Adelaide to The Farm (Merrigum) via Mt Gambier, Warrnambool, Skenes Creek and Daylesford - 6th January ~ 19th January 2011

The drive south to Mount Gambier from Adelaide saw us stumble across some beautiful places we must come back and stay sometime soon. The coastal towns of Robe and Beachport were much like our choice for retirement, Kiama.

On arrival into Mt Gambier we were blown away with the beauty of Blue Lake. A lake that is the most amazing shade of blue from November to March each year. No set reason for why (although many theories) - we thought perhaps the location of the lake in a volcanic crater - but this theory was given the thumbs down when we did a tour of the lake to the surface. Although the water is so blue it is so clear that you can see quite deep into it. Our time in Mt Gambier also saw us visit the sunken garden of Umpherston Sink Hole - a garden set in a large hole left when the roof of a cave fell in. The magnificent hydrangea flowers were a sea of colour with assorted greenery set amongst the blooms. A chilly picnic lunch in Port MacDonnell and some rain saw us limit our time in the area and a short visit to the most southern part of South Australia.

A day trip to Penola (minus Peter) saw us visit the home of Saint Mary of the Cross (MacKillop). Here we spent time exploring the church and a mock classroom set up in the original manner of the first Sister of St Josephs classroom. The slingshot by the nun's desk shows just how much discipline in education has changed. Imagine if we did this nowadays!!!! The remnants and icons from the original era of Mary MacKillop's life were so interesting the see. While in Penola we took the kids to 'Funtasia" - one man's creative flair with model railways, water and a fantasy wonderland of every theme imaginable. The Treasure Hunt Balunn was set by Graham was quite difficult and we all had fun looking for the different characters hidden within the display.

From Mt Gambier we headed to The Great Ocean Road where we began to encounter the heavy rains which would soon wreak havoc across parts of Victoria. We stayed at Hopkins River Caravan Park (just out of Warrnambool) - an ideal place for children with tennis, a games room, indoor heated pool and spa, great roads for scooters and mini golf. It was such a pity that it rained so much and none of us got to enjoy these facilities. On the one fine day we did have we spent as much time touring The Great Ocean Road as possible. We visited The 12 Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge, The Arch and The Grotto. Although beautiful sites to see, Peter and I were still disappointed on the route of The Great Ocean Road as it mostly away from the water. Once back in town, we had to take Zali to the doctor after she got an infection in her finger from a cut a few weeks back. It looked horrid and spread to her nose. Thankfully after some antibiotics and cream she is looking much better. We then met up with Nanny, Poppy and Balunn for a swim in Stingray Bay.

Our next stop would have to be the worst place we have stayed during our trip. With The Great Ocean Road shut from Skenes Creek (5km east of Apollo Bay) to Lorne, we booked into Skenes Creek Caravan Park. It wasn't only the torrential rain which made the stay so bad, it was the most expensive place we have stayed at and it had zero facilities. The 4 showers and 6 toilets it had to cater for all guests were disgusting. I refused to use them and didn't expect the others to either so it was time for the portaloo to come back out and for a quick sponge bath for the one night we were there. The location, in good weather, may have been ideal, but I could have been in a developing country with the state of the 'facilities'. An afternoon of boardgames with the kids was LOTS of fun - who knew the game of Trouble could get so nasty!! A nice dinner out in Apollo Bay and the fast flowing waterfall spotted by Balunn on the way in was the saving grace for this night.....

With road closures still along The Great Ocean Road and many on the route we were taking to Daylesford, the trip to inland Victoria was wet and slow. Water all over the road, fallen trees, mini rock and mud falls and cars that did not drive to the conditions saw us really taking our time. Daylesford and the surrounding area had encountered extreme rain before our arrival with towns less than 30km away evacuated due to the floods. Our park was a little wet, but in a beautiful lake side location and close to town. Daylesford is known as spa country and the health and spa resorts in and around the town were plentiful. An area to come back and enjoy with the girls...... While in Daylesford, we visited The Blowhole - a tunnel from the mining era of the 1850s dug out to release water while gold mining. The pressure of the water coming through the hole created a loud, ferocious and devastating torrent. We were all fascinated by the volume and speed of the water. Words don't describe the power of the blowhole, so I have included two videos below for you all to see. Enjoy......

