Entering Farina this trip was so different to last time. Last time it was a buzzing place with people everywhere, The Underground Bakery was operating and the volunteer rebuilding program was in full swing for its annual winter program. It was hard to find a park in the main street and the campground was overflowing. All the premium sites were taken so many like us camped amongst the bushes.
This time the Bakery doors were closed and there were no cars in the street. Even the camp ground was pretty much deserted.
We only realised this trip just how big and beautiful the campground is. What is usually the volunteers campground was open to the public although the 240v power was not available.
The grounds are superbly clean and well organised. There are fire rings and wood BBQs and rubbish and recycling bins all over the place. Wood is available from the homestead for a small fee. The toilets and showers are maintained daily, by the volunteers when they are in residence or by the farmer when they are not. It is a very good example of everyone leaving the place as you found it.
On our previous visit late arrivals still found sites but they tended to be a little more remote or public. This time youd see in but had no idea where they disappeared to. Last time we estimated there were at least 60 vehicles in the campground but given that we would see 20 cars arrive but couldnt see them we now think it was possibly more like 160+.
We saw wildlife this time well mainly birdlife. Crows cawed and made their plaintiff cries, Murray magpies sang merrily, sparrows and willy wagtails flitted and hopped around the campsite. It was so quiet that you could hear the ground almost squeak with each hop. Whistling kites flew overhead making their distinctive whistling sound. Zebra finches twittered in the bushes and flew round in large flocks. We found many bundled grass nests in the bushes. We were even lucky enough to spot a wedge tail eagle nest with a young one resting in it.
We expected to see a redback on the toilet seat in the ancient long drop structure, but instead found a frog in the newer flushing ones.
