Back to our South Australian trip. We left Hahndorf for Adelaide where a new adventure awaited us. More about that in a later post. We were driving through the Adelaide Hills looking for the little towns of Gumeracha and Birdwood. After doing a cha cha around the roads and getting lost we eventually found The Big Rocking Horse at Gumeracha. You can climb up stairs inside it to a lookout on its back.
It is a bit kitch but they have a wonderful toy shop here. The weather was not the best, cold and showery.
There is a sign post showing the distance to many overseas cities. I felt a stab in my heart when I saw the Los Angeles sign telling me that my beautiful daughter and her family are that far away from me.
We all had fun wandering around the toy factory. They have the most beautiful wooden toys. We wanted to buy Fox a present but these were too big to send to LA. However we did find him a smaller train, which also cost heaps to post to USA.
This is to give an idea of the size.
There was also an animal enclosure here. A wallaby, a small species of kangaroo.
An emu
A Peacock.
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| photo by Ann |
Then we were back in the car with our friends and off to Birdwood to find "The National Motor Museum". It is very pretty driving through the Adelaide Hills.
Hi Diane, How cool, I love the huge rocking horse. I remember looking at and buying neat wooden toys when my son was little. I am sure your little Fox will love his new toy. Love the critter shots at the zoo, the wallaby is adorable. The tree lined street is beautiful. Thanks for another great trip report. Have a great day!
ReplyDeleteThose wooden toys look like they were made with a lot of love, and are very special.
ReplyDeletelove the wallaby and the peacock is gorgeous, but the thing i really like the most is that rocking horse. wow, i wold love to see it and climb up it.
ReplyDeleteAh yes, the trip to Gumeracha and Birdwood was always a nice Sunday drive for us South Aussies......
ReplyDeleteOkay that rocking horse "rocks" - haha had to do it! What an odd viewing platform but the toy store looks wonderful. My Dad made wooden toys and I really love seeing nicely made ones. Fox will love his train! So is the lyre bird you posted the same as what we call a peacock? Guess I better go google!
ReplyDeleteLove a camera. It is probably difficult to live so far away from your daugther.
ReplyDeleteGreetings,
Filip
This post rocks! (oh, sorry ;>)...... the toy store, seriously, looks wonderful. When our grandkids were younger, there were many times when we spent more on postage to send them a gift than the gift was worth (and that was just across one country).
ReplyDeleteThe rocking horse would be something for Fox and Toby, lol !
ReplyDeleteI have never travelled the Adelaide Hills. I do like that big rocking horse but it must have cost them a bit to construct. I wonder what the building codes were. Is that a Lyre Bird or a peacock?
ReplyDeleteLooks like a peacock to me!
ReplyDeleteThe colouring! Well it could be in almost camouflage if it got into that delightful "Paterson's Curse" stuff - sorry couldn't help myself, Diane!
Cheers
Colin (HB)
What a beautiful wooden toys, and the huge rocking horse is funny to see.
ReplyDeleteIt's funny Diane ..I have driven by this Rocking-Horse many times but haven't stopped there for years ... I guess it's more of a tourist stop but I agree the prices are a bit over the top especially if you add postage to the equasion.
ReplyDeleteThe hills are always pretty with lots of little country cafe's to sit and ponder.
I like seeing it through your eyes!
That rocking horse is really something. The wooden toys look very special -- I'm sure Fox will like his train.
ReplyDeleteHi Diane, I'd love to visit the toy factory... Someone has done some gorgeous work on those toys. Such Talent!!!!
ReplyDeleteI feel like I know something about Adelaide since Colin has talked about it... Beautiful place.
Love seeing the animals also. The wallaby is so cute.
Hugs,
Betsy
Sorry everyone. Another senior moment it IS a peacock not a Lyre bird. I'll go fix it now.
ReplyDeleteHi Diane; a nice tour and lovely, sturdy wooden toys. Diane I think, the bird is a peacock. Lyrebirds look different. T♥
ReplyDeleteYes, We all have "senior moments".
ReplyDeleteI blame Paterson's Curse for this!
Terrible stuff.
I get even Annabels and Amandas mixed up - ha ha.
The tails are similar of both birds, for overseas viewers see here: The Lyre Bird info.
I must confess I have never seen one of these birds in the wild, only in zoos.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyrebird
Colin (HB)
A big rocking horse ... that's new.
ReplyDeleteNow that was another lovely trip you took us on Diane. That rocking horse may be kitch, but I loved it and wouldn't mind getting lost to see it. Animals were so sweet. And the toys, lovely! I've seen similar signposts that have pulled at my heartstrings in the past. Hope it won't be too long before you see your beautiful family again.
ReplyDeleteWhat a glorious trip this must of been. The toy shop makes me want to be a kid again. It looked marvelous.
ReplyDeleteThat drive looks like is was just a magical experience. Thanks for givin' us a taste through your wonderful pictures!!!
Have a blessed and beautiful weekend sweetie!!! :o)
Any Teddy Bears at the toy shop??
ReplyDeleteIt looks like there are lots of interesting things to see. Thanks for your comments on my picture on Porch Days. I went back and made a few changes.
ReplyDeleteLove these photos. My family is also in the Los Angeles area, where I grew up. I miss them a lot but will see them when we go home in about 9 months. ( In the meantime, two of our sons and their wives are coming from the US to visit us here in NZ in a week. We are very excited.)
ReplyDeleteThis is the "Troyan Horse", isn't it?
ReplyDeleteWonderful pictures!
Have a nice weekend
Angela
There once was a time you could climb right to the top of the horses head! Not any more though - I think there was some issue with insurance!
ReplyDeleteI love the rocking horse even if it is kitchy and what a cute face on the wallaby.
ReplyDeleteI sent my granddaughters a small package for Valentine's Day that only had to go about 500 miles and postage was more than what I spent in the package. I can't imagine sending something your distance.