SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS ROAD TRIP: ECHUCA

We've been to Echuca fairly recently, and loved it - so it was great to have a day "in town". But it wasn't all store strolling - we love the park with billabong in the centre of town near the Echuca Moama Tourism centre, and it's a great place to catch a few rosella pics.

But before we went there, we started at the shops near the old historic port, and particularly the two second hand bookshops which we really enjoyed on our last trip. Coffee break meant a trip to the Bakery - and a visit to the rear viewing platform over the Campaspe River. This was kookaburra heaven. Two little chaps had parked themselves there on the fencepost, waiting for crumbs, and begging to have their photo taken!

On to the Tourism centre, and yes, a lovely pair of eastern rosellas made themselves available for portraiture.

Feeling we were on a roll, we sauntered along the river towards the port, and there we spied a kingfisher but he eluded the camera. Darn! Another day!

So we headed in the other direction towards the Banyule forest (which was looking better than our last visit). It was pretty quiet there but we did spy this little fellow - a blue wren that so far only has a blue tail.

It was a fun day, topped off with a picnic near the pond, and some entertainment by the local ducks revelling in the afternoon sun.