Arriving at Mt Boninyong Farm Celia and Graeme had a great spot for us to park. In Sarah's old horse paddock which now had some cows we all enjoyed having breakfast or doing some schoolwork with the farm animals!!

Friday 6th we set back in time and went to the famous Sovereign Hill. An old goldmine of Ballarat set back in the mid 1850's. Based around an old mine shaft and mill the streets were lined with typical old stores such as blacksmith, clothes, photography, coach house, bakery, grocer, saddlery with the staff all dressed in traditional old style clothes. After panning for gold, playing 9 pin bowling in a beautiful wooden alley, going on a coach ride, heading underground fo 2 mine tours (one with an very interesting a "funny" guide where many glances were exchanged between Tim and Fidge trying not to giggle.) Watching the gold pour (ingot worth $160,000) and visiting the Chinese camp which was still set up wit herbs growing and live pigs we all had a fantastic day out. Well worth visiting and a real feeling of being set back in time. Leaving with a jar of gold I think we may have nearly got our money's worth back!!! (Although we nearly ended up with none after the jar was dropped, but luckily for us gold diggers Archie dropped it on the only piece of metal on site so we were able to scroung it all back up- close call.)

The next day we headed into Ballarat Tim and Melrose ran while Lotte and Archie rode the 6km Steve Moneghetti track around Lake Wendouree. Situated in the the middle of Ballarat it is the real heart of the town with rowing, fishing and sailing.

We headed off for 5 nights on the Great Ocean Road (GOR) to return the following weekend to run the Moneghetti track again,also visit the Botanic Gardnes and prepared again to hit the road. The night before departure we had a peaceful drink with Celia and Greame in their beautiful garden. The following morning a little sheep work in the yards and a farewell we were onto Hamilton.