Date: 6th December 2021
Travelled: 211 kms from Melbourne to Benalla, Victoria.
Visited: Yarra Valley and Benalla.ย
Stayed: Jaycee Island Campground, free, limited services. S36.55350, E145.98421
Budget: 18 days @ $0 per day.
We spent a wonderful night at Mark and Mireilles home at Burwood in Melbourne yesterday, joined by Mark and Bev also from Melbourne. Obviously Mark was a very popular name in 1950โs Melbourne, apparently everyone names their children Dan these days. We all have motorhomes sitting somewhere in Europe waiting for overseas travel to recommence. It was a great evening with like minded people sharing some wonderful memories.
But this morning we turn for home once again. When I say turn, Mark has given comprehensive instructions of getting out of Melbourne. This involves turning right twice and then left then right again. Amazingly we turn onto Whitehorse Road and where heading out of Melbourne into the Yarra Valley.
We stop for some breakfast and a walk in Yarra Glen but didnโt find an interesting photo. We continue on passing numerous wineries, obviously vinification is big business here.
We drive on another 60 kms to Yea which is much more interesting to walk around. Parking is a lot easier as well. Yea has a very nice bakery so we get some bread rolls etc.
Lovely old Post Office 
Our favourite cottage and garden 
Yea information and discovery centre
We move on stopping at the tiny village of Yarck for a late lunch. Thereโs just a pub and a lovely picnic area and an RV stop. So we stop our RV and enjoy our lunch.
Turning north on the Midland Highway we soon arrive in Benalla.
Benalla, Victoria, Australia
Once in Benalla we make our way to the free campsite on Jaycee Island. Itโs only 150m off Bridge Street, so itโs handy to everything. We only have one neighbour but as the sun sets the camp is full.
Once weโve settled we do some exploring in the unsettled weather.
A different view of the bridge 
Benalla Art Gallery on lake Benalla 
This free form ceramic art work reminded us of Antonio Gaudi work 
Lots of murals on the back streets.
Next morning the sun is shining, so the bikes come out for a ride around Benallaโs wetlands cycle loop and some more exploring around town.
More muralsโฆ 
Best cottage and garden we found 
The Council Chambers (old) 
Cute park benches 
A very different sun dial 
The old railway bridges (two) 
The weir creating Lake Benalla 
Zoom in and read Benallaโs history
Back in the Jayco we have breakfast and get ready for the road. Most of our neighbours have already gone as we roll out of the free camp. Anyway we enjoyed Benalla and thought it well worth a visit.
Michael + Pam
