Ballarat

16 03 2013

Heading inland Victoria was a relief from the wind but the heat increased. We stayed in a lovely town – Smythesdale. It has a camp ground with hot showers, toilets, fire places, wood, camp kitchen all for a donation. It was a terrific spot only about 15 minutes out of Ballarat. We caught up on the kids journals while we awaited our good friends to arrive that have also been travelling Australia with their children.

Upon looking for somewhere to cool off we took a walk to the river – it was a dry river bed … but full of blackberries so picking we did. We made berry pikelets, had berries for breakfast and ate many just as they were. A friendly local heard we were looking for a place to swim and kindly took Stephen to a favourite local swimming place near a quarry in a State Forest that we would never have found without her. It was a great place to swim and we took two trips out there to cool down.

Sovereign Hill was a highlight! We had such a terrific day there and could easily do another day there. I recommend the place to families or couples for a great day out. We also did their Sound and Light Show the evening before. It was a late night and Stephen, Natasha and I thoroughly enjoyed it but it was a little over the younger ones heads. Therefore the price for admission (even more than entry to Sovereign Hill) was a little steep for what we got out of it.

Both Stephen and my back had started to play up a little. We both were getting tingles that weren’t good and I a few headaches from the tension in my shoulders and neck. A quick google we found a massage therapist in town and both got a massage. Happy to say we are both feeling a lot better and Stephen is thinking it is something we should sample in each State!