Posts Tagged ‘Port Fairy’Driving holidays – Melbourne to Kangaroo IslandMonday, October 5th, 2009This is a must-do trip with your camper, enjoying the spoils on offer along the Great Ocean Road and keeping the navigation simple – stay in on your left-hand side!
Stay on the Great Ocean Road from Torquay to Warrnambool. There are many great places to stop along the way but Apollo Bay and Port Fairy are highly recommended – plan to stay at least one day at each town. A terrific little (and not well known) camping ground is at Yambuk about 30km west of Port Fairy which is sensational, with a beautiful ocean beach and inland river. For architecture enthusiasts, or those who simply enjoy panoramic ocean views, Robe will not disappoint. Camping at the local campground on the hilltop will provide awesome ocean views and five star facilities. We recommend you make a straight run for Kangaroo Island from Robe and catch the afternoon ferry to the Island. Check you have a full fuel tank, as fuel supplies are limited on the Island. If arriving late there are a number of nice campsites at Antechamber Bay with good wind protection and plenty of wildlife. Wheatons Beach has magnificent views of the ocean and plenty of designated camping sites along the coastal road. For those seeking a bit of fast action, the quad bikes at Vivonne Bay are worth a go.
Pack for all weather conditions, but expect awesome scenery, great food and meeting friendly people and wildlife along the way. BMAN & SAMMO Driving holidays – Warrnambool (Victoria)Tuesday, April 28th, 2009
Historians predict that if found it could rewrite the history of Australia’s discovery. You might not find it, but walking the sands and following the clues is heaps of fun.
The journey From Melbourne there are two choices, with either Warrnambool or Port Fairy, a little beyond, as your base. The inland route to Warrnambool, 269km or a 3.5-hour drive along the Princes Highway through Geelong, Colac and Camperdown, is the quickest, while your return can be via the spectacular Great Ocean Road, through Lorne and Apollo Bay, which takes a couple of hours longer.
Follow the clues To get your bearings on the Mahogany Ship jigsaw, first visit Warrnambool’s Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum to soak up the atmosphere. Then head west from Warrnambool toward historic Port Fairy. A popular spot to investigate is Gormans Road, on the left just beyond the Tower Hill State Game Reserve (also worth a visit). Follow the road toward the coast and wander east among the dunes where many believes the ship lies. Or, to take it all in, follow the 23km Mahogany Ship Walking Track between Port Fairy and Warrnambool. It passes all of the main sites where searches have been undertaken since the dark-timbered wreck supposedly disappeared beneath the shifting sands more than 150 years ago. I did my sleuthing in a lightning two days but ideally four or five would be the go, particularly if you like to take all those side roads. There’s plentiful motel accommodation (booking is advisable) in Warrnambool, although a local pub or a B&B in Warrnambool or Port Fairy can be more down-home-ish. Who knows, you might solve the mystery. If not, you’ll enjoy one of Australia’s most fascinating pieces of coastline. For a modern-day adventure it’s 8 out of 10 – plus there’s the lure of local wineries, world heritage sites and beaches. Scott |
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