Big Sleep in. Very big sleep in today! Very unusual for us but must have needed it. The State Coal Mine was on our agenda to visit. The above ground area had been highly recommended by the Inverloch Visitor Centre, so after some breakfast we headed off to Wonthaggi which is about a 15 minute drive from Inverloch.
A Mining History to see at the State Coal Mine
The Icy wind was blowing again but the sun was out. We weren’t sure if dogs were allowed to visit the Coal mine so I asked at reception and it was no problem. Dogs are allowed on lead anywhere above ground. There are tours that you can do that take you underground to see the mines. They are meant to be fantastic and well worth doing, however we will have to do that another time when we don’t have the dogs with us.
We bumped into a volunteer on our way through the back entrance with our dogs, and she had a dog with her too and said our dogs were most welcome. The set up at the State Coal Mine reminded me of Sovereign Hill in Ballarat where there are lot of small out buildings with all sorts of displays.
There is a cottage set up as a home with different bedrooms. Funnily enough it was very similar in age to where we were staying in the cottage at Inverloch. ( except without the creepy old dolls in prams)
My favorite part of the above ground displays was a small shack. Called “Old Jim’s Hut ” It had a bed, a fire place and a small table and that was it. Reminded me of the tiny home concept that some people live in these days. Very simple life.
A royal wave from the big steam train.
David was experimenting with our new camera and was zooming in from quite a distance. I was up near the drivers seat with in the steam train and I waved at him thinking that I would be a dot in the distance. Turned out to be a good silly shot. We wandered in and out of the sheds and buildings that had different displays of photos and dioramas that take you back to another time.
This is a fantastic place to visit and you could easily spend a half a day looking around the above ground area, and if you don’t take dogs with you the underground tour is highly recommended.
Pies again in Connells Bakery, Wonthaggi
When we travel with dogs it ends up a bit of a tag team while one of us waits outside and the other goes in the shop, has a look around and buys stuff. In this case I sat outside Connells Bakery and waited while David got our lunch. It was very entertaining sitting out and watching the locals wander in and out. Sitting outside of the bakery was freezing but were rugged up and were not going to be long. David had a meat pie and his rating was 7 out of 10 – pastry was good, meat a touch bland. Sausage roll was very good 8 out of 10. My chocolate milk shake was yum.
Sitting outside the bakery all rugged up – dave in his Japara jacket, and I had to pull my hoodie on my head to keep my ears warm!
Anderson Inlet for a dog walk
The off leash area of Anderson Inlet is a few minutes walk from where we are staying. The tide was in and there was just enough sand for the dogs to run around and dip their feet in the water.
State Coal Mine
Garden St, Wonthaggi VIC 3995
Chapmans Free Range Butchery
Inverloch 32 bear st Inverloch, Victoria 3996
Anderson Inlet
Inverloch, Victoria 3996, Australia