The ‘Ville!
We are now in the heart of the beautiful Yarra Valley in lovely Healesville! Only an hour out of Melbourne and you are in “wine” country - and its gorgeous!!! Travelled through some nice towns - Kangaroo Ground, Christmas Hills, Yarra Glen - on our way to The ‘Ville (the locals affectionate term for their town). As per typical in the Victorian country towns the main street is lined with beautiful soft foliaged trees and the shops and buildings add to the towns character, a lot of them oozing history. It's all about art, craft, food and wine! - just what we like! :)
After strolling the main street and having lunch, we took a stunning 25min drive through the Yarra Valley National Park with its soaring Stringybarks, Ash, and lush and plentiful Tree Ferns, to Marysville which was devastated in the 2009 Black Saturday fires! While the beautiful forest has begun to regenerate there is still much evidence of the devastation, with the scarring on the hills, burnt tree trunks, and the rebuilding of the charming little village of Marysville. The new shops and houses are starting to bud and the towns heart is starting to beat again! Very pretty area and on the doorstep of Lake Mountain ski fields.
Our country backyard is "back to nature" again - very beautiful, peaceful and relaxing, with Badger Creek gurgling by our doorstep and the very well dressed local water fowl strutting their stuff about the place - love their big feet! They did have some visitors though who just might have pipped them in the "colourful" stakes!
Click on pics to enlarge.
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| Driving into the Yarra Valley - beautiful green, fertile countryside |
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| Some of the wineries cover their vines |
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The wineries are so picturesque - going to enjoy touring them
and doing a bit of tasting :) |
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| Cafe culture is big in Healesville! |
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A Fromagerie! Fantastic delights inside!
And there was a boutique wine shop as its neighbour!
Luke and Amanda's heaven! :) |
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| The stately heritage Grand Hotel makes its presence felt in The 'Ville |
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| Another lovely cafe! Cafe Beaz! |
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| Another heritage hotel |
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Enjoying the Fish & Chips - a favourite!
They got the thumbs up! |
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| The heritage Courthouse is now the Information Centre |
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| The lock-ups at the back of the Courthouse |
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The Gang-Gang Cockatoos have moved in for their annual smashfest on the gumnuts which
flourish in the eucalypts around the Info Centre.
What a mess!!! lol |
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The female.
The male has the orange feathers. |
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Maroondah Reservoir
The water supply for Melbourne- only an hour away from this idyllic valley |
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The burnt trees still stand proud in the Yarra National Park-
a striking scene with the blackened trunks and the brilliant new green foliage |
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The Stringybarks and Ash reach for the sky!!!
Impressive! |
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| 17kms of beauty!!! |
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| Marysville won't be defeated - the reconstruction of the town is well under way |
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The town goes a long way back!
Click to enlarge |
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New houses but the scars of terrible Black Saturday sit as a stark reminder
of nature's power on the Yarra Ranges behind. |
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These beautiful old elms have flourished again - the green foliage is starting to
hide the blackened trunks and branches. |
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| A new park and picnic area - encouraging the tourists to come back here! |
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| Nature regenerates! |
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| New shops with lots of enticing arts and crafts |
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| The rebuilding continues |
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| One of Marysville's attractions - the spectacular 84m Steavenson Falls |
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| The pretty Steavenson River runs through the town |
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| The scarred ranges loom all around |
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| The view from our seating area in the Motor Home - perfect! :) |
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| A stoll along the lovely Badger Creek which is on our doorstep |
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Strutting its stuff! lol
My what big feet you have!!!! |
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| Called in dressed to the nines! |
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