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Post by chech on Jul 29, 2015 18:34:57 GMT
I have about a day and a half to fill in Melbourne. The first two are my choices...the others are also offered but unless there's something spectacular about them, I'll only consider them if there's time: 1. Penguins Up Late Approximate value: $165 AUD per person (Duration: 5 hours 30 minutes) Head down to Summerland Beach to witness a Little Penguin magic. Just as the sun sets over the ocean, the Little Penguins emerge from the sea and waddle up the beach to their sand dune burrows. These Little Penguins are the smallest of the penguin species and Phillip Island is fortunate enough to be home to the largest colony in the world. From your viewing platform you are placed in the heart of 'penguin central' where a Local Guide is on hand to tell you all about these gorgeous little creatures and their lifestyle. or (I'm assuming it's an either/or situation here as this one is just a longer version of the first one...so depending on time, I may have to do the shorter version) Penguins, Kangaroos & Koalas Approximate value: $185 AUD per person (Duration: 9 hours) Animal lovers will be in paradise on this visit to Phillip Island! Get acquainted with a cuddly koala at Maru Koala & Animal Park, visit Seal Rocks and witness the magical Penguin Parade, all the while being surrounded by stunning coastal scenery. View the Penguin Parade from a viewing Platform which is located in a 'high penguin traffic area' and will place you in the best position to see the Little Penguins as they emerge from the ocean on their journey home. With a local ranger on hand providing informative commentary, you won't miss a moment of the wonderful spectacle. 2. Great Ocean Road Approximate value: $185 AUD per person (Duration: 12 hours) The Great Ocean Road drive, a haven of natural beauty, is on the bucket lists of many and guaranteed to take your breath away. Unwind as you journey through incredible panoramic views and magnificent natural wonders, including towering limestone cliffs, sweeping white beaches and stunning forest scenery. Pass Bells Beach, home to the annual World Surfing Championships and drive through the beautiful coastal towns of Anglesea, Lorne and Wye River. Arrive mid-day at the beautiful white sandy beaches of the scenic coastal town of Apollo Bay for an exclusive lunch with magnificent ocean views and country hospitality. Then head through the towering mountain-ash forests of the Otway National Park. See spectacular Cape Patton as well as the Twelve Apostles- limestone stacks rising dramatically from the Southern Ocean and enjoy a scenic walk to the lookouts. This road trip is truly one of the world's great scenic coastal drives. And the others available are: 3. Eureka Skydeck & Edge Experience Approximate value: $32 AUD per person (Duration: 2 hours) Nothing will prepare you for the awe inspiring view of Melbourne from this glass cube observation deck suspended 984 feet above the ground (that's almost as high as the Eiffel Tower in Paris) (Granted, I do like visiting the towers in the cities I go to...so I might get time to do this on arrival) 4. Lanes and Arcades Walking Tour Approximate value: $120 AUD per person (Duration: 4 hours) Enjoy a casual stroll, with a passionate guide, through the back streets and beautiful historic lanes and arcades of Melbourne. Discover the architectural highlights, street art, and historical tales. Like many cities throughout the world there are fabulous malls and department stores, but Melbourne has a unique charm that is clearly evident. This tour is about seeing the smaller independent retailers that are often only found in the city. Hiding in basements or in seemingly private buildings are many of the country's emerging creative talents, where one off pieces are not uncommon. Melbourne is thriving with small businesses, and you will be amazed at what they offer - fashion, food, art, music, chocolate, accessories, vintage and more! A delicious morning tea or coffee is included, along with a souvenir bag, bottled water, map and special offers from local retailers. And there are two meal optionals - one lunch, one dinner - on a tramcar.
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Post by Oz-T on Jul 29, 2015 23:31:41 GMT
1. Penguins Up Late Approximate value: $165 AUD per person (Duration: 5 hours 30 minutes)
or (I'm assuming it's an either/or situation here as this one is just a longer version of the first one...so depending on time, I may have to do the shorter version)
Penguins, Kangaroos & Koalas Approximate value: $185 AUD per person (Duration: 9 hours)
These are basically the same tour with the wildlife sanctuary added for the second one. It's been a few years since I've visited both the koala park, but I recall getting little paper bags of dry food that our kids used to hand-feed the kangaroos and wallabies. There's a good chance you might see one with a joey in her pouch - that's a fantastic thing to see them dive in head first and then turn upright with their head sticking out! The penguin parade is quite a sight but it can get really cold out there so make sure you have warm clothes. Humans are kept a fair distance from the penguins these days but the viewing platforms are in a good position. Take binoculars, or better still a camera with a decent zoom. The penguins tend to regroup on the beach at the water's edge before waddling in groups to their respective burrows, so that makes for great photos.
2. Great Ocean Road Approximate value: $185 AUD per person (Duration: 12 hours)
This is a great trip, and there's some magnificent coastline - particularly the Great Ocean Road from the Anglesea lighthouse to Apollo Bay, and again along the 'Shipwreck Coast' where the Twelve Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge are (note: natural erosion by the sea means there aren't quite 12 anymore). It's a very long day, but the views are indeed spectacular.
