P. had last Friday off, so we had a four-day long, long weekend. I picked up Drew the Wagon and we headed to Yea via the beautiful drive from Kinglake to Yea. We were astonished at the new developments on the road from Greensborough to Whittlesea. We had an undistinguished lunch in Yea then went to Yarck where we stayed at one of the Yarck churches converted to B&B accommodation. We dined at the Tearooms of Yarck, an Italian-type eatery where we had the chef's special menu. And special it was. We lost count of the number of small dishes, including three desserts (one was technically an amuse-bouche) but all were delicious, washed down with a local riesling and a Sardinian red. The church was very comfy too.
Yarck Church accommodation (pic. P.)
Pic. B
Next day, it was downmarket but with a lovely drive to Eildon via the Skyline Road and a drive around the lake, then to Mt Pininger Lookout, recommended by the tourism office in Alexandra. It was a grand view with the added visual of a group of Muslim men in shorts and their wives in full black coverup with just an eye-slit showing. This on a thirty-two degree day on a very exposed mountain.
Pic. P
We had stopped in Alexandra for the market and a walk in the lovely park which started a theme of the weekend, lots of bird sightings.
We stayed overnight in Thornton, at the Rubicon Hotel/Motel which should be preserved as a fine example of 60s motel architecture. It means that the rooms and bathrooms are not pokey as they would be today. The meal was less impressive. In spite of the kitchen being staffed by orientals of some type, the chinese meal was far from authentic. It also harked back to the 60s as did the nearby table with the men at one end and the women at the other.
Next morning we had another 60s throwback, a big breakfast at the local cafe. Then a great drive to the Cathedral Ranges State Park with views of the range on the way. We went for an hour and a bit walk in the park quite early to avoid the worst of the heat and saw lots of birds, including some lovely yellow-tailed black cockatoos, screeching and pulling off bark.
Pic. P. Cathedral Ranges creek
We lunched at Marysville patisserie (very good) and mistakenly walked up to the Steavenson Falls in the heat. They were spectacular, but the effects of the fires are to be seen everywhere including the site of the Marylands guesthouse where we have stayed a couple of times, now a redevelopment site.
On to the Black Spur Hotel where we have stayed before. They do a creditable meal including an entree platter of local goodies, goat's cheese, smoked trout etc.
Next morning we went on to the Healesville Sanctuary where among many other things we were rewarded for being early by seeing both Mrs and Mr Lyrebird. The new platypus show is also very good. We headed home bearing gnocchi and chicken korma from the Healesville takeaway.