Our Itinerary

Friday, February 13, 1998 -- Flight from Toronto to Melbourne

Sunday, February 15, 1998 -- Arrive in Melbourne at 9:10 am (all dates and times are now in Australian time … please use the chart to convert to North American time) We are flying Qantas with stopovers in LA and New Zealand. (We will be searching for Xena and Hercules in New Zealand.)

Monday, February 16 -- Warrnambool & Tower Hill. The Tower Hill Game Reserve is located in the crater of an extinct volcano. Countless kangaroos, wallabies, emus and koalas roam the reserve and there are numerous displays about the area's geological history and revegetation program. There are five self-guided walks around the reserve. The photo is of Proudfoots' Boathouse.

Tuesday, February 17 -- Lavers Hill & The Great Ocean Road. Great Ocean Road is Victoria's famous southwestern coastal route, starts at Torquay and stretches 285km west to Warrnambool. The road was built between 1919 and 1932 with the intention of constructing a scenic road of world repute -- and it surpasses that goal. Over 80 ships have gone down along the "Shipwreck Coast", victims of the rough Southern Ocean and the dramatic rock foundations.

Wednesday, February 18 -- The Grampians. Rising from the flat plains for Western Victoria's wheat and grazing district, the sandstone ranges of the Grampians, with their weirdly formed rocky outcrops and stark ridges seem doubly spectacular. Aboriginal rock art appears throughout the National Park and there is an Aboriginal cultural centre to visit. The Cultural Centre has a restaurant attached that Adam will want to visit since they serve "roo burgers", "emu sausages" and "kangaroo fillets with Illawarra plum relish".

Thursday, February 19 -- The Grampians. The photo shows Halls Gap which is the only settlement within the park.

Friday, February 20 -- The Grampians

Saturday, February 21 -- Dimboola & Arkona. We will be spending the weekend with friends in Arkona. While reading Russell's homepage we found an interesting fact! He states the area is home to numerous kangaroos, birds and reptiles, namely the king brown snake. Ummm ... Russell ... we might give your place a miss (bg). Just kidding! Take a look at Russ's homepage. Maybe we could hire Steve Irwin (The Crocodile Hunter) to protect us while we are at Russell's place. We have seen Steve on television move king brown snakes with a "bushy stick". (picturing Steve telling the snake "you're a naughty little snake .. aren't you .. for scaring Sue and the kids".)

Sunday, February 22 -- Dimboola & Arkona

Monday, February 23 -- Warrnambool. Warrnambool is the self-proclaimed capital of the Shipwreck Coast, and life for most centers on the sea. It is a popular seaside holiday destination, the city draws people for the regular marine distractions -- fishing, swimming, surfing and basking -- but also entices with whale-watching (home of the Southern Right Whale). In late May or June, a population of whales stop by to give birth to their calves. They stay until September or October when they return to the Antarctic to break their five month fast. Viewing platforms have been built just off Logan's Beach and tourists and residents gather to watch these beautiful creatures roll, blow and breach.

Tuesday, February 24 -- Allansford & Hopkins Falls. Allansford is home to "Cheeseworld" which is the greatest dairy-themed attraction in southern Victoria (this means there are more in Victoria). According to the guide book there is a milkshake museum inside and this museum "offers a glimpse into the cruelly beautiful world of cheese". Hmmm .. perhaps the author ate too much cheese while visiting Cheeseworld!

Wednesday, February 25 -- Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum. The Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village is a recreated nineteenth century village and the museum delves into many of the shipwrecks along the treacherous coast, in particular exploring the Loch Ard disaster in which there were only two survivors. Ironically a giant ceramic peacock escaped with only slight beak damage. Some of you may recognize this photo as the docks where "Quigley DownUnder" landed (starring Tom Selleck).

Thursday, February 26

Friday, February 27 -- Melbourne. One place we are very anxious to visit is the Melbourne Gaol, which was opened in 1845. During its time as a penal institution, 104 hangings took place there. The most notorious hanging was that of Ned Kelly in 1880. It is now a National Trust Museum, where one can see a death mask of Ned Kelly's, along with a suit of amour that is probably his.

Saturday, February 28 -- Melbourne, St Kilda GO SAINTS! We will be spending the day with our friend Rob (hiya UncleMaroon!)

Sunday, March 1 -- Medal Ceremony .. We will be attending a ceremony where our friend, David Kalmund, will receive the National Medal of Australia. This medal is being presented to David for fifteen years of diligent community service in the State Emergency Service. The afternoon will be spent touring the Vic Market with our friend Wolf. (personal note to Wolf ... do they sell foam bats there?)

Monday, March 2 --

Tuesday, March 3 -- Lake Pertobe & Port Fairy .. A lazy day playing mini golf and sighting around the very picturesque seaside town of Port Fairy. In historic Port Fairy there are fully restored white washed cottages built by the whalers and seamen. These are side by side with Georgian style merchants' homes and grand public buildings. The town includes a number of historic churches and hotels, and more than 50 of the town's buildings carry National Trust classifications.

Wednesday, March 4 -- Sovereign Hill & Ballarat. Over a quarter of all the gold found in Victoria came from Ballarat before the mines were exhausted in 1918. Sovereign Hill is a recreated gold-mining township with seventy buildings and shops based on the Ballarat main street of the 1850's, fully cast with characters wandering about in the dress of the period. There is an actual mineshaft from the 1880's and underground tours are available.

Thursday, March 5 --

Friday, March 6 -- Warrnambool. We will spend our last day shopping, driving along The Great Ocean Road and walking along the ocean.

Saturday, March 7 -- travel back to Canada

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