Warrnambool Accommodation Apollo Bay Accommodation Robe Accommodation Guide Australian Country Pubs
Warrnambool Motels Grampians Accommodation Ocean Road Accommodation Warrnambool Restaurant Guide
Port Campbell Accommodation Port Fairy Accommodation Luxury Accommodation Guide Warrnambool Whale Watching

    Photo Gallery - Portland
       

Saturday 23rd February 2008 - Portland . At various times Portland's tourism has been described at an odd mix of history and industry, and in fact for the last five weeks the cities historic attractions have taken a back seat to the huge oil platform, "Ocean Patriot" which has been undergoing a $12 million refit in the Portland Harbour

The platform dominates the skyline and is the first thing you see as you enter the city.

Standing 22 stories high and with an upper deck the size of a football field, the platform is a very impressive sight, especially from close up. Pictured here with one of its associated tugs ( the Ocean Wrangler) it is preparing to leave within the next day or so. The final process will be the loading of eight, 250 ton anchors each with its own 1.6 kilometer anchor chain

In 1947 Reg Ansett ( of Ansettt Airlines fame) imported a luxury Greyhound Clipper coach, to test the market for luxury coach travel. Due to the austere conditions following the war it wasn't popular and to this day is the only one of its type in Australia. It has been recently restored and returned to its original livery, and now runs nostalgia tours around Victoria.

Looking back from the Lee Breakwater towards the town with some of Portland's fishing and pleasure fleet anchored in the harbour
Portland's other major industrial attraction is the huge Alcoa aluminium smelter which produces 300,000 tons of aluminium per year. The huge pipe in the foreground is actually a covered conveyor system which transports the Bauxite ore from the port several kilometers away
Aluminum has been appropriately described as solid electricity and this photo shows both products in the process. The ingot storage yards with the final product awaiting shipment and the 500,000 volt power lines which feed the smelter
This photo was something of a bonus as it is not often you get to see crews working on 500,000 volt lines.

For anyone who finds skydiving or bull fighting a little too boring then working on 500,000 volt live lines should fit the bill nicely. This crew were replacing the insulators on one of the towers close to the Alcoa plant. Looking a little like astronauts, the crew are all wear special high voltage suits which allow them to work in this very dangerous environment



 



Grampians in Bloom
If you are planning a weekend escape then a short spring break in the Grampians might be the answer - Sunny spring days ( ideal for bushwalking ) and cool nights - curled up in front of an open fire.

If that sounds like the sort of spring holiday you would like, then follow the links to the Grampians Accommodation Page

Interesting &
out of the way places to visit


Fletcher Jones Story
David Fletcher Jones left school before his 13th birthday and worked in a small market garden before enlisting in the army and serving in France during WW1. A shell burst just metres away, left him severely
injured and he was told by army doctors that he would never work again. In spite of his injuries, a scant education and a profound stammer, went on to become the worlds largest clothing manufacturer. Now some 40 years after his passing, the Warrnambool manufacturing facility has gone and factory he built has been sold to a developer - To find out more about this inspirational man then click the photo or the link above


Apollo Bay  Apollo Bay seems to have become the new in" place to visit, as seaside towns close to Melbourne become increasingly crowded and very expensive over the summer months.
More people are now looking for a quiet holiday beside the sea and Apollo bay is becoming the destination of choice for International and domestic traveler's alike. If you are looking for accommodation in Apollo Bay then read our Apollo Bay Accommodation Guide

Lake Pertobe
Mini Golf

open 7 days a week from 10 AM to 4 PM

close to the beach on Pertobe Road Warrnambool

Warrnambool Information Page

The first in a series of information pages covering the major towns and cities in the region - for more information on planning your summer holiday in Warrnambool - please click on the picture

Port Campbell one travel writer described Port Campbell as a windswept village with one pub and a few take away food places that catered to passing tourists!!
Was he having a bad day or did someone in the town offend him??
To find out more about this historic little coastal township you need to read our Port Campbell / Peterborough accommodation page to find out when and where to stay

 

Robe - a picturesque , historic fishing village with great beaches in the middle of Australia's premier wine growing region. It is a little bit off the beaten track which means that you don't have fight your way through crowds of tourists.
Robe also has great seafood restaurants, lots of local wineries and loads of history - so if you are planning a relaxing spring holiday then visit our Robe Accommodation page

 

Port Fairy a small historic fishing village and one of Victoria's earliest settlements. The town has over 50 historically listed buildings and a lot of the town remains substantially unchanged over the last century
In recent times a lot of "top end of town" investment money has poured in the township creating some up market accommodation that has added to the towns existing motels, B&B's and caravan parks. So to find out where to stay and how much you will pay then you should look at out Port Fairy Accommodation page