Daytrip in the Dandenongs

Third day-trip around Melbourne since our arrival and we set our eyes on the Dandenong Range. The Dandenongs are a short set of low/hilly mountain ranges (max 633 m) approximately 35 km east of Melbourne. With impressive stands of old-growth eucalypt forest, the drive up along the range is a wonderful sight and makes you wonder at the past beauty and wilderness of the region prior to the large urban expansion from Melbourne and surrounding  urban hot spots. Despite the fairly low height of the range, it is high enough to promote a clear change in climate (cooler/colder than the lowland parts of the region depending on the season) and to provide for a very different floral community. We did not attempt any proper walk within the range but the short stroll to the Olinda falls (300 m) (small set of falls, quite disappointing from the top platform) in the Olinda forest makes you hungry for more and a daytrip for this purpose is marked down in my spring time diary. 

Along the way we stopped at the skyhigh viewing platform where one can enjoy a view towards the city. Unfortunately the cost of AU$ 5 was too high for us (we were really unprepared  and only had 3 dollars at hand) and we had to do with a view between houses and trees at the entrance of the Skyhigh platform which still allowed us to marvel at how close the city is and how clearly it can be seen.

Finally we stopped at Sassafras, one of a number of small towns in the range. Sassafras boast a number of very affordable but beautifully and originally stocked craft shops (especially the Gepettosworkshop wooden toy shop, which can also be found in Olinda), tea rooms (including the apparently famous Miss Marpples Tea Room), a nursery, soap shop, tea shop (hundreds of pots and cups on display, but the chocolate sold there is not worthy of your palate), and a small courtyard with a second hand bookshop and a shop boasting a mixture of affordable decorative items (wood, metals, old, kitsch, new, shinny, over the top, etc) worth a look. The courtyard had a large wood fire where one could warm up while listening to a two men band and enjoying a warm marshmallow compliment of the house. Overall, Sassafras differs from other similar ‘craft town’ (Maleny and Montville in Queensland for instance, where we are originally from) by providing interesting items that one can actually buy without having this feeling of having spend too much for not much.  I understand that craft shops should be more expensive than large commercial ones, but there is this tendency to find similar items across many 'craft town' with very large price difference that cannot be explained (I will sound stingy but as an example we bought a baby hat in Melbourne city for AU$ 18 and found exactly the same at Barwon Heads in a 'craft shop' for AU$35. The 'craft' here was made in an Asian country but charged as if made in Australia).

The proximity of the Dandenongs from the city and the activities/features on offer makes it a perfect day out for the family, the walkers and the nature lovers. We will have to go back to enjoy some walks in the impressive old-growth eucalypt forests scattered with large tree ferns, escape the heat of summer (I assumed it would be crowded up there during that time), or to simply spend a nice day with visiting family members. There is also the 100 year old steam engine train (Puffing Billy), running along its original track in the range (see link below), which would certainly entertain many young and not so young ones. Get out and play!

Gepettoworkshop 
Puffing Billy
Park Victoria Dandenongs Walks

It could have been great: Lake Connewarre

After failing to join a field trip organised by the Field Naturalist Club of Victoria to learn about algae in the Mornington Peninsula on Saturday I settled on spending the day discovering Barwon Heads and Lake Connewarre in the Geelong region. With beautiful descriptions of the lake, marshes, wetlands and its inhabitant on a number of official websites, I was all excited about watching hundreds (well, maybe less , let’s be honest) of waterbirds going about their daily life in the serenity of these extensive protected areas. The area is fairly close to Melbourne city (approx 65 kms) and is easy to reach. Upon arrival a short walk along the River Parade boardwalk wetted our appetite, before heading to the closest information centre for further information as to how to access Lake Connewarre, its sibling Reedy Lake and the multitude of waterbirds they shelter. Well, it was not meant to happen. The friendly Information Centre attendant almost shrugged his shoulder at our enquiry, highlighting that they had very few such enquiry and that he did not really know: “most people walk along the boardwalk and along the beach, and that is it” was his actual answer. I find this very surprising – a rather large portion of the peninsula is covered by these lakes and surrounding marshes and you have no enquiries about it? A real shame. So we walked along the beach and cliffs which, to be fair, provide beautiful views but it did not fulfil our need for ‘wildlife’ watching. We attempted a stop or two around Lake Connewarre but were rather disappointed with what we could see and access at these ‘picnic’ areas. Do not get me wrong, the place is beautiful and it is a blessing that this area’s significance and conservation value is acknowledged. But I am wondering if they could not do more to educate visitors about its significance, so that they develop a connection with the place and its inhabitant, so that they feel responsible for their protection and survival. A small place where families could go and watch the inhabitants at a distance, hidden in a wooden shelter so as not to disturb and be seen, with a list of birds present, maps of the long journey taken by some species, nesting and life history etc. Nothing big, so as not to disturb the place, but something nonetheless. I am in fact so surprise that there was nothing there at all that I am wondering if we completely missed it and the friendly Information Centre attendant did not know about it. For instance he mentioned the Ocean Grove Conservation Reserve, describing it as nothing more than an old pasture field revegetated with some random natives and mosquitoes that could carry you away......maybe not the best salesperson I guess.

On our way back we stopped rather quickly at Balyang Bird Sanctuary in Geelong but it was just not the same. Despite all this I would still suggest Barwon Head for a good day out, some fresh air, the smell of iodine and of healthy marshes. If fishing is your thing, even better, especially along the River Parade. Any advice as to where to go next time we are hungry for some ‘wildlife’ watching in the Melbourne greater area would be greatly appreciated. Until then, Go out and play! http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/explore/parks/lake-connewarre-w.r

Doing something for Merri creek

Today was another one of those days where something inside you screams for you to get out and get some sun in your eyes, hair and on your skin. I have been in Melbourne for a bit more than nine weeks now and every sunny day is an opportunity to explore my new neighbourhood, Fitzroy North. My new wheels got some practice along Merri creek, which flows not far from my new place. I have been looking around to get involve with anything to do with this creek after riding its banks last week and feeling sorry for the state this creek is in. All the trees and riparian vegetation were covered with plastic bags, bottles, foam, and other detritus while its bottom was littered with bottles, shopping trolleys and large concrete blocks. It broke my heart. Today was exactly the same along the ride I took upstream of St. Georges Street. Large pipes vomit their nauseous mixture of runoff from the streets, littered with detritus people are too lazy to keep for five minutes until their path crosses a bin: it is so much easier to just throw it on the ground or out the window (now this I just don’t get, why throw your crap outside - Is your car so precious it cannot handle an empty coke bottle or an empty pack of cigarettes?). These pipes carry with them all heavy metals and other toxic chemicals mixes from cars exhausts, breaks, oil etc. And all this goes straight into the creek, the Yarra and the bay. It also amaze me that people will enjoy spending time in the parks along its bank but will be happy to leave all their detritus behind them, in the hope that it will disappear by magic before they come back to enjoy the park again. So I guess all this is to say that I asked myself: can’t we do more? Can’t we organise more than one ‘clean up day’ per year? Can’t we reduce the amount of road runoff entering these creeks? Can’t we actually fine people who litter without care? After a bit of research I found the website Friends of Merri Creek (http://home.vicnet.net.au/~fomc/) which seem to be exactly what I was looking for: clean up days every months, activities, community education etc. So for anyone interested in doing something for Merri creek, join in!