No destination...: HOPETOUN, BALLARAT

Well we headed to Hattah-Kulkyne NP. Not really what we expected. Green algae meant no fishing or swimming so we barred it & stumbled on the little town of Hopetoun. Lovely little town with the beautiful Lake Lascelles. Magic spot & all free. Free camping, hot showers, BBQs. Met a nice old fella who kept us supplied with worms for fishing & fresh fruit & also offered us jobs (yes we declined). Craig caught a couple of yellowbellies, me still nil. Also got some yabbies. Had our first swim. Spent a few days here, magic spot & highly recommend it.

Our camp

Me nil

Sunset on Lake Lascelles

Left Hopetoun & called in to the Grampians amidst gail force winds & pissing down rain. We didn't hang around for long & spent a night at Ararat (again in pissing down rain).

Unbelievable how many racecourses around these parts. Warracknabeal, Horsham, Stawell, Ararat, Hamilton however the cloest we got was a losing bet on the Caulfield Cup in a strange little Ararat pub!

We have now been in Ballarat for a couple of days. Have been living it up in a hotel. Luxury.......... As we were driving into town we spotted Craig's Royal Hotel & of course we had to stop for a couple of cold ones at Craig's bar! You can imagine the carry on. Beautiful old hotel built in 1825 & now restored to its former glory.

Craig's bar

Visited the ex-prisoners of war memorial & spent yesterday at Sovereign Hill & went back again last night for the dinner & Blood on the Southern Cross sound & light show. Dined with a couple of lovely ladies from Melbourne in the Charlie Napier Hotel. Sovereign Hill is like Old Sydney Town used to be - set up as life on the goldfields in the 1850's. Did a 110 feet underground mine tour, watched a bloke do a $165,000 gold pour, red coats marching, bit of muskett firing, street theatre. Cost a small fortune but had a really good day & its well worth the look.