So… another easy tow from Robinvale southeast past the Andrew Peace Winery, at Piangil, through Swan Hill and on to Lake Boga.

Somewhere between Robinvale and Andrew Peace Winery a pair of feral cats decided to dash out of the scrub across the road in front of us. One made it across and the other left it too late and is no more. It’s never pleasant to run over over an animal but the death was instant and, being a feral cat, I’m not feeling any remorse about it…

Andrew Peace Winery

We bought two Andrew Peace ‘Masterpeace’ Pinot Grigios and one Shiraz on special back in Balranald. We were so impressed with them that we resolved to stop in at his winery, which is on the way from Robinvale to Swan Hill and Lake Boga. The winery has a cellar door and features a public BBQ area that also has some antique machinery beside it.

After the obligatory wine tasting we ended up purchasing a mixed dozen of our choosing, to be couriered home, plus two whites and two reds for the van. Whilst walking back to car we had a hurried discussion and decided to go back in and order a second dozen to be couriered home as well. Each dozen cost $100 and included a complimentary Moscato.

The ‘Masterpeace’ label is an easy drinking range of whites and reds that aren’t overly complex but are perfectly suited to lazy afternoons/evenings with or without food. Andrew Peace is our new favourite wine maker.

Lake Boga

After Andrew Peace Winery we headed on through Swan Hill for another 14km to Lake Boga, which during World War 2 became an inland flying boat base for the maintenance and repair of amphibious aircraft like the Catalina.

The town itself is a small ‘strip’ style town that is surrounded by agricultural holdings like most towns along the Murray corridor. The lake is the central feature of the town and is a mecca for fishing, skiing and sailing. It is relatively shallow and is also a water storage for the area. The level rises and falls with use and is kept topped up by pumping water in from the Murray river.

Lake Boga Caravan Park

The Lake Boga Caravan Park is perfectly located along the shore of the lake and yet another perfect place to pull up, set up on the water’s edge and soak in the view. especially with a ‘Masterpeace’ Semillon Sauvignon Blanc. The atmosphere in the park is very relaxed and the amenities are fairly new looking and spotless.

Not too many campers were in while we there but I expect that it will be bursting over the Easter long weekend. The weather was perfect for our two night stay with warm days, cool nights and perfect sunsets and moon rises.

At dusk the fish start rising with some jumping fully out of the water. The lake has four species of fish, being Murray Cod, Yellow Belly, Red Fin and, unfortunately, Carp. If you can’t relax here then you’re beyond help or already dead.

Flying Boat Museum

The Lake Boga Flying Boat Museum is on the shores of Lake Boga and where the original No. 1 Flying Boat Repair & Service Depot was located during World War 2. The museum is housed in a large metal shed and also has the original communications bunker on the site underground. Entry to the museum is $15/adult and is well worth the price of admission, which includes a 23 minute video that is very professionally done in a small room with vintage theatre seats that were salvaged from a theatre some years ago.

The centrepiece of the museum is a complete PBY5 Catalina Flying Boat (above) that stands proud amongst the other exhibits of machinery, models, clothes and memorabilia. The Catalina is quite majestic in the way that pelicans look cumbersome on the ground but absolutely magnificent in the air and on water. Other exhibits include a jeep, caterpillar tractor, various restored engines; including a Rolls Royce V12 Merlin engine (the type used in Spitfires).

The communications bunker is equally interesting giving a glimpse into the life of the officers and staff that manned the radios sending and receiving secret information day and night. The exhibits include all manner of period equipment including a small telephone exchange switchboard (similar to the ones the Rob’s Mum operated in her younger days).

Swan Hill

Swan Hill is only 14km from Lake Boga and is a relatively large town with a long shopping strip shopping centre near the river and railway lines. We dropped in for lunch just to have a poke around and take a break from relaxing by Lake Boga.

Swan Hill has a ‘big Murray Cod’ in one of the parks, which despite being a bit kitschy is actually well built and decorated although it looks a bit lonely with nothing else other than a carpark around it… There is also re-creation pioneer settlement attraction by the river but we weren’t feeling particularly touristy that day so we passed it by in favour of returning to Lake Boga for an afternoon of ‘doing nothing’ by the lake.

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Back at Lake Boga the afternoon’s camping excitement consisted of a young lady who was camped near us with a jet ski losing her keys to jet ski. Presumably she dropped them in the water but even though they were on a floating lanyard they were nowhere to be found. She handled it well but must have been very disappointed with her lovely little SeaDoo sitting in the water and no way to start it.

A leisurely pack up the next morning and off the Rochester…