Beautiful
clear morning though only 5 degrees in the van. Not going out to see what the
temp is outside – weather forecast was for 2 degrees!! Fog in the gully.
9am
headed off to Dandenong to buy a new clutch. Will get it installed in Bathurst.
Got a new travel mug too!!
Drove
around till we found a laundromat to wash and dry our clothes. The clouds have
come over and it has gotten colder.
Headed
off to the Dandenong Ranges. Turned off to check out Lysterfield Park Lake and
have our lunch. From 1936 to 1975 Lysterfield Lake supplied fresh water to the
Mornington Peninsula. A large area around the lake had previously been
purchased from farmers and fenced off to protect the quality of the water. In
1975 Cardinia Reservoir became operational and Lysterfield Lake was no longer
needed. The lake was then developed into a recreational facility. The area was
linked to Churchill National Park in 1997 to create a park area of 1668
hectares and form a valuable green link between the Dandenong Valley and the
Dandenong Ranges. There are lots of walks and bike trails following old
tramlines which they used to cart the rocks from the quarries to build the dam
wall. Another walk follows the old aqueduct built in the late 1920s which once
supplied Dandenong with water. The water in the aqueduct came from the Bunyip
River and from Belgrave Reservoir via a wooden pipe. The channel ceased
operation in 1940s following the operation of Lysterfield Lake.
After lunch by the water in the sun, when it came out from behind the clouds, we walked up onto the dam wall. There were a couple of kangaroos lazing in the sun by the edge of the lake.
It
is only small compared to Cardinia Reservoir.
On
the way out to the main road we passed Montague Apples. Huge area of trees
covered with mesh.
Then
we passed a Christmas Tree Farm. Cute little trees all in rows. Photo didn’t
come out though.
Into
Belgrave to check out the Puffing Billy Steam Train. Steep windy road took us
down to the creek then up the other side over the railway line – no parks
available. Glad we didn’t have the van on too. Drove back into the village and
found a park and walked back to the entrance, then followed the windy path down
to the station. Reading the information as we went then we heard the toot toot
of the steam engine and watched it arrive at the station. He was backwards
though.
Finished
reading the info then headed into the station.
The
engine uncoupled and reversed back then drove around the carriages.
Steve
wasn’t too keen on a ride with the open carriage as it was a lot colder now!!
More
interesting information in the carriage. The ‘Little Train’ as it was called,
carried people and goods from 1900. The tourists loved it so much the railway
built the open air carriages that people still ride in today. The track was
closed in 1954 after landslide blocked the track and because the railway had
been losing lots of money as more roads were built and cars became more popular.
They held one last ride for the children in ‘Puffing Billy’, as it was now
known, and it was so popular they reopened part of the track for tourists. It
is now run by hundreds of volunteers.
Wandered
down the track where the engine was being serviced in its shed.
The
other side was where the other engines etc are worked on.
Back
up the zig zag walkway to the truck.
We
headed off to Monbulk following the signs but they weren’t very clear and we
ended going straight up a hill through all the tall trees.
Through
Sassafras (there is a town in Tassie the same name – lots of repeated names in
Australia) which is famous for its popular tea rooms. This is Miss Marples.
On
to Olinda which is the highest village in the Ranges at 580m. More tall trees.
Into
the village of Mt Dandenong where we turned off to SkyHigh Mount Dandenong to
check out the view over Melbourne. View from the carpark and zooming in on the
city – not the clearest day but we can see it all and out to the Bay.
Walked
up to the coffee shop and viewing areas around the building (633m elevation).
Great
looking tree – wonder if they will carve it.
Wandered
around the English Garden with lots of statues that Steve liked.
The
Secret Garden is only used for weddings and private functions.
The
Wishing Tree.
Leigh
Conkie carved The Sentinel in 2012.
He
also did the Australiana Tree in 2006.
There
was also a hedge maze but that was closed but you could peer in the gate at the
fountain.
Another
water feature was a spinning world.
On
our map it said tree carving – not the most exciting but must have been an
original one.
Down
off the mountain into the flatter valley to Lilydale (another Tassie town name)
where we stopped for a cuppa at the Lake. Lots of people out enjoying the
sunshine.
Back
to the van where the kangaroos were busy mowing the grass in the paddocks.
Finished
our packing and cleaning.
