South West Victoria On Line A
travelogue of South West Victoria - independent and impartial travel
advice for the Southwest of Victoria and the Southeast of South
Australia
featuring the towns of Warrnambool,
Port Fairy, Port Campbell, Apollo Bay, Robe, Halls Gap, Lorne, Torquay,
Robe and Mt Gambier
July 19th - The Great Ocean Road - A destination for all seasons-
There are some destinations, such as the Snowy Mountains that are great to visit during winter and some places that are good summer destinations however the Great Ocean Road is one of those places that has something to offer at all times of the year. Principally it is the spectacular scenery that attracts visitors and often during winter it is enhanced by the weather. For instance the famous Bell Rock lighthouse in the Scottish North sea is almost always shown in pictures surrounded by mountainous seas, and probably doesn’t look that spectacular when the seas are calm and the same applies ( more or less ) to the rugged coast line along the Great Ocean Road including the iconic 12 Apostles. Big seas and rough weather show how this coastline has been carved into its present dramatic shape.
The attached photos were all taken at the 12 Apostles near Port Campbell
Unlike going to the snow you won’t need thermal underwear and although the South West of Victoria has a bit of a reputation for its cold south-westerly winds, all you will need is a good warm coat. The other advantages of visiting during winter is the prices with many accommodation properties offering off peak discounts during this time of year, and if you take the time to have a look at some of the accommodation pages on this site you can find some quite cheap accommodation deals.
One other advantage of travelling at this time of year just how green and lush everything looks, especially the rain forest along the Great Ocean Road, in particular the area around Lavers Hill and Beech Forest which looks at its best when its raining - This area also has the regions best waterfalls and they also look their best when there is lots of water around.
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village
is Warrnambool's most popular tourist attraction and for anyone visiting Warrnambool over winter, a visit to Flagstaff Hill is highly recommened. The village is a recreation of a hypothetical port of the 1800's and although it looks nothing like the original port of Warrnambool it does preserve a lot of the cities history and artifacts. There is quite a lot of things to see in the indoors, as well as outdoor exhibits so you can still find plenty to do regardless of the weather
Flagstaff Hill also runs a evening shows with a lantern walk of the village, followed by a laser sound and light show which recreates voyage and wreck of the Loch Ard, one of Australia's most intriguing maritime disasters.
Getaways
Fishing
Fish and Chips
if your'e looking for a secluded rural getaway close to the Otways rain forrest then our latest property listing might be just what your'e looking for.
To find out more about
Kookaburra's Rest click the photo below
Southern Blue Fin Tuna are still being caught off shore from Warrnambool with reports of 100kg plus Tuna being landed in the last few days. Local fishermen expect the season to run until mid July so there is still time to get to Warrnambool before the season ends
The South West coast is also famous for the quality of its fish and chips and there are dozens of restaurants and take aways that serve good fish and chips. We've listed six of our favourites fish and chip shops - Click the photo to see our choices
Tower Hill Another one of the cities more popular attractions is the Tower Hill game reserve - located about 10 minutes drive to the West of Warrnambool, the park has a good population of native wildlife including Emu's, Koala's and a few Kangaroos. There are good picnic facilities and there is no entry fees for the park.
New
Warrnambool Rail Trail nearly finished.
The new Warrnambool - Koroit - Port Fairy Rail
trail is close to completion and apart from a small section
across some sensitive wetlands the trail is ready for use.
In fact the trail from Koroit to Port Fairy is already attracting
visitors and the Warrnambool to Koroit section is usable but
with a couple of detours.
The $2.2 million project covers 37 kilometres of scenic landscape,
taking in some picturesque coastal views around the Warrnambool
and also passing through farmland in Koroit, Illowa and Port
Fairy, eventually arriving at the Port Fairy railway reserve.
The trail has been designed for walkers and bike riders and
also there are some sections of the trail that are wheelchair
friendly.
The Warrnambool leg of the trail starts close to the Warrnambool
breakwater and the section between the Breakwater and Thunderpoint
is already proving popular with walkers as it provides easy
access to some very pleasant scenery.
Past
and Present A look at some of Warrnambool's history- This
week we take look at some of Warrnambool's older buildings
and see how they have stood the test of time - more....
Warrnambool
Fun 4 Kids Festival
27th June - 4th July 2010
Tickets on sale now -
for more information Click
here
Warrnambool Information
Page
If you are planning to come to Warrnambool to see the whales
this season or just a quiet winter getaway in Warrnambool
then The Warrnambool Information page contains some basic
information on planning your winter escape to Warrnambool
Crayfish or Southern Rock Lobster
Is there a difference ??
Local
Pub Guide The local country pub has been the
heart and soul of Australian rural communities for nearly
two centuries, but now they are closing in unprecedented
numbers. If you would like to know more about the Pubs of
the Western district and some of the history
then visit our Pub guide .
Eating
in unknown restaurants is one of life's little adventures
but an adventure most people would like to avoid. So if
you are looking for the best places to throw on the nose
bag then you should take a quick look at our
restaurant guide
Robetown Motor Inn - Robe SA Great Winter Warmer Deals - escape the winter chills - take a dip in our heated indoor pool and spa and relax in our warm cosy rooms. We are close to the centre of Robe
and walking distance to restaurants and cinema. We have winter weekend escape packages starting from $175 - For more information click
here
Explore Java from grassroots level, and learn what Yogyakarta is all about.
See this fascinating city through the eyes of an experienced english speaking guide.
Tours arranged to suit a variety of travel needs and itineraries.
International Links
Cheap Ferry Tickets
Find cheap ferry tickets quickly - Channel Ferries a fast way to search for a cross channel ferry ticket online.
