Australia Trip 2007

New Blog

GC — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 06:44:21 +0000

I’ve decided to migrate to a new blog with my own domain. This will be the last post in this blog.

Sovereign Hill Lodge

GC — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 04:12:12 +0000

Confirmed the final night accommodation at Sovereign Hill Lodge in Ballarat, Victoria’s largest inland city, and famous for being the world’s largest deposit of alluvial gold. The full package is AUD 427 for 2 adults and 2 children which includes the accommodation for the night with breakfast, entry into Sovereign Hill for two days, and the dinner followed by the Blood in the Southern Cross Show.

Parkgate Resort

GC — Sat, 10 Mar 2007 16:08:02 +0000

Confirmed 7th & 8th nights accommodation at Parkgate Resort located in the foothills of the Grampians National Park. The tariff of a family studio for 2 adults and 2 child is AUD 230 for two nights.

Milpera Apartments

GC — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 07:09:00 +0000

Confirmed 5th & 6th nights of our trip with Milpera Apartments in Warrnambool city centre. From their website, this development was acclaimed as the best development in Warrnambool, and all the nine apartments were sold out prior to completion in August 2001. The cost is AUD185 per night for two adults and two children.

Pisces Holiday Park

GC — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 07:02:00 +0000

Confirmed accommodation for the 4th night at Pisces Holiday Park. The park is located directly opposite Apollo Bay’s main beach. The Ensuite Cabin comes with a double bed and a triple bunk, TV, sofa, dinning table, stove, sink, small fridge, attached toilet and bathroom, costing AUD 85 for one night stay.

Bluebell B&B

GC — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 02:27:00 +0000

Confirmed the accommodation for first three nights in Melbourne with Bluebell B&B, located 15km from Melbourne city in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs. Dr. G Kosa, the host, is very kind to offer early check-in (if the room is not occupied the previous day) or allows us to leave our luggage with them when we begin our sight-seeing.

The tariffs is AUD 100 per night for 2 adults and 2 children, inclusive of breakfast.

The Helen Lempriere National Sculpture Award Exhibition at Weribee Park

GC — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 07:55:00 +0000

Launched in 2000, the Helen Lempriere Award has introduced a renewed vigor in the contemporary Australian sculpture scene. The Award presents a total of $145,000 to Australian sculptors – fundamental funds that help to cultivate the vitality of this art form. The sculptures of the selected finalists are exhibited in the gardens of Werribee Park, Victoria – a spectacular setting for the public to experience and appreciate the wide variety of sculptural work.

Visitor Information

Admission:
Adult – $12.50, Child – $6.50, Family (2A2C) – $30.00

Opening Hours:

November to April
10:00am – 5:00pm daily

May to October
10:00am – 4:00pm weekdays (Monday to Friday)
10:00am – 5:00pm weekends (Saturday, Sunday)

Open everyday except Christmas Day

Rippon Lea Estate

GC — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 05:35:00 +0000

Rippon Lea is one of the last privately owned great 19th century suburban estates and one of the finest National Trust properties in Australia. Designed and built in 1868 in the Romanesque style, the mansion sits as the center piece of an original Victorian pleasure garden. The gardens are of international significance and include a grand Victorian fernery, a lake, an heritage orchard and a 19th century conservatory. The mansion is a mix of Victorian decoration from its first owners with the glamorous 1930s “Hollywood” influences of its last owner.

This place has many great potential for still life photography. Also an excellent place for our family portrait. Will definitely spend at least a morning or an afternoon here.

Opening Hours: Daily 10am to 5pm
(Close on Mondays during winter, Good Friday, and Christmas)

Admission:
Adult – $12.00
Child – $6.50
Family (2A4C) – $30.00

Sunrise and Sunset in Melbourne

GC — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 01:22:00 +0000

The daylight hours in Melbourne is starting to get shorter from May. Luckily we still have around ten hours per day for sightseeing.

Collingwood Children’s Farm

GC — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 14:53:00 +0000

Collingwood Children’s Farm is just 4km from Melbourne’s CBD, and has many different types of farm animals such as donkeys, cows, horses, pigs, goats, sheep, geese, peacocks, ducks, chickens, cats, guinea pigs, bees and even earthworms, etc.

The Farm has its very own cafe serving breakfast, lunch and things in between. There’s also a farmers’ market open on every Saturday of the month. Since our flight touch down at Melbourne airport early in the morning, this might be the perfect place to spend our morning before checking in at the hotel.

Open daily 9am to 5pm

Daily Activities
10am – cow milking
4pm – cow milking

Entry Price
$16 Family
$8 Adult
$4 Child

Car parking is $2 all day

VIA TRAIN – Catch the Epping or Hurstbridge line train and get off at Victoria Park train station. Then it’s a 5-10 minute walk east along Johnston St.