autumn

Witnessing Melbourne summer days were getting cooler and leaves changing their colour gradually from green to yellow I knew that autumn was knocking on our door. Well–deserved two weeks holidays approached slowly in sync with the change of cooler wind.
Our (two girls and two dogs)  journey began at Victorian high country only 3- hour drive away from Melbourne; nevertheless it felt like we stepped back in time. It is said that if Ned Kelly rode into Beechworth today, he would still recognise the town because in the main town historical precinct little has changed. Strolling around we as usually ended up in the bookshop where I found a useful book of 20 walks around Beechworth.

                                                                

 

Plenty to do and with a little time to spare we headed to get some caffeine into our system and were pleasantly surprised by the quality of the coffee. Melbourne considered to be a great coffee capital, on the other hand, this place could put to shame a lot of baristas.
It was a rainy day and hugging each other under one umbrella we marvelled at aboriginal art at the Yeddonba site in Mt Pilot National Park. In one of the caves is a drawing of the Tasmanian tiger that once inhibited Australian land. It is all faded and believed to be about 2000 years old. It takes a few moments for the eye to see this art on the wall. I am struck with the feeling of connection to the land and its inhabitants. They welcomed us to their sacred site and shared with us their beliefs. When the rain intensified, we found a shelter under huge rocks.
We stayed in Chiltern historical house called Linesman’s Cottage that was built in 1950s and was the work base for the Post Master General’s department.  Today the indoors area is renovated and used as holiday’s accommodation. While the outside of the house still rustic and looks like it belongs to a different era.
Dogs were happy in their fully fenced environment. Zorro managed to find a gap in the fence and almost had a "walk about". Luckily, he was too scared or give him the credit, too smart to live the place.

The drives in this region include views of pastures with cows that will stop their daily route of grazing and stare at you with their bored expression. The Farmland that may sell their small goods like fresh vegetables and fruits on the side of the road. Of course, the driver needs to keep an eye on a wildlife that tend to cross the road without checking left and right.
From this gem, we head to Wilson Promontory. We visited it before and still this time around we truly appreciate everything on offer.

 

 

 We fell in love with this place from the very first walk in Wilsons Promontory National Park. The walks vary from short one to multiple days. We opt for a day walks of 15 to 20 km under our belt each day and very proud of our physical stamina. It is almost impossible to describe the beauty that this place offers. Morning crisp air was stinging the gentle skin of my face.  Strong winds from the ocean blow tiny drops of salt water that I lick off my dry lips when hiking. The Autumn sun that climbs high into the sky and the process of peeling off the layers like cabbage begins and, of course, the vistas.
Most of the hikes include views of blue pristine water, crashing waves and horizons of green mountains.
On one of the days, we walk the Sandy point beach for hours on end on a very windy day, and it felt like we are in a desert with the developing sand storm. It is a bizarre feeling considering we could witness the ocean.

 

After a long day walk, the evenings usually spent cooking, reading, sipping wine and talking.
We found an amazing café in Fish Creek that produces delicious soy cappuccino and seduces everybody with their variety of pastry.
After reading the information brochure, we decided to do a wildlife short walk and the location was advertised by two emus walking around on the green grass and drinking and washing themselves in a puddle. We followed them around and found an abundance of kangaroo and a wombat. This teddy bear animal was seriously engrossed in his grass nibbling and ignored us completely. It gave us plenty of time to marvel at him and the surrounding area.

What can I say? Life is a wonderful and beautiful, no doubt about it.
To come back to Mallacoota is like to come home. We are familiar with the area and even the accommodation. The weather could be better, and the abundance of rain brought with it muddy water that badly affected any possibility of fishing.

Despite all that we took whatever the nature provided and at the evenings relaxed by the fire with some homemade food and good wine.
When life gives you lemons, make lemonade and in our case when life gives you cold weather make a cuppa.