Video 1 - The Blowhole

Video 2 - The kids loving the chance to get wet!!!

We had a great afternoon at the local chocolate factory where we listened to and watched the story and methods of Belgian chocolate. After some purchases of some of the best chocolate we have ever eaten, we sat at the cafe and enjoyed ice cream with melted Belgian chocolate - personal choice of ice cream flavour and chocolate style.... delicious!!! To burn off all the fat, we spent the afternoon by Lake Jubilee swimming and canoeing. Great times!!!

From here it was onto the Hogan farm for a catch up with the cousins. Lots of rain had left roads we needed blocked so we had to go the long way round. Driving into the farm in Merrigum it was amazing to see such a difference in the 12 months since we last visited - now lush, green paddocks full of great feed for the cows. Our time based at the farm saw us visit Tony at International Dairy Week in Tatura, a picnic by the lake in Shepparton, a visit to Luke, Briony and the kids for a play, a day trip to Echuca to see the flooded Campaspe River and the Murray at its highest level since 1993, Pete and I enjoyed a beautiful lunch at Oscar W's for our 8th Wedding Anniverary and a great family catch up over each day with various cousins (we also got to meet the newest cousin, baby Aden).

We depart in the morning for what will be Day 191 of our adventure.... how quickly the time has gone xoxoxox

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year - Streaky Bay, Port Lincoln and Adelaide ~ 21st December - 6th January

What a beautiful location we chose to celebrate Christmas!! A caravan spot 2m from the shore of the magnificent bay and great friends we had met along the way to share our Christmas away from home.

The lead up to Christmas was very exciting with great fun decorating the van with lights and tinsel, as well as putting together our little Christmas Tree and Santa sacks inside. Our Advent calendar had been on the go for all of December (need an incentive like this all year long!!) and adding to it with a bigger variety of decorations was very exciting!!! It was even better when presents started arriving under the tree!!

A small mishap while out 'crabbing' with the other children we were set up with saw an emergency trip to Streaky Bay District Hospital as Zali badly cut her foot on a Razor Fish. We had never heard of such a fish, but after a 'google' search we could understand why Zali was so hysterical. The 4cm cut was deep and should have been stitched, but the Doctor was too concerned about further trauma to the poor chook - who was inconsolable during the syringe washing of the cut to inflict any more pain. With Zali being a drama queen, I am sure you can imagine the sympathy she milked from all for the coming days!!

A visit to the park from Santa was very exciting and created a real positive mood for the impending arrival of the 'real' big man in red!! There were so many other families enjoying a Christmas away from home and there is a lot to be said for the relaxed atmosphere it is..... 4 years worth of warning to both families we would miss the Christmas celebrations of 2010, perhaps not as much warning next time and we might just take off unannounced (it really was such an easy Christmas!!).

Christmas Day saw both kids casually rise at around 9am. Both very excited that Santa had been and left some great presents and even more excited that he had left a note thanking them for cookies and milk they left out. Pancakes for breakfast and a visit from Thalia and David to share the Christmas cheer was a fabulous start to the day. From here, we joined the Bragas, Callum and Santos families - 8 adults and 10 children - each providing our own feast and enjoying each others' company under the shade of a marquee by the waters edge. The adults sat, ate, drank and chatted while the kids rode their scooters, played with Lego and train sets, did their make up and watched a DVD. Before we knew it the clock had already reached 8.30 and most of the exhausted children headed for showers and bed. A highlight for us all was being able to Skype home. Zali could see the bike Santa had delivered to Nanny's house (and can't wait to get home and ride it!!) and we all enjoyed chatting during the day and feeling a part of the celebrations as we saw the unwrapping of the presents, the table set in red and white and all the food Nanny and her helpers had prepared. Of course, we also chatted to the Helsloot side, but by this time Zali was too entrenched in socialising with all her friends. Poor Jaydon didn't even get a Merry Christmas from his big cousin.

Besides Christmas, we also managed to get some site seeing done during our stay. We saw.....

