Month: December 2014

  • Caravan parks close to Spirit of Tasmania

    Caravan park
    Caravan park

    When travelling within Australia with your caravan, you need not let the waters of Bass Strait constrain your journey.

    Spirit of Tasmania, a passenger and vehicular ferry which traverses Bass Strait and links mainland Victoria with Tasmania, welcomes aboard those travelling with caravans, campervans and motorhomes.

    Between late September and Easter, Spirit of Tasmania operates a number of day sailing services which depart from both Melbourne (Station Pier at Port Melbourne) and Devonport at 9am. Check-in for those services is between 6:30am and 8:15am.  Due to the early morning check-in, those with caravans or motorhomes may find it convenient to stay in a caravan park close to the ferry terminal the night before, so that first thing in the morning they only have a short drive to board the boat.

    Caravan Parks close to Port Melbourne

    1. Discovery Parks Melbourne

    Ashley Gardens BIG4 Holiday Village
    Discovery Park Melbourne (formerly Ashley Gardens Holiday Village)
    • 13 kilometres by road north-west of ferry terminal entrance
    • The quickest driving route does not use any toll roads
    • Ensuite sites, powered sites (paved and grassed)
    • Recreation room, playground, pool, tennis court, indoor spa & sauna, camp kitchen
    • Caravan storage available
    • Woolworths supermarket is next door
    • Official website – www.discoveryholidayparks.com.au/caravan-parks/victoria/melbourne-melbourne
    • Location – 129 Ashley Street, Braybrook
    • Phone – (03) 9318 6866

    2. Melbourne BIG4 Holiday Park

    Melbourne BIG4 Holiday Park
    Melbourne BIG4 Holiday Park
    • 16 kilometres by road north of ferry terminal entrance
    • Ensuite sites, powered sites, unpowered camp sites
    • Solar heated pool, adventure playground, games room, movie room, camp kitchen
    • Caravan storage and secure luggage storage available
    • Official website – www.melbournebig4.com.au
    • Location – 265 Elizabeth Street, Coburg
    • Phone – (03) 9353 8222

    3. Honey Hush Caravan Park

    Honey Hush Caravan Park
    Honey Hush Caravan Park
    • 17 kilometres by road west of ferry terminal entrance
    • The quickest driving route does not use any toll roads
    • Powered sites, unpowered tent sites
    • Official website – www.honeyhush.com.au
    • Location – 6 Leakes Road, Laverton North
    • Phone – (03) 9369 2253

    Caravan parks close to East Devonport

    1. Abel Tasman Caravan Park

    Abel Tasman Caravan Park
    Abel Tasman Caravan Park
    • 900 metres by road from  ferry terminal entrance
    • Cabins, powered sites, unpowered sites
    • BBQ area, childrens playground, newly renovated amenities
    • Official website – www.abeltasmancaravanpark.com.au
    • Location – 6 Wright Street, East Devonport
    • Phone – (03) 6427 8794

    2. Discovery Holiday Parks Devonport

    Discovery Holiday Parks Devonport
    Discovery Holiday Parks Devonport
      • 1.3 kilometres by road from ferry terminal entrance
      • Cottages, cabins, ensuite sites, powered sites
      • BBQs, kiosk, playground, movie room, waterfront location
      • Official website – www.discoveryholidayparks.com.au
      • Location – 13 Tarleton Street, East Devonport
      • Phone – (03) 6427 8418

     3. Devonport Holiday Village

    Devonport Holiday Village
    Devonport Holiday Village
      • 1.8 kilometres by road from ferry terminal entrance
      • Cabins, ensuite sites, powered sites, unpowered sites
      • BBQs, mini-supermarket, 3 hectares of gardens and trees
      • Official website – www.devonportholidayvillage.com.au
      • Location – 20 North Caroline Street, East Devonport
      • Phone – (03) 6427 8886

    4. Bay View Holiday Village

    Bay View Holiday Village
    Bay View Holiday Village
      • 2.1 kilometres by road from ferry terminal entrance
      • Cabins, powered ensuite sites
      • BBQ area, waterfront location
      • Official website – bookings.goldenchain.com.au
      • Location – 2 North Caroline Street, East Devonport
      • Phone – (03) 6427 0499
    Tasmania
    Caravan parks close to the Spirit of Tasmania ferry terminal in East Devonport
  • The 12 Days of Christmas in Victoria

    With Christmas just around the corner, here is our version of the timeless carol “The Twelve Days of Christmas“.

    On the 12th day of Christmas, Victoria gave to me…

    …12 famous apostles

    12 Apostles
    12 Apostles, Great Ocean Road

    The 12 Apostles are Victoria’s most famous coastal attraction consisting of towering limestone stacks near Port Campbell on the Great Ocean Road. However, they are the 12 Apostles in name only.  Just 8 remain standing today due to relentless wind and ocean erosion over the years.

    …11 public holidays

    Horse racing
    Racing at the Melbourne Cup

    There are 11 days of celebration in Victoria that are declared non-working days. Unique to Victoria is a public holiday to mark the running of Australia’s richest horse race, the Melbourne Cup, which is held on the first Tuesday of November. Due to the good weather that time of year, some people also take the Monday off work (sometimes illegitimately!) and turn the Melbourne Cup holiday into a mega 4 day long weekend.

