What to See in Melbourne

Melbourne is a city that knows how to live, offering a choice of high-end cuisine to energetic rock gigs, plays, festivals and sporting events. It is the second most populous city in Australia and is the capital city of the Victoria state, but despite being a city, Melbourne still offers a host of parks, gardens and historic architecture to visitors. With so much to see, holidaymakers and travellers often don't get to see all of the attractions, but here we take a look at the must-see ones in and around Melbourne.

Eureka Skydeck 88

Nothing like you would have seen before, Melbourne's Eureka Skydeck 88 offers jaw dropping views from the highest viewing platform in the Southern Hemisphere. Two lifts thrust visitors to level 88 in under an incredible 40 seconds, and only Skydeck 88 can take you to "The Edge", a glass tube that slides out from the building with you inside! The building not only offers spectacular views to visitors; they can also discover a number of activities and facts about the city and the building. Located in the Southbank region of the city, visitors will be awed by the phenomenal views of Melbourne and beyond.

Great Ocean Road

When visiting Melbourne you have to go to the Great Ocean Road, which is a popular destination for tourists and travellers. It is an Australian National Heritage listed site and is a 150 mile stretch of road along the dramatic South Eastern Coast of Australia. The road is dedicated to soldiers killed during World War I and is the world's largest war memorial.

Werribee Open Range Zoo

The Werribee Open Range Zoo is just 30 minutes away from Melbourne's city centre. It offers a taste of Africa and visitors will be treated to a huge array of animals living on the 225 hectares of open savannah. The resort has a walking trail that allows sightseers to come face-to-face with gorillas, lions, monkeys, cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, antelopes, rhinos and hippos. The attraction also offers visitors a safari tour and wild encounters, where tourists can feed and touch animals.

Melbourne Cricket Ground

If you are a keen sportsperson then a trip to Melbourne would not be complete without visiting the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). It is the largest, oldest and most popular sporting venue in Australia and often hosts international cricket matches, Australian Football League games and has previously been the venue for the 1956 Olympic Games and 2006 Commonwealth Games. You should also keep an eye out for any upcoming events at the MCG as it often hosts blockbuster music concerts.

This article was written by Thom Sanders on behalf of Freedom Australia, who offer a one-stop shop for everything you need for a fantastic holiday in Australia and New Zealand, as well as great deals on Australia train journeys.

Article Source: Thom_Sanders

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Lavers Hill on the Great Ocean Road

Lavers Hill is the highest point on the Great Ocean Road. It is a charming, small town with a number of cafes, take aways and a local tavern. These prove to be very popular stops with tourists as there is quite a drive to get there. If you are coming from Apollo Bay it will take about 45 minutes and if you are coming from the 12 Apostles it will take approximately the same amount of time.

Lavers Hill is a destination in its own right as it is very central to all the area's major attractions. The closest is Melba Gully, named after our great operatic singer, Dame Nellie Melba. This is a beautiful area which was once private property but was handed over to Parks so as to allow access to the public. A wonderful, generous gesture that now allows everyone to experience this magical oasis. Melba Gully is just a few minutes drive west of Lavers Hill. It's a very easy walk enabling tourists to see the glories of a temperate rainforest. This is the best place in the vicinity to see Gloworms in the evening.

From Lavers Hill it only takes about 20 minutes to get to the Otway Fly. This is the longest and tallest rainforest canopy walk in the world. Give yourself a good hour here even if you only opt to do the skywalk. In addition to the skywalk you can now attempt abseiling from great heights or even fly from tree station to tree station on the recently created flying fox. This is a real thrill!

While you are in this vicinity you should also visit Triplet Falls. These falls are on the same road as the Otway Fly and in my opinion are the most beautiful in all the Otways. This too is a reasonably easy walk - a little steep towards the end but not for long - and is a must if you have the time. There are other waterfalls in this area that are also worth a visit. They are just past the historic township of Beech Forest which incidentally is home to legendary runner Cliff Young. I should also add that the 12 Apostles are just down the road.

Accommodation in this area is unique. You can choose to stay in or near Lavers Hill at Yuulong which is right on the Great Ocean Road. There is very good and new budget accommodation at the Lavers Hill Tavern. Just down the road you'll find Southern Heights B&B and Nellie Nook - a small farm house. Yuulong offers you the chance of farm accommodation at Wombalano or cottage accommodation at Seatree. Happy rural days!

Most tourists simply drive through Lavers Hill. They view the town as a pit stop for toilets and refreshments. Why not be a little bit different and stay the night? You won't regret it! Meals at the Lavers Hill Tavern are very good and the publican - Paul - is a blast! You will also find the Lavers Hill accommodation is both reasonable in price and high in quality.

Article Source: Mark_C_O'Loughlin

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Things to Do in Melbourne, Florida

Melbourne, Florida is a city in the state of Florida that is not as popular as other cities within the state. Nevertheless, it has many fun things to do and enjoy with your family. Is quite, relaxing, and not so crowded like popular Miami and Orlando. Melbourne has a very nice climate for you to enjoy a peaceful and relaxing vacation.

