Town names don’t get much better than Yackandandah
Some of the Black Angus herd kicks up their heels
Trees in Yackandandah start to turn
Poor John and I are off on another adventure—this time to Flinders Island off the northeast coast of Australia’s island state of Tasmania.
We’ll have a week there visiting the tourist spots and staying with Graeme, who normally looks after our house while we travel. We’ve been sidelined this time while he housesits for his niece.
So what’s this about Yackandandah?
We decided to drive to Melbourne to catch the plane to Flinders Island. It would be more economical than flying because of the Easter holidays. More importantly, it would give us a chance to stop on the way to catch up with Chris and Robert, two of our travelling companions on our second South American overland trip in 2013.
A couple of years back, they bought the Yackandandah Motor Inn (in Victoria) to keep them busy in a sort of retirement. As if they didn’t already have enough to do running their nearby farm!
A view from the backyard of the farm
What a great reunion. In between them running around checking in and attending to the needs of guests, we managed to have drinks and nibbles, a trip to the farm, dinner in the Thai restaurant across the road, and a walk around Yackandandah to admire its transformation to autumn.
It was great to see the farm with its beautiful garden (see pics above), scenic rolling hills and friendly herd of Black Angus cattle. Most of the cows have had their calves, and they were curious to check out Robert in the field. Just as we were leaving, Mother Nature flashed us an amazing sunset that vanished within minutes.
Now we’re in Melbourne in an overpriced (for what it is) hotel. Earlier this afternoon, we were all checked in for our flight to Flinders when the unthinkable happened! We were booked on the wrong flight. Luckily our bags were quickly retrieved.
Stay tuned tomorrow, or for whenever I have another internet connection, to find out what happens next. Not sure what internet, if any, to expect on Flinders.
In the meantime, I can highly recommend a stopover in Yackandandah. There lots to do and see in and around the town, including some fun shops. The whole area is extremely popular for cyclists. Robert and Chris are avid cyclists (mountain bikes) themselves and can give lots of advice. Thanks fellas for a sensational time. You can bet we’ll be back.
P.S. Please share if you have ever had your travel plans go belly-up? It might give us a laugh and will probably make us all feel better.
A magnificent golden ash
Where to next? 
Lovely photos, and Yackandandah is an attractive spot. We always like to spot unusual place names here. In Sussex, there are the twin villages of Upper Dicker, and Lower Dicker. They always strike us as rather amusing. And very close to us, in Norfolk, you will find Great Snoring, and Little Snoring. I doubt they get much sleep in either village!
Best wishes, Pete.
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Oh Pete, those are great names. Thanks for sharing them. It’s almost midnight in Australia and perhaps I’ll retire to Little Snoring.
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Sleep tight, Peggy! 🙂
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Thanks Peggy for this really interesting description of Yackandandah and the lovely photos. Those trees on the turn are stunning as is the sunset. My travel plans might be about to go belly up too but that’s a private tale. Keep on having fun!!
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Sure hope your travel plans go according to plan.
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Absolutely amazing! Enjoy your time, Peggy, and do keep posting! 🙂
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Thanks, I plan to bore everyone. 🙂
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😂😂
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Place names are wonderful for sure. I once deliberately took a car trip in Tasmania so as I could drive through Paradise and Nowhere Else, then onto The Promised Land, and finally had lunch at Lower Crackpot. We have a friend in Tassie who lives in Bogan Gap….
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Oh dear, Lower Crackpot will have me laughing all night long. I was most intrigued to drive past Peculiar, Missouri.
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Those names are awesome! I have been to the Promised land and Lower Crackpot, but missed Bogan Gap! Those pioneers must have had a great sense of humour!
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Tasmania is full of quaint names. There’s a map with all the peculiar names on it, which I’ll have to find now and put on my blog. One I particularly love is, Flowerpot.
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So English or so Sixties!!!! Can you imagine that being your residential address Chris?
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Would be influential for sure if we were looking to buy there. We were looking at property a few years ago in Tassie. Two had our interest. One was in Deviot on the Tamar river. Deloraine won out though – we just couldn’t bring ourselves to have an address in a place called Deviot.
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That is a lovely area. I liked Rosevears and the name is okay!! Deloraine was also a favourite. Do you still live in Tassie?
