As parts had to come from Melbourne and a delivery date was uncertain we were unable to get a confirmed booking date for the work. We couldn't stay in
Port Fairy, the park was booked out for the next weekend due to the annual Port Fairy Folk Festival and besides it was too cold. From Port Fairy, Mildura is due north
for 530 kilometres. We decided to just go up there and get things moving, take a couple of days stopping overnight somewhere about half way.
After Hamilton, we consulted the bible for a rest area. We liked the sound of Vic #693 at Lake Lascelles/Coorong at Hopetoun. Popped the coordinates (S 35 43 22 - E 142 22 22) into
TomTom and drove on following Ken's (current voice on GPS unit) instructions. Through town, "Turn right at the roundabout, third exit" came the instruction and being the
obedient driver that I am I complied.
At the end of the road we are in a parking area looking out over the lake, well a depression in the ground that resembled an ancient
crater. Completely dry not a drop. Across the other side of the lake is a toilet block and Ken reckons that we have another 800 metres to go but what's this in front of us
just out of the car park. There is no one around these interesting buildings. There is a toilet block and what appears to be some type of accommodation buildings and BBQ's and further
along three power poles. The type that caravan parks use. I wander down and yep sure enough they powered sites, complete with taps and near to the open toilet facilities.
Not sure what to do as the place is deserted we are just about to go on the other 800 metres when Jackie and son turned up and enter the main building. So over I go and get all the
info. Seems we have stopped at the Mallee Bush Retreat. Built by local volunteers with several unique accommodation buildings the Mallee Bush Retreat has won several architect awards. When the lake
that has been dry for eight years is full it is a mecca for water skiers from the surrounding district. So with no water to ski on they built the Mallee Bush Retreat in readiness.
Back to the power poles.
Yes they are for vans and there is water and new ablution block as well. Can we stay and how much? Yes we can and she thinks that it would be around $10.00 for the night but no one has stayed yet. So it is
$10.00 and stay as long as you like. I suggested that she doesn't tell everyone that as there are some that will stay longer than they like. We stayed 2 nights before going on to Mildura. Had a great time in Hopetoun with a
great meal at the pub (within walking distance of the Mallee Bush Retreat) on the Saturday night. Went back on the Sunday night which turned out to be the cooks night off and we ended up in the public bar
with the locals and after a top night staggered back to the van at stumps.
If you want to stay here pull up in the car park at the end of the road leading down to the lake. Go over to the main building and look for a notice with
the phone numbers to call. There is no on site caretaker. All handled by the local committee that built the MBR. We move onto Mildura where we spend 12 nights waiting to have the work done on the van
before getting on the fast track back to SEQ via Gippsland, the South Coast and Central and North Coasts of NSW.
