Rooster's Ramble

The final stop on our journey was Rutherglen for some wine tasting.
We booked into the caravan park which was a little hidden gem we didn't know existed.
After visiting a few wineries in the afternoon we set up our own tasting plate with a wine and cheeses from the local area.
After a leisurely start the next morning we headed out to taste some more wines. We visited Campbells, Bullers, St Leonards and Cofields. We also called into the Boorhaman Hotel to see where Kevin is holding his birthday in a couple of weeks.
Sadly our holiday has come to an end but looking forward to seeing family and friends.

Our tasting plate!

Campbell's Winery

Sunset from campsite

Breakfast beside the river was extremely chilly and our only contact with the outside world was a houseboat cruising by.
As the boys headed off for a game of golf Wendy and I headed to the Beechworth Bakery for lunch followed by some shopping in Echuca.
As it was our last night with our friends, Wendy and Rob, we celebrated with another lovely meal of roast lamb and baked vegetables.

Breakfast at our free campsite beside the Murray

Lunch overlooking Murray

We continued our drive along the Murray to Echuca. After visiting another very useful Information Centre, we headed down to the historic wharf for a trip on the paddle steamer, the PS Pevensey. The Murray River had recently been in flood and the water level was still very high. The Pevensey was used in the TV mini series "All the Rivers Run".

After our cruise, we tasted a few wines in the old warehouses along the historic port area and then visited the "Holden Museum", where Howard and Rob recalled memories of their first cars.

We then we headed off to our free camp spot at Christy's Beach- a recommendation at the Information Centre- on the banks of the Murray. As night fell there was not another person or light to be seen; a truly awesome experience.

As it was our last night with our travelling companions (Rob and Wendy), we headed back into Echuca so the boys could play their long awaited game of golf, while Wendy and I headed out to lunch.

View from van at Swan Hill

On board "The PS Pervensy" on the Murray in Echuca

Holden Museum Echuca

Bush camping along the Murray

After a slow trip into Mungo National Park, including 60 km of dirt road, we set up for two nights of bush camping in the national park. The sites were large, level and well spread out. The first afternoon we visited the area know as "The Walls of China" and viewed the formations from the viewing platforms. Unfortunately, we were unable to do the round loop of the park as the road was still closed due to the damage caused by the extremely heavy rains in February.

That night we enjoyed a scrumptious dinner under the stars; roast pork, followed by a rich chocolate berry pudding. Next morning, we moved at a leisurely pace after a breakfast of bacon, eggs, tomatoes and mushrooms. We visited the "Walls" again with our Aboriginal guide, Tanya, from the national park. She took us onto the sands and explained the history and significance of the area to the Aboriginal people. In the sands, she pointed out evidence of human activity dating back 40 000 years. Another wonderful night was spent dining under the stars.

Sadly, we said farewell to the desert and headed back to the Murray River for a night in Swan Hill where we were lucky enough to camp right beside the river.

Walls of China Mungo National Park

Our camp fire

Dessert

End of Mungo National Park looking north

Walls of China

Our campsite

We left the beautiful Clare Valley early for our long journey across to the Murray Valley. Once again we had forgotten about the Fruit Fly Zone and we had to hand in our fruit at the Quarantine Station at the border. We stopped for lunch beside the river at Renmark after we had looked at the paddlesteamer "Industry". In one day we left South Australia, then travelled into Victoria and ended up in New South Wales at Wentworth.
Paddle steamer at Renmark

Lunch beside the Murray at Renmark

The junction of the Darling and the Murray Rivers

Perry Sandhills Wentworth, sandhills formed during the ice age