Fishing – The Hidden Panorama

Since the season in Australia is switching from spring to summer, it is the same period to enjoy harvesting season. And when that season happened while I was in Melbourne therefore it is common to be invited by my friend to go somewhere and enjoy fruit picking.

This time I was invited to join the strawberry and cherry picking. Back home I already experienced strawberry picking but not the cherry. Since I was curious what was it like I accepted the invitation.

It was beautiful Saturday that day and my friends picked me up in my hotel. From St Kilda Road going to the City we took left to Kingsway. Then we left the city by taking Western Gate Freeway, we turned right to West Ring Road then to Western Freeway, then we took Bacchus Marsh Road where the farm we were targeting is located.

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–Western Freeway before turning to Bacchus Marsh Road

We arrived in Naturipe Farm, almost lunch time. Instead of going straight to the farm, we decided to have lunch first. Different families came one by one and all of us met at the table area in the farm. And the exciting part was when the foods were being prepared and all were Filipino menus which I really love. When food were ready I jumped into the table and helped myself in grabbing one by one, because it’s too many, I was confused which one to eat first, but in the end I got full. It was a great lunch as I felt again to be part of a huge family in Melbourne.

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–At Naturipe Farm

After all were done for lunch, all the food were packed and the whole group went ahead to the farm. I was surprised to discovered that there were too many people dropped by to the farm, it seems the fruit picking activities has been a headline to the city as we need to line-up in a queue just to get inside the farm to pay the entrance in cherry picking, while the strawberry picking was free. Though the sun started to heat-up, we remain in the queue until we got our chance to enter to the farm. We paid the entrance fee and plastic boxes with the bucket.

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–The queue

After we passed the long queue, we went straight to cherry picking area. We showed our receipt to person in charge at the entrance and directed us where was the picking area. As I saw the vines of cherries. I was excited and started looking at the cherries. I looked for dark red cherries as they were the cherries that’s really sweet. Our group even inside the cherry farm, did not stop in taking photos, everyone were posting their selves in different parts of cherry vines. All of us seems happy in picking the cherries and to be honest I myself enjoyed the activities as well.

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We took hours in cherry farm before moving to Strawberry farm. Here my eyes become bigger as I saw huge strawberries and I felt that all of them were calling me to “Hey you!!! What are you waiting for? Pick me now!!!” I grab all the strawberries that huge and red. I even eat strawberries while picking it, the taste are sweet even it’s not red and I wonder how it happened? Well that secret I leave with the nature I just keep picking the fruits. When I felt that my bucket seems heavy enough I stopped and waited with others to go to the counter to pay all what we got.

–Fruits that I picked (I already ate a lot :))

After paying at the counter we met each other again and said our goodbyes for another great and wonderful experience with the people who I call family in Australia.

Since I was back in Melbourne last October 2014, I got another chance to see more of Victoria in Australia. It was Melbourne Cup that day again, and the people who close to me or let say my friends in Melbourne planned to go somewhere so we can spent the holiday in a worthwhile trip. The plan was fishing. I never joined nor engaged fishing activities before. Though even I was hesitant to confirm that I will be going, I decided to go.

While we were on our way to the trout farm, I checked my phone’s GPS, I was curious which road we took and where we were heading. The trout farm is located in Dandenong Ranges specifically in Macclesfield. I was picked up at my place along St Kilda Road around 8AM. Then we picked up another friend in Malvern. After that we hit the road again and from the city we took Monash Freeway. Then we turned left and took Wellington Rd, we followed the road as is, when we reached Clematis we turned right and took Belgrave-Gembrook Rd. We turned left again when we reached Macclesfield Rd and in few minutes we turned left and took a little rough road of Paton Rd until we reach the destination. Well every time I traveled I like looking at the GPS apps when data is available because at least I was able to recognize the place that I passed and the place where I had been. Seeing the places and knowing its names made a sense to me.

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When we reached the trout farm almost 10am, we were the first group visitors arrived in the place and first batch in our group. I helped out in taking stuff from the car of my friend and we went to the kiosk inside the farm to pay our entrance. Then we went to the selected tables we chose as our group were quite big. I helped out to stuff the table and took some time in frying sausages. These kind of activities in the farm were really nice for group of people or families because these were really nice way to have friends bonding or family bonding.

Then, one by one each batch in our group were coming and since it’s holiday in Victoria, a lot of people took the opportunity to go to the same farm we were to have some break. I thought at first that I was not going to enjoy the activity but I made mistake. I was really happy when we were there because the whole group were there, chatting, laughing and eating.

Since most in the group brought foods, there were many menus, deserts and finger foods. My eyes were popping out and my mind confused as I really don’t know what to choose, all menus in the tables were all Filipino foods which I really love.

After lunch, we went to the fishing area where we spent most of our time in the afternoon. Most of us took the fishing rods and tried to catch a fish. The activity was so enjoyable because most of us were surprised once someone from us were able to catch a fish. I did not tried to catch a fish, I just posed so that I will look like I was catching a fish. Everybody were laughing when someone scream because of surprised reaction as their fishing rod caught a fish.

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–Fish Pond

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–Fishes

One of the great feature of the farm was it has fish pond where you can do a guaranteed fishing and it is guaranteed that you will be able to catch one. And most of us tried to control catching a fish because every fish that will be caught must be paid and the payment is based on the weight. We were smiling and joking that this was the kind of fishing activity that you did not worry if there will be fish to catch, you will worried for how much you were going to pay after you finished catching fish.

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–Fishing Time

After fishing time, we spent talking and eating again, until I left the group for sometime and walk around the farm so I can find some scenic spot for photo shots as my souvenir in the place.

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–Photo shots inside the farm

I returned to my group and helped out for packing all the stuff we used. After half-an hour we left the trout farm and we hit the road to the city, same route we took when we were on our way to the farm. I was dropped off first at my place.

I had a great time again with friends in Melbourne. I’m thankful again for a wonderful place, lots of memories and I will surely treasure all of them. Until next adventure.

Category: Fishing

Fruit Picking Adventure at Bacchus Marsh

Australian Rainbow Trout Farm