Moving on to Mildura

Meandering along the Murray (days 12 - 14)

Already approaching two weeks away - so far very relaxing and each day a different range of interesting things. This stretch was to be no different.

We headed back north to Echuca for brunch, then off west along the Murray Valley for 3 nights in Mildura. A standout feature of the drive was the extent (LARGE) of irrigated agriculture all the way to Mildura. Little wonder the waters of the Murray/Darling struggle to find their way all the way through SA to the Southern Ocean - be clear too, once you enter SA there is more extensive irrigation through the Riverland and further south along the Murray. We do like to farm marginal land 😕.

That said, it was still very dry though not quite so flat and a lot more trees than we had seen since Narrandera.

Deb enjoying brunch on a
gorgeous Echuca morning

Echuca paddlesteamers - the EmmyLou
(moored) we have contemplated a trip

A river redgum in Euston

Our stay in Mildura comprised 3 main components. 

First we took a paddlesteamer cruise for a few hours. Very peaceful on another beautiful afternoon as you can see (we have been extremely fortunate with the weather thus far). The scenery & wildlife was very "of the river" and look so "Australian" against the vast open blue skies.

The Rothbury before we boarded

A B&B that was for sale - would be an interesting stay!

Sharing the lock with a pelican

Australasian darter (called snakebirds out here)
 and an egret in flight

Pelican beach

Australian wood duck waiting zone

Darter sun lounge

White-bellied sea eagle nest

Nearby watch tower - thats how I knew what bird it was

Chasing paddle steamer

Turned out to be a houseboat - very cool

River red gums along the bank

Second component was a visit to the botanic gardens the next morning - again, a clear, still cloudless day and actually quite hot to boot. After a cuppa on arrival, we set off along a few paths meandering through the gardens and took in some of the fauna and flora.

First 3 photos are a new bird for me, a singing honeyeater. This guy flittered around and allowed a few decent glimpses for us - and of course a very nice chorus.

The next four are another new one for me - remember again, click on a photo and you will see a larger version allowing you to zoom in and some of the colors will be more apparent among the wattle leaves and flowers! This was an eastern ringneck.

A crested pigeon roosting in the sun

They had two standout gardens - first the sturt desert peas were stunning, especially the pink variety (who knew??). The last photo of this set is a view across their rose garden.

The final component was back in town and out to the Regional Gallery for some lunch and a meander around. Compared to the dryness of the botanic gardens you see the town gardens are fully irrigated! The gallery is a modern building incorporating a theatre space as well with wonderful gardens as part of the precinct. This picture is the restored original Rio Vista mansion (home of Mildura's first mayor) which remains the centrepiece of the precinct.