Up early this morning as we are getting the car serviced. Dropped the family into town at Parliment house and then dropped the car back to the service centre, and caught a taxi back.

Got back in time for  the free tour they run around parliment house which was very interesting. Also the tour took us into some areas you can not see, or be in when you are just wandering around. No politicians working as it was also their summer holidays! Got to watch some of the video on the building of the Parliment, which was very interesting to see from the 70's.

Wandered down to Qwestacon (the Canberra Science Experience), where the kids had a ball. Heaps of interactive science stuff, and a whole area for smaller kids to have a play, including dress up, and water play. What fun! There was so much to do that we will have to come back tomorrow!

Back to pick up the car and then back into town to collect the family.

Today we drove from Khancoban to Canberra, over some very pretty country. A few steeper bits to keep the driver on his toes with the van on the back but nothing too major.

We did manage to stop at the Dog on the Tucker Box at Gundagi, for lunch and a photo or two. Then north to Canberra, via Yass. Found our park, which was close to town but rather odd, as it had its own pub, bottle store and shop in the park! Was OK, but mostly permanent vans. Anyway seems ok for our visit here.

Today off to visit the Snowy mountains and Threadbo. Left the van at Khancoban, and drove up to the Murray 1 powerstation. here there was a nice cafe, coffee.. and a very good and interesting visitors centre. There was a large table 3d map of all the Snowy scheme and also videos of the building of the scheme. For those who wonder what the Snowy scheme is, it is the damming of the Snowy and Murrumbidgee rivers to catch the water from the melting snow and then diver this water to the Murray and Murrumbidgee rivers when required for irrigation and water supply. It is considered one of the 7 wonders of engineering in the modern world!

The we continued our drive up the mountains on the Alpine way to Threadbo. Arrived there to heavy rain, but as it was lunch time we parked up and walked up through the village, getting soaked on the way. Of course once we were back inside the rain subsided and the sun came out! (mind you, as I write this a couple of days later we hear Threadbo has had a fall of snow, and this is what they call summer!

Had a look around, and then drove further around the Alpine Way to Jindabyne, which was very pleasant. Then further north to Adaminaby and Old Adaminaby which is a town that moved when the lake when in as it was going to be flooded. At Adaminaby there was the big trout, but not much else. At Old Adaninaby there was the lake and houses and not much else. All in all, the old town would have been a better side to leave the town with access to the lake. The new town, on the new road, really sounds like it never took off!

A bit further north, we visited the highest town in Australia at Cabramurra. About here it was getting near dinner time so I checked out the local pub. It was very local, with all the very local people  checking me out as I poke my noise in the door, not Kid friendly I decided. This town was created for the Snowy Scheme, workers and all the houses are the same. From my experience in the pub and Bistro, I think they also like having their own town!

Drove back to Khancoban, and visited the very friendly local shop there for some diner as all ready just to eat and go to bed!

Today driving back to NSW to stay at a place called Khancoban, at the bottom of the Snowy Mountains.

On the way we tried to visit the orginal Ettamogah Pub, which was a pub chain built in the style of a cartoon pub. Unfortunatley for us, the orginal one was now in receivership, and up for sale, so was closed. Shame we had not caught up on this news as we did a couple of Hundred km to see it. I suppose some comfort in the fact we saw others turn up and do the same thing as us, inlcluding one family who choose to eat their lunch outside anyway!

Because of the above detour we managed to travel from Victoria, this morning, via Corowa, to NSW (New South Wales) , then back to Victoria  at Albury (Wodonga), then driving across and crossing the border just before Khancobaninto NSW, phew!

The camp at Khancoban is on one of the outflow lakes from the Snowy River Scheme, very nice spot!

Today we drove to Rutherglen, another wine region. On the way we visited the Big Cherry (yes as another big thing), thankfully they also sold very yummy freshly picked cherries here too!

Also we drove through and visited the Ned Kelly town of Glenrowan where the famous gun battle took place. We did do the visit of the mocked up house of Ned Kelly and his family, and one of the museums but could not face doing the full automated show of the battle (which would also of fleeced us of about $120). Interesting to see where this famous battle occurred. To be honest now though, there really is not much at Glenrowan, other than the normal tourist traps! But a must see for any Aussie, as part of the Aussie history.

Then we drove on to Rutherglen, arriving mid afternoon, which just left time to visit one of the wineries. This place also had a treasure hunt for the kids which was good as it kept them entertained for a while, leaving time for some serious wine tasting!

