Today marks four months since I arrived in Australia. A strange four months, as I’m sure it has been for most people.
Another change has occurred.
My work/accommodation place in Wonga Park grew … difficult. Through no fault of my own the environment became rather toxic, and so me and the other two backpackers decided to call it quits and move on.
They moved literally next door to work on a horse farm. I am very happy for them both and look forward to seeing them sometime in the future on these travels.
I have, as you could guess from the title (a common theme, it seems, from my posts) that I have moved across the state. I have argued with several people on whether or not this constitutes as “travelling”. Whilst Australia is in a better place than most other countries – and has lifted most of its lockdowns – you still cannot travel between states. For the foreseeable future, I am stuck in Victoria.
Not a bad place to be stuck, as I have found out.
Disclaimer: there’s going to be a lot of green in this post…
Portland is a city that most people will have heard of. You will be thinking about the Portland all the way in the States.
The Portland I’m talking about is in the far west of Victoria, close to the border of South Australia. It is a city with a population of only about 10,000. It is built on the coast (as the name would suggest). And it is a wonderful change to the chaos of Melbourne.
I am not actually living in Portland. It just happens to be the closest city. The town I’m in is called Narrawong. It is very small, and most renowned for its “sawpit” campground and floral reserve. I have not been to either. Apologies.
It is worth saying that I have been taken in by family friends and they have made me feel very welcome. Their place is gorgeous, and comes with the added bonus of two equally gorgeous dogs: Remington (big) and Sassy (small).
I have had plenty of time to explore in the past two weeks of freeing unemployment and isolation (I do now have a job and a car; more on that later). It is a wonderful area to walk around, not least because my new (temporary) home is located right next to a forest.
I have been on many hikes and walks through the forest with the dogs, who are more than happy to bound off and amuse themselves until you call their names. They’re extremely well trained in that regard.
The forest is impossible to get lost in, which I suppose is both a blessing and a curse, depending on what your intentions for the day were. The weather has, rather magically, been almost all sunshine since I arrived. There have been one or two days of rain but what else can be expected from the beginning of winter?
To my utmost delight, my host parents (as I have decided to dub them) own two kayaks, and so I have been treated – for the past two Saturdays – to a lovely paddle down (along?) the Surrey River. Yes, the naming of Australian places will never cease to entertain me. They’re either very English, or very Aboriginal.
There was also a daytrip to the city of Warrnambool (Aboriginal name, in case you hadn’t realised).
Warrnambool is one of those places that I had heard of, but didn’t intend on visiting.
The Great Ocean Road (that has been mentioned before) runs along this coast of Victoria. There is much discussion about where the tourist trail ends, though.
To a backpacker, it ends just after the Twelve Apostles, in Port Campbell or Princetown. From there, you either head back to Melbourne along the same route you came, or head north through the Grampians.
The further along the coast you get, the further you think the Great Ocean Road actually stretches. And, if I’m honest, I agree.
Just before you get to Warrnambool there’s an adorable little town called Port Fairy that would be perfect to spend the night in a B&B or something like that.
Warrnambool itself is a delight, too. It has some tourism, but not nearly as much as earlier stop-offs on the Road.
As I tend to do with most new places, I walked the city’s length. I happened to find a botanical gardens which was a wonderful start to a crisp, cold morning.
Followed by this, I headed down down down towards the beach. Just before you get there, however, you are greeted by Lake Pertobe, a very pretty and unexpected reserve.
I wandered around here for a good hour or two, enjoying the tranquility of it. Not that I can’t find tranquility in Narrawong, but tranquility in different places is always welcome, no?
Now, onto the actual life update(s).
I have managed to find work on the local rose farm Treloar Roses. The best thing is that this counts towards the 88 days of farm work I need to do to qualify for my second year! So as long as I stick it out for three months, I no longer have to worry about that ominous shadow.
A realisation I had, is that this is the first job I’ve ever had that gives me weekends off. Can’t quite get my head around that one.
I have also had to buy a car! Kind of a necessity when you live and work in the sticks. Very typical of me and my life that the first car I’ve ever bought happens to be in Australia. Maybe I’ll learn to love driving, who knows? I doubt it, though.
Do I now have a plan for Australia? Definitely not. Unless staying in one place for three months constitutes as a plan.
After that, the world is my oyster. Or at least Australia is…
A Weary Traveller 