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A Visit to the Hunter Valley
Cadell Evans set to win le Tour de France
How Green The Nullabor!
The Sunlander
Massive Pelican Rookery at Kilcowera Station
The Big Wet Hits Kilcowera Station

The Hunter Valley is situated about 2 hours drive north of the Sydney CBD in New South Wales

The district is most well known as the oldest wine region in Australia. Supporting many great Australian wine makers, like Tyrrell's Wines, wine maker of the year and Drayton's Family Wines, Tempus Two, Scarborough Wine Company and many, many more. The area and Wine Makers can trully boast about the hundreds of GOLD, Silver & Bronze Medals WON!

It should be said that there is a little more to do in the Hunter than enjoy the wines of the area. Food is plentyful, you will find dozens of first class reataurants and open cafes to stop at and enjoy. The area has abundent accommodation and is surounded by National Parks like the Yengo National Park, Werakata and Watagans National parks where you can spend time taking in the views or enjoing some of the great walks.

Unlike many other Australian disctricts that were named after the Aboriginals living in the area "Cessnock" the place were it all began. It is said that Mr. David Campbell named his estate "Cessnock" after a Castle in Ayrshire Scotland.

Put everything together the wines, great selection of wonderful fine dining restaurants, cafe's, intersting shops, museums, the small townships Natioanl Parks, Aboriginal rock art you have one very interesting place to spend a few days or a fabulous extended holiday

The local guide say experience the flavours of the wonderful wines, savour the foods, enjoy the adventure, take in the serenity, experience community, Discover The Hunter Valley

After three weeks out on the roads of France and Italy and two incredible days racing over the last two stages in the Alps Cadell Evans is set to become the first Australian to win le Tour de France since it began in 1903. He will be flanked on the podium by the the Luxembourg brothers of Andy and Frank Schleck with whom he had a monumental tussle in the mountains.

The very likeable Andy Schleck wore the yellow jersey into the last stage before the road to Paris but the Time Trial has proved his downfall as Cadell Evans came in second on the stage, just seven seconds behind the stage winner Tony Martin from Germany.

Cadell's fast Time Trial has put him a minute and thirty-four seconds ahead of Andy before the traditional 'easy' ride into Paris where the Australian will, if he survives the ride, stand on the podium as winner of the 2011 le Tour de France.

Tradition of the tour is that effectively the yellow jersey rides into Paris as the winner with no attacks being made on the leader. It is still though a day for the sprinters with a race around the Champs-Elysees for final points to decide the Green Jersey - though Brit Mark Cavendish appears to have that won as well.

Congratulations from the Australia My Land Team to all the riders for a great show, to Richie Porte from Tasmania who put on a great ride to finish just fifth in the Time Trial and of course to Cadell.

Richie Porte finishes the Time Trial - Cadell Evans (left) leads the Schleck brothers (right) across the line at Alpe D-Huez at the end of stage 19 - Cadell Evans Time Trial

PHOTOS COURTESY OF SBS CYCLING CENTRAL

by Lyle Stacpoole (April 2011)

On a recent drive across the famously 'dry and dusty' Nullabor Plain (Nullabor means 'no trees'} the scene was much more like 'Aunt Mollies' front garden. After four or five reasonably wet seasons and a particularly active cyclone season above the Tropic of Capricorn 'up north' the region east of Balladonia through to Port Augusta is as green as one might ever see it. The bushes and shrubs were a bright vibrant green and the saltbush a rich blue aqua color, not the usually dry looking dull blue/grey. Even in the most dry and remote parts of the plain the red colours of the soil only partly showed though the dense, often green ground cover. The down side was that there was not one kangaroo or emu to be seen - there is no need for them to wander close to the road when there is so much feed about. With the winter rainy seaon approaching the surroundings will remain nice and green for a while so now is definitely the time to venture across for that special drive.

by Lyle Stacpoole (April 2008)

Railway stations seem to be the friendliest places because people are always pleased to meet other people. Laughter, presents and hugs seem to be the order of the day. Such is what it was in Rockhampton at midnight. However it is now nearly 5:40am and the train crew are working in the galley getting ready the first meal of the day. The light in the cloudless western sky reveals the last offerings of the moon, while in the east rain-clouds are hiding any effort the sun may be making to influence the new day. The famous Mackay sugar-cane farms are coming into view in the new days patchy light and now the Sunlander approaches a range and as the mountains climb steadily to the east of the track snakes its way through a cutting in the hills. The cane farms from the other side of the range have given way to forest here, albeit briefly as soon the cane farms reappear, now taking up the whole valley. Another mountain further to the east beyond the sugar cane fields is enshrouded in early morning cloud as the crops start to turn green with the gathering light. By the time the sun gets above the horizon the clouds have cleared as if by request of the new day. After sixteen hours from Brisbane it is now have just thirteen more hours to Cairns. But every minute is an awesome experience.

by Toni Sherwin - Kilcowera Station (February 2008)

In the past the RAMSAR listed Lake Wyara has supported huge populations of pelicans, black swans, cormorants, terns, ducks and many other species and right now is no exception. Lake Wyara has been slowly filling over the last twelve months and while it is nowhere near full it has sufficient water in it to entice many thousands of pelicans back to breed. It provides truly memorable sights and sounds in this remote location on the eastern boundary of Kilcowera Station. Guided tours to view the rookery are available from Kilcowera Station. You can stay right here with us and enjoy life on the station for a few days while taking in the wonderful surroundings and wildife. Seasonal conditions have continued to improve on the station and the birds are making the most of it. Flocks of Major Mitchell cockatoos are regularly seen from the accommodation at the Shearers Quarters. See the avenue shaped bower of the spotted Bower bird. A hide has been erected near a tiny little water hole very close to the quarters. There are self guided tours around the property with maps and information provided, walking tracks and many little roads and tracks to various interesting birding hot spots.

by Toni Sherwin - Kilcowera Station (January 2008)

Kilcowera has been transformed from very dry, dusty and dead to a bird and photographers paradise again. After some rain in the last 2 months we received 97 mls on Christmas day! There are swamps and dams on the place that have not had significant water in them this decade but they are now full. The 2 creeks near the house and quarters have both run very big, one even has rapids in it that you can hear roaring in the quiet of the evening or morning. Frogs croaking all night and hopefully birds coming back in droves. This could be the start of a good breeding event for them. Lots of Budgerigars and Major Mitchells feeding on the ground, I also saw a Chestnut Quail Thrush and a Black Honeyeater this morning near the house. We are doing lots of walking as we certainly can't drive anywhere yet. I haven't gotten down to the lagoon yet but it will be magnificent when I do get there. Grass and herbage started to grow a few months ago and with this rain now the place is going to look great in the weeks to come. Am attaching a small image of the road between the house and the quarters, those who have been here might remember driving down to the quarters with dust billowing behind them. Not now!

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