No refreshing springs

Exiting the Grampians, we have to stop for a big emu on the road. Funny looking birds…Zigzagging through some scenic old goldmine cities we make a culinary stop at the Taltarni Vineyards. They have some excellent wines, especially the pink sparkling brut tache we enjoy much. We finish our wine tasting with a nice glass of white, with some tapas at their terrace overlooking a lovely rose garden; what about the good life!?! But the very same evening we go back to basics in this very alternative vegan guesthouse in Hepburn Springs. We hoped to enjoy the public mineral springs there, but the centre is under construction. The only alternatives are very luxurious spas around, which are not really what we were after. Instead we spent the whole morning in a great second hand bookstore at the lakeshore, the Book Barn. Also very relaxing.