My husband and I are planning to visit Australia this December. I’m pretty excited, since I never would have dreamed we’d get the opportunity to go someplace so far away, but Mr. Beetle hasn’t quite caught the fever yet. Can anyone give me some advice about what we should see?
We are staying in Lorne, Victoria for about a week, and we’re most interested in seeing natural wonders. We can do some travelling… What should we not miss?
I also want to see some kind of critters that we don’t have back home, as long as they don’t have eight legs. Spiders don’t ever get into hotels, right?
Well, if you’re staying in Lorne, you’ll have to put some miles in on The Great Ocean Road. Great Otway National Park has some really neat rainforest hikes (including a tree top walk) and a cool lighthouse. The Grampians aren’t too far away, great scenery and Hall’s Gap is a neat little tourist town…just watch out for 'roos on the road.
Oh, don’t worry, you’ll see tons of them if you head up towards the Grampians…a large percentage will be road kill. You really have to keep your eye out for those guys, especially at dawn and dusk. I had a full-grown one jump out in front of me on my way into Halls Gap…I couldn’t have missed it by more than a couple of inches. Pretty scary.
I just want to say how envious I am. I have an aunt and a cousin in Australia and I would love one day to visit with them. Time’s running out for my aunt I suppose.
Do keep an eye out for the drop bears. They look cute and you might mistake them for a cuddly koala but don’t be fooled or you might come home with the nickname “lefty”
Lorne’s about 2 hours outside of Melbourne along the Great Ocean Road - just at the very start of it to be honest - you have to go another few hours to really see what the GOR is famous for. There is some great surfing along that coastline (Bells Beach), and the Otway Ranges are up behind. We camped down at Wye River (very nice hotel - meaning bar - and cafe there) and on my morning run came across a roo or two, so you will certainly see them! Birdlife is great too, cheeky kookaburras hanging around our BBQ, the pink and grey Galahs and the sulphur crested cockatoo.
Will be busy in December though - it’s a really common summer holiday hangout and a little over commercialised that time of year. Why Lorne if you don’t mind me asking - certainly a lovely spot but tricky to get to see a varied amount of Australia from there.
You can get to Ballarat in 2 hours from there, that’s the heart of the Victorian gold rush so has lots of older federation buildings and Sovereign Hill, a ‘working’ gold mine. It’s a little hokey and Disneyish, but you are getting into country Victoria around there and good for capturing a little history.
Nothing much to add really to what’s already here. Lorne in December should be very nice.
As far as spiders go, anything you run into around Lorne won’t be a problem. Some of them get into Hotels but they generally only attack when provoked. Just leave them alone and they won’t attack you while you sleep.
Being serious, pretty much anything you might see on a wall in a hotel is either non venemous or mild. Huntsmen can look big and scary (they’re related to tarantula’s) but they can’t hurt people and are good to keep away flies and mossies. A house pet that doesn’t require you to feed it.
Well, to be fair, most of our information re Drop Bears comes from examining remains. Of victims.
No one has ever been recorded as having survived an encounter.
Seriously, just get out there and have a look around. As many have said, the Great Ocean Road is a prime tourist destination with literally dozens of small, interesting places to visit. Have fun - talk to locals - try strange things - surfing, plantation olives, cheese from Timboon, climb Mt Elephant, eat pies at Port Fairy (2nd best in state).
Australia’s like anywhere else - fascinating, if you are prepared to open your eyes and look.
See anything and everything that you would never see at home. I well remember being on the back patio of my host’s house in Perth, watching (and hearing) the galahs–that is, parrots–flying around and screeching; the lizards wandering across the patio stones, and the giant snails making their way somewhere in the garden.
Kangaroos? Sure, and I got up close and personal with one in a national park. but I saw many in the wild.
Koalas? Yes, but not native to Western Australia. Still, the Perth Zoo had a great koala enclosure, and 18 koalas in a natural enclosure were much better than the two that Australian zoos allow North American zoos like Toronto and Calgary to have from time to time.
Go out at nighttime, and look up. You won’t recognize the sky at all–none of our familiar North American constellations are there. Have an Australian friend point out the Southern Cross to you, and you’ll see that it is replicated on the Australian flag.
I admit that I do not know the eastern states (Australian states, that is) terribly well, as I spent most of my time in Western Australia. But I don’t imagine that the wildlife and the nighttime skies would differ very much between Perth and Melbourne. Australia is a fascinating place full of friendly people who are glad to share their land and its features with you, and I hope that you enjoy your trip!
By coincidence I received an email today with this 24 hour sale for Mantra Lorne:
*The only beachfront property in Lorne, Mantra Lorne is tastefully built around the oldest permanently operating guesthouse in Victoria. Located on 12 acres of lush landscaped gardens, Mantra Lorne offers a range of facilities including a family friendly Brasserie and Bar, Endota Day Spa, 18 hole putt putt course and heated indoor pool. Local attractions surrounding and within easy reach of the resort include Erskine Falls, the Twelve Apostles, Split Point Lighthouse and the Angahook State Forest. *
When travelling in country areas you may make the acquaintance of several types of thunderbox. Examples of these can be found a short distance away from a petrol station, thoughtfully placed there for your convenience.
Inhale deeply; enjoy the concentrated bouquet, heavily enhanced by summer temperatures! Look into the hole to check that the brown peak will not surprise you as you take your seat of ease! Listen to the buzzy music of the flies (don’t forget to open your mouth – they’ll really appreciate a drink).
Also, please note that the phone book is not just for reading…