Monday, 3 June 2013

Road Tripping

4/12 Tue 10:10-20:45 Sin-Mel SQ217 T3
Melbourne
·         Melbourne Airport, Airport Drive, Melbourne Airport, Tullamarine, Victoria 3045.

·         Hertz Reservation F6424063972 A$220.66
·         4/12 Mercure Melbourne Caroline Springs, 10-20 Lake St, Caroline Springs, Mel. 3023. Phone:   +610383580555 E-mail:     belinda.lee@westwatershotel.com.au A$121.64


5/12 Wed GREAT SOUTHERN TOURING ROUTE LEG 1
Melbourne to Apollo Bay
182 km / 113 miles, 3 hrs
Just south of Melbourne, the Mansion at Werribee Park was built in the 1870s and has extensive manicured grounds and the Victorian State Rose Gardens. There is an Open Range Zoo where animals from Africa, Asia, North America and Australia roam in open grasslands.

Go on to Geelong, Victoria's second-largest city, and explore its historic waterfront; a lively area filled with eateries.

The road winds along the coastline towards Apollo Bay, a town on the edge of the Otway Ranges. Walk through breathtaking wilderness, explore secluded beaches or the forest canopy via the Otway Fly Tree Top Walk in the Otway National Park.
Addresses:
Werribee
·         WERRIBEE MANSION-Address: Gate 2, K Rd, Werribee, Victoria 3030.
Geelong
THE CAROUSEL-Address: Waterfront , Geelong, Victoria 3220
Torquay
·         Start of Great Ocean Road
·         POINT DANGER MARINE SANCTUARY-Address: The Esplanade, Torquay, Victoria 3228
·         POINT ADDIS MARINE NATIONAL PARK- via Bells Beach Rd, Anglesea, Victoria 3230
Lorne
·         SWING BRIDGE CAFÉ & BOATHOUSE-Address: 30 Great Ocean Road , Lorne, Victoria 3232
·         STONE COLD ICE CREAMERY-Address: 114 Mountjoy Parade, Lorne, Victoria 3232
·         GREAT OTWAY NATIONAL PARK-Address: Great Ocean Rd, Lorne, Victoria 3232
Apollo Bay
·         APOLLO BAY FISHERMAN'S CO-OP-Address: Breakwater Road, Apollo Bay, Victoria 3233
·         BASS STRAIT SHELL MUSEUM-Address: 12 Noel Street, Apollo Bay, Victoria 3233
·         5/12 SEAVIEW MOTEL & Apartments-Address: 6 Thomson Street, Apollo Bay, 3233 Phone:+61352376660 E-mail: enquiries@seaviewmotel.com.au A$120


6/12 Thu GREAT SOUTHERN TOURING ROUTE LEG 2
Leg 2: Apollo Bay to Port Fairy
189 km / 117 miles, 3 hr
Continue your journey west from Apollo Bay to the Twelve Apostles, that rise from the ocean. Erosion has created spectacular shapes in the nearby cliffs, including Loch Ard Gorge, the Arch, the Blowhole and London Bridge


Boardwalks lead to lookouts and great views of the coastline.
The coastline is dotted with signs that mark the places where more than 160 ships foundered along the  named Shipwreck Coast. , just beyond the Twelve Apostles, marks the start of a trail where the anchors of two ships, the Marie Gabrielle (1869) and the Fiji (1891), are embedded in the beach.
Discover more about maritime history at Port Fairy, a busy fishing port and one of the state’s earliest settled coastal villages. Take the time to explore the town’s streets and over 50 nineteenth-century buildings classified by the National Trust.

