Red Cliffs

 18th July 2025

Edging closer to our houseboat destination, for the next two nights we are staying at Red Cliffs, just out of Mildura. It is about a 220 km, so expect it to take us 2.5 to 3 hrs using the fastest route  through Ouyen.

Whilst it may have been the fastest it was certainly a trip through the back country, often on roads with a single biumen lane down the middle and wide loose gravel shoulders. In any case we made it in the expected time and checked in to the BIG 4 Red Cliffs Caravan Park.

It is a small park, next to vineyards and a sports oval, roomy sites and very friendly management. We were almost completely set up when Brian and Ann arrived, as they had stuck to the highway through Robinvale and had stopped for a cup of coffee along the way.



After getting the van settled we had lunch and used the afternoon to take in the 3 most popular tourist attractions in Red Cliffs.

High on the priority list was "Big Lizzy" an amazing piece of machinery located in a prominent park in the centre of town.

Originally built in 1916, Big Lizzy was intended to replace camel trains that carried wool and heavy goods across the sandy soils of inland Australia. It was the brainchild of SA Engineer Frank Bottril. Initially destined for Broken Hill, it never got there as it could not cross the many flooded rivers it encountered and ended up in Mildura after several failed attempts to cross the Murray River between Echuca and Midura. Finally it sought work in the Mildura area and was used for clearing land at Red Cliffs, when this was completed in 1924, Big Lizzy headed to western Victoria looking for work, but was unsuccessful and abandoned at Glendinning. It was found, restored and now has pride of place in Red Cliffs where it played an important role in the development of the town.


Big Lizzy weighed 45 tonnes and could carry a payload of 80 tonnes




Next on our list was the Red Cliffs Lookout. only about 10 minutes drive from town through lots of vineyards, we find ourselves on the steep cliff side of the Murray River looking at the famous Red Cliffs.








Ann and Carole taking in the view

Our  last visit in the top 3 attractions is a winery, Cappa Stone Winery, a further 10 minute drive from the lookout. It is certainly not must to look at on the outside, just a white shed with a door. Inside was a small counter set up for wine tasting, in a corner of the winery. We were greeted by the young wine maker who explained that the winery is owned by an Italian Family that has been making wine here for generations, he is current generation winemaker.


They had a surprising range of wines made from both there own grapes and some from Bendigo, giving them both warm and cold climate options for some of their reds. A good range of Italian red wine grapes also featured in their mix. We bought a few bottles of Shiraz and headed back to the caravan park.

Carole decided to try out the oven in the van and do a bit of baking, a date and ginger cake.  It worked out well. Not bad for a first attempt with a new oven.


After pre dinner drinks with Brian and Ann, we had steaks we needed to cook on the BBQ and decided it was easiest to do our own thing for dining as we are both running down supplies before we cross the border into SA and have to face confiscation of fruit and some veg at the fruit fly gates, and empty our fridges before putting our vans into storage for a week whilst we are on the houseboat.


Very happy with the BBQ !

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Off to the Murray

Image
 11th July 2025 Having taken our van to Hawks Nest after picking it up, we sorted out a few teething issues and are now heading off on our first extended trip down to the Murray River and SA. Leaving Sydney at a leisurely 10 am, our first destination is Jugiong, just ff the Hume Highway past Yass. The weather is less than ideal with strong westerly winds gusting to 30 knots in part of the trip but it did not pose any major towing issues other than very healthy extra fuel consumption. We were in Jugiong in the early afternoon and opted to stay in Jugiong Memorial Park, next to the showground. It is a huge open space near the river, with plenty of room for everyone and toilet facilities, water and a dump spot. The only cost is a suggested donation which seems to be $10 per night.   There is a pub across the road, The Sir George Hotel, which looks like a good place for dinner after a day on the road. Fortunately we wandered over there at about 5.45 pm, (it was already dark), and ...
Read more

Rutherglen

Image
 12th July 2025 The drive to Rutherglen is only a bit over 250 km, so we are in no hurry. I have time for a walk around our park and also a bit of Jugiong, before we need to head off. We can't check in to the caravan park in Rutherglen until 2 pm, so will take our time. I soon discover how huge this park area is, it could take hundreds of caravans, so everyone is well spread out and there are many sites along the Murrumbidgee River, but they are a long way from the toilets. We are camped not far from the entrance. Entrance to Memorial Park Areas further inside the park are barely utilised   This area faces the river and there are a few more vans there The Catholic Church in town sits high above the town looking down on the village and river on the southern side of town. The view from the Church looks over memorial park and the show ground Once we were all packed and left the park, we only got as far as across the road to stop for our morning coffee at a very nice coffee shop, ...
Read more

Last Day in Rutherglen

Image
 14th July 2025 It is bitterly cold this morning and the heater is on as soon as we rise. At least it should be nice when the sun comes out as the skies are very clear. This morning we drove into Wodonga to get a few spare parts and do a bit of shopping. It is only a 30 minute drive from here. On the way back we called in to have a look at Morris Wines, which now appears to be more of a whisky distillery than a winery. The only people there were the employees. There is plenty of room in the car park for visitors Quite a bit of money has been invested since we were last here The tasting room It was then back to the caravan park. Once we had got everything organised and fitted a new stabiliser leg to the van, we went down the street for lunch. By the time we got back to the park our neighbours from Bayview had arrived in their van and set up in a site nearby. They left Sydney on Sunday, overnighting in Gundagai. The Churchills set up nearby As we are moving on to Echuca tomorrow, we ...
Read more