What not to miss in Victoria

Beth54 · Guru

What not to miss in Victoria

Gerty Dancer · Guru

Heres a few Beth, in no particular order...

The Great Ocean road... including the Otways and all the way to SA
Bendigo
Beechworth
Buchan caves and surrounds
Mallacoota
Wilsons Prom
Lakes entrance
Wineries in Rutherglen area
Echuca
Greens Lake
on.... on....

jan-ed · Veteran Member

Hi Beth,

The Grampians are lovely that time of the year with the

Wildflowers in full bloom

Jan

Beth54 · Guru

Thanks Rosie. A few of those were on the list, thanks for the extras.

Jan, hadn't decided on the Grampians, so thanks for that.

Beth54 · Guru

We'll be going through Daylesford on our way to Ballarat, so we''l have a look. Don't know about the pampering though. wink

Sale region is on the list thanks Chris.

Most of these names are totally unknown to me, so having to have the google map window open as I read. confuse

-- Edited by Beth54 on Friday 13th of July 2012 08:38:25 PM

milo · Guru

dont forget Glenrowan where the battle for Ned kelly was..

Nicholstones · Guru

You don't have Phillip Island on your list, I believe the fairy penguins are Victoria's most popular attraction.
The Yarra Valley for wineries and food.
The Omeo Hwy will be open, it is a fantastic drive across the high country.
The Mornington Peninsula down to the ruins at Point Nepean (more wineries and food on the Peninsula) then back to Sorrento for the ferry across to stately Queenscliff.
From the city take the ferry down the river to Wiliamstown, the site of first settlement in Melbourne, for cafes and historic buildings and fantastic views across the Yarra to the city. You can then take the train back to town.

Beth54 · Guru

Thanks Nicholstones, duly noted.

We don't have to be home until mid December, so hopefully we can pack in a lot of sightseeing, before school holidays start.

Zoomtopz · Guru

Geez , I dunno y I keep puttin my foot in It hmm

Th MAIN road out , I usually find th best part of Vic disbelief

Richo biggrin

Happywanderer · The Master

I don't know a lot more than already listed, I do love Phillip Island.
Also Ballarat, Sovereign Hill. Might be worth a visit.

jules47 · The Happy Helper

Warnambool - Port Fairy - the Great Ocean Road - The Ottway Fly - Bright - Mount Hotham - Echuca - Sorrento - city of Melbourne - Eureka Tower - over the West Gate Bridge, and under the Yarra River - Flinders Street Station - anywhere around the bay - Frankston, St Kilda, and the list is just endless - you might need a year to see it all!!!!!! biggrin biggrin biggrin biggrin biggrin biggrin

NeilandRaine · Guru

Apart from the road out, the Vic Markets on the weekend is a day out

jules47 · The Happy Helper

I think Victoria is a lovely place to travel around - just got to watch the weather. But here we are in Townsville, trying to run away from Queensland rain!!!!! biggrin biggrin

Beth54 · Guru

I should tell you our basic route plan is to come down from Hay on the Cobb Hwy,

Echuca,

Greens Lake,

rellies around Bendigo,

Ballarat, then west to Hamilton, and down to Portland.

We'll then follow the Great Ocean Road east. We thought we'd base ourselves around the outer area of Geelong to look around that side of Melbourne.

Then east along the Princes Hwy, rellies in Ferntree Gully and Pakenham, so we'll base ourselves at Akoonah Park, Berwick, to go north and south on day trips. And basically just keep heading east along the Princes Hwy, finding a base, and heading off on day trips.

Beth54 · Guru

Oh yes! Vic markets! I went there when I was 16!

Hopefully the weather will be kind. biggrin

jules47 · The Happy Helper

There is a good Sunday market at Arkoonah Park in Berwick, Beth - lots of "everything".

Beth54 · Guru

jules47 wrote:
There is a good Sunday market at Arkoonah Park in Berwick, Beth - lots of "everything".

So I've heard Jules. Depends what day we're there I guess.

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Hi Beth,

I'm at Lake Burrumbeet CV Park just a tad west of Ballarat and Highly recommend it, If you recall in one of your previous posts Ozjohn mentioned it so I thought I would give it a go. Great view over the lake and nice grass sight.

Beth54 · Guru

Dougwe wrote:
Hi Beth,

I'm at Lake Burrumbeet CV Park just a tad west of Ballarat and Highly recommend it, If you recall in one of your previous posts Ozjohn mentioned it so I thought I would give it a go. Great view over the lake and nice grass sight.

Yes Doug I do remember. I've written it down too. wink

Rip and Rosie · Guru

My opinion- don't even try to "do"it all in one go.
I have been to Victoria many time, and there is always something new.
just do it, and have a short list for next time

rosie

gillyb · Senior Member

Daylesford and Hepburn Springs is very nice if the weather is good you can have a day of pampering

Cruising Granny · Guru

What about the "Prom" and, Sale region, Yarram, Pt. Albert, and the Tara Bulga Park?
So much to do, so little time.
I've been to these areas but I haven't done the Grampians in detail. I've just driven through and around them.
Have fun.

