Last 2 days of the year.............

                                                      Saturday, December 30

After the drama of the last 2 days, it was now time to play at being tourists.                                                        We are staying in the Barossa region at Angaston, which is defined in the map below.........

                               

Note from the internet................The Barossa is one of the world’s great wine producing areas, boasting more than 150 wineries and 80 cellar doors. In fact, it's home to the world's oldest continuously producing shiraz, grenache, mataro, cabernet sauvignon and semillon vines. Rich reds are renowned here, as are fortified wines. When you’re not sipping the region’s top drops, you can admire the vines from a hot air balloon, dine at renowned restaurants and explore nearby villages and national parks.

This photo is representative of the countryside that we drove through...........                               

The Barossa is renowned for its wine as stated above. As Barry and I are not into the wine tasting scene,  we looked at other places to visit.

Our first stop was to the Mengler Hill lookout.

This hill and popular lookout in the Barossa Range, South Australia. The hill was named after an early wine grower in the area. The Barossa Sculpture Park is sited at the base of the lookout area. The road route from Tanunda to Angaston crosses Mengler Hill.

Below the lookout lies the sculpture park. Walk among the contemporary stone sculptures that were carved by nine sculptors in local marble and granite. This sculpture park was created by Australian, Japanese, American and French sculptors who were invited as a result of the Barossa International Sculpture Symposium held in 1988.

This Memorial is also situated at the Lookout.

From Mengler's Hill we drove through vine country via Tanunda, Rowland Flat, Lyndoch and Cockatoo Valley to the Whispering wall, which is near Williamstown.

                                  

If you stand at this spot.................

...you can hear the voice of someone speaking from the area in the blue mark in the photo below!! They say that even a whisper can be heard, but we found you have to listen carefully as there were a lot of people nearby having a conversation, which is rather distracting when listening for the voice at the other side. 

After we had visited the Whispering Wall, we travelled further to Williamstown, where we had lunch at the local Hotel.........

                                      

From the internet............Williamstown was essentially a farming area with sheep and cattle in the early days with fruit orchards, mixed farms and vines. Williamstown also sustained a forestry and lumber industry from the earliest days with three sawmills. Today only a small family-owned timber sawmill and Cooperage remains with the closure of the two larger mills by 1990. Many local residents work in the wine / viticulture industry throughout the Barossa Valley.

This painting featured on the wall inside the hotel..................

On the way back to the van we drove through Tanunda and stopped for a look at the local car yard. Barry has decided he probably needs to look for a new car. He has been talking about this for some time now as he has watched the kms mount up. (He has put off the inevitable, saying he is "emotionally attached to his Ford Territory".)

DS and family were at the block when we returned and we enjoyed coffee time and a play with the kids, before calling it a day.

Sunday, December 31

It has been a very lazy day today. The morning started with a serenade by the magpies outside the van.   We spent some time sitting out under the awning and I have started another book.

We had no intentions of ringing in the new year, but we ended up visiting some friends and sharing a meal and drinks. Now back at the van and will be asleep as the clock ticks over at midnight and the new year arrives. 

Wishing you all a Happy New Year and may 2024 be one filled with many blessings.

Blessings, From Jude