MANSFIELD - AUSTRALIA
As we left Lorne, we started by heading back along the Great Ocean Road, we had missed the scenic opportunity on our arrival as it was dark but now we all stared in wonder at the crashing waves and the sandy beaches. The cliffs that rose up at points, alongside us and the surfers paradise at every turn.
We drove about 5 hours, stopping off for meat pies and stocking up on beers, milk and essentials in Mansfield as our ‘shack’ was somewhat out of the way.
We drove about 5 hours North East
Headed up towards Mansfield and a little bit beyond, the terrain was mainly dairy farming land, the ocean felt a million miles away.
Classic Australian memories along the way. Traditional meat pies, my absolute favourite Australian snack, family bickering in the back and caramel koala chocolate. I felt like I was back on the road when I was 6 years old again.
OUT INTO THE OUTBACK…
Well not really the outback but we were headed out into the Wilderness and this sheep shearing shack, situated in amongst troops of Kangaroos, would be our home for the next few days.
It was like something out of the Wild Wild West. Very rustic, quite basic but full of character and once we had put our beers in the fridge to cool, we went about exploring what was on offer.
Our home as surrounded by hills, kangaroos and alot of eucalyptus. We went for a walk down to the river and found our bearings.
SUNDOWNERS IN THE HILLS
As the sun started to set we took some Victorian Shiraz and cold beers down to the designated fire pit and whilst the kids ate marshmallows and tried to spot Kangaroos, we sat round the fire and relaxed.
The evenings were quiet, aside from the children, and we all pitched in with the cooking. Although inevitably Lukasz & I end up cooking most of the time. That’s what happens when you re the first ones to think about food, you are bound to be the first ones to prepare it to.
The next day we headed off out to explore the area. We went in search of places like Microbreweries and lakeside walks. Pub lunches and activity parks and we were in luck, we found all of the above.
We started off in near by Jamieson, we grabbed some take away coffees from the local coffee shop and took them down to the river where the kids played for a few hours and we wasted time away doing nothing in particular.
MANSFIELD ZOO
The kids had a great time at Mansfield zoo, where they fed the kangaroos and llamas and of course spent forever choosing their keepsake from the gift shop!
We spent 3 nights up in the shack and it was a really great experience. I only with that we could have stayed with a. larger group of people and really filled the place and made the most of the evenings by the fire and pizza oven on the deck.
The site offered all that you needed, as I said, it was basic but we knew that and we found that we had more than we needed.
We kept our eyes open for snakes and big spiders but fortunately we came across none. The kids absolutely loved it there, loved playing in the sand finding ants, making up plays and coating marshmallows round the fire. It was a perfect way to reconnect as a family.
Now we head off to one of my favourite places in Australia and a place that is full of memories for me as we used to go there with friends when I was young. I could not wait to share this place with my family. Off to Wilson’s Prom!
Farewell to a fab stay in