3. Eureka Skydeck & Edge Experience Approximate value: $32 AUD per person (Duration: 2 hours)
Doing this upon arrival is a good idea - and easy to do. Prices are $19.50 + an extra $12 for The Edge. You shouldn't need two hours for this by yourself (tour groups probably have to wait until everybody has had their turn at The Edge - only a small number of people can enter the bathroom-size cube that slides out of the building. You don't get any better views from there but you do get to look down through the glass floor, 284 metres above street level. Unless you like that sort of experience, save your 12 bucks. There's a wait for The Edge, so you roll up at your designated time.
4. Lanes and Arcades Walking Tour Approximate value: $120 AUD per person (Duration: 4 hours)
Yes, an interesting sort of thing if that's what you like to do, but much of the history wouldn't be of interest to overseas visitors. It'd be a good idea for shopaholics, but 4 hours and $120 would put me off.
And there are two meal optionals - one lunch, one dinner - on a tramcar.
The Colonial Tramcar Restaurant is quite an experience. You sit at a table in an authentic Melbourne tram that's refashioned as a restaurant. The meal is nice enough but the main thing is the novelty of dining whilst moving through the streets of Melbourne and the inner suburbs. The lunch or early dinner are cheaper than the late meal. Dinner will be night time in October (Spring) (at dusk in summer) so the sights aren't going to be as visible as during the day. But conversely, an evening tramcar leaves you free during the day to see other things. It's a pricey experience, but one of those really memorable ones.
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Post by tassiedevil on Jul 30, 2015 3:55:51 GMT
1. Penguins Up Late Approximate value: $165 AUD per person (Duration: 5 hours 30 minutes) or (I'm assuming it's an either/or situation here as this one is just a longer version of the first one...so depending on time, I may have to do the shorter version) Penguins, Kangaroos & Koalas Approximate value: $185 AUD per person (Duration: 9 hours) These are basically the same tour with the wildlife sanctuary added for the second one. It's been a few years since I've visited both the koala park, but I recall getting little paper bags of dry food that our kids used to hand-feed the kangaroos and wallabies. There's a good chance you might see one with a joey in her pouch - that's a fantastic thing to see them dive in head first and then turn upright with their head sticking out! The penguin parade is quite a sight but it can get really cold out there so make sure you have warm clothes. Humans are kept a fair distance from the penguins these days but the viewing platforms are in a good position. Take binoculars, or better still a camera with a decent zoom. The penguins tend to regroup on the beach at the water's edge before waddling in groups to their respective burrows, so that makes for great photos.
Oz, I went last year and all forms of photography is forbidden at the penguins and was heavily enforced by the rangers. Of course if you spot one out in the car park you can take as many as time allows. I also see that they only have the general viewing platforms open from May to November this year due to construction works in the high penguin traffic areas.
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Post by tassiedevil on Jul 30, 2015 4:30:56 GMT
It has been quite a few years (late 90's) since I've been to the 12 Apostles and down the Great Ocean Road but can remember the magnificent scenery.
Like I said in my previous post I did a Phillip Island day tour last year and had the best time. At the risk of sounding like I'm trying to sell this tour company to you, I did the tour with Go West which appears to have more included at a cheaper price than what your optional offers. I can discuss and answer question about my tour with you later if you want. They also do a Great Ocean Road one as well.
www.gowest.com.au/our-tours/penguin-parade-day-tour/ www.gowest.com.au/our-tours/great-ocean-road-day-tour/
I agree with Oz about 3 and 4. I would recommend you have walk through their many lanes and arcades, as many are just stunning, but I wouldn't be able to justify spending $120 for the privilege.
I haven't done the Colonial Tramcar Restaurant so can't comment on it.
Here are 2 websites that you might find useful the official Phillip Island Nature Park website and another that shows a self walking tour of Melbourne's arcades and lanes.
www.penguins.org.au/attractions/penguin-parade/
www.thatsmelbourne.com.au/visitors/Documents/Melbourne_ArcadesLanes.pdf
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Post by chech on Jul 30, 2015 11:53:24 GMT
Cool. That makes it easy to fill the free time in Melbourne. I'll do the optionals with the group rather than with a group of strangers which makes the extra cost worth it. I'm guessing they prohibit photography cause too many people don't know how to turn off their flash. There's always one! LOL I'm not one to look through glass floors, so I wouldn't go into the cube...but I'm assuming I can still get a great view from up there. I'll also consider the tramcar meal if time permits. Next stop...Hobart...but the included touring fills up the time and there are no time for optionals. So, on to Adelaide.
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Post by Oz-T on Jul 30, 2015 22:32:49 GMT
"Oz, I went last year and all forms of photography is forbidden at the penguins and was heavily enforced by the rangers."
That sounds like a ridiculous rule, Tassie - and very disappointing. The viewing platforms are a long way from where the penguins step onto the beach so why not allow photos? Maybe they had problems with flash cameras startling the fairy penguins, but this sounds like a ruse to make people buy postcards etc.
