Out and about in South West Melbourne

Werribee South Caravan Park was such a good find, with plenty of space, green grass, very good facilities and opposite boat ramps, a clean beach and walking paths.    The caravan park belongs to the local council and is beautifully maintained.

Our caravan and Piper, in glorious sunshine, which did not last very long, unfortunately.

The view from the window by my bed.

The clean sand and grass, and I presume clean water.

The view south, with a reserve in the distance.

Although some distance from central Melbourne, the train from Werribee runs every 20 minutes and takes 40 minutes to get to Flinders Street.    Most people seem to disappear from the caravan park during the day so I guess they had taken the train to Melbourne.

However we were there to visit Jackie, who lived a short distance from Werribee South.    A twenty minute easy drive, with very little traffic, from the caravan park to Altona Meadows, which is in South West Melbourne.   We were impressed!

Werribee South also has acres and acres of market gardens, which meant half of our drive each day was through pleasant fields of cabbages, broccoli and other greens.

I could not resist taking a photo of this old house, obviously the owners moved into a bigger and more comfortable house.   

Jackie's lovely house in the suburb of Altona Meadows.   

Altona Meadows is part of the wider suburb of Altona, with Altona Beach, and Altona.   A very large suburb.  There was once a huge power station here, but  now it is filled with pleasant streets, parks, and reserves.  

Jackie was an excellent tour guide, as we circled around Altona and Williamstown.   Some of it was through areas of light industrial buildings, quite often the most direct route, but mostly it was through lovely housing and parkland.    I was most impressed with the number of footpaths and cycling paths which wound through the numerous parks and reserves.

On one of the mornings we stopped for coffee, and then later on, for lunch, at the closed off to traffic part of Blyth Street.  We enjoyed excellent coffee, cakes and pizzas.  

The distant view of central Melbourne across the water.

The rocks were most unusual, black volcanic rocks.

We drove to Williamstown which is the next suburb.   Jackie lived there in the 1980.   It is an older suburb and filled with gorgeous buildings and houses.

One of the shopping streets.

The Williamstown Timeball Tower, only one of three left in the world, I think.  It was built in 1849, of local bluestone, and was originally a lighthouse before becoming a Timeball towner in 1861.   At 1 pm every day the Timeball would descend, and this enabled ships keep their timepieces accurate.

A view of Melbourne city, across the harbour, from Williamstown.

The harbour was full of small boats, all anchored out on the sea.

Lunch at a trendy little cafe in Altona Meadows consisted of avocado on bread, with a perfectly poached egg.   The choice for Jackie and me, whereas Walter chose a double hamburger and chips.   All delicious.

We enjoyed catching up with Jackie, and spent a fair bit of time talking and reminiscing, and for us learning about living in Altona.    The three days went too fast.    A truly delightful time.