The place we stayed at here was on the shores of the old town water supply which was nice as there was heaps of birds and wildlife around, but we were still in the middle of town.

New years day!

Today was Damn hot, about 38 most of the day. The Airconditioner in the can struggled all day to try to keep us cool, and it was just a bit warm to go out for most of the day.

Later in the day we did manage a swim in the river, which was a great temperature, but very cloudy. About 20 centimetres below the top of the water you could no longer see your hand. This did make me a bit concerned about the kids, as I could not see where they were underneath the water. (interestingly enough, as I write this a bit later on there was a Man who tried to swim across the Murray with a friend  (further downstream) and drowned, and they did not find his body for 2 days).

After that we moved to the swiming pool, which the kids loved, and it was much cooler!

Today we are off to Echuca for New years eve. We though we would spend new years up there, and enjoy a paddle boat ride,  but have had trouble finding accomodation (first time in the trip), so are staying at a camp ground on the river about 15 kms from town. We were lucky and managed to get  a powered site, as the aircondtioning works only on power, and it is supposed to be damn hot.

We dropped the van off, and headed back into town. Luckily were able to get on the PS Canberra, a steam powered paddle steamer. So we finally got to do our paddle steaming on the Murray River. The boat was cool, but the river was much narrower than I imagined. In places I am sure there was barely enough room for two large boats to pass one another. Addtionally there was heaps of small boats, large boats, jet skis, etc all over the place, zipping in and out, all a bit busy for the slow, wide, peaceful Murray that I had pictured in my mind!

After returning to shore, we had a wander around the old Jetty and Port. The port was all done up as in the old style, but I could not help feeling I was back in a tourist trap as the place was just tacky.

Finally we drove around the town and a track around the river to see some more of the river. It was quite cool as it seemed you could just stop on the side of the river and spend your day there, whether you were travelling on the river in a house boat, or driving on the rivers edge in a car.

For new years, just spent the night watching videos till midnight, as the local parties seemed very local at this park! I was the only one to make it to midnight , all others flagged at various stages of the night! HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Started off today with a visit to the Discovery Science and Technology Centre. This place had the longest freefall slide in Australia, so we just had to have a go! It was cool! Also the kids loved playing on all the other exhibits which showed examples of gravity, sound, mechancial etc. It was nowhere near as well done as the Perth place we visited but was still fun anyway! Spent all of the morning there, and a bit after lunch!

Next visited the Chinese Muesum. The Chinese have had a long involvement in Bendigo, so it was interesting to see and hear their story. The musuem had some good exhibits and a couple of huge dragons, which impressed the kids. Also attached to the Museum with the Yi Yuan Gardens which is a done in full Chinese style.

Finally for today we visited Confectionery Capers, which has not much to do with confectionery, but heaps to do with fun models, and just more good fun. The place was filled with moving items, noisy, but fun. Everywhere you looked there were plays on words or machines that showed plays on words. For example a fan that rotates with footballs on the end, underneath a caption saying "Push the button to see a footy fan!" Took about an hour to see the place, which really was just one mans shed. As we were about to leave, he setup and had Jellybean races for the kids, and competions where they all got a prize (lolly). Oh what good old fashion fun!

Today we visited the Bendigo Pottery, which is the oldest working pottery in Australia. Harry and Charlotte got to have a throwing lession on the wheel, where they made some cups and pots, and Emily got to do some clay scalpturing. They had heaps of fun and enjoyed the mess they made, especially Harry! They also had a great museum there, with interesting facts about the factory and its changed past with about 15 owners in its lifetime.

After Lunch we drove into town and had a look at some of the older buildings in town. Also managed to get a hair cut for Harry and me, and Charlotte got her nails done as a treat!

Today we drove to Bendigo, but a round about trip. We travelled via King Lake, to see the areas where the fires had come through a couple of years ago. Interesting to see, and you could see why so many people became trapped as there really was in places just one road in and out, which could easily become cut. We saw many areas where there would be 3 brand new houses, and in the middle would be an older house that obviously escaped the fire storm.

It was a lovely looking area to drive through with great views back to Melbourne, but after all the horror of the fires feels a bit uneasy visiting here still. This small detour added about 3 hours addtional driving to our day but worth the detour to check out the area.

Stayed at the Big4 in Bendigo at night, so the kids got the full treatment of the pool, playground and giant jumping pillow! The kids managed a swim, but not as warm here as has been.