Sat, 22nd Nov, 2014 Shallow Inlet Campground (South Gippsland sightseeing)

Bit chillier last night – down to 15 degrees when I got up during the night. It was 18 when we got up at 8.30. It is such a hard life.

Headed off for a drive to explore Prom Country (have a great little info book). Stopped at Fish Creek – famous for artists, unique stores and cafes. Found our art gallery.

On top of the Fish Creek Hotel is a giant mullet.

Lovely mural opposite the hotel.

Stopped at Mt Nicoll and walked up the hill to the lookout (305m above sea level). Legs complained!! Direction cairn at the top.

Had a little seat to rest and enjoy the view. Just looks like Kuranda lookout over the cane fields but these are all dairy farms with Corner Inlet and the east side of Wilsons Promontory in the distance.

Looking left at Foster Range then around to the right over Corner Inlet to Wilsons Promontory.

Zoomed in on Mt Singapore which is the other northern point of Wilsons Prom on the eastern side then round to the flat area of Yanakie just north of Wilsons Prom entrance.

Zoomed out to an entrance into Corner Inlet with Snake Island on left side and Mt Singapore on the right.

Zoomed in on some wind turbines at Toora across the Inlet.

Great little map I have too.

Looking over the narrow neck to Wilsons Prom to Shallow Inlet entrance on the west side.

Another Triangulation Point near the cairn.

Climb back down the hill with a view out the other side over more rolling hills back to Fish Creek area.

Looking over a quarry to the under construction wind farms we passed near Tarwin Lower.

Amazing little camera can zoom all the way back to the bottom of Anderson Inlet which is just north of Tarwin Lower. Shame we had cloud cover we could see such a long way.

Passed the cemetery for Foster dated 1871. We bypassed the town of Foster, will check it later today.

Took a turnoff up the hill to Agnes Falls for 15km scenic drive through lovely green country, farms etc.(this is a proper scenic drive – not me getting lost) Passed turnoffs to Mt Best and Mt Fatigue. That’s a good name. Lots of prickly pears at one farm.

Agnes River was tapped in 1926 to provide water for all the district. There is a weir at the top of the Agnes Falls which sends water to 1235 connections and is mainly gravity fed with a booster pump to help in summer. Cooks Dam was constructed 2 kms upstream. Its claim to fame is that it is Victoria’s highest single span falls with a drop of 59 meters. We expected a single drop like Millaa but it is a cascading waterfall. Still very pretty. The walk only takes you out from it a bit and not to the bottom so couldn’t get the full falls in a photo. Took lots of photos along the walk to the lookout.

Looks impressive in flood.

A little lizard – we have noticed not a lot of little animals in Victoria. His mate was further up the hole. There was a big wombat hole at the bottom lookout and a track heading up the hill and under the rail where he wanders.

The Friends of Agnes Falls have done a lot of work putting in picnic area and hut recently.

This kookaburra was having a great laugh so I videoed him. When I looked at the photo later I see he has a worm – no wonder he was so happy.

Looking at the Strzelecki Range where the water for Agnes Falls comes from. There is a lovely drive called the Grand Ridge Road that winds for 132km through the ranges we will do when we return.

Back out towards to coast and more dairy cows – bit smelly as you pass them as we have the windows down most of the time now.

Cute dairy cow letterbox as we head down to Welshpool.

Looking over Welshpool – Agnes dairy farm land.

Down to the coast to Port Welshpool and the historic longest jetty. There was no information about it other than the sign saying it was historic and when we looked at it, it was falling apart. There is always a bowls club by the water.

Zoomed in on the end of the jetty with Little Snake Island and Wilsons Promotory behind.

The water is clear and calm, certainly a good place to have a weekender.

Tracker Steve found a kangaroo’s print in the sand – he must have hopped along the beach.

Drove round to the new wharf. The owl hasn’t kept the birds off the pylons.