This leg of the journey ends at Warrnambool, the only city on the Shipwreck Coast. Set on the edge of Lady Bay, Warrnambool boasts a colourful history, which can be explored at the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum. Whales migrate along the part of the coastline and can be spotted from lookouts and on boat trips between May and October.
Addresses:
Port Campbell
·         PORT CAMPBELL NATIONAL PARK-Address: Great Ocean Rd, Port Campbell, Victoria 3269 (Twelve Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge, London Bridge, Ship Wreck Coast, The Grotto)
·         THE ARCHES MARINE SANCTUARY-Address: Great Ocean Rd, Port Campbell, Victoria 3269 Freecall:  131 963 
·         TWELVE APOSTLES MARINE NATIONAL PARK-Address: Great Ocean Rd, Port Campbell, Victoria 3269-Freecall:  131 963 
·         BAY OF ISLANDS COASTAL PARK-Address: Great Ocean Rd, Peterborough, Victoria 3270
Warrnambool
·         WARRNAMBOOL INDEPENDENT TRADERS MARKET-Address: 61 Flaxman Street, Warrnambool East, Victoria 3280
·         FLAGSTAFF HILL MARITIME VILLAGE & SHIPWRECKED SOUND AND LASER SHOW-Address: 89 Merri St, Warrnambool, Victoria 3280
·         TOWER HILL STATE GAME RESERVE-Address: Princes Hwy, Tower Hill, Victoria 3283
·         Port Fairy-Historic Fishing Port
·         6/12 Hopkins House Motel & Apartments, Address: 2-4 Whites Road, Warrnambool, 3280, Australia A$115, Phone: +61355616630, E-mail: stay@hopkinshouse.com.au  A$115

7/12 Fri GREAT SOUTHERN TOURING ROUTE LEG 3
Port Fairy to Halls Gap
158 km / 98 miles, 2.5 hr
From Port Fairy, the Great Southern Touring Route turns north, away from the coast and towards the natural beauty of Grampians mountain range.
 Dunkeld is a beautiful village on the edge of the Grampians. To survey the beauty of the region follow the trail joining Mount Sturgeon and Mount Abrupt, the highest peak in the southern Grampians. The Grampians National Park is famous for some of the most spectacular scenery in Australia and is the perfect place for both relaxation and adventure.
Walk to cascading waterfalls or lookouts overlooking rugged mountain ranges and impressive rock formations, and explore bushland and discover the diverse wildlife of the region and a wide variety of birds.
For the more adventurous, try rock climbing or abseiling on the cliffs, pinnacles and bluffs of the Grampians. Guides and equipment are available, so even a novice can give it a go. Along with its natural beauty, the Grampians are home to the largest collection of Aboriginal rock paintings in Victoria.
The town of Halls Gap is the tourist hub of the region. Surrounded by the Wonderland and Mount William ranges, it is a great place to base yourself as you explore the Grampians. It offers accommodation ranging from 5-star villas to basic camping grounds and is close to many of the Grampians’ major attractions, including Boroka and Reed’s lookouts, McKenzie Falls, Lake Bellfield and Zumsteins.

Addressess:
Dunkeld Via Grampians Road to Hall Gap
       Mount Sturgeon-Victoria Valley Road
·         Mount Abrupt-Grampians Road
·         Im-Grampians National Park
·         Mt Rosea-Silverband Falls-Silverband Road
·         Turn Right to Northern Grampians Road-The Grand Canyon
·         The elephant hide and chatauqua peak
·         Wunderland in The Grampians near Halls Gap & Jaw-Off Northern Grampians Road
·         Grampians Rd-Halls Gap VIC 3381, Australia
Halls Gap
·         BRAMBUK - THE NATIONAL PARK & CULTURAL CENTRE-Address: 277 Grampians Rd, Halls Gap, Victoria 3381
·         7/12 Mountain View Motor Inn & Holiday Lodges, Address: 4236 Ararat-Halls Gap Road, Halls Gap, 3381, Australia, Phone: +61353564364, E-mail: tay@mountainviewlodges.com.au A$99



8/12 Sat GREAT SOUTHERN TOURING ROUTE LEG 4
Leg 4: Halls Gap to Ararat to Ballarat to Caroline Springs, Melbourne
248 km / 154 miles, 3.5 hr
Leaving the Grampians, the Great Southern Touring Route heads north towards the Goldfields. First stop is Ararat, a thriving community settled during the gold rush of the 1800s. Visit the former gaol for the criminally insane, J Ward, explore the Gum San Chinese Heritage Centre and the Langi Morgala Museum, which commemorate the history and culture of the Chinese immigrants who settled in the region to seek their fortune.

