Wow, Wangaratta is now a winter wonderland.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
There are always lots of reasons to go to Wangaratta during the day, its buzzing, but now it has created an atmosphere that will only grow in popularity and make it a night time destination in its own right as well.
We often go to Wangaratta to see our four-year-old grandchild, but also to visit Park Lane Nursery, which has an especially large range of Australian plants.
This nursery is a disability employer and part of Merriwa Industries.
They grow many of their plants from seed.
Our other "must stop" is our favourite Linga-a-while nursery that you pass on the way into Wangaratta from the south.
It is a bit of a trick finding the service road entry, but once conquered it becomes an automatic detour to see what plants are in season.
They turn over their stock so quickly that they are always very healthy.
*** Day Trips: A Sunday drive to Corowa
Last Friday after completing our list of Wangaratta jobs, we collected our daughter and four-year-old and went into town for dinner.
We choose to go to Rinaldo's because it has a new wood-fired pizza oven.
What a surprise was in store for us.
The whole Ovens River restaurant area is now alight.
*** Day trips: A quintessential little country village
All the huge gum trees beside the river have their trunks and branches lit up seemingly into the sky.
It is spectacular.
We were there quite early because of young needs but June 21 is winter solstice, the shortest day of the year.
Even the youngest child can see the lights in the dark and be in bed at a reasonable time.
*** Day trips: An Indigenous education
There is no need now to go to Europe for winter magic.
After finishing our pizza we took our yummy ice-creams and walked along the riverbank and out onto the pedestrian bridge.
Rinaldo's make their own very creamy ice-creams and always have 13 varieties on offer, not always the same ones.
The whole area is beautifully landscaped and the lights make this a very appealing night walk.
*** Day Trips: Artistic adventures
Already people are finding it and several were making evening promenades with us.
During the day the 2.5 km river walk will surprise with lovely sculptures and the Aboriginal gardens.
For some time the trees in Murphy St have been lit, so too a huge tree between the Wangaratta Performing Arts Centre and Art Gallery.
This tree is lit whether or not there is a performance.
*** Day Trips: Myrtleford via Milawa
It is lovely seeing it from the outside and an art piece from inside the centre.
Having loved all the lit trees, the four-year-old wanted us to show us the Water Tower in the railway precinct that has also been recently lit.
During the day the tower appears to be all white with drawings of Australian animals, but it is the night view that brings it all to life.
The lights are subdued and change.
The animals become clearer and more fun for a four-year-old to discover and identify.
She also found a large grate at about chest high and whistled into it.
To her amazement the sound wondrously echoed in the huge empty void amusing her immensely.
Here, too, the landscaping around the tower is very appealingly done and even at night it felt a very safe place to be.
*** Day Trips: One thing leads to another
Someone in Wangaratta has conceived a new art form for Wangaratta and should be applauded because everyone of all ages will love the feel and sight of Wangaratta for a long time to come.
During the day and at night everyone should feel safe in the public spaces.
Wangaratta has planted a myriad of deciduous trees and is managing the leaves on footpaths and in gutters.
Day and night one can relax walking on good wide paved areas and not have to "just watch your step".
- Suzie Pearce
*** If you would like to send a letter to the editor on this, or any subject, click this link
Editor