    …10 winter snowfields

    Snowfields
    Mt Buller snowfields

    Victoria has 10 designated snowfields, all located in the east and north-east. They include large commercial resorts such as Falls Creek, Mount Buller, Mount Hotham and Mount Baw Baw. For sightseeing snow and tobogganing that is very close to Melbourne, head to Mount Donna Buang, just over 90 kilometres east of Melbourne via Warburton.

    …9 big things

    Murray cod
    The giant Murray cod at Swan Hill

    Australia is home to many novelty structures that are vastly over-sized monuments to something of local significance. 9 of Victoria’s most iconic big things include a cigar, earthworm, koala, fish, a statute of Ned Kelly, pheasant, potatoes with forks, wine bottle and wool bales.

    …8 diverse islands

    A number of Victoria’s islands are uninhabited or inaccessible, however there are 8 islands which the general public are permitted access to and can reach fairly easily. The most visited is Phillip Island – within easy reach of Melbourne and internationally recognised for its penguin parade and grand prix. Also in Western Port is the heritage farm of Churchill Island and French Island with its significant koala population. Raymond Island, accessible by car ferry from Paynesville, is renowned for its native wildlife, while Griffiths Island at Port Fairy is linked by a pedestrian causeway to the mainland and is home to a large colony of mutton birds. Snake Island is Victoria’s largest sand island, located off the coast of Port Welshpool, noted for great fishing on its beaches. Gabo Island, located off the coast of Mallacoota, is home to large colonies of sea birds and features a pink granite lighthouse. And the final island is Swan Island, located off the coast of Queenscliff. Visitors are welcome to play at the local golf course which boasts being an all weather course given it resides on an island made up of drifting sand.

    …7 historic paddlesteamers

    Emmylou paddlesteamer
    P.S. Emmylou, Port of Echuca

    Echuca, once Australia’s busiest inland port, is home to 7 paddlesteamers that operate from the historic Port of Echuca precinct on the Murray River. Enjoy a short day cruise, a dining experience, special occasion or overnight cruise on one of the paddlesteamers Adelaide, Alexander Arbuthnot, Canberra, Emmylou, Hero, Pevensey or Pride Of The Murray. The paddlsteamer Adelaide is the oldest wooden-hull paddlesteamer that is still operating anywhere in the world.

    …6 wine zones

    Wineries
    Montalto Vineyard, Red Hill

    Victorians love their wine, and the state is divided up into 6 flourishing cool and warm climate wine zones. There are hundreds of wineries ranging from boutique family-owned establishments to large scale operations that export world-wide. Many wineries provide a complete destination experience with their own cellar doors, sales of local produce, restaurants and beautiful gardens.

    …5 enthralling zoos

    Lion
    Lion, Melbourne Zoo

    Zoos Victoria manages 3 zoos in Melbourne and its surroundings – Melbourne Zoo,  Werribee Open Range Zoo and Healesville Sanctuary. There are two other zoos in Victoria which are well worth visiting. The Halls Gap Zoo, located in the scenic Grampians between Halls Gap and Pomonal, is home to over 160 species of animals, with a strong emphasis on native fauna. The Mansfield Zoo, located within picturesque parkland to the south of Mansfield, with particular emphasis on allowing visitors to feed many of the animals.

    …4 mineral springs

    Mineral spring
    Sulphur spring, Mineral Springs Reserve

    Victoria’s Macedon Ranges are home to Australia’s largest concentration of natural mineral springs, and one of the best places to see this is at Hepburn Springs. Head to the Mineral Springs Reserve where you will find the iconic Hepburn Bathhouse health complex, parkland and bush tracks. There are 4 mineral springs within the park that you can sample and fill up at – Locarno, Soda, Sulphur and Wyuna.

    …3 gold mines

    Gold mine
    Central Deborah Gold Mine, Bendigo

    Victoria’s gold rush period of the 1850s has left the state with a lasting legacy of history, wealth and prosperity. Get a taste for what life was like for miners in those days, as they toiled for riches without the equipment and technology of today, by visiting 3 of Victoria’s gold mines that are open for public underground tours. Descend 61 metres below the surface and walk in the foot steps of past miners at Central Deborah Gold Mine in Bendigo. Visit Sovereign Hill at Ballarat and take a fully guided tour in a mine tram for a unique themed underground experience. Or head to the quaint village of Walhalla, where time has stood still, and take a guided tour of the original workings of the Long Tunnel Extended Gold Mine.

    …2 folklore legends

    Ned Kelly
    Ned Kelly statue, Glenrowan

    There are 2 Australian folklore legends which Victoria is synonymous with. The Man from Snowy River, portrayed in Banjo Paterson’s poem, was written in 1890 and is believed to have been inspired by Corryong stockman Jack Riley. Ned Kelly, the infamous, daring and charismatic bushranger, who spent years defying the law, was eventually captured in the small town of Glenrowan where a large monument dedicated to him stands there today.

    …and 1 award-winning city

    Melbourne
    Tram at Flinders Street Station, Melbourne

    Melbourne was named by the Economist Intelligence Unit as the world’s most liveable city in 2014, scoring very well in areas of health, education, safety, stability and infrastructure. Visit Melbourne today and experience its multicultural heritage, great shopping, abundance of parks and iconic sporting events.