Great Ocean Road

I had a friend visiting from the United States and decided it was the perfect opportunity to tour the Great Ocean Road. Since I live in the CBD and don't have a car I had to come up with a way to get there. I had two options 1) Pay for a tour that would drive us around, stopping at all the spots they thought were interesting 2) Hire a car and try my hand at driving in a foreign country for the first time... on the other side of the road....on a very winding road (with lots of beautiful scenery to distract me). Although I normally prefer being able to plan my own outings and spend as much time as I like or stop wherever I want, I opted to go with a tour company, A Tour With A Difference (which I highly recommend- small group, great guide, lots of good stops).


Our first stop was just outside the town of Torquay, Victoria's surfing capital. Torquay itself is a great little town where you could easily spend the whole weekend. There are awesome surf beaches as well as protected beaches, perfect for the family. If you're into surfwear, this is the places for shopping. Every major surf label has a retail store here.

One of the calmer beaches, at Torquay

Cape Otway Lighthouse was our next stop along the way. The lighthouse was the second lighthouse built on the Australian mainland (built in 1848). You can take a tour of the lighthouse at 11am, 2pm, or 3pm, or it's open for self-guided tours from 9am-4:45pm (entrance fees apply). 

Just down the path from the lighthouse you will, of course, find the views the Great Ocean Road is famous for.

Another seaside resort town, Lorne is a popular holiday location along Loutit Bay. Lorne boasts a 2km of protected beach, perfect for families. Near Lorne there are 5 waterfalls to visit, getting to the falls range from easy 1/2 km walks to 8 km hikes.

Another next must-see destination is the small hamlet of Kennett River. This is one place that you are almost guaranteed to see some adorable koalas in the wild. With the forests of local gum trees the koalas have a plentiful food source here. On our tour we pulled just off the main road and were able to see two or three koalas snoozing high up in the trees. I have been told that if you head further up the road you can see lots  more (30-40). 

We also stopped at the Cape Patton Lookout, but I won't bore you with another beautiful coastal photo. :)

Don't miss the Great Ocean Road sign for a photo-op:

To change things up a bit after all the coastal views, we headed inland to the Cape Otway National Park. We took the Mait's Rest Rainforest Trail through the beautiful untouched rainforest. According to our tour guide Mait's Rest is named after one of the original settlers who explored this region and typically stopped to rest and camp at this location. I was really surprised how much cooler the temperature became as we moved into the rainforest. The path is very easy and only takes about 30 minutes.

If you'd like to check out an amazing beach and get a sneak peak of the Apostles, head to Gibsons Steps, where you can take 86 steps down the cliff face to the beach. You can see one of the Apostles and if the tide is low enough you can continue around the corner of the cliffs and see another. It a beautiful view from sea level that you won't get at the 12 Apostles Park.

It's on to the highlight of the trip, the 12 Apostles, which was just as beautiful as expected.

The Twelve Apostles have been created by constant erosion of the limestone cliffs of the mainland that began 10–20 million years ago. The stormy Southern Ocean and blasting winds gradually eroded the softer limestone, forming caves in the cliffs. The caves eventually became arches and when they collapsed rock stacks up to 45 metres high were left isolated from the shore.

Here you have lots of options, there are accommodations if you'd like to stay the night, helicopter rides for a different point of view, or you can just take a walk out along the pathway to enjoy the scenery.

Not far down the road, and completely worth a stop is Loch Ard Gorge. This location is famous not only for its beauty, but also for the story that accompanies the beach.

The Loch Ard departed England on 2 March 1878, bound for Melbourne, carrying a crew of 17 men and 37 passengers. On 1 June, the ship was approaching Melbourne and expecting to sight land when it encountered heavy fog. Unable to see the Cape Otway lighthouse, the captain was unaware how close he was running to the coast. The fog lifted around 4am, revealing breakers and cliff faces. Captain Gibbs quickly ordered sail to be set to come about and get clear of the coast, but they were unable to do so in time, and ran aground on a reef. The masts and rigging came crashing down, killing some people on deck and preventing the lifeboats from being launched effectively. The ship sank within 10 or 15 minutes of striking the reef.

