Inspired by Woolworth’s Christmas propaganda and warm and fuzzy advertising of happy families all gathering to bask in each other’s company, our big, weird mob decided to stage our own gathering. I chose the big enough location to take us all but at a bargain-basement price. Then, over the Australia Day Weekend in January,  we all (grownups, kids and dogs included)  headed inland to the King Valley for a weekend at King River Camp.

It was hubby’s birthday and the Australia Day weekend, so it was a good excuse for a big family gathering. We decided to forgo the boring drive up the Hume Hwy and go via the back way through Yea and Mansfield. No longer in the distance but more picturesque. We briefly stopped in Bonnie Doon for lunch and a brief break before continuing.

Once past Mansfield, the road climbed and narrowed. It wasn’t as hairy as the Great Alpine Way, but plenty of clouds and misting rain made it a very attractive, though slow enough drive for some of us. I would have loved to stop for a pic of the mist and clouds over the valley, but there was nowhere to stop. By the time we got back down into the King Valley, the sun was shining, the rain had moved on, and we arrived at the King River Camp mid-afternoon.

We were a big group of five families and took over the cottage and one of the lodges. Accommodation is comfortable and roomy, but it’s not five stars. If you are expecting luxury, you are in the wrong place. Unfortunately, it never occurred to any of us to take a group photo. I have to work on getting into family holiday picture mode, lol.

The scenery and surroundings are quite beautiful. The King River courses through the property, and the kids were either at the river or racing on bikes all weekend.

Powers Lookout is only half an hour away, and we took a side trip up there on a Saturday afternoon. As the song goes, I can see for miles and miles and miles.

Just down the road is Lake William Hovell. While the idea was for the guys to fish that weekend – no one caught anything; however, several worms drowned in the name of male bonding.

We left on Monday morning at the end of our King Valley Weekend to head home. Being waved off by our lovely hosts, Glenda and Geoff. We decided to come home via Glenrowan and down the Hume, thinking it would be quicker. No, no, no, no, NO. Never again. I will use the back way each time. While it may have been faster, it’s such a bum and brain-numbing boring drive it seemed to take forever. I had never done the big family getaway before. But it was fun, and I’d definitely do it again.