Mildura - A family holiday covering 2 states

[rainbowgirl]

We went to Mungo National Park the last time we visited Mildura. It was an eye opening experience. We didn't go this time as we figured it would be too hot to visit in Summer.

 

[rainbowgirl]

Orange World is actually in NSW less than 15 minutes drive from Mildura, on the Silver City Highway

 

[rainbowgirl]

This is Mario and his tractor train.

 

[rainbowgirl]

Orange World is a working citrus farm. Mario and his wife Maria run a shop/cafe and tours of the farm. On the day we visited Mario and Maria were celebrating their 40th Wedding anniversary.

The tour includes a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice and a demonstration of an orange peeler. Miss 7 and Miss 12 don't like pulp in their orange juice so Mr Rainbow and I got to have 2 glasses each. It was wonderful orange juice. Valencia oranges were in season. Navel oranges are available later in the year.

 

[OATEK]

This is bringing back fond memories of my first trip to Mildura, flying SYD-MEL-MQL back in the 80s. The NSW Government had decreed that all offices at that time south of the border had to be brought back north. Trouble was Buronga was little more than an intersection, and Dareton, Wentworth etc a bit far away. So I spent two days trying to negotiate a new build office at Buronga, while enjoying the Grand Hotel and restaurants in Mildura. It was a great fun, but I don't remember Orange World being up and running back then!

As a footnote, the flight MEL-MQL served the best Y breakfast of eggs and bacon that I have had on a flight anywhere in any class - from the galley of a Focker Friendship!

 

[rainbowgirl]

I'm not sure when they opened Orange World up to the public. The farm was there in the 80s as the Cottees commercial was filmed there. Mario, Mr Rainbow and I sang the song during the tractor ride.

Orange farmers only get paid about 20 cents per kilo for their produce and Orange World have found a way to make a little bit extra to keep things running all year around.

The family of four ticket was only $35 which was quite reasonable compared to other attractions in the area where $35 might be the cost of one single entry.

 

[rainbowgirl]

The plastic bottle covered in sticky tape is an insect trap. The insects fly in through the hole, attracted by the smell of the vinegar and peanut butter and then they are unable to fly out.

The fruit on most of the trees wasn't ready to be picked. Miss 7 said the fruit on the trees should be called "greens", not oranges.

 

[rainbowgirl]

We saw a huge variety of citrus fruits including a few unusual ones.

This one is called a Buddha's hand.

 

[rainbowgirl]

This link has pictures of what Buddha's hand looks like when it is ripe.

Buddha's hand - Wikipedia

 

[rainbowgirl]

These are Shaddock Oranges. They are the largest oranges I have ever seen.

 

[rainbowgirl]

Why have one type of fruit on a tree when you can have many? This was originally a mandarin tree but several other citrus varieties have been grafted.

 

[rainbowgirl]

That's all for tonight. The next updates will be exploring the Orange World shop and feeding bread to the fish at the new marina.

 

[rainbowgirl]

 

[Denali]

Re, Cottees ad, brings back memories and then I laugh at the lack of diversity. It was a very different world back then.

Loving your trip report!

 

[rainbowgirl]

Re, Cottees ad, brings back memories and then I laugh at the lack of diversity. It was a very different world back then.

Loving your trip report!

Thanks for your support.

I wasn't sure at first whether I could make it interesting enough for AFF members, but JessicaTam encouraged me and gave me advice so I decided to give it a go.

 

[RB]

I think there is a lot to be learnt from peoples experiences in our own country. I have thoroughly enjoyed JohnM sharing his Aussie reports just as I am enjoying this one

 

[rainbowgirl]

Orange World is a working citrus farm. Mario and his wife Maria run a shop/cafe and tours of the farm. On the day we visited Mario and Maria were celebrating their 40th Wedding anniversary.

I forgot to mention that Mario and Maria also run the farm. They have a few other workers who help at busy times.

 

[rainbowgirl]

We each chose something we liked from the Orange World shop. We didn't buy the 3D Bee Placemats but purchased some Orange Blossom honey.

I chose a bag of Jaffas. I hadn't eaten them in years. We also bought a litre of freshly squeezed orange juice to share.

 

[rainbowgirl]

Bye Bye to Orange World.


If you are wondering what the Walls of China signpost means, this is part of Mungo National Park in NSW. There are some tall sand dunes which look like a wall. A few years ago we had fun rolling down them. I don't know whether you are still allowed to do this on the tours.

EDIT: We may not have rolled down the Walls of China but our tour guide gave us permission to roll down some of the sand dunes there.

 

[rainbowgirl]

The following link has some great photos and another report of a visit to Orange World. It is from 2012 so some things have probably changed. There is a photo of the juicing machine and an interesting story about how the Cottees commercial was filmed,

Orange World Mildura

The Orange World website is also interesting but don't use the map on it to find Mildura.

www.orangeworldmildura.com.au