Ballarat

 
We left Lake Bolac and headed for Ballarat, the place where Greg and I first met, to catch up with family.  We both did our training there. Ballarat is an old goldmining area so has lots of beautiful buildings, it was the site of the Eureka stockade and the city is in the middle of a large volcanic plain. The volcanoes are no longer active and the country side is covered in rolling hills, farm land and lots of green grass. 
Mount Emu
Saturday morning we walked around Lake Wendouree. It was created from an old swamp and is now a popular recreation and tourist spot. The shore line has been developed, there is a gorgeous walk path and the lake is home to many water birds. It totally dried up between 2006 and 2011. Last time we were in Victoria it was dry and it was hard to believe it would ever fill again. But now it is beautiful again.

There are always lots of black swans on the lake.
There was a market and I bought Greg some rhubarb relish, plus we raided Deb and Alan's rhubarb patch so the van is stocked up. 

Lake Wendouree is a popular rowing and canoeing spot and hosted events during the 1956 Olympic Games. There was a fishing competition happening while we were walking.


It was great to spend time with these guys.
The avenue of honour and the Arch of Victory.
The Arch and avenue were created after the first world war and now covers about 20 kms and consists of over 3000 trees. They are deciduous and had lost their leaves.