Ozmobile Odyssey

Don, Katie and I captured the magic of colonial rail travel on the Victorian Goldfields Railway from historic Maldon, Australia’s first Notable Town, to Castlemaine and return. Interesting to talk with several people who still pan for gold in local rivers, no huge strikes but pays for their hobby.

Louise and Dan are now shaking off the English winter and loving the Auckland sunshine, after our Aussie Christmas catch-up.  We’ll be back at St Heliers, our home beach, by the end of January. The Odyssey will finish then, but we’re bringing the Ozmobile back to NZ with us, so the adventures will continue.

Recovering from a delicious Christmas Dinner with all the trimmings - air conditioning on and a few chilled bevvies to cool off on a beautifully warm day.  Don on the camera with from left Louise (still a bit jet lagged after flight from UK), Katie, moi obscured, Adam & Julia (Augustine 3 & Florence 1 both asleep) and our Bendigo family Jeremy, Flynn & Maree.

We’re spending Christmas with our Aussie whanau in this small Victorian city of handsome colonial buildings, fine trees and wide boulevards. Which befits its goldfields past and present, with the Deborah Mine poppet head operating close to the centre of town. A pleasant 28 degrees today after 38 yesterday and it often varies by 10 degrees within the day, as in Melbourne.

Wonderful flavours and presentation at Hellenic Republic in Lygon St, East Brunswick. Had heard a lot about this restaurant (Masterchef judge George Columbaris now has 4 restaurants in Melbourne) and it lives up to its reputation. My honey glazed pork belly was served on minted fresh pea & feta smash over a balsamic glaze, Don had slow cooked lamb cooked with origanum & lemon, and the two salads of cucumber and cabbage were the perfect accompaniment.

Celebrating August - 3 years old today Sunday - and Florence 1 year on Friday, with Julia & Adam in Melbourne.

Running out of superlatives-the red earth, grey green vegetation, white foam on an aqua ocean, brilliant blue sky, ochre sandstone rocks, cliffs and weirdly eroded islands-plus the sound of huge waves crashing below. We stopped at all the wonderful lookouts on this marvellous road, including the Twelve Apostles, London Bridge and The Grotto - most were fairly crowded and will be heaving when the school holidays start.

Not sure whether this rural artwork near Port Fairy is channelling Mother Christmas or Ned Kelly? Couldn’t miss Rudolph though!

After 30 shipwrecks in 1835 alone, it took until 1852 for this12 metre high navigation aid to be erected on Cape Dombey. After that, the firing of rockets carrying baskets to distressed ships to bring passengers ashore apparently saved many lives on the treacherous Limestone Coast. 

Bearing in mind budget cuts, perhaps a proposal to Mayor Phil Goff for Auckland Council property rationalisation could be in order? (Example at Port Elliot SA - the Aussies do heritage conservation particularly well.)

Definitely one of the highlights of our Aussie adventure - meeting livewire art teacher and crafter Jo at the Port Elliot hotel over an end of day ale. She’s fostering a baby ring-tailed possum that spends the day under her shirt - at school the kids poke bits of apple down her collar! We became new besties after I admired the beautiful pearl and bead necklace Jo was wearing, and not long after the possum intro she opened up a nearby gallery where I was able to purchase same.

Spent only a lunch hour in McLaren Vale, 45 minutes south of Adelaide, but enjoyed the mosaic featuring what the area is known for.  Which also includes antique shops - just as well I’ve stopped collecting Foley China (after three complete teasets.)

Fantastic array (and arrangement) of foods of all kinds at the 139 year old Adelaide Central Markets.  The cheese and small goods stalls were pretty impressive also.

An enriching experience to learn a little of the life of Warren’s great-grandmother, who is buried at the Angaston ‘New’Cemetery.  In 1866 agricultural labourer Charles and his wife Elizabeth emigrated from Devon with their firstborn 2 year old daughter, who died on the voyage. Living in Adelaide then settling in the Barossa, 8 children were born to them, 6 of whom survived childhood. Following Elizabeth’s death at 45, the family moved a number of times and were scattered when the children grew up. In his early 20s young Walter headed to NZ around 1900 and the rest, as they say, is history.

The joy of eating-a maaaaarvellous lunch at The Eatery, Maggie Beer’s beautiful new restaurant in Pheasant Farm Rd, Nuriootpa, with Pauline and Warren. What we loved so much was trying cool new tastes like cultured butter (with handmade breads) and wonderful salads such as iceberg lettuce wedge with smoked yoghurt dressing, in addition to our beautiful mains.  Pauline came away with Maggie’s latest book, but with huge effort (and no storage space on Ozmobile) I managed to resist the urge.

We’re in the Barossa Valley (with Pauline and Warren) and the boys decided to taste local brews Jack of Spades dark ale and Iron Jack lager. Rather diverted by the advertising on their glasses, which included a local contractor promoting his services - ‘vine ripping, cow manure and special mixes’. Very refreshing, the boys commented!

Couldn’t resist the sign and turns out Clare Valley vintner and eccentric/dyslexic Mark Barry produces award-winning wines. So a short tasting session resulted in the purchase of several luscious bottles to share with (my cousin) Pauline and husband Warren, who we meet on Monday in Adelaide for a week touring.