Beechworth and Paradise Falls

The Airbnb host made the most scrumptious breakfast of bacon and eggs from her chickens, muesli and fresh fruit.
After the hearty breakfast we visited the small quaint town of Beechworth. An old gold mining town with the wide streets and beautiful old buildings and shops that line each side of the street.
The tourist information lady in Melbourne told us to look out for koalas when we see a koala sign. On Wangaratta Beechworth Road, there was a Koala Next 5km sign. At 80 km/h, I spotted a furry lump on a tree. I made a U turn and didn't see the lump but on the next U turn almost giving up, I spotted the lump of fur again. So as I was going slow and hogging traffic, I was able to pull up on the road shoulder about 10m away. We walked back and found 2 koalas up 2 trees. Moving ever so slightly to readjust their perch. A wonderful find, on par with finding a rare orchid.
After Beechworth, we returned to Milawa for cheese tasting as they are well known in this region. Ruby tasted the variety of goat cheeses and the blue ones. We both tasted the cheddar, camebert, brie and washed rind. My favourite was the Milawa White. It was an accidental cheese that was made to the blue cheese recipe but someone forgot to introduce the spores. So without the spores for blue cheese, it was a white cheese. It was so tasty they continued to make this cheese.
Full from breakfast and cheeses we skipped lunch again. Ruby found a Paradise Falls hike on AllTrails app in King Valley area.
The hike took us up a steady slope for 2.8km through a woodland. It was moderately interesting but there were no waterfalls. Infact the walk ended in the woodland at a log. Returning the way we came, we ended up at the car without finding the falls. However the AllTrails app directed us down a steep flight of stone steps to Paradise Falls. It did live up to it name. Ruby continued on a narrow track after the lookout in the direction of the falls, and we found ourselves right under the falls. We decided that since we were hot and sweaty from the hike and there was no one else around, we took a very quick 10 seconds natural shower under the spray of the falls. The water was freezing but refreshing. It was truly beautiful.
Driving to dinner, we saw cows walking in single file heading towards the milking shed. They looked so cute marching in single file.Read more