Dargo - Kaysea

The Ripples, is situated 17klm from Dargo way up in the Victorian High Country, and is one of my favourite places to get away to. Dad bought the ripples about 7 years ago, and he and mum planned to spend their retirement years up there. The whole family fell in love with the area as dad and mum both had.

It's a four hour drive from Melbourne, the last hour or so is a twisting, winding road. One side cliff going straight up to the sky the other, sheer drops of more than 100 meters in some places. (If you were driving and went over the edge - your only hope of surviving would be to hit one of hundreds of trees that cover the mountains.) My first ever trip up there was spent with my fingers cutting into the dash board, and my eyes tightly closed. Not an ideal drive for someone who suffers from vertigo.

Many school holidays and long weekends have been spent in at 'The Ripples', the whole family spending time up there over Easter breaks, when the Dargo Walnut Festival is on. Dargo is one of the biggest Walnut growing areas in Victoria. And we didn't have to spend a cent on them. The farm has 40+ walnut trees, as well as numerous other fruit trees.

When you drive along the Dargo Forest Road, and pass the sign saying Castleburn Creek you know you aren't far from 'The Ripples'. The first sign you have of the 500 meter driveway is a stand of about 10 poplar trees. These trees I nicknamed 'The Majestic's'. It doesn't matter what time of the year you visit, they always look spectacular. In summer a bright apple green leads down the driveway, changing to burnt orange as autumn takes its toll. (Sounds like a fruit bowl doesn't it?)

The farm is approximately 22.5 acres (or something!!) of mainly flat paddocks bordered by high mountain ranges. There are two orchards: one with apple, pear, peach, apricot and various other fruit trees; the other with all different varieties of plums, more apricot, peach and apple trees, and almost forty walnut trees.

February and March are spent harvesting the walnuts. A fun time could be had by all: hot, sweaty work, where at the end of the day even the palms of your hands get a tan - from walnut dye!

Incidentally, if you're interested, The Ripples are up for sale, the link below will take you to the details. After Dad died, mum wanted to move closer to the rest of the family, so she returned to Mornington and the farm has been placed on the market.

Some Beautiful Views

This shot was taken by my brother Paul. Dad once made a bet with him that Paul wouldn't make it up to the top of the hill and back down again within 15 minutes. The bet was worth $50. Gambling man Paul couldn't resist - yes - he won, but could hardly move the next day! This pic wasn't taken from too far up, probably about a quarter of the way up, which is further than I ever made it!

You can see the farmhouse, a little of the creek and the two car garage and walnut racks from here.

The only access to the house is via a small bridge, this pic is a view 'up the creek' (no paddles needed). The water is always icy cool, due to it coming down from the ice caps in the high country. Which is great on 45+C days, you can sit in the creek under the shade of the trees, sipping your favourite beverage.