Limestone Coast

The speedo clicked over another 300 km today. The itinerary was an easy one: look around Warrnambool, then on to Port Fairy, Portland, Nelson, Mt Gambier and finally Penola. It was a relaxed day, and I took a number of detours to check out interesting looking sights along the way.

The pride of Warrnambool used to be the Fletcher Jones factory with its distinctive water tower that still dominates the city skyline. The buildings are run down now and house a flea market. They are heritage listed so very little can be done commercially with them. I slipped out to Logan's Beach which is billed as a whale nursery: none frolicking in the ocean today!

Port Fairy is a quaint little town a bit west of Warrnambool. It was once the state's second port, but now a fishing centre. The town tries hard for an "old country" look with lots of stone cottages and European style homes. Also lots of Irish and Scottish names: Blarney Books, Dublin Inn, Belfast Arms, Caledonian Apartments etc.

Portland claims to be the oldest European settlement in Victoria. The Henty brothers moved their stock and farming to the area from Tasmania and quietly went about establishing a thriving little community there. The port still operates as a clearing station for produce from SW Victoria. It is a pleasant town.

Cape Nelson was a side trip I took on advice from the lass at he coffee shop I took morning smoko at. A closed lighthouse stands on the promontory that juts out into the Southern Ocean.. superseded these days by the unending lines of wind farms that stretch along the ocean dunes from Port Fairy to Cape Nelson. No one could tell me just how much electricity they generate but it must be a considerable amount to justify the nearly $1 million each tower and turbine costs.

Nelson is a small village that nestles on the banks of the Glenelg River, quite near the South Australian border. Great lamb pies there, as my lunch can testify. Across the border into SA the drive is mostly through plantation pine forests which are being logged and replanted in many places.

Mount Gambier is a sizeable city built on the slopes of an extinct volcano. The crater above the city holds the beautiful Blue Lake which supplies the city with its water. The main street shopping area is quite extensive, supplemented by a couple of regional centres and the usual strip malls on the edge of town for furniture, cars and the like.

Penola is just a half hour drive north of Mt Gambier. As one gets near the first vineyard appears, a reminder that one is entering the Coonawarra red wine region. More of that tomorrow. It is a quiet little town. Only 2 places to eat at night - the town's two pubs! But my motel is very comfortable, and importantly has a good heating system as the night here is very cold.

Here are some pics