22 June - Dinosaurs Galore!

22 June 2016 – 175 217

Dinsoaurs Galore!

First stop today was the Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum – the road reopened this morning after ten days of closure due to the wet conditions and damage to the road works that were underway during the “dry season”.  
http://www.australianageofdinosaurs.com/

The Prado went through its first creek crossing since we have owned it – well done Drew!  This museum involved two tours, one of the laboratory which was very similar to Eromanga Natural History Museum, and one of the collection area, which while it had more bones than the Eromanga Natural History Museum I did not feel was as viewer friendly. 

The Age of Dinosaurs Museum has most of two dinosaurs – Matilda, a sauropod, Diamantinasaurus matildae; and Banjo, a smaller carnivorous dinosaur, Australovenator wintonensis. 

The views of the surrounding countryside were amazing! Truly beautiful country!.  Heading out of town we went fossil fossicking – we found many shells and Hayden felt he had found something far more interesting!!  Who knows what we really found. 

Next up we drove the 200+ km to Hughenden on the Kennedy Development Road to the Flinders Discovery Centre.  This included a life size skeleton of the Muttaburrasaurus – thankfully he was a herbivore.  There was also short film on the geological formation of the nearby Porcupine Gorge which was quite interesting. 
http://www.australiasdinosaurtrail.com/hughenden-local-attractions

Then on to Richmond, the third town on the Australian Dinosaur Trail.  We are camped for the night at Richmond Lakeview Caravan Park with beautiful views of the lake – lovely pink shades at sunset.  We also saw amazing flocks of birds circling around before settling in distant trees, making it appear the trees had turned white there were so many birds on them.
http://www.richmondlakeviewcaravanpark.com.au/

Mum

Cadbury, Richmond and Old Hobart Town

Wednesday 14 January 2015

I started the day with a run along the Soldiers Memorial Path in the Queens Domain.

This morning we visited the Cadbury Factory at Claremont – they make all the block chocolates as well as items such as Caramello Koalas on site. To make filled items, such as the Caramello Koalas, they start by filling the mould with chocolate and tapping it down to remove any air bubbles, then tipping some of the chocolate out.  This leaves a coating of chocolate over all the surfaces of the mould. Next they add the filling and then cover it with a layer of chocolate.  I had always wondered how they did that!

Then I went to the Cadbury Shop!!!

Well …. I didn’t break the bank – if they had the 10kilogram boxes of unwrapped blocks for $20 in Old Gold I may have though!

https://www.cadbury.com.au/about-cadbury/cadbury-visitor-centre.aspx

We crossed the Derwent River on the Bowen Bridge and headed for Richmond to view some of its historic buildings.  I particularly liked the churches – Hayden asked to light a candle in remembrance of Lachie at St Johns Catholic Church, which we did.  We had a look at Richmond Bridge, which is the oldest bridge in Australia.

http://www.richmondvillage.com.au/

In Richmond we visited “Old Hobart Town” which is a historically accurate 1:16 replica of Hobart circa 1820.  This is very detailed showing many aspects of town life as well as the architecture and geography.  The children are cleverly asked to hunt for certain items – keeping them busy and amused while older children and adults immerse themselves in the history.

http://www.oldhobarttown.com/