Dec 20 to Jan 3 We base ourselves at Healesville for the Christmas and New Year break. Healesville is about 60 Kms north of Melbourne amidst the stunning scenery of the Yarra Valley and the Dandenong Ranges. It is a regional food and wine hub. We choose Healesville because it is away from the coast which will be very busy over the holiday period.
After such a hectic travel schedule, we relax a little and get to know the surrounding area. Healesville was part of the region that was devastated during the bush fires in February 2009. Evidence of this disaster is all around, even though the surrounding countryside is now recovering. The scenery is really quite spectacular.
We visit a local trout and salmon farm where we caught our own supplies of fresh fish for the next couple of weeks. The owner, an elderly lady, explained to us how she had to emerse herself in one of the fishing lakes during the fires of 2009 to save herself … what a story.
The Caravan Christmas Decorations !
The Healesville Sanctuary wildlife park is very close to town.
The local Bowls Club have a weekly ‘barefoot bowls’ session where beginners can have a go. Note Siobhan’s perfect follow through !
Christmas Day was a treat at the Sebel Heritage in the Yarra Valley. We played the Jack Nicklaus designed course on Christmas Eve. Christmas lunch was a seafood buffet and Boxing Day was a massage and beauty treatment treat at the Spa. Our second planned round of golf on Boxing Day was cancelled due to the hailstones !!
One for the ‘Bucket List’ a ride around the Rochford Winery on a Segway. What great fun. In the evening we watched a movie in the open in the vineyard … George Clooney’s new one, the Ides of March.
We play some golf at the Marysville Golf Club. The members make us feel very welcome and invite us to play in their competition. The course was badly effected during the fires and Kellan, the local greenkeeper who we played golf with, sent some photos of the damage.
The Steavenson Falls, just outside Marysville, was also an area impacted by the fires. It is now recovering and is being rebuilt as a tourist attraction.
New Year’s Eve was spent in the caravan with a cold bottle of bubbles (or 2) and some lovely food from the local deli.
May 2012 bring a year of health and happiness to all … and here’s to safe travelling.
BOB AND SIOBHÁN'S CARAVAN ADVENTURES 
Happy New Year! Great to hear (and see) that you are enjoying your travels. Bob and I are looking forward to our own caravan escape one day. (Only 2 small, or should I say large, problems) You have certainly inspired us to pack those golf clubs and hit the road. We have had a quiet Christmas and New Year at home, but had lots of family visit for the day over the last week. We are off to Haiwaii with the boys from 11 Jan for 12 days, then home in time for school start.
Stay safe and happy holidays!
🙂 Pam and Bob