Canberra

We first headed to the National Zoo and Aquarium where we spent several hours wandering and viewing a huge range of animals. Wide winding paths set amongst lush trees, lawns and gardens with lakes and waterfalls make this zoo a delight to visit. Many of the animal enclosures consist of moats and are a great size, even for the big cats. Definitely the most beautiful zoo we have visited.

We don't know if crowds are generally down on Mondays or if the virus had scared people away, but we saw less than 40 people there today. The zoo has fully embraced virus protection by providing hand sanitisers at entrances and exits to cafes and all walk-through animal enclosures. And at the main entrance a sign requested visitors to keep their distance from others!

The latest updates on the virus have prompted us to cut short our holiday and return on the Spirit of Tasmania tomorrow night. But today we spent time at the National Arboretum which features 94 forests across 250 hectares - one of the world's largest living collections of rare, endangered and significant trees from Australia and around the world. The surrounding hills are dotted with thousands of trees, many still in the growing phase including cedar, eucalypt, maple, cherry, pine, redwood, birch, palm... you name it.

The arboretum is also home to the National Bonsai and Penjing Collection of Australia which contains some of the largest and oldest bonsai we have seen. Bonsai is of course Japanese but Penjing is the Chinese equivalent. We also walked through the beautiful Gallery of Gardens, dedicated to various causes and sponsored by a number of garden associations.

Coffee at Sprout Cafe

The view from the Village Centre

Margaret Whitlam Pavilion used for functions and weddings

Gallery of Gardens

National Bonsai and Penjing Collection

I missed out on the National Dinosaur Museum this time, but this fossil - a petrified tree stump - is  from the Jurassic era some 165 million years ago!

It has been a wonderful holiday thus far, and we will definitely be back to finish it!

The Road to Canberra

Last Sunday we sailed on the Spirit of Tasmania to Port Melbourne, one of the smoothest crossings we have ever had. We spent two nights in Warrnambool with its long shapely breakwall and wonderful coastal scenery, and visited the former Fletcher Jones factory which now houses an enormous antique and collectables market.

On our way to Bendigo we stopped in at beautiful Daylesford to once again spend time at The Mill Markets, always a pleasure, and have some lunch. Bendigo highlights included the stunning Botanical Gardens and lovely aviary, the iconic Bendigo Pottery and just for Jim, Power Grunt Hobbies.

The fabulous Shamrock Hotel drew us back for a second dinner, the food was that good. And we spent a day in the beautiful Macedon Ranges visiting the historic village of Malmsley, Woodend and Kyneton, where we had coffee at the trendy Duck Duck Goose and Larder.

One of many beautiful birds in the aviary, but what is it? 

The stunning Bendigo Botanical Gardens

Last night we were in Albury where various models of Chryslers lined the streets for a rally and the pub and restaurant scene was really hopping. We departed this morning for Canberra. It has been an interesting drive so far and the weather has been amazing. But like everyone else we have been following the latest on COVID-19 with great interest.

We managed to buy the last two large containers of hand sanitiser at a Chemists Warehouse and have visited several supermarkets to find them devoid of toilet rolls, paper towels, baby wipes, flour, sugar, pasta and disinfectant. Along the way we have managed to find what we need and we are being extra vigilant in sanitising our hands, often, and cleaning down handles and surfaces in hotel rooms, whilst generally keeping clear of crowds.

We sail on the Spirit on 23 March - we hope...