Alice Springs is the little, desert town located bang in the center of great, big Australia. It’s more-or-less half way between Adelaide to the south and Darwin to the north, making it an ideal travel destination to break the long journey in either direction. Alice Springs draws travellers from all over the world as a base to explore the beautiful red centre. The nearby sites include Alice Springs Desert Park, Simpsons Gap, Standley Chasm, Larapinta Trail, the Flying Doctor Service and further afield, Uluru and Kings Canyon.
Today, on the 10 July, Alice Springs is celebrating the 40th anniversary of the annual ‘Camel Racing Cup’ which draws town folks and tourists from all over to watch the spectacle and have a lot of fun! The first Camel Race was run in 1970 in the dry Todd River Bed as a bet between two mates, Noel Fullerton and Keith Mooney-Smith. Since then, the race is held annually including a festival atmosphere with stalls, entertainers, rides, food and drink stalls, live music and Camel Cup souvenirs. No Australian race would be without ‘Fashions on the Field’ and this is distinctly ‘central Australian’ in flavour.
A Town like Mparntwe: A Guide to the Dreaming Tracks and Sites of Alice Springs
The Gold Coast, with a 35km strip of golden beaches, is situated on the east coast of Australia in the southern region of Queensland and almost bordering New South Wales. It’s not my choice travel destination but during May we had a short family holiday there to spoil the children with a visit to the theme parks. Why I say it’s not my choice destination is largely for the commercialism. It would have to be the most commercialised areas in Australia, with towering hotels and apartment blocks lining the coast for miles. I would hope readers of my blog would recognise that I prefer remote landscapes and towns steeped in history and culture.
It was Mother’s Day and we left a chilly Melbourne on a 6.30am flight, to arrive at Coolangatta to a beautiful, mild morning and off came the jumpers! The hire car was organised and off we went. We enjoyed a Mother’s Day brunch at nearby Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary before we spent the rest of the day exploring the sanctuary.
The week on the Gold Coast was then filled with three days at each of the following theme parks: Seaworld, Movie World and Wet ‘n’ Wild. The children had a fabulous time. I think their favourite was Wet ‘n’ Wild. I was the ‘bag lady’ and happy to sun myself in the glorious 28C Autumn sun!
Sunset from Marina Mirage
My choice day was a trip out to Mt Warning, the highest easterly peak where day break is first enjoyed. The rainforest of the lower slopes are beautiful and full of plant-life we don’t see in the southern states. We continued to travel south through the rolling hills of the hinterland and crossed the border into New South Wales to visit Nimbin, the hippy capital of Australia. The children’s eyes were wide here! We headed back to the coast with a brief stop at the Byron Bay lighthouse (the most easterly point of mainland Australia) and returned to Currumbin by night fall.
The week was made complete by meeting face-to-face one of my favourite, fellow Aussie bloggers, Linda, and the creator of ‘Journey Jottings‘. We met at the Marina Mirage and exchanged many travel tales over coffee as the sun set.
One great reason to visit this travel destination is for the expanse of golden beaches as far as they eye can see. Oh, and it’s Queensland “Beautiful One Day, Perfect The Next”!
Dinner Plain is a town located on the Great Alpine Road in the high plains of Victoria, Australia. It is 389 km kilometres NW of Melbourne. Julie Wilson shares with Travel Tips Plus what attracts her to Dinner Plain.
This unique architecturally designed village, nestled amongst the snow gums, has a population of around 90 people and has over 200 lodges and chalets for tourists, making it a welcoming travel destination. The tradition of hospitality at Dinner Plain goes back well over a century, when mountain cattlemen first discovered this beautiful stretch of countryside as an ideal place to relax, eat up a meal and graze their cattle.
Visitors come all year round to enjoy the high plains life. In winter the village is a excellent base for cross–country and downhill skiing in winter. The gentle slopes are great for beginner skiing and are ideal for nordic skiing. There are 16 kilometres of trails around Dinner Plain. Shuttle buses ferry people to Mount Hotham for downhill skiing.
In summer, cycling and hiking are great attractions. The ski trail between Mount Hotham and Dinner Plain provides an excellent easy-grade walking tracks, and the architecture of the village and alpine wildflowers are a great attraction.
JB Hut
There are also key events throughout the year. My favourite events are:
Geebung Polo on Easter Sunday
Come and watch the exhibition of horsemanship and polo skills at Horsehair Plain. See the High Country cattlemen of the ‘Geebung‘ team take on the city slicker ‘Cuff n Collar’ team. The day starts with the announcer reciting Banjo Patterson’s famous poem “The Geebung Polo Club”, after which the event is named.
Cross Country Pub to Pub Race in August
The Annual Cross Country “Pub to Pub” takes place in early August. This 14 km race from the General Store in Mount Hotham to Dinner Plain Hotel is an event for skiers of all ages and abilities, and you’re likely to see first year skiers lining up with Australian champions.
