Greataussietravel.com.au » Melbourne

Yarra valley wineries

Wed, 27 May 2015 10:00:32 +0000

Enjoy lunch at Fergusson Winery. Relax as you sample superb regional wines. Take in stunning views of the vineyard. Tantalise your taste buds at Dominique Portet where you may sample and buy a selection of quality local wines, including Cabernet, Chardonnay, Semillon and Pinot. Enjoy a wine making tour of the highly regarded Domaine Chandon, maker, of one of Australia’s best sparkling wines. Sip a glass of wine and enjoy local cheeses on the patio while soaking up views of the beautiful Yarra Valley from the Greenpoint Room. Spend a day enjoying the beautiful Victorian countryside exploring premium wineries.

Yarra valley, puffing billy & Healesville

Wed, 27 May 2015 09:58:20 +0000

Enjoy the lush ferns and dense forests of the nearby Dandenong Ranges. Enjoy a traditional morning tea of Aussie billy tea, lamingtons and vegemite crackers. Ride the restored Puffing Billy Steam Train for a memorable journey on Australia’s most notable narrow gauge railway. Tour the Yarra Valley’s beautiful verdant hills and prosperous vineyards. Enjoy lunch at Fergusson Winery. Wander among Australia’s unique birds and animals in the natural bushland setting of Healesville Wildlife Sanctuary, Australia’s premier wildlife and nature sanctuary. Immerse yourself in Australian fauna and flora. Healesville is home to over 200 species of Australian Wildlife. Get up-close to koalas, kangaroos, wombats, emus, cockatoos, parrots and much more. Witness the amazing and exciting ‘Eagles Fly’ demonstration within the sanctuary. See Healesville Sanctuary’s renowned nocturnal house with the shy platypus. Walk through large aviaries and pond areas to admire the birds and animals.

Phillip island penguins and wildlife

Wed, 27 May 2015 09:53:26 +0000

Visit Warrook, a working cattle farm in the prosperous Gippsland region. Enjoy the opportunity to pat and feed kangaroos, wallabies and a host of farm animals. Journey along the coastal highway with French Island and Churchill Island in the distance. Cross the bridge at San Remo to enter Phillip Island – natural habitat for koalas, fur seals, Short-tailed shearwater, Little Penguins and more. Encounter koalas in their natural habitat at the Koala Conservation Centre. View the powerful southern coastline with its clean, sandy beaches and rocky shores. Stroll along elevated boardwalks and spot koalas in the trees. Browse through the educational Phillip Island Visitors Information Centre. Enjoy interactive and educational displays in the Visitors Information Centre. Learn about the Little Penguins and life on this stunning island. Take your place in special viewing stands to watch the daily evening ritual. Watch the Little Penguins as they battle the surf and make their way to their dune burrows. Learn of the environmental and conservation methods that are initiated to ensure the remarkable wildlife and vulnerable geology of Phillip Island remains protected. See the Little Penguins up-close as they return to their nests to greet their young families. See the Little Penguin rockeries. Note:Nobbies viewing is seasonal and dependant on daylight hours.

Mount Buller snow experience

Wed, 27 May 2015 09:50:13 +0000

Just an easy four hour drive from Melbourne you will find this European Style village situated high in the snowfields. Mt Buller is charming, with quaint lodges, luxurious hotels and modern apartment positions so you can ski from the slopes to your front door. There is a fantastic selection of restaurants, cafes, bars and a variety of shops for those who wish to relax. The slopes are amazing with rugged ridges, cliff drops and tree runs making Mt Buller a natural playground. Visitors of all ages and experience will enjoy the diversity of Mt Buller, offering beginner slopes, intermediate runs plus the challenging black diamond runs. There are also ski jumps and a snowboard park for the more adventurous. Enjoy the bush landscape as you travel in comfort through the Great Dividing Range, picturesque Yarra Valley, Yea and Mansfield.

Sovereign hill and historic Ballarat

Wed, 27 May 2015 09:47:01 +0000

Journey back in time at Sovereign Hill. Share the experiences of the locals at an original 1850s goldmining settlement. See tradesmen and craftsfolk at work. Cross the original route of the early horse drawn stagecoaches. Try your luck panning for gold, visit the museum or ride a stage coach (own expense). Tour an underground gold mine or catch a ride in a traditional horse drawn carriage (own expense). Pass by and discover the turbulent story behind one of Australia’s most notorious incidents at the Eureka Stockade Centre in Ballarat. View Ballarat’s historic sites and beautiful Victorian architecture, a thriving monument to the town’s golden era of prosperity. Visit the Gold Museum. Enjoy browsing the unique period style stores along with real life characters and story re-enactments.

Great ocean road adventure

Wed, 27 May 2015 09:39:58 +0000

Pass world famous Bells Beach, home to World Surfing Championships. View the popular coastal townships of Torquay and Lorne – a surfer’s haven and retreat. See many fern filled gullies and river inlets on your journey. Tour the length of the Great Ocean Road passing towering limestone cliffs, sweeping white beaches and stunning forest scenery Inspect the fascinating Twelve Apostles Information Centre. See the amazing Twelve Apostles – limestone stacks rising dramatically from the Southern Ocean, an amazing photo opportunity. Walk along the boardwalk and enjoy the scenery from various viewing platforms. Be swept away by the romantic and tragic story of love and lives lost aboard the Loch Ard. Marvel at Loch Ard Gorge where millions of years of erosion have sculpted these incredible landmarks. Visit Port Campbell, a charming fishing village and summer holiday resort. Discover the tragic history of over 50 ships wrecked along this rugged coastline as your Driver/Guide tells you the stories. Continue beyond Port Campbell to the remnants of London Bridge. Don’t forget extra camera batteries as we embark on a number of great photo locations including Razorback and Island Arch. Truly one of the world’s great scenic coastal drives. See the spectacular night lights of Melbourne as you cross the West Gate Bridge.

City sights and Yarra river cruise

Wed, 27 May 2015 08:28:09 +0000

Explore the cosmopolitan city with wide boulevards and fine historic buildings. View Bourke Street Mall and the tree-lined beauty of Collins Street – the ultimate shopping strip and business centre. View fine examples of Melbourne’s architectural splendour, including St. Paul’s Cathedral, Princess and Regent Theatres. See Melbourne Town Hall, the Royal Exhibition Buildings and Federation Square. Stroll around Melbourne’s spectacular Royal Botanic Gardens. Visit the beautiful Fitzroy Gardens and explore Captain Cook’s Cottage (optional). Pay tribute to the soldiers of war at the historic Shrine of Remembrance. Cross the Bolte Bridge for amazing views of the city skyline. End your tour with a one hour cruise along the Yarra River, another way of seeing beautiful Melbourne. Tour concludes at Princess Bridge.

Marvellous Melbourne city sights

Wed, 27 May 2015 08:24:53 +0000