The only two survivors of the wreck were 18 year olds, Eva Carmichael and Tom Pearce. They came ashore at what is now known as Loch Ard Gorge and sheltered there before seeking assistance.

The final stop on our journey was that of the London Bridge. This formation used to be connected to the mainland and visitors were allowed to walk out across the two arches until the arch closest to the shoreline unexpectedly collapsed in 1990, leaving two tourists stranded on the remaining arch. Luckily nobody was injured and the stranded tourists were rescued by helicopter.

A beautiful day, beautiful scenery, lots to see and do. You could easily spend a whole week exploring the Great Ocean Road staying in the seaside towns along the way, or do it like I did, in one long day.

Birrarung Marr

Head down the steps from Federation Square and turn left (as opposed to walking into the Yarra River), you'll find Birrarung Marr 

Its name comes from the language of the Wurundjeri people who originally inhabited this area, 'Birrarung' means 'river of mists' while ‘Marr’ refers to the side of the river. 

This is a great spot for the kids to get some energy out. We find that when we go down to Southbank or Fed Square area my kids always need a break right about the time we cross the river, so this play yard is a perfect stopping point.
The park features rock and rope climbing features, swinging hammocks, a swing for wheelchairs, picnic tables and don't worry, public toilets too.

My kids love the "spider web"

This is also the home of Artplay

ArtPlay is a civic studio where families and children can be creative and express themselves in ArtPlay’s open and supportive environment. 

At ArtPlay, children up to the age of 13 and their families are encouraged to learn the language of art together. 

Our mission at ArtPlay is to involve children and their families in artistic, interactive and creative projects. Through workshops with professional artists, ArtPlay aims to improve educational and arts opportunities for children.

If you have adventurous climbers, just past the playground is a formation of boulders with rock carvings, see if your kids can identify the animals carved into the boulders.

You can see the Giant Sky Wheel just past the boulders. Don't walk down there if you don't want your kids to beg for a ride!

The Sky Wheel is the largest travelling Ferris wheel in the southern hemisphere, so it won't stay here forever. Rides cost about $8 per person and a ride lasts about 10 minutes.

Suga

Got a Sweet Tooth?

Suga Lolly Shop is a great place to stop for a treat while shopping at the Royal Arcade or anywhere along Bourke Street Mall. They make the lollies right there in the shop in front of a big window looking out onto the arcade, so all the lolly-lovers can watch there treats being made right in front of them.



Established in 1998, Suga makes old-fashioned rock candy completely by hand. Their "lolliologists" create heaps of flavours, as well as lollies with tiny messages inside. You can even order personalized treats to suit an special occasion.

Name: Suga Telephone: 03 9663 5654 Website: www.suga.com.au Admission: Free, but you'll want to buy some lollies! They run between $4.50 and $6.50 for a package Location: Royal Arcade, Shop 20, Bourke Street, Melbourne Getting There: Bourke Street runs east/west across the center of the city. Between Swanston and Elizabeth St. is the Bourke St Mall, you'll find the Royal Arcade here.		View Larger Map

Eureka Skydeck

Head up 88 stories to the highest viewing platform in the Southern Hemisphere!

It's pretty touristy but you really can't beat the view up there.

There are floor to ceiling windows around the whole floor so you can really see every bit of Melbourne. Dotted around the space they have fixed scopes you can look through to see key buildings and landmarks and of course there's a snack kiosk in case you get hungry.
The EDGE experience is also available, where you enter a glass box which is then moved out from the building (so you can look down below you through the glass) be aware that it does cost extra. Apparently a lot of people have been confused about that. It costs nearly as much as your ticket up and from what I hear it's not any better view, I think it's more for the thrill of looking down and seeing the ground 300 meters below you.