* Sea Lion Colony - a short distance from Streaky Bay where a breeding Sea Lion Colony has been established to increase numbers. Luckily, we got to see some lazying in the sun, others moving around in the sand and a few swimming together in the water.

* Great White Shark replica - located in the tourist centre is a replica of a Great White Shark caught off the bay in 1995 by a 24kg fishing line. It weighed 1520kg!!

* Granites Beach and High Cliff - difficult to find and even more difficult to access, but Pete and Balunn braved the walk down and spent a morning swimming and enjoying this spectacular section of the coast.

* Cape Bauer Loop - amazing cliffs and blowholes. Peter toured this area with Luis, while Tanya and I got ready for Christmas lunch. The photos were great!

* Murphy's Haystack - a collection of rock formations which look like large haystacks in the middle of a wheat field.

From Streaky Bay we made our way around to Port Lincoln - home of the Southern Bluefin Tuna and Makybe Diva. An afternoon trip on a tour boat out to a tuna platform gave us the opportunity to feed and swim with the tuna. This really was a scary experience and Peter was the only one who managed to do both. The tuna grow to about 200kg and are one of the fastest fish in the sea. 95% of the tuna caught out of Port Lincoln is shipped overseas. This town also has the most millionaires per capita within Australia - all making their money in the tuna industry!!

While in Port Lincoln we made a day trip to Coffin Bay followed by a superb dinner at Del Giorno's. Probably one of our best meals out on the trip. Coffin Bay was a quiet, pretty and relaxed town, well worth another visit.

On our way to Adelaide we made an overnight stay at Port Augusta - 40 degrees, so our time was spent in the pool and trying to keep cool. We were last here 159 days ago with Ella in tow.

The into Adelaide where we would be for a week to welcome in the New Year. Here we were joined by Jen (for a flying 4 night visit) and most importantly, according to Zali, by nanny and poppy for the remainder of our trip. Although Zali had spoken to nanny nearly every day we have been away and has 'seen' her on Skype regularly, there was still so much excitement that she was here in person - truly lovely to watch!!

The weather in Adelaide was particularly hot, so lucky we had a 60m swimming pool to enjoy. Our caravans were set up next to each other and this allowed the kids to be in and out visiting all day long....

New Years Eve saw us venture to Glenelg foreshore for a seafood picnic and to watch the family fireworks at 9.30pm. What a spectacular show they were!! We all loved them, but Zali is petrified of fireworks and spent the whole time under a blanket and wrapped snuggly in my arms. A trait picked up here from Aunty Trina, but hopefully she will outgrow this fear by the time she is 12......

Other adventures around Adelaide include:

* a day trip to the city to attend mass at St Francis Xavier Cathedral (presided over by Archbishop Philip Wilson, who was previously Bishop of Wollongong), a walk down to the Torrens River for a picnic lunch and then a paddle on the boats, a tram ride back to the car for some of us to drive home, while nanny and poppy took the kids on the bus (with much excitement).

* a visit to mum and Jen's cousin from Albion Park (have been based in SA for the past 50 years) - Don and Anne King. Apparently I had met them when I was very young (no memory of this) and it was great to share family memories and stories with them during one afternoon and then a bbq lunch. Some of the old photos were hilarious to see!!

* lunch and wine tasting in the McLaren Vale wine region. A large wine region, but we only visited the Woodstock winery and we bought some dessert wine - yummy! A great place for kids to enjoy while the adults tasted!! From here, we made the trip down to Victor Harbour, but it was very cold and very busy. We had a quick look around and then made our way back to Adelaide.

* Pete and I attended a domestic Twenty20 Match between NSW and SA at Adelaide oval. Quick and entertaining - as cricket should be - and much more impressive than the Ashes!!

Now we move onto our last destination in SA - Mt Gambier - and then onto part of the Great Ocean Road, before heading to rural Victoria to visit the family.

Hoping you all had a great Christmas and New Year like we did and looking forward to seeing everyone on our return - Jamberoo on the 20th January and Sydney on the 22nd...... 11 days left :)

Love to all,

The Travelling Helsloots