11-Jul-2011 Gateway to Outback New South Wales

Getting around Wentworth, the gateway to the Outback New South Wales and nearby towns... 

Orange World at Buronga NSW. 

We took a 10:30 am train tour around a big orchard with different varieties of citrus fruits and avocados.  We were greeted by a friendly host, Mario who gave us a complimentary orange juice and mandarins.  And just before the start of the tour, we were welcomed by a beautiful country music rendered by Bryan, the train driver.   

Saw 2 types of cumquats, a citrus fruit called Buddha’s hand (they’re like chilly but actually citrus fruit, tastes bitter according to Brian), valencia oranges, pomelos, tangelos, limes and many others.  According to them, there were around 30 varieties... couldn't remember all of them.

At Wentworth, NSW - 

Two Rivers Ski Reserve.  In here was a bridge to the small island where you can stand at the confluence of the Darling and Murray River.  We walked a bit but came back immediately to the car,  the place was very bushy, scared to encounter a snake along the way.

<- Murray River

                      Darling River ->

Junction Park.   Where the rivers meet.... The confluence of the 2 mighty rivers can be best viewed from the observation tower located at the park.  Darling River is Australia's longest river.   It starts in Queensland SE and NSW, flows 2740km and ends/joins the Murray River at Wentworth.  Murray River, the great dividing range, acts as a natural border between Victoria and New South Wales and flows around 2530 km.  

Lock 10 and Weir.   Completed in 1929 to regulate the level of water of Murray River for irrigation

Perry Sandhills.  A natural wonder of Wentworth, good for toboganning up and down the sand dunes. 

Justin enjoyed this place the most.  It reminded us of our Desert Safari tour at Dubai. 

It's winter so no need to worry about the burning sun.  Another thing that caught our attention were the wild plants around the area bearing small water melons. 

Woodsies Gem Shop at Mildura.  The place provides a demo for cutting, grinding and polishing of gemstones.  We're late and missed this part when we got there.  It has an outstanding display of gemstones -- jewellery and giftware in different colours.  While Justin was out enjoying the Garden Crazy Maze, we looked around and managed to buy a pair of green-brownish heavy bookends and a small vase made from solid stones, to replace the decors  broken late last year in our bathroom downstairs when Justin's friends had a gathering in the house. 

It was 5pm and time to head home.  We arrived just before 11pm at Melbourne where we had an order of Cantonese rice stick noodle and Spicy Chicken Chop to take home. 

More photos:
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2134931887187.123473.1062778089

09-10 Jul 2011 Outback New South Wales

Term 2 school break... I worked from home for a week and took 2 days off to have some 'us'  time with Mon & Justin.

Checked the availability of hotels/motels somewhere at Mildura / Wentworth.  It's not so bad going without pre-booked accommodations.

09-Jul.  We packed our bags, took a quick shower, filled up the petrol and off we go - drove along Calder Highway.   Since we passed Charlton, noticed that we had been driving for a few hours without a sight of even Maccas or KFC or any other fast foods.  Haven't had lunch yet, lucky we had biscuits and grapes in the car.  

Redcliffs. 

After long hours of driving, we stopped over at Redcliffs to fill up the patrol again.  Then dropped by to take a photo of Big Lizzie, an old, enormous machinery used to clear vast expanses of land at the Redcliffs Soldier Settlement.  It was purchased by a Big Lizzie Commitee, restored and now becomes a monument at Redcliffs Barclay Square along Calder Highway.

We took our chances that there might be a place open to get some food to eat around the area... it was already nearly 4pm and we didn't have a decent meal yet.   Alas! Found a BBQ chicken  and Fish n Chips take-away.   Not very satisfying but good enough to fill our hungry stomachs.

Just a few minutes drive after Redcliffs,  Justin felt disappointed seeing Maccas at Mildura.  Drove further and checked-in at a motel somewhere at Wentworth.   Our trip was supposed to be just a night getaway but later decided to extend it.  Thinking of staying on the same motel but changed our mind the moment we took a shower.   Mon said.. "Mas malakas pa ang ihi ko sa shower na'to."  LOL.



Abbotford Bridge



10-Jul.  Left Wentworth, drove to Abbortsford Bridge over the Murray River, then to Calder Highway going to Mildura. 

Along the way, we stopped by a "Honesty" fruit shop to see what they got in there.  It was a good price, $5 for a 10kg-pack of oranges.  But thought that it might not be a good idea to buy then as it would be hard having the fruits in and out of Sunraysia Region if we are travelling.  Thought of buying one before we got home.



We stopped over again and parked opposite the Top of the State Merbein Entrance sign.   Merbein is the northermost part of Victoria.

Reached Mildura and had breakfast at Centro foodcourt... then drove to the outback of New South Wales.

Lake Mungo National Park.

Felt a bit scared being alone on the road along the Fletcher's Lake Road on  the way to MungoNP.   Phone - no service.  Alone on the road and we couldn't see anything but 360deg-view of a flat empty land... not even a single tree in sight.   

We were relieved to see a company on the road along Wentworth-Pooncarie Road and seeing trees and vineyards once in a while.  Scared of being lost :-).

We reached the Top Hut Road intersection from Wentworth -Pooncarie Road, where we had to drive more than 60 kilometers on unsealed road to the Mungo NP's Visitors Centre.

  

At the end of Top Hut Rd is the entrance to Mungo National Park. 










On the way to the Walls,
we saw more emus... really cool!  

  

We stopped to take a photo...  and were amazed when we saw two roaming wild emus.  It's not as if we haven't seen emus before... but seeing emus outside the zoo, in the wild was simply awesome.    Mon kept on telling us to get in the car for one of the emus, headin' to our direction, might run after us.  Cool!

We stopped at Zanci Buildings site then went to the Visitors Centre.  The self guided tour was closed but the Walls of China was open.

Mungo - Walls of China.


Overlooking Mungo Walls of China

Ahead was an exellent view of the lunette Walls of China.  We were on the bed of Lake Mungo, dried up thousands of years ago.  From the brochures, they named the different layers in the erroded pinnacles of the Walls:

• Gol Gol Unit - pink soils at the base of the lunette 
• Upper and Lower Mungo Units - brownish cream and white sands formed when the lakes were full.
• Arumpo/Zanci Units - grey clays which cap the residual pinnacles.

  

 

 

We walked a bit and took a few photos then left.  Driving back to Mildura was quite OK... Not too bad as we already knew what to expect.  We even stopped and took a shot of Fletchers Lake along the way.  

Mildura Wharf

At Mildura, we went to buy a take-away meal at KFC then drove to Mildura Wharf.

It was a quick meal before headin' to Sacred Heart Parish along 11th Street to attend a 5pm-Sunday mass. 

It was not peak season and we didn't have a hard time finding a place to stay for a night. The day trip ended with a meal at a Chinese Retaurant close to the motel.

More Photos:
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2134768403100.123468.1062778089