As there is no overseas travel out of Australia at the moment I thought I would share some wonderful places here in Australia. Perhaps once travel is allowed you may want to visit these spots. I have also neglected the blog lately due to moving, Christmas and New Year. Its been hectic. Life is now getting some normalcy so what better way than to share some of my favorite places.

The first in this series is Nagambie in Victoria Australia.

Nagambie is a country town roughly just 90 minutes by car from Melbourne or 40 minutes from Shepparton. . You can also catch a train or bus. Nagambie is between Seymour and Shepparton and is situated on the shores of Lake Nagambie.

Its a great place to stop and stretch your legs or even stay for a few days. Perhaps pack a picnic lunch or BBQ or visit one of the many eateries that are in town.

A lovely wide boardwalk, as seen below is a great way to see the Lake in all its glory.

Nagambie is a great holiday spot where you can enjoy water activities such as boating, fishing and swimming or if you wish to fall out of a perfectly good airplane then you can go skydiving.

Tabilk, Mitchelstown and Murchison all have amazing wineries you can visit for some wine tasting and perhaps a meal. Tahbilk Estate is the oldest family owned winery established in 1860 and has some of the oldest Shiraz and Marsanne vines in the world.

If beer is more to your tastebuds there is a Hand Crafted Brewery & Distillery right in the main street. They have a deck that overlooks the lake. What a great place to sit with an ale, a meal and watch the sunset.

If you wish to stay for a night or more there are resorts, motels, caravan parks, BnB’s to suit your taste and budget.

Now for a bit of history:

Before Europeans visited the area it was home to Natrakboolok, Ngooraialum or Thagungwurung Aboriginal groups lived in the district. Nagambie’ was named in 1872. The name was said to be a local Aboriginal word meaning ‘lagoon’ or ‘still waters’.

Explorer Thomas Mitchell was the first European in the area. He crossed the Golburn River just south of what is now Michelstown. Mitchells river crossing on the Golburn was used by the Overlanders and the postmen on the mail route from Melbourne to Sydney which was established in 1838.

This crossing had the first licensed Inn built by John Clarke outside of Melbourne. Good place for a “watering hole”.

In 1885 on Sunday 18th January that the church of the Lake was officially opened as the Methodist Church. In 2003 on Monday the 30th June at 1.20 pm a Semi-Trailer veered off the Goulburn Valley Highway and collided with the church. The Semi came to rest between its walls resulting in the collapse of the building. Luckily it was a Monday and not a Sunday as looking at the photo there would have been loss of life. In the photo below you can see the truck in the church. There is a plaque now where the church used to be.

By 1890 the Goulburn Weir had been built on the Goulburn River which in turn created Lake Nagambie. In 1898 the first rowing regatta was held on Lake Nagambie. In 2010 the Australian Rowing Championships were held on the Lake.

In 2006 the champion racehorse, Black Caviar, was born near Nagambie. There is now a statue of Black Caviar at Jacobson’s Outlook. Black Caviar won 25 out of 25 races and became the fastest horse in the world.

Nagambie and surrounding districts are also home too many horse studs, sheep and cattle properties.

I did something the other day when I had visited Nagambie. I was heading out of town and saw the sign “Kirwans Bridge”. I passed the first sign and then when the second sign came up I just thought stuff it and turned left and drove up the dirt road. I pulled over to the side and let another car cross the bridge. Once he was half way I followed him. Heart in mouth, this bridge was rickety and coplonk, coplonk as the boards went up and down as my tyres crossed over. Once over the other side I pulled up and took some photos. Then again heart in mouth I waited till another car began to cross and followed them to the other side.

The old bridge was built in 1890 and connects Nagambie and the town of Kirwins Bridge.

Another wonderful place to visit is Noorilim Estate which is 16km from Nagambie. You can read about it here – https://3sistersabroad.com/2017/05/19/noorilim-estate-mansion-murchison/

Thanks for reading and if you feel so inclined do share.