Mitta Mitta River to Talbingo.

Tallangatta - Mitta Mitta River and Upper Murray

Jan 1^st

A restless night as many of our fellow campers celebrated long and loud! We left the New Year’s Eve revellers with their headaches and, following advice of the ranger, headed away from Pigs’ Point and up the Murray Valley Highway along the shores of Lake Hume and on Cudgewa North and the Bluff Falls in the Burrowa-Pine Mountain National Park.  We could not have chosen a better summer in which to tour the waterways of Victoria as there is an abundance of water everywhere. Powerboats everywhere for the fishing and water-play people. The falls were quite spectacular – high, falling to a swirling swimming hole but the narrow and steep climb to the lookout was too much trouble so we turned back after 20min. and settled on the valley walk, a 4km round trip leading down to the camping ground through beautiful forest along the banks of the river. Graeme spotted a large male lyrebird near the end of downhill part of the walk and the butterflies were in huge numbers. The return trip up the road in the heat reminded us that we would become fit on this journey!



Bluff Falls

 From there we enjoyed more beautiful river flats and spectacular hill and valley scenery, going through Tintaldra and Tooma, just over the NSW border,  and on to our camp site at Paddy’s Falls, another booming torrent of water, this time not high but a broad mass with white-water rapids just below. The climb down the steps allowed for a wet walk to the back of the falls. As the Paddy’s River camp ground just a couple of kms away allowed for easy water access and swimming, we were the only ones camped at the falls although tourists arrived all afternoon and into the early evening.



Paddy's Falls



The rapids below Paddy's Falls




A cascade of thundering water!

 Near Tumbarumba

Jan 2^nd

Left Paddy’s Falls and headed for the Snowy Mountains. The drive up to Cabramurra, Australia’s highest town, was spectacular! Fortunately not much traffic out and about so easy travelling as we wound our way around the mountains to the ‘top of the world’. We were amazed to find wild lupins in flower – pink, purple and yellow flower heads on stalks up to 1m tall. Many other plants and trees in flower and the alpine buttercups glistened in the sun. Gang gang cockatoos in pairs on the side of the road.

1^st mobile phone reception for a few days – reception could not have been better than from up here on top of the world.

Cabramurra Village

Wild lupins at Kiama

The pool at the hot springs

 

We made our way from there down to Lake Eucumbene, stopping at Kiama to walk part of the heritage trail and enjoy the high plains. Nothing appealing for us at Adaminaby so we went back and crossed the high plains, passing herds of brumbies  and enjoying more magnificent scenery. Spent much of the afternoon at the Yarrangobilly Caves and thermal pool. Large stalagmites and stalactites in vast open underground spaces. The ice cave was beautiful but the best part of the visit was the walk along the Yarrangobilly River and the swim in the thermal pool as the temperature was around 35 and the sun was strong. The walk back to the car up the steep path in the heat was tiring but worth it!

Drove on looking for camping spot for the evening – bless Camps 5 - and came to Talbingo on the dam. Very pretty, clean town and just near the turnoff was the prettiest camping site and the crisp, clear waters of the Jounama Creek.

Talbingo

Jan 2^nd - 

Paterson and his ‘Man from Snowy River’ have been replaced by Miles Franklin!

Miles Franklin, in Childhood in Brindabella writes of Talbingo: 'No other spot has ever replaced the hold on my affections or imagination of my birthplace, nor are any other incidents so clearly and tenderly etched in my memory as those connected with it.' Elsewhere she wrote of the 'ferny gullies, to the sweet, and rush of many mountain waters' However, the town's past history is now drowned under the Jounama Dam - a sign on the way into town reads 'Original Lampe Homestead - Birthplace of Miles Franklin in October 1879 - 500 metres'. The arrow which accompanies the '500 metres' indicates that what is left of the homestead is now under the waters of the Jounama Pond. http://www.smh.com.au/news/New-South-Wales/Talbingo/2005/02/17/1108500199397.html

However, as we sit here in one of the prettiest camping spots you’d ever find, with the mountains and eucalypts towering above us, the Jounama Creek noisily making its way past the front of the van, no city or town enters our thoughts. Gloriously warm – about 32 – butterflies, kookaburras, dragonflies on the creek, perfectly chilled water for a breathtaking swim; the only thing lacking is the trout for the BBQ. Firewood has been gathered but the evening temperatures are not cool enough to warrant any burning.