Mildura

We left Port Germein on Sunday and stopped at Morgan overnight. Morgan is a lovely little town on the Murray not far from the Victorian border. It is very popular with skiers and a ferry goes back and forwards from one side of the river to the other.
We got to Mildura on Monday and booked into the Buronga Riverside Caravan Park which is on the NSW side of the Murray River. We have a site right on the river opposite Mildura Wharf.

The paddlesteamers and house boats go back an forth all day so there is a lot going on, on the river. We have booked in for 5 nights so we can get our Xmas shopping done as I couldn't face it when we get home.
There are water birds everywhere, black swans, wood ducks, waterhens, eurasian coots, brown ducks, egrets. It is a really beautiful spot.

On Thursday we went on a river cruise on an authentic paddle steamer which was built in 1912. We turned around right in front of our caravan park and had a great view of our van from the river.

Our van from the river

 We then cruised downstream and through Lock 11. On the upside the water is 3 metres higher as they use a series of weirs to control the water in the river. Without the weirs the Murray would run dry each year. We entered Lock 11 and the water was removed to drop us 3 metres and then we went downstream for about 20 minutes and then came back to the Lock and the process was reversed bringing us back up 3 metres again.

Approaching Lock 11

Locked into the Lock

Down side gates about to open

Guess who with Lock 11 in background

The cruise was great in the old paddle steamer.

It was very hot when we got back and we stayed outside until bed time. The caravan park has a very over the top Xmas display which they have entered in the Bunnings competition in Mildura, so we went around to have a look and take some photos.

High 5 with Santa

The  next day, Friday was extremely hot, 40 degrees and no wind. We watched the paddle steamer party boats going out for the night and then we watched them come back about 10.30pm with all of the party people yelling and laughing. It was nice and quiet after this.

Party Boats

Today, Saturday we are in Hay. When we were here in November last year the Murrumbidgee River was at 6.4 metres, near flood level. This year it was a bit lower. Some people were waterskiing..

 Tomorrow we will go to Gundagai and will probably get home on Monday.

If I don't see you, please have a very Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year. Our travels are nearly over for 2011 and I hope you have enjoyed our Blog. I will continue it next trip in 2012. Our 2012 trips will be a bit shorter.

See you all soon.