weekend/Day trips out of Melbourne

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weekend/Day trips out of Melbourne; any suggestions?
Topic Started: 16 Sep 2004, 11:46 AM (2,566 Views)
mrsmangle	16 Sep 2004, 11:46 AM Post #1
Member Posts: 12 Group: Members Member #64 Joined: 13 September 2004	Sometimes I forget there is life outside the city, but with some good weather forecasted in the next couple of weeks- any suggestions of good day trips out of Melbourne? Bonus points will be awarded to anyone who can suggest places that are 'do-able' by public transport :boat: ...



RedGum	16 Sep 2004, 06:12 PM Post #2
Member Posts: 11 Group: Members Member #6 Joined: 9 September 2004	Day Trips could include Healesville Sanctuary - 60kms east of city www.healesville.com.au Mornington Peninsula - all sorts of places you can go here...wineries, back beaches, bayside - places like Arthur's Seat (for the views), Sorrento...all the little holiday towns around the bay Kinglake....bbq, picnic, walk in the forest Yarra Valley Dandenong ranges, Mt Dandenong, Sassafras Weekend trips could include Philip Island Grt Ocean Rd...but going to places like Cape Bridgewater to get away from it all Grampians - stunning scenery Over the SA border to Coonawarra Snow....Mt Buller, Mt Hotham, etc Murray River - at Echuca or Mildura for example, fishing, river boat, paddle steamer, hire a house boat, camping on the river bank Macedon Ranges Wilson's Prom Not sure about public transport but I've done Yarra Valley, King Lake, Dandenongs and some parts of the bay on a bike (push bike) from the city!!



Bordy	17 Sep 2004, 03:28 AM Post #3
Administrator Posts: 4,688 Group: Admin Member #3 Joined: 8 September 2004 Migration Status Citizen My Location Ferntree Gully	Ok talking of wineries. My Sister, hubby & 10 year old triplets are coming out over Xmas. Anyone recommend a good winery where we don't have to sign up for a tour along with 100 others. Just somewhere we can turn up, have a look around, maybe taste the wares, have lunch etc. Never been to a winery in Vic in my 5 years here, shame on me.



loopyloo	17 Sep 2004, 08:12 AM Post #4
Newbie Posts: 8 Group: Members Member #35 Joined: 10 September 2004	We have been to this one a couple of times...its very relaxed, you just turn up, but check their opening times. They have kids who tend to be around and usually adopt ours! Its a queit place with loads of space and views. Lovegroves winery 1420 Heidelburg-Kinglake Road Cottlesbridge 03 9718 1569 :Beer:



Bordy	17 Sep 2004, 01:59 PM Post #5
Administrator Posts: 4,688 Group: Admin Member #3 Joined: 8 September 2004 Migration Status Citizen My Location Ferntree Gully	Exellant, Thanks Loopy.



leh	17 Sep 2004, 07:58 PM Post #6
Addicted Member Posts: 186 Group: Members Member #17 Joined: 9 September 2004	we visited the Fergusson winery- we went as part of a tour but there were people arriving individually. The lunch was a carvery, I don't eat meat -there was fish and a veggie option as well. Good atmosphere, the vineyard is just outside the restaurant door. :Beer: - couldn't find a wine glass! http://www.fergussonwinery.com.au/home.htm Helen



Jodes	22 Sep 2004, 04:37 PM Post #7
Addicted Member Posts: 137 Group: Members Member #5 Joined: 9 September 2004	Shame on you, Bordy, never been to a winery yet, there are loads down here on Peninsula that have lovely cafe's that you can eat at, Box Stallion has been recommended to me, as has Red Hill Estate(great Pinot Noir). Lindenderry at red Hill has also had good reviews.



Scottish	22 Sep 2004, 04:48 PM Post #8
Member Posts: 13 Group: Members Member #85 Joined: 22 September 2004	Hi Bordy, The Chandon winery at Yarra Valley is a real treat. You pay for a glass of champers, only around $7, not too steep, and they bring you some bread and cheese free which is delicious. Views are spectacular. Sure to impress the rellies. Linda



Bordy	22 Sep 2004, 05:37 PM Post #9
Administrator Posts: 4,688 Group: Admin Member #3 Joined: 8 September 2004 Migration Status Citizen My Location Ferntree Gully	Hanging my head in shame Jodes. Thanks Scotty, sounds like I'll be an alcy by the time they leave. :rolleyes:



leh	22 Sep 2004, 10:04 PM Post #10
Addicted Member Posts: 186 Group: Members Member #17 Joined: 9 September 2004	we went to Chandon too. Lovely bubbly :D Also very picturesque area.



mezza586	28 Sep 2004, 11:37 PM Post #11
Moderator Posts: 273 Group: Members Member #27 Joined: 10 September 2004	http://www.debortoli.com.au/ I went here some years ago and it was absolutely beautiful. I remember sitting on top of a hill with a glass of wine looking over vineyards. It may have been a special day arranged by the winery, part of a festival. I know I wasn't driving. :D I visited some of the Red Hills vineyards recently. It was on a bus tour from Cape Schanck. I was at a conference.. Some were good, others so -so. For some reason, I am a bit vague on details. :) Meryl



melbournehelpinghand	3 Oct 2004, 07:09 PM Post #12
Newbie Posts: 9 Group: Members Member #91 Joined: 27 September 2004	not so many moons ago I happened upon a small town about 4and a half hrs north of Melbourne. It was autumn at the time and i was driving from the east of gippsland, west over the alpine region . I fell in love with this town immediately and always go back in autumn.You need to stay a couple of days . The town is called Bright and if you imagine New England in the Fall - this is Victoria's version .Wineries near by, great food relaxing river runs behing the town, great acommodation and the trees......



