An interesting visit to Wentworth

by Blackburn Bellbird Probus Club | 12 Jan 2017

In November 13 members of Blackburn Bellbird Probus travelled to Wentworth in New South Wales to spend an enjoyable few days among the many attractions of the Sunraysia and Riverland districts.  

Pictured: Blackburn Bellbird members at the Loxton Historic Village.

The tour was organised by Murray Darling Tours and the proprietors Sandra and Lynton had arranged a varied and interesting program of sightseeing with accommodation at the Darling Junction Motor Inn.

It was an interesting time to visit Wentworth, which is at the junction of the Murray and Darling Rivers, as both rivers were flowing at well above their normal levels.   A visit to the Old Wentworth Gaol gave an insight into the conditions faced by prisoners from 1881 until it closed in 1927 and further history of the area was displayed at the Wentworth Pioneer Museum, just across the road from the gaol.   Also displayed at the museum are fossils and replicas of megafauna found at the Perry Sandhills which were visited later in the day.   Lunch on this first day in Wentworth was aboard the riverboat Wentworth, followed by a visit to Orange World with a train ride through the orange, mandarin and avocado trees.   Then it was on to Woodsies Gem Shop for a demonstration of ring making and into ‘Alladin’s Cave’ where are displayed thousands of gems, rocks and crystals from all around the world.

Pictured: Alongside ‘Big Lizzie’ at Red Cliffs

The next day took the tourists into South Australia and the Riverland towns of Loxton, Berri and Renmark and featured visits to the Loxton Historic Village which tells the stories of the region’s early settlers, Angoves Winery and the Almondco Almond Hut.   Almondco produce more than 100 almond products from the many almond growing properties around the area.   Dinner that night was aboard the riverboat Wentworth as it cruised the Darling River.

The final day featured a tour of Mildura before a cruise along the Murray River on the paddle steamer ‘Melbourne’ with an informative commentary on the river and its history, followed by a visit to the Varapodio Estate to hear all about olive growing and the production of olive oil.

Before dinner each night there was time for happy hour at the motel.  Although it was a rather long trip there and back, everyone thoroughly enjoyed the experience.