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No. We were going to, but circumstances changed. We live in Busselton WA in the summer, and head north in the winter. We still have our little house in Deloraine though and look forward to fitting in some time there again one day between tenants.
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I notice that all the cattle are wearing earrings. How very fashionable! Being Midwesterner, our cattle are so much more modest and would never dream of flashing their bling. 🙂
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Oh yes, our cattle are ever so fashionable!
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Love the photos Peggy, have a great trip.
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Thanks Terry.
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Interesting read.
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Thanks so much.
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Yack is about 10 k from where I live in Beechworth Peggy. Did you see me wave as you drove past?
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Oh Frank. I promise to swing by the next time we’re in the area. We drove right through Beechwood. Pretty town.
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I’ll watch for you.
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I don’t know how you pronounce that name, Yackandandah, but it is a fascinating place: love it so much 😀
Waiting for more photos!
Ciao
Sid
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Actually it’s pronounced pretty much the way it is spelt—yak-an-dan-da!
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I kept trying to pronounce the name, and couldn’t quite reach a place to stop! Good luck with the flight. What’s going on with air travel these days?
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Oh the fault was mine completely. Darn. And the town is pronounced pretty much the way it is spelt—yak-an-dan-da!
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I have no idea why I wanted to sing it in rounds!
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Too funny!
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That really is quite a mouthful. Sounds like a lovely experience and you’ve managed to get some beautiful photographs, especially of the quick-to-vanish sunset! x
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Thanks. I was surprised by how quickly the sunset disappeared.
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What beautiful surroundings, and I had to practice to pronounce Yackandandah a few times 😃 gosh what a name.
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Yep, it’s a mouthful and a half. Thanks for visiting and commenting.
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I think Australia leads the pack on weird place names, but I’ve been in a few myself. Intercourse, Pennsylvania, is one of them! I’m also always amused by the Little Pee Dee River, an offshoot of the Great Pee Dee River, of course! I always thought this would be a perfect place to pull over for the boys to take a bathroom break for some reason. Ha! Yackandandah looks like a charming little place for a overnight, and I sure hope you get your flight sorted out!
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Oh my, those are a couple of great place names. Thanks for sharing them.
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Love the Red Cala lily leave very beautiful, saw it for the 1st time in my life. Thank for sharing
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Thanks. I hadn’t seen a red one before either.
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Colon Panama, another great name! Now Yackandandah would have to be one of the best little towns in Aus wouldn’t it? We’ve been visiting Yack now for close on twelve years in our Motorhome, glamping in the very pretty caravan park on the river. A charming town with lots of history Peggy, the old gold mine tour is fascinating, you must do that when you’re back in Yack 😀
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Thanks for the tips Janeene. Yack is really worth several days of exploring. And now we know the way there! 🙂
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I’ve never been to Flinders Island, despite being to Tasmania many times when young(er) and a couple of times when older(er). I’ll be keen to see your photos.
And what a gorgeous sunset – those bright pink ones seem to be more fleeting than the golden yellow and red sunsets (in my experience). I have a good one coming up soon on my Sunset/Sunrise blog by the way, Peggy.
As to travel plans going awry. Well, I’m the only person I know who has never had anything stolen or luggage mislaid or travel plans upset (that I can remember). My best friend has her wallet stolen in Italy and actually chased the female thief and got it back – L. is not short of courage and very fleet of foot 🙂
Even in Greece (when Greece & Turkey were having probs in 1976 over the Aegean dispute), the Turkish border opened and tempers calmed down between the two countries the day before our camping tour group arrived. I still have a photo I surreptitiously took of soldiers camped out in the field and while it wasn’t a particularly clear shot, it reminds me of how close we might have been to a war zone. I vaguely remember border ‘guards’ coming on our bus to check everyone’s passport.
My tent ‘mate’ had her valuables stolen from her case in our tent in Amsterdam (I think it was), but the thieves didn’t touch my bags. Maybe it pays to have cheap or shabby luggage? 🙂
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You have been very lucky indeed. Credit is due to my tatty old backpack for protecting my belongings from thieves. That and the zippered pockets on my camping clothes. My friend, Cynthia, successfully chased down the lad who picked her pocket in Paris.