mezza586	3 Oct 2004, 07:16 PM Post #13
Moderator Posts: 273 Group: Members Member #27 Joined: 10 September 2004	melbournehelpinghand Oct 3 2004, 07:09 PM not so many moons ago I happened upon a small town about 4and a half hrs north of Melbourne. It was autumn at the time and i was driving from the east of gippsland, west over the alpine region . I fell in love with this town immediately and always go back in autumn.You need to stay a couple of days . The town is called Bright and if you imagine New England in the Fall - this is Victoria's version .Wineries near by, great food relaxing river runs behing the town, great acommodation and the trees...... I know the area well. During my partner's last visit we stayed at Mt Beauty. We drove back through Bright and he loved it. Many, many moons ago I taught in the King Valley :) Meryl



leh	4 Oct 2004, 05:30 PM Post #14
Addicted Member Posts: 186 Group: Members Member #17 Joined: 9 September 2004	melbournehelpinghand Oct 3 2004, 10:09 AM not so many moons ago I happened upon a small town about 4and a half hrs north of Melbourne. It was autumn at the time and i was driving from the east of gippsland, west over the alpine region . I fell in love with this town immediately and always go back in autumn.You need to stay a couple of days . The town is called Bright and if you imagine New England in the Fall - this is Victoria's version .Wineries near by, great food relaxing river runs behing the town, great acommodation and the trees...... I have a Steve Parish calender hanging in my kitchen with a beautiful autumn scene of Bright just as you described it, I'd certainly love to go there one day one day :)



OzTennis	4 Oct 2004, 07:51 PM Post #15
Legend Posts: 2,576 Group: Members Member #81 Joined: 20 September 2004	We stayed at Bright often, as well as a place called Porepunkah nearby - always during the autumn. Wineries - we've been to the Yarra Valley often and the places we go back to include Domaine Chandon and De Bortoli's previously recommended but my favourite is to visit Chateau Yering and Yering Station next door - separate businesses, the former a 5 star hotel with restaurant and cafe and a spectacular interior; the latter a winery with shop and restaurant and views out of this world through the huge windows. These are both a few K's from Yarra Glen on the Melba Hwy: http://www.chateau-yering.com.au http://www.yering.com A couple of others close together on the Maroondah Hwy a few K's before Healesville (and after Chandon) are Rochford Eyton and a quaint little winery on top of a hill with spectacular views called Riverstone Winery: http://www.eyton.com.au http://www.riverstonewine.com.au A circular tour to Healesville, across to Yarra Glen and back to Melbourne or vice-versa is thoroughly recommended. OzTennis :flag:



Anya4oz	9 Oct 2004, 08:36 AM Post #16
Addicted Member Posts: 238 Group: Members Member #14 Joined: 9 September 2004	mrsmangle Sep 16 2004, 11:46 AM Sometimes I forget there is life outside the city, but with some good weather forecasted in the next couple of weeks- any suggestions of good day trips out of Melbourne? Bonus points will be awarded to anyone who can suggest places that are 'do-able' by public transport :boat: ... Last Sat I went up to the Dandenongs with some pals and we walked round the rhodedendron gardens at Olinda. Lovely views and blossoms - and they should get even better over the next few weeks, as more plants/trees bloom. It's very peaceful up there, and the air seems fantastically clean and healthy! We even managed morning coffee at the legendary 'Miss Marples Tea Rooms' at Sassafras, on the Mount Dandenong Tourist Road. It was a bit busy up there, as a coach party had just arrived, but we managed to get a table & enjoy the excellent scones! Sorry, don't know about public transport to get up there (but there were 8 of us in a minibus, so only one lot of petrol used). Anya.



Anya4oz	9 Oct 2004, 08:40 AM Post #17
Addicted Member Posts: 238 Group: Members Member #14 Joined: 9 September 2004	mrsmangle Sep 16 2004, 11:46 AM Sometimes I forget there is life outside the city, but with some good weather forecasted in the next couple of weeks- any suggestions of good day trips out of Melbourne? Bonus points will be awarded to anyone who can suggest places that are 'do-able' by public transport :boat: ... Another 'grand day out' if you live in the city, which is perfectly do-able by train, is to come down to Williamstown. It's only about 25 mins from Flinders St, and there's masses to do here: nature & walking trails, great places to eat (including some positively lethal cake shops), boat trips, a museum ship to go on, botanic gardens, sandy swimming beach.... Not that I'm biased, of course ;) Cheers Anya.



mezza586	9 Oct 2004, 08:45 AM Post #18
Moderator Posts: 273 Group: Members Member #27 Joined: 10 September 2004	Anya4oz Oct 9 2004, 08:40 AM :boat: ... Another 'grand day out' if you live in the city, which is perfectly do-able by train, is to come down to Williamstown. It's only about 25 mins from Flinders St, and there's masses to do here: nature & walking trails, great places to eat (including some positively lethal cake shops), boat trips, a museum ship to go on, botanic gardens, sandy swimming beach.... Not that I'm biased, of course ;) Cheers Anya. [/QUOTE] Or why not catch the ferry? :) Meryl (another person who loves Williamstown)


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