kiss my Yaris...

We also hope our blog may cheer people up from some of the photos we have taken, given we are currently in Wangarratta Library (North eastern Victoria) stuck in a huge downpour, I have tried to post some up-lifting photos for you to look at.

It has been a while since our last blog and given we have great Internet access in the local library here, we thought to spend a good half a day sitting here out of the extremes and put in a decent blog to update you all of our movements over the past 2 weeks.

Wilsons Prometery would have to be one of the best places we have visited so far on this trip, it definitely goes in the top 5 list.   22 Jan 2011

The place has over 450 camping spots and is jammed packed form regulars who visit every year (who stay for 1 week - 1 month) to "fly by nighters" like us who stay for a couple of nights.

There are loads of beautiful beaches which are accessible by scenic walking tracks or you can just drive to them.

This is a photo of the Normans Beach where our campsite was, as you can see there is something to do for everyone.

Matt on one of the many picturesque walking tracks heading over to a beach called 'Squeaky Beach', about a 4km return walk.  So named as the sand squeaks as you walk on it... 23.1.11

I tried my hand at being a little artistic with this pic just as we walked onto Squeaky Beach.

Louise on Squeaky Beach

This would have to go down as one of the best lookouts (Mt Oberon) we have done on our trip around Australia so far...   We caught a bus 3/4 of the way up (you had to) and then proceeded to walk another 3.5km return (7km in total) up this very steep service road.

The walk really did tire us out but gee wiz it was worth it!!! Lou nearly died but made it to the top - just.

You can see the layout of the campsites at Norman Beach and the wonderful coastline. 

Looks like we were up in a plane. 

"JUST BREATHTAKING"

Louise and I at the top of Mt Oberon.  23.1.11

I was just returning from the shower when I heard something munching on the grass just outside of our campervan, I quickly turned on my lamp to discover this surprise, 'A BLOODY WOMBAT'

I quickly rushed inside and got Louise out of bed to come outside to have a look, we have never seen a Wombat in the wild.

Wonderful countryside driving through to the Yarra Valley.  Like the cows in the foreground... 25.1.11

Louise posing on top of a lookout built on top of a winery we visited in the Yarra Valley, we had to taste some of the produce of course.  Classic Car Show in background at Rochford Vineyard.

I had the opportunity to catch up with some old primary school chums (I had not seen these guys for over 22 years, so thanks to Facebook) when visiting the Yarra Valley area.

We attended the Magnetic Island Primary school from 1979 - 1985

Far left - Erron Alsop is the step brother of Ben on the far right.

Erron was a little younger than us so he was in a grade or two below us, but we still hung out as kids.

Ben on the far right was in my class from 1983-85 and we were also good mates through high school, we use to get up to a fair bit of mischief, for those of you who knew us back then...

And Garry Constable, second from the left, he was in my class from around 1983-85, he lived in the same street as me down the road and we kicked around after school getting up to mischief as well, we had some good rock fights back then and the rest --- LOL.

Louise with Matilda and Hayley at the BBQ

Next day - Louise with some of the freindly locals at a campsite in the Eildson Lake NP - They were actually a bit of a pest, where they tried to bite your toes if you did not pay any attention to them. 

Had to put a pic of the campsite just down from Mt Buller ski resort, we had just come back from washing our clothes and thought it made a great pic.  1.2.11

We found this gnome house on the side of the road driving up to Mt Buller.

Matt is reading one of the many letters left for them. 3.2.11

We found this huge day car park on top of Mt Buller and stayed there the night before doing a few bush walks around the place the next day.  The place is like a ghost town in the summer, a really strange feeling to the joint.  3.2.11

Matt at the start of one of our walks at Mt Buller, the weather can close in very fast so we made the most of it.

I was here nearly 15 years ago snow boarding with my pals from the RAAF, it was very strange coming back here in the summer time, it bought back some great memories, I felt like going snowboarding again!

A pic taken along a walk of Mt Buller,  the flowers really come out to play in the summer time. 2.2.11

Louse on on of the walks around Buller Village 3.2.11

Looking across from Mt Buller

We are hopefully off to Albury/Wodonga on the NSW /Vic border tomorrow;BUT there is a flood warning out for that region, leftover from the damn cyclone!  Arrrrr!  So we shall have to see where we can go and not get flooded out.  We shall keep you all informed....

Love matt and Louise