Sled Dog Challenge
This annual event showcases the top dogs of sled dog racing in Australia and is the only Australian snow-based race of its kind. This race is held over an August weekend with 2, 3, 4 and 6 dog teams competing. Over 65 Mushers (dog team drivers) and more than 350 sled dogs are expected to compete in this year’s event.
One great reason to visit this travel destination is To see the Dinner Plain architecture ~ All buildings in the village are designed in an Australian alpine style based on early mountain cattlemen’s huts. Corrugated iron, timber and stone are used for the external walls, with pitched iron roofs. Buildings are limited to the height of the existing trees.
So What Are The Top 7 Attractions Just Out of Melbourne?
This post is a continuation of the earlier Post ‘7 Things To Do In Marvellous Melbourne‘ and if you happen to be in Melbourne for the current Moomba Festival you may be contemplating a visit to some of the outlying travel destinations of Melbourne. Here are my top 7 travel tips for sites to visit just out of my home city, Melbourne. They are in no particular order and of course there are numerous other sites and maybe you can add a comment below with a mention of your favourite spot!
Fairy Penguins on Phillip Island
1. Phillip Island
Only a 1.5 hour drive from Melbourne is the small island at the entrance of Western Port Bay, known as Phillip Island. A very popular destination for both local, national and international visitors. Its main attractions include the variety of coastal beaches from sheltered bays facing the Bay, to Cape Woolamai that lures the surfers for the waves off Bass Strait. Other attractions include the Penguin Parade, the Nobbies, Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, A Maze’n Things, Phillip Island Nature Park – Koala Conservation Centre and a must stop is the divine Phillip Island Chocolate Factory. The chocolate here is sensational and the business is booming!
2. The Dandenongs
The Dandenong Ranges are located east of Melbourne and are literally on the backdoor step of my home. It takes me no more than 15mins to arrive by car to the top at SkyHigh Mount Dandenong Observatory. Here you are presented with a fabulous view of Melbourne and on a clear evening the drive up for sunset is a must. There are many terrific attractions within the hills. Some of my favourites include Puffing Billy, Cloudehill Nursery, William Rickett’s Sanctuary, Alfred Nicholas Gardens, Olinda Township and breakfast at ‘Ranges Cafe’ is a nice treat. Further reading can be seen here for a recent guest post I did for ‘Velvet Escape‘.
3. Sorrento to Queenscliff Ferry Trip
From Melbourne you can travel either east or west around Port Phillip Bay and arrive to either Sorrento or Queenscliff. Both towns offer a terrific range of classy cafes, restaurants and boutique shops. Enjoy a lunch, take in the sites of the towns and finally, jump aboard the ferry to cross to the other town. Depending on whether you decide to travel as a foot passenger or take the car, you can explore that town, enjoy a coffee before continuing your drive back to Melbourne or take a return ferry back to the originating town. There is also a good chance you can enjoy watching dolphins swimming and racing the ferry.
Werribee Zoo
4. Werribee Open Range Zoo
Just a 30mins drive from Melbourne you can experience a taste of Africa at the Werribee Open Range Zoo. Take a walking tour and the 45mins tour in a safari bus out across the zoo’s plains and see rhinos, zebras, giraffes, antelopes, lions, monkeys, cheetahs and many other species of African animals.
5. Torquay Surf Beach
Torquay is the surfing hub of Australia. It also hosts the famous and world’s longest-running surfing competition during the Easter period, the Rip Curl Pro Surf & Music Festival. An easy drive from Melbourne with the Princes Freeway now bypassing Geelong and the region has plenty of other attractions on offer.
6. The Yarra Valley
Sunset over the covered vinyard at 'Wild Cattle Creek'
A little further from Melbourne but only a 20mins drive from my home is the famous Yarra Valley wine region. Unfortunately, a number of wineries were affected by the horrendous bushfires of 7 February 2009. As I am a keen wine drinker and love doing the winery-thing, I couldn’t go past celebrating our marriage during March 2008 at the lovely ‘Wild Cattle Creek Winery‘. In fact it’s our second wedding anniversary today! Together with numerous first class wineries, the area also has much to offer in the small townships of Yarra Glen, Healesville and Warburton.
7. Sovereign Hill
A little further afield and located in Ballarat, the heart of the historic gold mining region, is ‘Soverign Hill’. A terrific reproduction of a 1950′s gold-field town of the area and presented as an open air museum on a large 25 hectare site. Sovereign Hill has more than 60 historic buildings, people are in costume of the era and plenty of activities to entertain everyone. Pan for gold, have your portrait taken in costume, take a horse and carriage ride, a guided tour of the mines and more. The evening sound and light show ‘Blood on the Southern Cross’ is extremely popular and depicts the Eureka Stockade.
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Alice Springs is the little, desert town located bang in the center of great, big Australia. It’s more-or-less half way between Adelaide to the south and Darwin to the north, making it an ideal travel destination to break the long journey in either direction. Alice Springs draws travellers from all over the world as a base to explore the beautiful red centre. The nearby sites include Alice Springs Desert Park, Simpsons Gap, Standley Chasm, Larapinta Trail, the Flying Doctor Service and further afield, Uluru and Kings Canyon.
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