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My experience in Tassie was by taking the Cradle- Back mountain to Lake St-Claire walk many decades ago. It wasn’t for the faint hearted, and the numerous crosses where hikers had perished did not actually cheer us on. And, did I tell you that leeches actually managed to find their way through the shoe-lace holes? We burnt them off with lighted cigarettes.
Apart from that it was a wonderful experience.
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Oh geez, the death and near-death stories are enough to make you turn back. I didn’t know leeches could lace themselves onto you, but I did know about the cigarette treatment. I don’t smoke anymore so will have to find a new remedy.
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After my SIL burnt 3 leeches off my back in 1979 in Fremantle, her friend rang and said to just cover any leeches in vaseline. They can’t breathe and drop off apparently 🙂
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Useful tip—thanks so much.
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I thought it would have been too cold for leeches down that way, Gerard!
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We get them down at the South Coast. Vicious things.
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I thought it was only in the warmer rainforest. Good to know if I am walking down that way in the future.
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They seem to be problem when it rains. Otherwise not so much.
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They do like dampness!!
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Oh no, They are everywhere where there is dampness. They wait in the grasses for an opportunity to latch on to any warm-blooded creature that might happen to pass by.
They suck the warm blood and only when fully engorged and bloated might drop off. After that they leave an anti coagulant substance which means one keeps on bleeding into socks and shoes. Of course, that attracts more leaches. Party time!
It was very bad, and at night the Tasmanian devils would crawl over me and steal my sunflower seeds from my rucksack.
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Wow Gerard. What an experience. It sounds like it was very uncomfortable. I don’t think I will want to do that walk. Well maybe during the daytime. No camping!!.
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Goodness Gerard, what an unpleasant experience, but at least you can say you did it.
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Way back in the dark ages my Gran lived in Yackandandah. Her husband was a post master and was transferred there from Melbourne. I think mum and her sibs lived there as children too. I’ve never been there but I sure know the name. I don’t remember any of our travel plans going belly up. Well only once – we missed a connection in Toronto due to bad weather and had to fly to Paris a day later than expected. Have fun on Flinders!
Alison
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Bad weather can’t be blamed on you. This one was entirely my fault. As I said earlier, no wonder I needed cataract surgery. Oh, and we can highly recommend visiting Yackandandah.
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Great photos Peggy 🙂
Enjoy your travel.
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Thanks so much. We’re already having a great time.
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I’m happy to hear that 😀
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I think I may have been in Boring, Oregon once, but I don’t remember it…
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Oh Dave, that’s hilarious. A totally perfect response.
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Loved the adventure and the photos. Looking forward to more. In Florida, US we have a couple of funny names, but maybe not as good as yours – Yee Haw Junction and Defuniak Springs.
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Oh gosh, Yee Haw Junction gave me a good laugh. Thanks for sharing.
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With all the interest in how to pronounce the name, I couldn’t resist this one, Peggy. It is the longest place name in the British Isles, and legendary here. It is in Wales of course, and said to be almost impossible for non-Welsh people to pronounce. Compared to this, Yackandandah is a breeze.
llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch
Yes, it’s a real place.
This is how to pronounce it. ( I still can’t really manage it myself…)
http://www.llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch.co.uk/say.php
Best wishes, Pete.
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You’re right, Pete. Yackandandah is a breeze compared to that. I’ve seen/heard how to pronounce the Welsh name, but I still can’t manage it.
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What a wonderful name it reminded me of Choccy wokki do dah which I hadn’t thought about for ages…lol… Great photos 🙂
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Choccy wokki do dah is a great phrase. Thanks for sharing it.
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Completely astounding! Make the most of your time, Peggy, and do continue posting!..
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Thanks, I’ll do my best to post while on Flinders. Will just depend on the internet availability.
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The Golden Ash was amazing. But Yak and Dander sounds like what’s on the old mattress where Aqualung sleeps
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Thanks for a good laugh to start my day.
