Following the recent success of the Sunraysia Sporting Aircraft fly-in day and Ausfly 2024 held at the recently upgraded Wentworth Airport, Mildura Airport is set to host what is advertised as an "unforgettable experience".
The event which will be held on the 8th of September will feature an aerobatic display by Paul Bennet Air shows, a Sky Diving flag drop, the RAAF Roulettes, as well as various displays featuring some impressive aircraft.
Aerohunter Adventure Flights are offering limited flights and people can choose between the historic Wirraway or the Avenger. Ticket pricing starts at $600, and this may be the perfect gift for the daredevil in your family.
The RAAF Mildura Museum which is part of the airport precent, will host the history of the region's contribution to the nation's Air Force. Mildura was an operational training unit during the Second World War and the Mildura Museum holds some significant history.
Adding to everything that will be going on in the air, there will be an assortment of delicious street food at ground level as well as car and motorcycle displays, market stalls and kids activities.
A recently released map of the event as well as the many photos being pushed out from the Air show Facebook page suggests that the organisers have gone "all out" to make this a success.
For more information on the event, head to the official website or the Facebook page below.
There's no doubt the organisers of the Wentworth events will now have some competition if the Mildura Air Show continues as a regular date on the Sunraysia calendar.
However, speaking as an attendee at the last two Wentworth events, the Mildura Airport will have to pull something special out of their hat to put on an show as well run as The Sunraysia Sporting Aircraft group did. Joy flights in a Tiger Moth at the Fly-in Day were more affordable than the $600 asking price at the upcoming event, further more they were provided by a local operator which can do these flights all year round... food for thought.
A video of the fly in day can be seen below.
An adult online ticket at the Mildura Air Show will set you back $50 or they can be purchased at the gate for $55.
A quick day trip from Mildura to Hattah-Kulkyne National Park is one of those outings that never seems to disappoint.
The park is typical Mallee country, with extensive low scrub, open native pine woodland, big orange sand dunes, the mighty Murray River and its iconic lake system.
The main park entrance is about 70 kilometres from Mildura via the Calder Highway.
If you need last-minute drinks or food, the Hattah Store is a convenient stop before heading to the park entrance, approximately five minutes away.
I've been travelling to the park since childhood, and the Hattah Lakes hold a great deal of memories for me.
On the particular day we filmed the video below, we visited two of Hattah's jewels — Lake Hattah and Lake Mournpall.
We also stopped at Werepill Lookout, where standing at the top makes it feel as though the Mallee stretches on forever.
Werepill Lookout
Werepill Lookout is just a short drive from the park's main entrance closest to Hattah township.
It's an easy walk from the car park, and once you reach the top, take the time to stop and observe everything around you.
If you've brought a pair of binoculars, this is a great place to get them out.
We visited on a day that was overcast at times but with no rain.
It's always worth checking the weather forecast before heading into the park, as rain can make some of the tracks tricky.
The Hattah Lakes
Hattah-Kulkyne's birds, animals and unique Mallee scrub have adapted to the poor red sandy soils and the searing heat of summer.
The freshwater Hattah Lakes are part of an interconnected system of wetlands linked to the Murray River through Chalka Creek.
During natural flow events, water moves through the creek and into the lake system, providing important habitat for waterbirds, fish and other wildlife.
The lakes can hold water for extended periods, even when the river isn't flooding, although conditions vary considerably between wet and dry years.
Lake Hattah is a great place to stop for a picnic, with BBQ facilities and basic toilets available.
Lake Mournpall
A short drive from Lake Hattah takes you towards Lake Mournpall along a track surrounded by Mallee vegetation, wildlife and sandhills.
Take your time along the way and keep an eye out for kangaroos and emus. There were certainly plenty about during our visit.
Before reaching the main campground, there's a small parking area near the lake.
From here, it's only a short walk to Chalka Creek — the lifeblood of the Hattah Lakes — as well as the Bushman's Grave.
Camping and Exploring
The main campground at Lake Mournpall is a great base for enjoying the park.
