Australian Native Plants, Pangarinda Arboretum, Wellington, South Australia

Pangarinda Arboretum is on the eastern side of the River Murray at Wellington, South Australia, just a short distance east of the ferry crossing. This large garden has been planted up and maintained by local native plant enthusiasts on land provided by the local council.

The huge collection of many thousands of plants from all over Australia always has something in flower, so every time we visit the camera is kept busy. The whole property is fenced to keep out rabbits, so if you ever visit, make sure the gate is securely closed. Entry is free at any time.

Australian Native Plants, Pangarinda Arboretum, Wellington, South Australia

Australian Native Plants, Pangarinda Arboretum, Wellington, South Australia

Murray River, Mannum, South Australia

Mannum is a small river town less than a half hour drive from my home. It is on the banks of the Murray River and has a long history dating back to the paddle steamer era in the late 1800s when Mannum was an important river trade port. The local museum bears testimony to this important element of South Australia’s history.

We enjoy our visits and love relaxing in Mary Ann Reserve where these photos were taken.

Silver Gull and the Murray River, Mannum, South Australia

Murray River, Mannum, South Australia

Lake Hattah, Victoria, June 2011

Sydney Trip June 2011

In recent days I have written about our short stay in the Hattah-Kulkyne National Park in north west Victoria earlier this year. This was on the last day of our holiday staying with family in Sydney.

We had lunch on the shore of Lake Hattah. This park, and the lake in particular, is one of our favourite places. We’ve had many wonderful weeks camping here. This included many hours canoeing the network of lakes which fill when the nearby River Murray is in flood. Sadly this area, and the catchment area for the river system has been in drought for many years. The lakes have suffered terribly as a result of this lack of water.

This is a Ramsar site – you can read some details on the photo of one of the signs near Lake Hattah. The managers of the national parks can do little about a drought, that I will grant. But to allow the lakes, camping grounds, picnic areas and other amenities to deteriorate like they are at present is a deplorable state of affairs. At best, I would describe it as environmental neglect. I could be really nasty and call it more like environmental vandalism. Lack of governmental funding is probably an element as well.

Sure – the whole region suffered during the drought, and the irrigators would have been demanding all the water they could get. But if we are to have sites like this listed as Ramsar sites – international agreements on environmental protection – then it has to backed up with action – not mere tokenism, posturing and hollow words.

Lake Hattah, Victoria, June 2011

Lake Hattah, Victoria, June 2011

Sydney Trip June 2011

On the last day of our trip home from Sydney in June this year, we stopped at Lake Hattah for lunch. We found a convenient log on which to sit and enjoyed a quiet, peaceful time. We reminisced about the many times we’d been camping here over the years. This area still holds a special place in the memories of our children too, now long since grown up.

We’ve also enjoyed many hours of canoeing on the system of lakes which fill from the nearby River Murray when it’s in flood. Sadly, the lakes have suffered over the last decade due to severe drought. Now they are once again full there is some hope for the future of this wonderful environment.

Lake Hattah, Victoria, June 2011

Hattah-Kulkyne National Park, Victoria

Sydney Trip June 2010

On the last day of our trip home from visiting family in Sydney earlier this year we planned to spend a few hours in one of our favourite places – Hattah-Kulkyne National Park. This park is south of Mildura in far north west Victoria. The park has two predominant habitats: eucalypt mallee scrubland and large eucalypt riverine vegetation around the creeks, river and lakes. The park contains over a dozen ephemeral lakes which fill when the nearby River Murray is full, or in flood. In recent decades the lakes have been artificially allowed to fill.

On this visit we came in from the Mildura, or northern, end. We left the Calder Highway and followed the route of the old highway through the mallee section of the park (see photo above). When a section looked promising for birding, we stopped for morning tea and a spot of birding. (Go to Trevor’s Birding for details.)

Hattah-Kulkyne National Park, Victoria

Tungkillo Hotel, South Australia

When we go to visit our daughter in Clare in the mid north of South Australia, we usually go through the small township of Tungkillo. This town is near the eastern slopes of the Mt Lofty Ranges on the road from Adelaide through Birdwood to Mannum.

In all the times we have driven through this town, I recall only stopping on one occasion – to buy an ice cream from the general store – the only store which is now closed. The hotel (shown in the photos) does good meals I believe, but we’ve never been through the town at the right time to stop for a bite to eat. The town is a small community in the midst of farming country, mainly sheep, mohair goats, cattle and some wheat farming where it isn’t too hilly.

The photo below also shows a large pipeline. This transports water from the River Murray at nearby Mannum to the reservoirs which store water for our state capital city, Adelaide.

Tungkillo Hotel, South Australia

Hay bales near Tungkillo, South Australia

Our cabin, Mildura, Victoria

Our holiday in Victoria

September 2007

We stayed only one night in Mildura during our trip through New South Wales and Victoria. Mildura is a bustling provincial city in north west Victoria well worth staying for more than an over night stay. It would be an excellent destination for a week or more. If you are keen on water sports or have a boat, places like the caravan park where we stayed would be ideal. Unfortunately we had to move on after one night. We must rectify that one day.

River Murray at Mildura, Victoria

Several of the many caravan parks are located right on the banks of the river. These are particularly popular with the boating fraternity. I usually head for such places too, but for different reasons. I know that there is a greater chance of seeing more birds where there is water.

This family of Black Swans came to greet me when I wandered down to the water’s edge after unpacking the car.

Black Swans with juveniles, Mildura, Victoria

Yellow Billed Spoonbill (nesting)

Wandering along the river bank near the caravan park in Swan Hill I observed several birds high up in a eucalypt tree on the opposite bank. With my camera I was able to zoom in reasonably close and see that it was a pair of Yellow Billed Spoonbills nesting high up in the tree.

The nest, clearly visible, was at least 15 metres up above the ground. From memory, this is the first time I have observed this species actually breeding. For more interesting observations of Australian birds, go to another of my blogs over at Trevor’s Birding (click here).

The giant Murray Cod, Swan Hill

Our holiday in Victoria

September 2007

Australians have a love affair with all things big – no, make that HUGE. There is a big apple, banana, bottle, bull, cow, crocodile, galah, guitar, gumboot, kangaroo, koala, lobster, orange, pelican, penguin, pineapple and rocking horse. That is just a selection; there are dozens more.

The giant Murray Cod, Swan Hill

At Swan Hill we have the giant Murray Cod. This fish is much prized by anglers. Sadly there are very few left in the river system these days, though a large individual can sometimes be caught. The river system has been so tampered with through damming, irrigation and pollution that this magnificent creature is struggling for its very survival.

The giant Murray Cod, Swan Hill

Murray River at Swan HIll, Victoria September 2007

Our holiday in Victoria

September 2007

During our short stay in Swan Hill last year we stayed in a cabin in one of the local caravan parks. This park fronts the Murray River, Australia’s longest river. In the morning I wandered along down to the river bank. What I saw reinforced the poor state of our major river system as a result of the prolonged drought. The low water level can be clearly seen in this series of photos. You can see where the water is normally, and how far down it was last September. I believe that the situation has not improved much since. We are hoping for extensive and significant rainfall during this winter as well as above average snow falls in the Snowy Mountains.

Murray River, Swan Hill, Victoria, September 2007

Murray River, Swan Hill, Victoria, September 2007