We have had some busy days here in Anglesea and a little further west at Airey’s Inlet. Anglesea is an interesting little town that was heavily impacted by the Ash Wednesday fires back in 1983. There is a fair bit of peat bog behind the town and this caught fire and being difficult to put out burnt for some time afterwards. To deal with the smouldering bog the area was flooded and remains so today. It has been turned into parklands with bridges criss crossing the flooded bog. The bog has apparently had another effect in killing off the fish population of the estuary due to sulphur escaping from the peat creating acidic contamination. The mouth of the estuary has been closed for some time, so it is a closed system.  Result, no fish despite the brochures etc claiming it’s a haven for fishermen. This caused Allthego to put his lines away for another time and head for Aireys Inlet.

High tide near our campsite, early morning sea mist rolled in.

Flooded peat bogs, after the Ash Wednesday Fires in 1983.

These fellas didn’t catch anything.

Aireys Inlet is the location of the Split Point Lighthouse built in 1891 and still operating today. Allthego walked along a well walked cliff top track from Sunnymeade beach for 3.5 km to the lighthouse, some great views of the coastline and the lighthouse. There were a few wildflowers out in the lighthouse area and some interesting ornamentals in nearby resident’s gardens.

Split Point Lighthouse at Aireys Inlet.

Not sure what this is, maybe a hibiscus?

Anyone’s guess here?

The other attraction at Aireys is the Rogue Wave Brewing Company. This is housed in the old Aireys Hotel on the GOR. We had lunch here on the way back to Anglesea. Homealone enjoyed a smoked beef satay. Allthego a double beef and bacon burger washed down with a paddle of the craft beers. Both of us left very satisfied and requiring only a cup of soup and some cheese for dinner later that night.

The line up at the Brewery

Tasting paddle at Rogue Wave Brewing. Allthego preferred second from left, a citrus style lager. Far right is a double IPA at 8.2% a strong drop.

Homealone indulged in a smoked beef satay.

After 4 nights in Anglesea we headed off the next day to Lorne, a bit less than 30 km further west.