Depending on water levels and conditions, there's kayaking, fishing and plenty of opportunity for bushwalking.
And for me, a visit isn't complete without climbing some of the sandhills.
The campground has basic facilities, including fire pits and long-drop toilets. Camping fees and booking requirements should be checked before visiting.
It's a terrific place to spend a night or two if you want more time to explore the area.
A Place Worth Returning To
Everything mentioned here is only a small sample of what's available in Hattah-Kulkyne National Park.
For me, it's the sort of place that's full of memories from growing up in the region.
But no matter how many times I visit, I always seem to come home with a few new ones.
Come Along for the Drive
Take a look at our visit to Hattah-Kulkyne National Park in the video below, including Lake Hattah, Lake Mournpall and Werepill Lookout.
Planning a visit?
Before heading out, check current road conditions,
park closures, camping requirements and fire restrictions
with
Parks Victoria
.
Conditions in the park can change following rain,
flooding or fire, so it's worth checking before leaving Mildura.
We couldn't have asked for a better day to travel the southern section of the Anabranch Mail Road which is about 70km of unsealed road with some stunning wildlife and some pretty good views of the Great Darling Anabranch.
All up, its about a 4 hour round trip from Mildura (allowing time to stop and take in the sights). The 444km Anabranch makes its way from the Darling River down stream of Menindee and connects with the Murray River Down Stream of Wentworth. Of course we are just looking at a very small section, a river trip by boat during a high river would be a great adventure and I've known a few people that have got to experience this, so that's definitely on the bucket list.
The Anabranch of the Darling River is the ancient bed of the Darling River until it changed its course around 11,000 years ago. It is commonly referred to as the Great Darling Anabranch or simply the Darling Anabranch.
There are only a couple of spots to stop at along this part of the Mail Road where you can take in the views as much of this land is private property and entering without permission is a big no no!
Our first stop is the begging of the Mail Road at the10 mile bridge (pictured), we're only a couple of K's from where the Anabranch meets the Murray River, so if you're a keen Kayaker this is a great spot to launch.
I've included a google map at the bottom of the blog to identify the starting point. The original 10 mile bridge (seen right) was built in 1867 making it 157 years old, even though its now closed its actually looks in pretty good shape for its age. It was upgraded in 1895 and again in the mid 1900’s, the new bridge was built in 2003
Next stop the Anabranch Hall as we take in the wildlife along this section of the trek. It worth mentioning that as good as this road is at the moment, its best to be prepared. Equipment to change a tyre if need be and something to inflate with would be a good idea, mobile reception is sketchy and apart from land owners there isn't much traffic on this road.
The old mail road passes through private farmlands, so be extremely respectful to the landowners. Hunting and camping without permission or taking dogs would be frowned upon.
The Anabranch Hall (pictured) provided a vital venue for social interaction for people living in the isolated Anabranchdistrict back in the day, Dances and sport days were held here and its still the venue for the annual Anabranch Picnic.
The Anabranch hall is available to the public for functions and gatherings and can be booked via the Wentworth council, its quite affordable, it has well maintained toilet blocks and shower facilities. and up to date pricing can be found on the Wentworth shire council web page. (https://www.wentworth.nsw.gov.au/community/public-venues/)
Flows into the Anabranch are inconsistent so a quick "google before you travel is a good idea. Generally speaking the anabranch receives flows when the Darling River reaches 6m or 10,000ml a day it also receives regulated flows from the Menindee lakes.
Our last stop before we back to Mildura is the Bunnerungee Bridge. This is where we meet up with the Silver City Highway and get back onto bitumen. From this point it will be 70 Kilometres back to Wentworth.
Bunnerungee bridge is a free campground, with limited facilities, it is dog friendly as well as being accessible to RVs, camper trailers, caravans and big rigs and camping in tents is allowed.
Its definitely not glamorous and the highway can get pretty noisy, so really just a last resort stop if the wildlife at night is getting a little bit hairy on the road or you’re stopping for a bite to eat like we did.