From here the route turns east to Ballarat, one of Victoria's largest cities. Built with the wealth of the gold rush, much of the opulence of the era is still on display in the grand public buildings, hotels and historic streetscapes. Ballarat was the site of the world's largest deposit of alluvial gold and also of the Eureka Stockade – the famous uprising of miners against the government licensing system.
Sovereign Hill is an outdoor museum that re-creates a nineteenth-century gold rush town. Mingle with the volunteers in period costume who 'inhabit' the town as townspeople, soldiers and miners. Ballarat is your final stop on the Great Southern Touring Route before heading east back to the bright lights and high culture of Melbourne.
Caroline Springs, Melbourne
Addresses:
·         8/12 Mercure Melbourne Caroline Springs, 10-20 Lake St, Caroline Springs, Mel. 3023. Phone:   +610383580555 E-mail:     belinda.lee@westwatershotel.com.au A$129.29


9/12 Sun 07:20am-8:25am JQ 735 Mel Airport (Tullamarine) T1 to Launceston, Tasmania
·         Melbourne Airport, Airport Drive, Melbourne Airport, Tullamarine, Victoria 3045
·         Return Hertz F6424063972 A$220.66
·         201 Evandale Road, Western Junction, LST,  Tasmania, Australia, 7212, Phone: +61 3 6391 6222, Fax: +61 3 6391 8580
·         27HCI5 Avis confirmation number:  16670394AU6 A$240.11
·         Cataract Gorge Reserve-Basin Road, Launceston…………….SeaPort Below.
·          
·         The Tamar Valley- The Tamar Valley is a picturesque valley in Tasmania. It runs north-west from the north Launceston to the coast either side of the Tamar River, a distance of approximately 50 km
·        
·         9/12 The Old Bakery Inn Address: 270 York Street, Launceston, 7250 Australia, Phone:+03 63317900, E-mail: reservations@oldbakeryinn.com.au

10/12 Mon Launceston to Queenstown 251 km 3.5 hrs

·         Mole Creek-Mole Creek Karst National Park protects some of the finest and most visited caves in Tasmania. These limestone caves are home to some intriguing species and include the spectacular -glow-worms. You may spot a giant freshwater crayfish or an ancient anaspides shrimp. -The surrounding forests are home to spotted-tailed quolls and other marsupials

·        
·         Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, from its iconic peaks of Cradle Mountain to the glacier-carved Lake St Clair, is a World Heritage Area place of ancient forests, buttongrass moorlands and amazing wildlife. Catch a glimpse of a platypus at Lake St Clair or common wombats and pademelons browsing at Cradle Mountain.

 Watch
W out for the cheeky possums and currawongsCradle- Mountain/Lake St. Claire N.P.-Travel through green pastures South West of Launceston-The mountains of the Great Western Tiers guide you towards Cradle Mountain National Park-Pass quaint and historical towns of Carrick, Hagley and Westbury-Scenic town of Deloraine - hub between Launceston and Devonport-Travel further inland passing Australian Blue Gum and pine plantations-Tour Sheffield - the town of murals-Traverse through dense forest and mountainous terrain-Cross the beautiful Cethana Dam made to support hydro scheme-Look for wombats, potaroos and wallabies in Cradle Mountain National Park-Stop at Cradle Village Cafe for lunch -Visit the Cradle Mountain Visitor Centre for an appreciation of the Cradle Mountain National Park-Take a short stroll along the Enchanted Forest Walk viewing pencil pine, lush forest and a spectacular waterfall-Stand in awe as you take in the powerful and majestic Cradle Mountain reigning over the picturesque Dove Lake-Take a short walk around Dove Lake taking in the views of Cradle Mountain (weather permitting)-Visit Waldheim Chalet (the forest home) of Gustav Weindorfers-Stop at Ashgrove Cheese Farm for some famous Tasmanian cheese-Learn how cheese is made and sample the numerous varieties of cheese made on the premises. Don’t miss Marion’s Lookout. Don’t miss a performance of Tasmania’s longest running play – “The Ship that never was”.
·         Strahan-10/12 Strahan Village, Address: The Esplanade, Strahan, 7468, Australia, Phone: +1800 420 555, E-mail:                extranetbookings@federalgroup.com.au