Name: Eureka Skydeck Telephone: 03 9693 8888 Website: www.eurekaskydeck.com.au Admission: Adult $16.50, Child $9.00, Family $39.00 Location: Riverside Quay, Southbank Getting There: Take any tram along Swanston/St. Kilda and exit at Flinders St. Head east from there along the river and just head toward the really tall building :) You can't really miss it!		View Larger Map

Phillip Island

Where to start? There are lots of things to do on Phillip Island. We did it in one day, we hired a car and drove down in the morning and then left after the Penguin Parade, however there is more than enough to keep you busy for two days, so consider staying overnight on the island. That being said I'll tell about the things we did, and give some other info on the attractions we missed.
Our first stop was Woolamai Beach- I was so sad we only brought bathing suits for the kids, because it was a really fun swimming/surfing beach. Next time, we'll bring suits and boogie boards. There were lifeguards keeping watch over the swimmers, that always makes me feel a little safer.

From Woolamai Beach Carpark there are two walking trails. The first is a two hour walk heading up to the highest point on the island, Cape Woolamai. The is also a one hour walk along the beach to the Colonnades, a "natural attraction featuring columns of basalt and is best seen at low tide".  No dogs are allowed on either path. Check here for more walking paths on the island.
Along the main road there is also Surf Beach (original name, right?) which I'm sure is also an awesome beach.

Next stop was the Koala Conservation Centre, so cool! There is a nice gift shop and Visitors Center where you can learn about the koalas before going out to see them. There are a few different paths, The Koala Boardwalk, Woodlands Path and one other that I forget the name :) The Koala Boardwalk is a raised platform that allows you to the walk high up in the gum trees where some of the koalas are resting right at eye level. We got some great views of the adorable little guys.

We were even lucky enough to see a few with their eyes open. Since they sleep 18-20 hours a day, that is pretty exciting.

Don't skip the woodlands walks because you're likely to see some cute little wallabies jumping around and even an echidna if you're lucky.



Another destination is the Churchill Island Heritage Farm. We didn't have time to make it there, but it looked like a lot of fun. Here's what the website says about it:

Experience a piece of Victoria's heritage on this historic island, where you can enjoy a relaxing stroll through the fragrant cottage gardens and lawns. Coastline walks offer magnificent views of Phillip Island and Western Port, while the restored farmhouse and cottages provide a glimpse into the past lives of early Australian settlers and past farming practices.

It was about 2:30pm and by this point int he day we were STARVING! We headed over to the town of Cowes to grab lunch. Bad idea at 2:30pm because most places were closed till dinner. We finally found Gulliver's Cafe and restaurant and grabbed some fish and chips. It was fine, but I was so hungry that anything would have tasted great, so I wouldn't be a very good critic. The town itself was unimpressive, though it did have a lovely bayside beach and nice tree lined main street.

I asked someone once what these trees are called but I cannot, for the life of me, remember. So if you know, please leave me a comment and tell me! I love them!

We didn't go to the Phillip Island Wildlife Park, but I would highly recommend it because you'll have a chance to hand feed the kangaroos, and we all know how much I love that! They also have bats, dingoes, wombats and heaps of other animals.

Next on our list was a visit to The Nobbies, which is a free center and walk along the cliffs just past the Penguin parade entrance. It's the perfect thing to do for a couple hours before you go see the penguins.
The center has lots of great information on the marine life found around Phillip Island, including some cool interactive displays. But the highlight of the Nobbies is the view. Head out onto the boardwalk to the bright green hillside cliffs that drop into the ocean.

Check out all the interesting rock formations at the base of the cliffs, including the blowhole. Wait for a big wave to come into this cave and as it crashes at the back water comes spraying out the mouth of the cave.

On a clear day they say you can see fur seals off the shore, but we didn't see a single one.We did, however, see some of the adorable fairy penguins high up on the hills, poking their heads out of their burrows.

Since you cannot take photos at the Penguin Parade I felt very lucky to get a picture of these little guys.

