Category Archives: Swimming

Camping at Paradise Valley for Gaga’s 70th

Posted on by

We went down to Paradise Valley for Gaga’s big birthday for 4 nights. We had to spend one of them away as it was very hot and windy and we were concerned about the fire risk. Camping during the Victoria summer is interesting with the kids, particularly for the light as it was dark around 9pm and light at 5.30am.

Eddie was loving the sheep and the water, but mostly the dirt and being able to play his trains in there. Maggie played with her cousing for the most part, equally loving the water. It was our first camping trip with the full family but it worked really well and we are now hopeful that we can do more this year.

Easter 2024

Posted on by

Maggie and I went down to Paradise Valley for easter. Quite an expensive flight! But anyway – it was a lot of fun. The weather was absolutely ideal. Hot in the day, cool at night (Wed/Thurs night were freezing) and zero wind. Even rained on the Tuesday we left!

Maggie had loads of fun and was full of stories when we got back. Apparently equal best was kayaking, Kay’s pesto and the dunny run. She spend nearly every day in the water playing. We made the older kids do the big walk. Maggie did not like it – and had trouble watching where she was going. Ended up with quite a few scratches from the blackberry bushes.

Litchfield in the Wet

Posted on by

Maggie and I took Jesse, Anna and Izzy down to Litchfield for the day. They were going to arrive a bit later so Maggie and I hiked to the top Green ant falls. It was about 30 minutes, though straight up. The swimming hole is absolutely lovely and Maggie quite liked the walk once we got there.

Afterwards we met at Wangi then onto Tollmer, both to see the big waterfalls in the wet season.

After that we all went to Upper Cascades. Apparently 2.3km we think it was closer to 3km. Speargrass was everywhere, was a decent walk but perhaps a bit too long for the kids. It was a reasonable spot to swim, but the current was so strong! You had to really pick your spot.

So overall a really nice trip. We got home around 6.30pm, Maggie was exhausted!

Litchfield Trip

Posted on by

We went down to Litchfield for a single night. Stayed at Litchfield Tourist Park in a cabin, $270 a night but it was very nice and Eddie loved it. The first day we went to our picnic spot near Florence, there were people in the main area but otherwise it went okay. Eddie didn’t like it at first but was soon floating Maggie’s shoes down the stream (where I would catch them) with glee.

That night we went back and had a few beers and a dip in the pool before microwave lasagna. The kids were playing together and loving it.

The next morning after some lovely bacon and egg muffins we went to Buley Rockholes – Maggie’s favourite – so we could jump off. It was a great plan, by the time we left the younger crowd with their stocked eskies were arriving. The 9-1130 trip really went well. After a picnic (and Dad driving up and down while everyone slept) we went to Walker Creek. We tried for the walk but it was too far – however the picnic spot next to the bridge was amazing. It was Eddie’s favourite and I think it will become our favourite soon.