The boats and commercial trawlers on the brightly painted wharves make a nice picture.

Looking back to the wind farm at Toora.

Back through Welshpool and Agnes, cute little townships with lots of cafes and curio/antique shops. Passed a sign to Barry’s Beach then under that it said “No Beach Access”.

Up the lookout road to the Toora Wind Farm. Just like the ones in Ravenshoe. The construction of the Toora Wind Farm started in 2001. It was one of the first commercial wind farms in Victoria. There are 12 turbines. The site is owned by five farmers and the Wind Farm leases access for the turbines. The land is still used for dairy and cattle farming. It produces enough energy for 6600 homes. (220m above sea level)

 Great view over Wilsons Promontory.

Wind turbine, rolling green hills, ocean and mountains – makes a great photo.

Down the road a bit was a “hard to turn into” Lookout, but we did. Made some lunch and enjoyed the view before reading all the info on birds, environment etc.

“No Beach Access” to Barry’s Beach is because it is owned by Esso and the big Bass Strait oil rigs are assembled there. (which you can see on the beach) Mt Singapore on Wilsons Prom.

Looking over the Toora wetlands area where there is a bird hide to view the migratory and indigenous birdlife – skipped that one.

Township of Toora and the mangrove area of Port Franklin in the distance, where the Franklin River winds its way down to the Inlet.

Into Toora and past this old building.

Down to the park and the hut had a great map showing the area.

Toora has highlighted 10 of the town’s older buildings with information boards etc. Sounds interesting. Will do the walk next time.

One was across the road – built in 1889, the Royal Standard Hotel.

Three road cyclists collapsed in the info rotunda complaining. One guy with sore feet asked if we had room for his bike and could he squeeze in the middle rather than ride back. Pains of being too healthy!! In the park nearby was some more information plaques about the Tin Mine, Dairying, Timber, Electricity and the Beach. Very interesting.

Some lovely flowers too. Has gotten quite warm in the sunshine for a change. The clouds have all disappeared.

The big building we saw from the lookout used to be VPlus Dairy.

Love the figure head at the entrance.

Off again to Port Franklin which is set back in the mangroves. It is on the Franklin River.

Lovely park by the road with the flashiest public toilet I have seen. Vinyl floor and the walls are pine giving a lovely smell as there is no ventilation so it is a bit like a sauna. Lovely but wouldn’t be so good on a very hot day. There are no signs about no camping so might stop here sometime.

 Had books to read and pot plants which I watered when I washed my hands.

Across the road are jetties for commercial fisherman.

On the other side of the park are lots of private jetties. One was for sale for $25,000.

Looking across the mangroves at Wilsons Promontory.

Followed the road down checking out the jetties to the bend in the river then back to the mangrove boardwalk. Decided that wasn’t too interesting so headed round to the other park.

Could have bought some King George Whiting. Will catch our own next year when we get out fishing licences.

Climbed up the lookout, nice view from Wilsons Prom round to Foster Ranges as we are at the top and middle of the Corner Inlet coastline. 

Looking back to Toora wind farm again. Great mark to get your bearings.

Stopped for this cute lighthouse letterbox, as we head to Foster, to add to my collection of photos.

Another great one – Dan could make this.

Lovely house and garden with lots of little garden ornaments – even meerkats, and Mr Man letterbox.

Stopped at a Rural depot that advertised diesel for 139.9c/l so as the main tank was nearly empty decided to fuel up. So far we have done 8520km and used 3266 litres of diesel.

Stopped at the Info Centre at Foster. Lovely chat with a girl who used to work at the Cairns DFO. Headed off to explore the gold mine area on the hill behind the centre. Parks Vic had a info guide but they obviously don’t do any upkeep on the walk. Wasn’t nothing to see till we got to the end and found the info board. It was only half clean. After reading it we could make sense of the holes but couldn’t work out where the shaft would have been as there are houses all over the top of the hill now.

