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Tungkillo, South Australia
No Comments »5th August, 2011; Category: Adelaide, Adelaide Hills, Mannum, Mt Lofty Ranges, Murray River
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
Overnight stay in Mildura
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
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
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
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