After a long and fun-filled day we headed over to the Penguin Parade, the culmination of any Phillip Island trip. In case you don't know, here's an explanation of the Penguin Parade:

The Penguin Parade is Australia’s most popular wildlife attraction and home to the largest Little Penguin colony in the world.
Every sunset, the hundreds to over a thousand wild Little Penguins emerge from the sea and march across the beach to their sand dune burrows.
The Little Penguin is the world’s smallest (and cutest) penguin and the Penguin Parade is the best place to experience this completely natural phenomenon. Courtesy of Phillip Island Nature Parks

Don't get your hopes up for seeing "thousands" of penguins, but they are cute and it was amazing to see them heading home after a day out fishing. We upgraded our ticket to the Penguins Plus, based on the recommendation of a friend and I second that advice. Then general viewing area is out on the main beach, but the Penguins Plus section is over on an isolated corner of the beach where 50% of the penguins pass by on their way up the hill, and you can follow them down the boardwalk and watch the find their way home.

Name: Phillip Island
Location: an hour and a half south of Melbourne
Website: www.penguins.org.au and www.visitphillipisland.com
Admission: A 3-park pass get you into Churchill Island, the Koala Conservation Center, and the Penguin Parade. Child $18.00, Adult $36.00, Family $90.00
The Nobbies is Free.

Luna Park

For my son's birthday we went to down to Luna Park for some fun! 

It's right by the beach in St. Kilda, so very easy to get there. If you're going to plan on purchasing the unlimited ride tickets, plan on staying a while. However, it's also kind of fun to just do one ride on your way to the beach (just be sure your kids understand that you are only doing one ride). According to my kids all the ride were a lot of fun and there was plenty to keep them busy. 

My only complaint was the Circus of Screams attraction. We saw that the line was kind of long so we asked the lady at the front how long she thought it would be and she said about 20 minutes. Nearly an hour and a half later we made it to the front (you go through in groups of 8, each taking about 10 minutes). So take a look at the line, if there are more than 20 people, you'll be there for a while and it's really not worth it. Even my 7 year old thought it was predictable and not very scary. Just a lot of black lights and stuff hanging from the ceiling. 
And if you get hungry, no worries, there's plenty of amusement park food!

Name: Luna Park Location: 18 Lower Esplanade, St Kilda (right by the beach) Telephone: 03 9525 5033 Website: http://www.lunapark.com.au/ Admission: Single Ride tickets- Toddlers $3.50, Children $6.50, Adults $8.50  unlimited ride passes- Toddlers $12.95, Children $29.95, Adults $39.95, Family $122.95	View Larger Map

Royal Botanic Gardens

Need a little nature in your day? Take a quick tram ride (most of the tram running down St. Kilda Road will get you there) and get off at stop 20 (Domain Interchange) and take a walk up the hill to the gardens.
At the entrance to the garden you'll find the Garden Shop and Observatory Cafe, a great place to grab a bite or just an ice cream to eat as you head into the Gardens.

I love the Gardens for the walking paths, I feel like I could get lost in there, which is exactly how I want to feel when I need a break from the city. I love how one minute you can be walking through the bright sun and vibrant colors and the next minute you are in the shady, cool "jungle" (as my kids call it).

The Garden is also an great place for having a picnic, talking your dog for a walk (they must be on a leash and are not allowed in the cafe, visitors center or children's garden). If you're bringing the kids be sure to check out the Ian Potter Children's Garden, found just a few steps through the garden gate. The Children's garden has lots of fun pathway through the trees, over bridges, under tunnels. Once you get far enough back in the garden you just might see a smiling dwarf or water nymph :)

They have loads of special events, guided walks, holiday programs and more. See the "What's On" section of their website to find what is available at any given time of year.

Name: Royal Botanic Gardens Telephone: 03 9252 2300 Website: www.rbg.vic.gov.au/rbg-melbourne Admission: Free Location: Birdwood Avenue, South Yarra Getting There: Take any tram south on Swanston/St. Kilda and exit at the Domain Interchange/Shrine of Remembrance stop, then head up the hill and cross Birdwood Ave. You can also take the Free Tourist Shuttle, which will drop you right at the Shrine of Remembrance.

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