11/12 Tue Strahan to Queenstown to Hobart 260 km 3.5 hrs
·         Franklin Gordon Rivers, Queenstown Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park, set in Tasmania’s Wilderness World Heritage Area, is a pristine region of dramatic mountain peaks, temperate rainforest, and spectacular gorges. It protects some of Tasmania’s wildest and most unpredictable rivers, including the Franklin. You may see robins, cockatoos, platypus and pademelons as you stroll among the forests,and don’t miss  admire the beauty of Russell Falls and Mt Field National Park. Don’t miss Henty Dunes, Ocean Beach, Queenstown, Franklin River.
·         Hobart Highlights:-Sullivan's Cove - Hobart's birthplace and ferry terminal-Parliament House-Salamanca Place - Georgian style warehouses now restored as restaurants, galleries and pubs-Princes Park - a one time gun battery-Battery Point - charming historic houses, pubs, boutique shops and restaurants-St George's Church-View of Wrest Point Casino and exclusive Sandy Bay-St David's Park-Anglesea Barracks-South Hobart at the foot of Mt Wellington-Cascade Gardens and Brewery-Visit the remains of the Female Factory - a one time female prison and Island Produce Fudge Factory-St David's Cathedral-Treasury Building and Franklin Square-General Post Office and Hobart Town Hall-Queen's Domain and Government House-Cross the Tasman Bridge over the Derwent River/valley-Views of the Kangaroo Bay Marina and Bellerive-Stop at Rosny Hill lookout for stunning views of Hobart, Sandy Bay, Mt Wellington, The Tasman Bridge and Glenorchy-Victoria Dock and Constitution Dock.

·         11/12 St Ives Motel Apartments, Address: 67 St Georges Terrace, Battery Point, Hobart, 7004, Australia, Phone:                +61362215555, E-mail:   stivesmotel@bigpond.com


12/12 Wed Hobart to Launceston 198 km 2.2 hrs
·         Launceston City
·         12/12 The Old Bakery Inn Address: 270 York Street, Launceston, 7250 Australia, Phone:+03 63317900, E-mail: reservations@oldbakeryinn.com.au

13/12 Thu 8:55am-10:00am JQ736 Launceston to Melbourne Airport T1
·         LST Airport-201 Evandale Road, Western Junction, LST,  Tasmania, Australia, 7212, Phone: +61 3 6391 6222, Fax: +61 3 6391 8580
·         Return 27HCI5 Avis confirmation number:  16670394AU6 A$240.11
·         Melbourne Airport, Airport Drive, Tullamarine VIC 3045, Australia, (03)9297 1600
·         holiday autos e-confirmation - USA 12175740 A$86.33
·         Old laneways-Crossley, Hardware Lane, Degraves Street, Collins Street and Centre Place.
·         Federation Sq-Corner Swanston & Flinders St, Melbourne, Victoria 3000
·        
·         Bohemian Vintage-Brunswick Street, Rose Street, Smith Street, Flinders Lane.
·         Queen Victoria Market-513 Elizabeth St, Melbourne, Victoria 3000
·        
·         Shopping-Bourke Street Mall, located between Swanston and Elizabeth streets.
·         Chinatown- Little Bourke Street between Swanston and Spring streets.
·         Docklands-Studio Lane, Docklands, Victoria 3008,- St Kilda Rd (Botanic Garden)
·         CROWN ENTERTAINMENT COMPLEX-Address: 8 Whiteman St, Southbank, Victoria 3006
·         13/12 Mercure Melbourne Caroline Springs, 10-20 Lake St, Caroline Springs, Mel. 3023. Phone: +610383580555 E-mail:     belinda.lee@westwatershotel.com.au A$121.64

14/12 Fri 16.45pm-21:20pm Mel-Sin SQ228 (Melborne Intl Airport T2)
·         Melbourne Airport, Airport Drive, Tullamarine VIC 3045, Australia, (03)9297 1600
·         Return holiday autos e-confirmation - USA 12175740 $86.33


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