Evie n Rhys · Senior Member

Great free camp spot just outside Daylesford, Mt Franklin. Don't forget the great things to do IN Melbourne. Camberwell Markets, Sunday morning, has one of everything...... Footscray if you love Asian food. Great cheap eating and wonderful supplies for the van also v cheap. there is a great site, Free things to do in Melbourne. Although I'm NSW born n bred I have to say Victoria as a state has far more to offer and the best thing is its all so close together. Weather wise, I lived outside ACT but in NSW for 25yrs, and the weather in Victoria has nothing to answer for believe me.

gillyb · Senior Member

Evie n Rhys wrote:
Great free camp spot just outside Daylesford, Mt Franklin. Don't forget the great things to do IN Melbourne. Camberwell Markets, Sunday morning, has one of everything...... Footscray if you love Asian food. Great cheap eating and wonderful supplies for the van also v cheap. there is a great site, Free things to do in Melbourne. Although I'm NSW born n bred I have to say Victoria as a state has far more to offer and the best thing is its all so close together. Weather wise, I lived outside ACT but in NSW for 25yrs, and the weather in Victoria has nothing to answer for believe me.

Haven't been myself so thought I'd look up Mt Franklin and found this info, thought it would be a great help for you Beth, I think I might head up there myself when the weather starts to improve, its a lovely area

http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0017/313802/Park-note-Hepburn-RP-and-Mt-Franklin-Reserve.pdf

KenK · Senior Member

Last year we enjoyed our time at Glen Cromie caravan park near Drouin in West Gippsland. In the previous 2 years the park had been ravaged by bush fires and inundated by floods but staff had worked miracles in restoring it. Lovely bush setting with abundant birdlife, bush walks, wonderful scenic drives in the area, nearby historic towns and less than 100 km from Melbourne. If interested this is a link to the blog we did at the time. Enjoy your trip!
Ken
http://blog.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kingstravel/6/1299701240/tpod.html

-- Edited by KenK on Saturday 14th of July 2012 04:44:42 PM

rockylizard · Guru

Gday...

Since my family moved to Melbourne in 1960 (when I was 13) I have lived in, and travelled around, Victoria for probably 35 of the intervening 52 years.

I would certainly recommend all the places mentioned previously. However, it has taken me all of those 35 years to "see it all" - and I still haven't seen it all.

The only thing wrong with Victoria is the weather - but if you are willing, and prepared, to experience all the four seasons - often in the same day - then you will find Victoria a fantastic state to travel around.

Everything is close, roads are very good - even the minor roads usually.

If I were planning a two month journey through Victoria (given a fortnight from QLD and a fortnight back again), I would just plan a route to follow and then Google myself to almost death researching EVERYTHING within cooee of that route.

Some things will take less than a day (because you may be disappointed) and other places will suck you in for a week. The Otways or the Victorian High Country or Wilsons Prom to name but three of many.

Just remember the first rule of "Grey Nomading" ... take ya time, smell the flowers, absorb the scenery and relax. You'll love it.

Sorry for rambling on cry

Cheers - John

Beth54 · Guru

Thanks Evie n Rhys, inner city anywhere is not normally my cup of tea, but in saying that, we probably will at least to get an idea of Melbourne life. And I like the sound of the free camp and the area of Daylsford etc.

Gillyb, thanks for the link. It looks a great spot doesn't it.

And John, rambling is acceptable. wink

A bit of background on me too...our Dad was born in Swan Hill, one of 8 children, him being 3rd eldest. He met Mum in Brisbane near the end of the war. She was from Mungallala in Western Qld. After they married they lived in Nyah West for two years, but decided to move back to Qld. So nearly all our rellies from Dad's side are in Victoria. Only he and one sister moved away.

Dad & I flew down 7 years ago as a surprise for his sisters anniversary. We had a couple of weeks in the Bendigo/Eaglehawk area, with a trip down memory lane for him when we hired a car and toured Swan Hill, Nyah West etc. (Hence why we're skipping that area this time.)

Also on that trip, I had a few days with my daughter-in-laws parents in Sunbury. She took me on a day trip....picked me up in Eaglehawk, down through Ballarat to Port Campbell, along the Great Ocean Road and back to Sunbury, all in one day. Phew! But it did give me an apertiser to go back and see more. (They also took me into Crown Casino.)

Other than that, I've been there 3 times, all when I was quite young and I only remember snippets.

So we don't know our Victorian cousins very well, and we look forward to seeing them.

I know we're not going to see everything, but I'm just going to follow my sister & bil's lead...they're the experts as far as I'm concerned, and I know they'll take their time and relax.

Beth54 · Guru

Pam wrote:
If you are traveling hay to Echuca. Then stop at the peppin heritage centre in deniliquin. Well worth the look for just a gold coin donation. What dates are you down this way ?

The only time span we have is that we leave here in the first week of October and have to be home around early to mid December.

I will be posting as we go along, so you'll all be able to keep track of where we are and when.

Rod, thanks for that. I don't want to do steep climbs.

-- Edited by Beth54 on Saturday 14th of July 2012 11:11:02 PM

Beth54 · Guru

KenK wrote:
Last year we enjoyed our time at Glen Cromie caravan park near Drouin in West Gippsland. In the previous 2 years the park had been ravaged by bush fires and inundated by floods but staff had worked miracles in restoring it. Lovely bush setting with abundant birdlife, bush walks, wonderful scenic drives in the area, nearby historic towns and less than 100 km from Melbourne. If interested this is a link to the blog we did at the time. Enjoy your trip!
Ken
http://blog.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kingstravel/6/1299701240/tpod.html

-- Edited by KenK on Saturday 14th of July 2012 04:44:42 PM

Thanks KenK, I've taken note of this one too. smile

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Hi again Beth, Just thought I'd mention that that tad west of Ballarat is actually 20 mins so I discovered this morning when leaving.