22nd February - Port Fairy to Dundelk, Victoria, Australia

The next leg of our road trip would take us north into The Grampians National Park.  The Grampians are a series of five spectacular sandstone ridges running north to south with steep and craggy slopes on the eastern side and gentler slopes to the west. They are the result of earth movements lifting and tilting the hard sandstones to create an impressive landscape of peaks and valleys. There are many lookouts with stunning panoramic views as well as a number of impressive waterfalls.

We were staying in Dundelk a small town on teh southern edge of the park, but would have time to drive north into the park and the township of Hall's Gap.

Leaving Port Fairy it was obvious today was going to be a very hot day, there was also a very strong easterly wind blowing that was very warm.  As we headed west to pick up the road to Dundelk we passed the Belfast Loch on our left and on the right in amongst the dunes the Port Fairy golf club.  Along the ridge of the dunes I spotted a bird of prey, I stopped the car and was able to get just a record shot of a Black-shouldered Kite as it crossed the road ahead of us.

It took about an hour to reach Dundelk and we decided to check in at the Information Centre to find out where it was safe to visit in the park.  Aimed with the necessary information we headed towards Hall's Gap.

The drive was along very straight rows with tall Eucalyptus trees on either side of the road which made it very boring.

We had a wallaby encounter, one crossing the road in front of us and as we came in to Halls Gap we saw Emu in amongst the trees and gardens.

Rather than stop in Halls Gap we carried on to Mackenzie Falls.

MacKenzie Falls is one of the largest waterfalls in Victoria and it's the only waterfall in the Grampians that flows all year round.

The falls were named by an explorer, Major Mitchell, in 1836. Interestingly he tried to find out their Aboriginal name, but couldn't, and named them after his friend Captain MacKenzie.

There was a car park and facilities, but it was midday and very hot, the temperature in the car saying 35 degrees.  WE decided to walk to the falls, expecting a look out platform.  Well the first platform gave views of the gorge and the falls.

Some steps and a path took you down to the top of the falls, out of the shade it was very hot.

Steps then lead down to the bottom of the falls and Helen decided it was too much for her, it would turn out to be for me too, but I was not going to miss out so headed down.  The view from the bottom was spectacular, there being an abundance of water which was strange considering the tinder dry condition of the surrounding countryside.

I played with the shutter speeds and ISO to slow the water down and blur it as it cascaded over the rocks.

The spray was welcome on what was the hottest of days so far.

More playing

A Little Pied Cormorant perched on the dead trees over the pool.

I then made my way back up the steps, slowly, it was hot.  But the worst part was the sloping path that led from the steps back up to the car park.

In the car park though were a pair of Crimson Rosella.  They were difficult to see in amongst the Eucalyptus tree leaves.  

Stunning birds.

Back in the car, the air conditioning was cranked up up we made our way down the side of the mountain, but decided to stop at the look outs on the way.  First was the Balconies and Reads Look Out.

Looking north

Views across the Victoria Ranges.

A view of Modra Moore Reservoir looking south.

We continued down and the next look out was the Boroka that looks out across the Fyans Valley.  From the car park there was short walk to the look out.  This went through a collection of pine trees and we disturbed some small birds from the ground, this was the best shot I could get of a Diamond Firetail, which was a shame.

And a Flame Robin, in moult or a youngster.

The view across the Fyans Valley.

Bellfield Reservoir in the distance.

At first I thought this was cloud on the horizon, but a closer look revealed it to be a bush fire.

We headed back to Hall's Gap and stopped and had an ice cream that was eaten quickly as the temperature was now 40 degrees.  We sat in the shade and looked enviously at the people that were swimming in the local pool.  After browsing the gift shops to take advantage of the air conditioning we headed back to Dundelk.

On checking into the hotel I found out that they had a pool, so we spent the rest of the afternoon in the pool, the best place in the heat.  Superb Fairy Wrens were feeding on the lawn around the pool, while Little Corellas, Sulphur-crested Cockatoos and Crimson Rosellas flew over heading towards the nearby valley.

Later when getting ready for dinner there were several New Holland Honeyeaters outside the balcony feeding on the nectar of the flowers in the bushes.

Today had been the hottest day we had experienced, but change was coming, cirrus clouds building as the sun started to set.

Tomorrow was the final day of our road trip and the longest, a 500 kilometre journey to Adelaide, crossing into another state, South Australia, and a time zone.