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Great work promoting Flinders island and Yackandandah! We do have some weird names here in Australia which suggests the pioneers were running out of “proper” place names or had a great sense of humour. At least they are fairly easily pronounced, as I am thinking of those Welsh place names in UK that are tongue twisters. Peggy, did you want to say a little about the Lima photo you sent me. I am going to post a follow up this coming Monday, with the answer to this post: https://forestwoodfolkart.wordpress.com/2017/04/10/monday-mystery-photo-last-time-brisbane/
No worries if you don’t as I can use google, if you don’t mind? Thanks for all your wonderful contributions.
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I get a real kick out of some Australian place names. And yes, most are easy to pronounce. Have sent a spiel for Lima. Sorry it slipped my mind in the preparations for the trip.
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Thanks!
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I’m so sorry about the flight – my worst experience was being refused boarding due to the late arrival of a connecting flight by Virgin Atlantic on Christmas Eve. I’ll spare you the details as I don’t think they’ll cheer you up! And my favourite place name sign reads “Goodnight Louise”. I passed by it and marvelled a few times before I was told they were two different towns. I still think the names are funny for towns though!
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Thanks so much for your commiserations. We’ve made it to Flinders. Thank so much for your story about Goodnight Louise. How amusing that it’s for two different towns. At least it wasn’t a sign for Goodnight Irene.
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I love that name…it’s so fun! Sounds like your visit was too. What a gorgeous sky with that sunset reflecting off the clouds like that! Happy to hear you are enjoying Flinders Island!! Have fun.
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We had a great time in Yackandandah and surrounds, and now doing the same on Flinders. Very blessed.
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You do know how to appreciate life!! So blessed. xo
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Good name, lovely place, and those cattle are gorgeous! I love interesting place names. Maine has more than its share, with towns named Freedom, Friendship, and Unity and the musical Native names such as Eggemoggin, Allagash, Kennebec, and the Passagassawakeag River. I could go on and on. Enjoy your trip to Flinders. Looking forward to hearing about it.
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Nebraska has a lot of Native place names. They always sound so beautiful and intriguing. Will be posting soon about Flinders.
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The views of the village are beautiful. Like to be encouraged to go see. The photos you took are great.
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Thanks, we really enjoyed Yackandandah.
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Your adventures are really fun for me to read. Lovely photos. That ash is unreal.
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That ash was unbelievable. So glad I got a pic of it bathed in sunlight.
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I guess this is why no one should make their plans so tight that there is no room for error because errors are part of traveling. You made the best of if. That gorgeous coral and gray sky – yum!
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Always good to leave time for a crisis. We’ve had a few on our travels, but never anything that couldn’t be lived with or worked around.
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It took me far too many tries to get that name right! It reminds me of one of my hometowns: Oconomowoc! No one ever knows how to say that one. 🙂 That said, Yackandandah looks like full of color and life. Thank you for a sweet post, and hope you get the right flight!
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Oh Jean, you made my day with mention of Oconomowoc. I haven’t thought of it in years. I spent virtually all my childhood summers in Wisconsin and I learned how to say Oconomowoc. It just rolls off the tongue for me. I reckon I’ll be saying it (maybe just under my breath) for the rest of the day. Wait until I tell the fellows in Yackandandah.
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Oooooh! It’s so very different now! They tore up the highway and the downtown’s in a bizarre transition. I do hope life starts up there properly again.
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I bet it’s different. Most places are. But I will always love the name.
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We have a town here called “Tweebuffelsmeteenskootmorsdoodgeskietfontein”
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Thanks so much for sharing that classic. I won’t even attempt to say it.
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I once drove past a town in Quebec called “Saint-Louis-du-Ha! Ha!” Damn near drove off the road when I saw the sign.
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I can imagine! Too funny! Ha! Ha!
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Oh, I love Yack! We camped there at the caravan park a few years back and it was fantastic. My daughter’s even worked on a chestnut farm in the area. Your pics brought back great memories. 😊
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Oh my, thanks for that info. I’ll have to go back in chestnut season.
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You definitely should though it’s beautiful any time of the year. 🍂🌿
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Trips gone bad?! Go to my posts titled The H(ot)ell in Dubrovnic &Travel Karma for plans gone awry at jadicampbell.com
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On my way to check it out now.
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Going around with you around the world is interesting…I loved to see the last picture. The Golden Tree.
Shiva
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I think it’s the very best tree I saw this autumn in Australia.
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