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Kombi Adventures
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I camped at
O'Brien's Crossing in the north of The Lerderderg Gorge State Park. The gorge is a 300 metre deep valley running down the centre of the park through which the Lerderderg river runs...when there is enough water. There was plenty of water dammed up at the camp ground but the rest of the river bed was very dry.
When I first arrived I went down to the water to skim pebbles | ||
 | The local duck population must have thought I was throwing food so they swarmed on me. They where very friendly and would eat out of your hand. You are not supposed to feed the local wildlife, but they were very persistent...and cute. | |
 | When they figured out that the rocks were inedible they grouped into attack formation and charged the camp looking for food scraps! | |
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 | There was plenty of fire wood left behind by other campers over the Australia Day long weekend. So I didn't need to use my wood. | |
 | The next day I went for a walk through the gorge. It is a great place to go bushwalking. There are many different types of terrain, including this log bridge. Some of the tracks are real mountain goat tracks...literally! Yes, I saw a flock of wild goats, there were even a couple of baby ones, they looked so cute, but they all scampered away and up the steep ridge before I could get the camera out. | |
 | There is a good view from the top of the gorge but because most of the area is thickly covered with trees the view is between them. This was the biggest opening I found for a photo with the camera. | |
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This is a tunnel
that miners during the gold rush dug to divert the river. It travels about
50 metres through to where the river winds back on the other side of the
ridge. I would have loved to go through it, but I was a bit of a wimp. Hey, it was a cold day and the knee-deep water was freezing, or else I would have. | |
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This is a track
that came down the ridge on the other side of the river from where I
was camped. While I was there some guys rode through on their mountain
bikes. There where heaps of good tracks and I wished I had brought my own
bike.
Later I noticed them all standing at the top of this track. This photo doesn't do justice to just how long and steep it is. I decided to sit and watch, who knows, one of them might come off... well... I wish I had a video camera, The following show would have single handedly won the funniest home video of the year! The first guy came down the hill braking the whole way and sliding in the leaves. He turned the corner at the end, finishing perfectly. This gave the others great confidence that it was easy. The next guy came down twice as fast but he hit the sign on the last bend. He was thrown off his bike and went sailing off the ledge and into the water! The others behind him saw this, but it was too late, they had already started down the hill. One crashed into the wet riders mangled bike while another decide it was better to get to know the large gum tree. It was a good afternoons entertainment. | |
 | On the third night I moved camp to a picnic area at the top of the gorge, near Blackwood | |
 | I traded the ducks for this kookaburra who sat in the tree and watched everything I did with great interest. | |
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I had planned to
visit a local Library before I left to get a novel to take with me, but I
found out, it was Australia Day and the library was closed!
However on the way to the Lerderderg Gorge I passed through Trentham. I found a second hand book store there and brought a book of short stories by Jeffery Archer. While there I saw signs pointing to "The Falls". I thought they would be some little trickling cascade that the local played-up to encourage the tourists to visit town. So I decided to visit on the way home. On the way home I almost drove past the turn off as it was a bit drizzly outside, but I had time so I decided to check them out...and WOW! | |
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The falls are the highest single drop falls in Central Victoria. The Coliban River plunges more than 30 metres over a basalt cliff which has cut back and formed a ravine several hundred metres long. | |
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It was just like
out of a movie!... with a track to walk behind the falls and a cave to hide
pirate's treasure and a rock pool to go swimming in... ...well I did need a shower | |
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There is another
fall like this down at Cape Otway where I hope to go later in February. Anyone is welcome to come with me on my adventures. I am flexible about when and where I go, so if you have any good ideas let me know.
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