Into Victoria

Leaving Wagga we headed south to visit friends in Victoria pasiing through Corowa on the Murray River and stopping for lunch at Winton Wetlands.

The Murray at Corowa. As usual the Murray had flooded and the picnic areas and walks I had planned here were still boggy and closed.

Winton Wetlands. We had a great lunch in the cafe here. Very interesting area and one I will return too. Lots of birds and walks/rides/paddles to explore. 

My first Diamond Firetail, seen while waiting for lunch at the cafe. 

White-browed Babbler 

Galah 

Australian Shelduck 

Far West- Day 8 Murray/Darling

An early morning paddle from the boat ramp behind the pub in Wentworth. 

Paddle Steamer "Ruby"

Down the Darling then crossing through a creek into the Murray. 

Then across to a creek on the Victorian side. 

And back down the Murray to the junction with the Darling. 

Beautiful gum blossom in the street trees. 

Then off north to Pooncarie, which was an old port on the Darling. 

A panorama of the river at Pooncarie. Not actually a curve in the river, just distortion from the panorama. 

Coffee break a little further on towards Menindee at Karoola Reach. This time there is a bend in th river but not as pronounced. 

Far West-Day 7 Wentworth

Wentworth, on the junction of the Murray and Darling Rivers.

Had planned to stay in a cabin at a caravan park here but as all the cabins were booked I got to spend 2 nights at the pub and have some lovely pub meals.

Looking east with the Darling left of photo and the Murray on the right.

Now looking west at the junction from the point seen centre of last photo.    

Lock 10 on the Murray just downstream from the Darling. 

In the late afternoon I went out to the Perry Sandhills about 4klm  from town.A quite large expanse of sand dunes rising abruptly from the salt bush plains surrounding.

Far West-Day 6 Kemendok

A morning paddle up the mighty Murray River. Red Gum forest, sand bars and red cliffs.

After a couple of hours paddling, I stopped at a rock bar and sand island for a short walk. 

Then a faster return with the flow.

Kemendok National Park covers a stretch of the Murray between Buronga and Euston on the NSW side. The drive through the park was through what seemed to be dry scrub and red gum forests with plenty of dry oxbow lakes on the flat floodplain.This would be a different place after rain/flood with all the lagoons full, but access would be difficult to say the least.