#freecamping
#Avoca
#freecampingVictoria
In this episode, we travel in our converted Ford transit campervan, with our dog, to Avoca, Victoria, Australia. We stayed at the Avoca Lions Park Free Camping Area, which allows self-contained vehicles to stay overnight. Avoca is a town in the Central Highlands of Victoria, Australia, 71 kilometres northwest of Ballarat. It is one of two main towns in the Pyrenees Shire, the other being Beaufort to the south.
Avoca was affected by floods a few days ago, and again currently now, in the Victorian floods. Our camping area was underwater a week prior to our visit, but had subsided by the time we visited the town. A few days after our visit to Avoca, the camping area was once again affected by the Victorian floods.
Listed below are the places we visited and eat at in this episode.
Avoca
The Avoca Lions Park Free Camping Area
Barking Owl Silo Art, Avoca
Avoca Chinese Garden
Gallery 127 Avoca
Avoca Soldiers Memorial
Sweet Pyrenees
Avoca Avenue of honour
Avoca Falls
Sam's place Cafe
Pyrenees Pies & Takeaway
Avoca Riverside Free Camping
The Avoca Lions Park Free Camping Area, is on the banks of the Avoca River in the heart of the Avoca township with an easy walking distance to the shopping strip and local hotel. Be sure to spend some money in town to help towards the upkeep of these great free camping grounds. Beside the playground is a large gazebo with an electric barbecue, picnic tables, and a water tap. The camping area is a large, clear, flat area between the barbecue/playground and the creek, and offers easy access for caravans. The toilet block is located by the playground and has disabled access.
Avoca Silo
Work on the Avoca Silo began in March 2021 and was painted by artist Jimmi Buscombe. Upon its completion, Avoca has become Australia's 47th painted silo art location. Jimmi has painted two large images, one of the endangered Barking Owl and the other of the vulnerable Brush-tailed Phascogale, both local, native animals of the Pyrenees Ranges.
The silo also features a night-time interactive element not previously seen on the Australian Silo Art Trail. Glow in the dark strontium paint will be used to highlight elements of the design to provide an interactive experience. The front surface of the silo will be used as a projection screen for movies, film festivals and video art, with the land in front of the silo landscaped for people to visit with chairs, picnic rugs and bean bags for these events.
Avoca Railway Station Gallery 127
As part of the Avoca Community Arts & Gardens Hub located at the newly transformed heritage listed Avoca Railway Station, Gallery 127 presents exhibitions of local and regional artists as well as solo exhibitions by single artists, including photographic and sculptural works.
Local history displays, workshops and artist studio spaces are also available together with a permanently operated community plant nursery situated on the station’s platform. Open Friday to Monday 11am to 4pm.
Nature.
Take a scenic stroll alongside a stony creek to the gorgeous Avoca Falls, a seasonal waterfall that is nestled in a valley within the Pyrenees State Forest. Accessed via an easy 500 m walk from the nearby Waterfalls Campground, Avoca Falls is a great place to explore.
The waterfall typically only flows after heavy rains but is a beautiful spot to visit with or without water. From the base of the waterfall, you can clamber up either side to reach several more levels in the rocks above. Take care if climbing up, as the grass and rocks can be very slippery.
We hope you enjoy our channel. We often get asked, ‘what is vanlife?’ Van life is a lifestyle of living in a vehicle full or part-time. The names are compound words that derive from the fact that it is typically done in a van that has been modified with basic amenities, such as house batteries, solar panels, a bed platform, some form of toilet, sink, and storage space. Some van-dwellers live this lifestyle by choice while seeking freedom, self-sufficiency, and mobility without paying for conventional stationary housing, while for others it may be one step from living on the street or in a shelter. In 2020, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, an idealized version was popularized through social media with the hashtag #vanLife. Although the term van-dwelling implies living in a van, many types of vehicles may be used for permanent, mobile living arrangements, including former public buses or school buses, campervans, recreational vehicles (RVs), travel trailers, mobile homes, sport utility vehicles (SUVs) and cars.
We enjoy part-time van-life, creating weekly episodes that are live at 5pm (AEST) Sundays, and sharing our experiences on our travels with our cavoodle, Twyla. In our episodes we stay at free and paid campsites, showing our tips and tricks on how to make life on the road easier and fun. Come join us on our adventures!