Posted in Nature activities

Back to nature

Posted on by Oliver

Today we took a day off from trying to organize everything and headed out to the Maroondah Reservoir, about an hours drive from where we live. The weather was nice, and since it’s Friday, we were more or less alone.

The last week since we’ve been in country have been pretty hectic. We’ve been really busy with furniture, school, car (post to follow) and lots of other small things, while all the while still fighting with the lingering effects of jet-lag. So we decided it was time to take a short break and smell some fresh air. And our choice for location to do so fell (more or less randomly) on the Maroondah Reservoir.

So we packed a lunch, got in the car and headed out.

The drive out there goes through the Yarra Valley, past quite a few of the wineries. Having been inside the city for the past week, where you can drive for hours through houses on the left and right, it is quite a sight to all of a sudden drive through quite expansive countryside. Very refreshing, too.

Lots and lots of grass, with a cow here and there, contrasted by lots and lots of wine.
Lots and lots of grass, with a cow here and there, contrasted by lots and lots of wine.

Once we got there, it turned out that we were pretty much alone. Logical, as today was the last day of school for the local educational institutions. And, by local standards, still pretty cold (only 15 degrees).

Once we made sense of the sign-posts, we headed to the dam(n) wall.
Once we made sense of the sign-posts, we headed to the dam(n) wall.

The reservoire hold parts of the drinking water for Melbourne. It was completed in 1927 and can hold up to 22.000 million liters of water.

Half-way up the wall you can really appreciate how big it is.
Half-way up the wall you can really appreciate how big it is.
From the top, the picnic-site at the bottom is visible.
From the top, the picnic-site at the bottom is visible.
While the other side offers quite the view accross the lake.
While the other side offers quite the view accross the lake.

From the dam we made our way through the woods back to the car, with some lunch along the way.

The Revells Falls waterfall only runs when the lake is too full of water (which, at the moment, it is not).
The Revells Falls waterfall only runs when the lake is too full of water (which, at the moment, it is not).
Heading up the mountain a bit further, the view back is quite spectacular.
Heading up the mountain a bit further, the view back is quite spectacular.
Hiking through the sun-filled woods.
Hiking through the sun-filled woods.
Lunch in the expansive picnic area. A lot of people can enjoy their food here.
Lunch in the expansive picnic area. A lot of people can enjoy their food here.

After lunch we headed back to the car-park, where we found a former teacher feeding the local birds. This gave us a lot of opportunities to take pictures of the local wildlife.

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Kai with an Australian King-Parrot on his head and two Rainbow Lorikeet feeding from his hand.
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Willemijn with a Rainbow Lorikeet on her head. Seems to tickle.
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A Sulphur-crested Cockatoo and a Rainbow Lorikeet sharing a meal.
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A Crimson Rosella checking out the surroundings.
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An Australian King-Parrot waiting for his chance at some seeds.
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Two Rainbow Lorikeet sharing a seed.
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A Common Bronzewing sitting in the grass.

After this encounter we headed back out towards home, stopping to take a picture of the (probably) most famous road-sign of Australia. We’re (almost) touristst, after all… 🙂

Warning - Cangaroos!
Warning – Cangaroos!

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4 thoughts on “Back to nature”

  1. Pingback: 1000 steps | europe2australia

  2. Schon stark – und Berge!!! Toll die Vögel und es stimmt, man bekommt direkt ein Urlaubsgefühl, wenn man die Bilder sieht.
    Auf die Autogeschichte bin ich gespannt. H.-W.

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