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A jet-set jaunt Down Under
Gâday: Seeing the wildlife is nothing without petting them
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G'day: Seeing the wildlife is nothing without petting them.
Visiting Melbourne can be a daunting task for visitors when choosing where to go. Other than the enormously popular Great Ocean Road or Phillip Island, there is more to see and experience in and around Victoria's capital city.
An acquaintance was seeking suggestions through her Facebook wall: 'Dear friends who live or have visited Melbourne, I only have one day for a day trip, Great Ocean Road or Phillip Island?'
Tough choices they are, especially for a short visit.
Most foreigners visiting Melbourne are usually on a short trip, especially those visiting friends and family or parents visiting their children who are taking degrees. The latter mentioned is a major driver of the Melbourne tourism sector and of Victoria in general. Thus, bringing them to experience more of Victoria while downtown Melbourne remains the main attraction partly for its vibe and café culture, is hard work. That's what tourism agencies have said.
Phillip Island is always a hot spot, although some people may suggest St. Kilda, which can be reached by a tram from Melbourne city center, as the place to spot penguins. However, making the wildlife trip to spot the penguins parading from the sea to their burrows at sundown and taking a-one-hour-trip on an express boat to the Seal Rocks, where around 50,000 seals live, will be a plus.
The Penguin Parade is the star attraction at the Phillip Island Nature Park, which is actually the penguins' home. Thus, their burrows are all over the peninsula.
Taking a look at the parade this November will be a new experience even for those who have previously visited because a new facility called Penguin Plus is slated to be opened, according to Kim Storey, the general manager of the Phillip Island Regional Tourism Board.
'In November, there will be a new way to see the penguins: Penguin Plus. You will go underground and see from the hillside as they make their way into the burrows,' she said.
Through Penguin Plus, visitors will also be allowed to take pictures of the penguins. For now, it is forbidden as the attraction is still in open air and, as the sky gets dark, visitors would need to use flash to photograph the penguins wandering around looking for their burrows. The flash is disturbing for the 30-centimeter-tall penguins.
In addition to the open-air platform, the Penguin Plus viewing platform will include an underground penguin viewing bunker, enabling visitors to view penguins at eye level through one-way glass.
On the other side, the Great Ocean Road offers a more challenging journey, particularly if one drives oneself to discover diverse attractions. On the ocean side, there is the the famous Twelve Apostles and a range of natural parks. More stops mean more to discover new.
A self-drive tour is in fact a popular way of traveling in Australia, thanks to its status as not only a country but also a continent, making overland trips free of border issues. Apart from the driving the Great Ocean Road, hiring a car to tour along the Mornington Peninsula will suit those who are independent travelers.
Only an hour away from Melbourne, Mornington Peninsula is a top getaway pick for Melburnians to relax with breathtaking sceneries, wildlife encounters, strolls down to wineries, gourmet journeys and even a golf course.
'What tourists do is what Melburnians do in Mornington Peninsula. Visitors become local,' said Kellie Barrett from the Mornington Peninsula Regional Tourism office.
Remember to always bring a map for that kind of self-drive trip and pay attention to the road signs as sometimes a GPS is misleading. That's what the tourism office warns.
Sounds too mainstream, the wildlife and self-drive outing? In that case, strolling through estates and wineries will be worth your while. In less than an hour, a drive to Yarra Valley area will lead to a number of them, such as the Combee Yarra Valley.
Combee was established in the late 1800s and is thus one of the oldest family estates in the valley. The estate used to be the home of opera singer Dame Nellie Melba. Therefore, it's of no wonder that it has a gallery where Melba's portraits are hung. Yes, the estate welcomes tours, where tourist can stroll through its more than 100-year-old garden, take lunch in its clock tower restaurant and get into a wine-tasting session.
Wondering about further luxurious jaunts, a stay in one of the Luxury Lodges in the country will provide leisure time. The Luxury Lodges, which consist of a number of exclusive accommodations across Australia, are mostly remote, in extraordinary locations and private.
'None of these are city hotels. They are in regional destinations, not only a resort but a place to experience, as well as stay. They have luxury standards of eating, sleeping and drinking well,' said Penny Rafferty, Luxury Lodges executive officer.
The closest Luxury Lodge to Melbourne is the Lake House, which is located in the Daylesford area, famous for its spa and mineral hot springs. Other lodges are located in other states, particularly Queensland, such as, to name a few, the Lizard Island, Spicer Peak Lodge and Crystalbrook Lodge. The suites are limited and because of their remoteness ' as Rafferty addressed ' could make guests 'the only people on the island'.
' Photos by JP/Raras Cahyafitri