Great mural on wall near Pearl Park. Shows the gold prospectors arriving up Stockyard Creek around 1870 in search of gold on one of the three hills or in Stockyard Creek.

Made a cuppa and wandered around reading the great info plaques about gold prospecting in this area.

Amazing info about Lasseter – Lou have Steve a book to read once about the lost gold mines throughout Australia. This chap sounded amazing and he had such foresight, was far ahead of his time.

Monument to commemorate the discovery of gold near this site by Daniel Graham, Griffith Griffith (wasn’t his parents cruel), James Northey, James Palmer and Alfred Sparkes in early 1870.

A chap came along getting his children to look for strawberries in this garden bed and along the edge of the park. Steve and I found a few nice ones. There were other vegetables and fruit trees planted too.

Wandered down to the open area around Stockyard Creek. This where they first found gold.

They dug and sluiced all this area looking for gold hence it is wide and deep now. They apparently changed the course of the river a few times with their diggings.

I climbed back up the other side to the road and there was a small sign about the restaurant that existed there in 1871.

Some lovely trees have grown up after all the miners left.

Across the road was the Museum. It closed at 3pm so will have to come back next year. The old Post Office was built in 1890.

 There was a great mural, old buildings, machinery and a copy of Lasseter’s boat.

An info board about the mines and the battery.

This quartz battery operated on Kaffir Hill in the late 1940s.

The main street has beautiful roses in the middle.

Went back out of town to try and find the water at Foster Beach. Found a plaque about Stockyards.

Further on we found Landing road which lead us to the Landing Cottage. We were still following the Stockyard River.

Back into Foster then down the bypass road to Wilsons Prom road. Passed Dead Horse Creek, Old Hat Creek, Silver Creek and Golden Creek. Steve thought of Charles whose surname is Silver, and his gold lease is on Dead Horse Creek and he wears an old hat. Sent him a text. Looking to Waratah Bay and Shallow Inlet to the right.

Into Yanakie then down Millars road to the entrance to the top of Wilsons Promontory National Park. Walked down the Hourigan Camp Lane Walk (500 meters) to the Inlet and luckily the tide was out. A few people fishing so we wandered along the beach trying not to stand on the hundreds of soldier crabs.

View up and down from where we stand.

Walked up to where some people were fishing before admitting defeat about getting to the mouth.

Crunchy walk back over the shells. Found a few nice ones.

Back along the track to the truck near the open fields.

Back to Yanakie and down the road to the turn off to Duck Point. Another view of the ranges we have been on today and over Corner Inlet again.

Map of the area. We have gone from one side of the peninsula to the other.

Caravan Park right on the water’s edge. A few backpackers were cooking their dinner in the foreshore carpark (6pm) so I don’t know where they plan to sleep the night.

On the board about where and where not to fish was info about the migratory birds. This one, bar-tailed Godwit, I read about at the Lookout over Toora and it flies 25,000km round trip each year – silly thing!!

Standing on the boat ramp you can see fuzzy Mt Oberon in the distance.

Toora Wind Farm and town, you can see of old dairy too.

Barry’s Beach Esso oil rig construction area.

Mt Singapore. Boy do I love my camera.

After chatting with a lady we drove back out to find the lookout. Not well marked and not maintained at all.

Good view over Corner Inlet to Wilsons Prom, though the trees need a trim!!!

Swans below having a feed.

Steve saw a fish on the top of the water but I couldn’t make it out with the camera.

My shells. I didn't keep them, left them on a branch in the tree near our van.

Great day out. Steve did his domestics – packed up the outside things, topped up the water and emptied the toilet ready to head off tomorrow– what a good boy. I did my blog – does take some time but I enjoy it and enjoy knowing others are travelling with us. I will pack up the inside of the van tomorrow.  Steve checked out the sunset but it wasn’t very exciting tonight as the clouds had come back in.

Checking my notes – we saw two echidnas by the road on our travels but only dead wombats.