30 September 2024 - Murray Downs Resort to Moama (via Kerang, Barham & Gunbower)

Up betimes intending to head to Echuca but, nothing in life is certain (as the saying goes).

Leaving NSW to re-enter Victoria at Swan Hill, we stopped to do a bit of discretionary shopping including purchasing some additional nylon cable ties in case the spare wheel gave us more trouble (see 2 May 2023).

We then headed to the delightful Lake Boga for morning tea and to unfurl the awning on the Tadpole which had been stored wet for the past 24 hours.

The Tadpole at Lake Boga - now with a dry awning

              Lake Boga - or part of it

Just before reaching Lake Charm we spotted some more silo art (or "Granary Graffiti" as I am told is now the preferred nomenclature, Dude).

A Pelican and a Seaplane - apparently both were formerly common visitors to Lake Boga.

Just after Lake Charm we discovered "John Morrow Motors" - possibly the most remote and probably the least popular used car yard anywhere in the known world!

John Morrow Motors, Lake Charm, Victoria

John Morrow Motors close up - a vast array of used cars for sale

Moving on, we passed through Koondrook (Vic) on our way to Barham (NSW) the former home of Mrs P's very good school friend, "Bootsie"

A view of the mighty Murray River at Koondrook

        The Royal Bridge Hotel, Barham

           The Barham Hotel, Barham

After leaving Barham we next encountered the town of Cohuna, not to be confused with the Hawaian word "Kahuna". (meaning a priest, sorcerer or magician) or the 1999 movie "The Big Kahuna". Nevertheless a very large sign announces the entrance to Cohuna so, in that sense at least, the sign itself IS a big Cohuna.

                 The Big Cohuna sign

We then set forth for the town of Gunbower at which we found a very satisfactory public reserve on the banks of the mighty Murray River.

The Prop, a reptile and a Tadpole at Gunbower

The Mighty Murray River at Gunbower

After arriving at Echuca in Victoria (and being randomly breathalysed in the main street) we checked out the available accommodation options and chose to stay

at the Moama (NSW) Riverside Caravan Park at which we stayed previously in 2014 and which, as it's name suggests, is situated on the banks of the mighty Murray River.

Houseboats on the mighty Murray River 

More artistic studies of the mighty Murray River.

Footnote: The Prop is happy to report that the result of his interin breath analysis was 0.00 ml of alcohol in 1litre of blood

29 September 2024 - Robinvale to Murray Downs/Swan Hill

Up quite a bit after betimes today!

As predicted by the BOM, it began raining lightly at about 6.00 am. As a result the Prop was disinclined to pack up the Tadpole in the wet so we slept in a bit.

After finally rising at about 8.30 am, completing our ablutions and unsuccessfully attempting to pack up the Tadpole during breaks in the rain, we made our way in to Robinvale proper in search of a light breakfast. 

Alas! there was no traditional style café to be found. 

The "demographics" of Robinvale have in recent years undergone a profound shift. Many agricultural labouring tasks are now undertaken by migrant or short term visa workers from Viet Nam, the Phillipines, New Guinea and the Pacific Islands. As a result the main street of Robinvale has changed accordingly. Many of the shops are now Asian or Pacific Island take-away restaurants and grocery stores which, no doubt, cater to the demands of the new local residents who have apparently not yet acquired a taste for cappuccinos and blueberry muffins.

Undaunted we pressed on (for an hour or more) until we crossed the mighty Murray River into NSW to reach the town of Tooleybuc where we found "The Old Butcher Shop Café" and were provided with an excellent, if somewhat late, breakfast.

The single lane bridge across the mighty Murray River - entrance to Tooleybuc

The Old Butcher Shop Café at Tooleybuc

The very striking "Country Club Hotel"

at Tooleybuc

The "Tooleybuc Punt Gate" - there has to be a pun in there somewhere!

.         The Bridgekeeper's Cottage

"Tom and Doigy's Pontoon" on the banks of the mighty Murray River.

A plaque which gives much more information about "Tom and Doigy's Pontoon" than the average tourist requires

In view of the forecast rain, the Prop had earlier taken the precaution of booking some salubrious accommodation at the "Murray Downs Resort" which, to the Prop's surprise, is located at Murray Downs in NSW and not in Swan Hill in Victoria and about 6 kilometres from the banks of the mighty Murray River.

The view from Room 23 at the Murray Downs Resort

Before travelling to the Murray Downs Resort we did a quick check of one of the main attractions at Swan Hill, the Giant Murray Cod!

.    The Giant Murray Cod at Swan Hill

                  (Not an actual fish)

The largest ever Murray Cod recorded was over 1.8 metres long and weighed 113 Kg.

Not far from the Giant Murray Cod can be found a monument which commemorates the fact that a Major Mitchell camped on the banks of the mighty Murray River on June 20th, 1834. The Prop is unsure how important this event was but infers from the fact that it took 100 years to erect the monument that it may not have been that significant.

The possibly significant "Major Mitchell Monument" on the banks of the mighty Murray River.