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Nigretta Falls, VIC
(A visit to Nigretta Falls near Hamilton is a must-do
We have driven past Hamilton, in the Southern Grampians many times whilst travelling to South Australia or short-cutting back from the Great Ocean Road to Melbourne.
This time however we were on the road early and were determined to visit the Nigretta Falls which we drove past so many times before.
It was about 9am as the sun was slowly burning off the low lying mist in the valleys. We had been driving since about 5.30am from Melbourne and still felt a little rusty.
We followed the road west out of Hamilton for about 9kms until we reached the turning that leads you to the carpark above the falls. Not a soul around, just the sound of a kookaburra and the the dull roar of the plunge pool. Like kids we jumped out the car and looked over into the valley below.
Picture perfect, the river fell for 15-20 metres until it reached the dark pool below. The air was still and the water was glassy, dappled in morning sunshine.
With a change of clothes in the car we jumped in for a dip.You could smell the earthiness of the cool water and it was a little unnerving due to the concentration of minerals making it hard to see the bottom.
Lying in the pool as the water crashed around and looking into the trees and bushes made for a beautiful setting and for an unforgettable experience.
The pool was really deep however and we swam around for a good 10 minutes until we were refreshed enough to get back to the drive ahead.
It was really pleasent sitting in the car, knowing we'd just shared a great memory and the day had only just begun.
Reference :
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Hamilton
- A major centre for south-west Victoria, Hamilton is also known as the 'Wool Capital of the World'. Around 294km west of Melbourne, it is located on the largest volcanic plain in the Southern Hemisphere. Hamilton is a good base from which to explore the area; both Portland and Port Fairy, to the south, are within easy reach.