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Post by tassiedevil on Jul 30, 2015 23:10:23 GMT
Cool. That makes it easy to fill the free time in Melbourne. I'll do the optionals with the group rather than with a group of strangers which makes the extra cost worth it. I'm guessing they prohibit photography cause too many people don't know how to turn off their flash. There's always one! LOL I'm not one to look through glass floors, so I wouldn't go into the cube...but I'm assuming I can still get a great view from up there. I'll also consider the tramcar meal if time permits. Next stop...Hobart...but the included touring fills up the time and there are no time for optionals. So, on to Adelaide. I definitely wasn't trying to get you to not do the optional with the group. As you were talking about optionals I thought I would throw in some other options. If I was in a similar situation I too would choose to do it with the group.
Hopefully there are a few more penguins when you are there compared to when I went. I paid extra to be in a high penguin traffic area (this is closed when you will be there) and we had 4 groups pass us less than a metre away from us. The general viewing area though had only one group of penguins pass about 10 - 15 metres away from the front of the viewing platform.
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Post by tassiedevil on Jul 30, 2015 23:11:45 GMT
"Oz, I went last year and all forms of photography is forbidden at the penguins and was heavily enforced by the rangers."
That sounds like a ridiculous rule, Tassie - and very disappointing. The viewing platforms are a long way from where the penguins step onto the beach so why not allow photos? Maybe they had problems with flash cameras startling the fairy penguins, but this sounds like a ruse to make people buy postcards etc.
Well, I was less than a metre from the penguins, so a flash would definitely be a problem.
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Post by chech on Jul 30, 2015 23:30:42 GMT
Cool. That makes it easy to fill the free time in Melbourne. I'll do the optionals with the group rather than with a group of strangers which makes the extra cost worth it. I'm guessing they prohibit photography cause too many people don't know how to turn off their flash. There's always one! LOL I'm not one to look through glass floors, so I wouldn't go into the cube...but I'm assuming I can still get a great view from up there. I'll also consider the tramcar meal if time permits. Next stop...Hobart...but the included touring fills up the time and there are no time for optionals. So, on to Adelaide. I definitely wasn't trying to get you to not do the optional with the group. As you were talking about optionals I thought I would throw in some other options. If I was in a similar situation I too would choose to do it with the group.
Hopefully there are a few more penguins when you are there compared to when I went. I paid extra to be in a high penguin traffic area (this is closed when you will be there) and we had 4 groups pass us less than a metre away from us. The general viewing area though had only one group of penguins pass about 10 - 15 metres away from the front of the viewing platform.
The links are great for extra information. Helps with the planning! I went to the penguin viewing in Dunedin and some people didn't go cause they didn't think they see any. Turned out the company would refund the cost of the tour if we saw none, but we saw quite a few. Those that didn't go were peeved that they didn't go....so I'll be happy with anything I see. And by the looks of it, I might be able to do the longer version cause the morning sightseeing should end in time to go straight to the nine hour optional (noonish to 9 pm). And then I can do the shore drive the next day. Gotta love it when a plan comes together!
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Post by tassiedevil on Jul 30, 2015 23:43:31 GMT
Glad I could help. Here is a link to the Melbourne Star
www.melbournestar.com/
I would think you would get back to Melbourne closer to 10pm (probably after) rather than 9pm. The sun sets after 7:30pm in October (now this is where I could stuff up as I can't really remember when you are going) and the penguins don't appear until dark, so surely it would be after 8pm you would leave Phillip Island and then it is about a 2 hour drive back to Melbourne.
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Post by chech on Jul 30, 2015 23:45:26 GMT
That works for me!
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Post by chech on Aug 21, 2015 16:18:24 GMT
Question on the Lanes and Arcades....are they referring to the area of the Royal and Block Arcades? If so, that's only a few blocks from my hotel...easily walked.
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Post by tassiedevil on Aug 22, 2015 11:28:08 GMT
They are 2 of the better arcades, there are many lanes to wander up and down. A few are listed on the link I posted in a previous post above.
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Post by chech on Aug 22, 2015 11:49:52 GMT
Oh...how'd I miss that! Printed that out now... I've been going through all the posts and planning everything down to where the closest McDonald's is to the hotel (and Subway and other spots....I cannot live on Big Macs alone!).
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Post by Oz-T on Aug 23, 2015 11:09:07 GMT
I've been going through all the posts and planning everything down to where the closest McDonald's is to the hotel (and Subway and other spots....I cannot live on Big Macs alone!). Ahem, we also eat kangaroo steaks *, crocodile, rabbit, lamb and emu, Chech.
* Don't feel too bad about this....
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Post by chech on Aug 23, 2015 17:26:03 GMT
LOL....nick the rabbit and lamb and croc. I'd try emu and 'roo....tried ostrich and it was delicious! As for the map...Shouldn't there be at least one or two in Europe? In the centre....not far from Switzerland? <snicker>
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