Surf's up in Melbourne, Florida. Set on the Indian River Lagoon on Florida's Space Coast, Melbourne offers beaches, fishing, paddling and airboating. It's also the home to annual festivals like the Independent Filmmaker's Festival, Arts Festival, Aviation Day and Oktoberfest.

Melbourne, Florida, named after Melbourne, Australia, is a beachside city in Florida's Space Coast area with attractions for travelers of all ages. Experience true Floridian wilderness and camp out at the local state park, see a menagerie of wild animals from all around the world, learn about local history and explore two millennia of humanity through its works of art.

There are many things you are able to do when visiting Melbourne. We have put together a short list of things to do in Melbourne Florida that are fun for the whole family:

1. Visit the Brevard Zoo (brevardzoo.org) and do your part to help with its conservation efforts. A portion of the price of admission goes directly toward its animal conservation projects. Explore the zoo's exhibits and see more than 640 examples of animals from Africa, South America and Australia, as well as Florida wildlife. The zoo also hosts special events like ice cream socials, holiday brunches and traveling exhibitions throughout the year.

2. Spend a day or stay overnight in the Florida wilderness at the Sebastian Inlet State Park (no website; 9700 S. State Road A1A, Melbourne Beach; 321-984-4852). The park has three miles of beaches for swimming, surfing, scuba diving, boating, fishing and other water sports. Campers will find 50 full-facility campsites, each equipped with water and electrical hook-ups, fire pits, grills and picnic tables, and areas for primitive-style camping. Visit McLarty's Treasure Museum to see lost treasure from a Spanish fleet, or the Sebastian Fishing Museum to learn about the area's fishing history.

3. The Andretti Thrill Park (andrettithrillpark.com) has activities for kids and adults. Challenge your friends to a race on one of the four go-cart tracks, get in some practice at the batting cages, hit the links on the 18-hole miniature

4. Golf course - challenge other guests to simulated battle in the laser tag field or play classic and modern video games in the arcade. Andretti Thrill Park offers special combination bracelets so you can enjoy all the attractions in one day.

5. The Brevard Art Museum (brevardartmuseum.org) is the only museum of fine arts in Brevard county. The museum has a permanent collection of more than 3,000 objects that reflect more than 2,000 years of human history. The museum offers art classes for kids and adults, including bonding classes for parents and their children, in a variety of media throughout the day. Guests also have access to special traveling exhibitions of a variety of themes that change throughout the year.

We hope you enjoy your visit. Let us know how was visiting these locations we have provided you with. We would love to hear your thoughts and opinions.

Bon Voyage!

Florida Travel and Tourism
http://www.floridatravelr.com/

Article Source: Angela_Arias

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Torquay, Home To The Surfing Capital Of Australia And Bells Beach

Torquay is situated at the very start of the Great Ocean Road. It is not the official beginning but the actual coastal road begins here. If you are intending on a trip down Victoria's Great Ocean Road then in all probability you will begin your journey in Torquay.

Torquay is not the place it used to be. When I was a teenager and living and surfing in Torquay there was a resident population of around 3000 people. Today it is around the 12,000 mark and growing. It is a thriving community, almost a satellite of Geelong some ten minutes away yet still retains that seaside feel, perhaps due to the fact that much of its population surfs. It's about 80 kilometres from Melbourne which makes it a popular destination for people living in Melbourne. How better to destress from work than by having a few days relaxing by the sea. And if you are a surfer then that will be a bonus.

Torquay is at the very heart of surfing in Australia. It is the unofficial capital of surfing in this country and has earned this reputation for a very good reason: Bells Beach.

Bells Beach is simply awesome. It can be very playful when small and scare the pants off you when it gets big. And it can get very, very big. Every Easter the world surfing titles are held at Bells Beach. They are held at this time of the year because this is when we have a full moon and king tides at the same time. This results, more often than not, in a very big ocean swell. This swell is generated far out to sea and travels enormous distance before it explodes over the reef at Bells with thundering applause.

The winner of the Bells surfing competition at Easter receives a big bell trophy and must ring it as loudly as possible. This year's winner was so enthusiastic that he broke the bell in doing so. Adriana De Souza was the first South American to ever win this event in its 52 year history. He is from Brazil.

Bells Beach is very much on the tourist trail these days. Tourists just love to watch surfers out in big surf. It is often the first time many of them have ever seen surfing and you can imagine how amazing it must look. If you are reading this article because you are planning a trip along the Great Ocean Road then please make sure you spend a few days in Torquay and if you are lucky you just might get to see some of the biggest surfable waves in the world. Happy Surfing!

Here is where I let you know where to stay in Torquay. There are numerous options available from bed and breakfasts to caravan parks to new resorts. Have a look at this site which deals specifically with Torquay accommodation.

Article Source: Mark_C_O'Loughlin

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Take In The Sights and Sounds Of Geelong, Victoria

Geelong is the second largest city in the Australian state of Victoria, after it's big sister, and the state capital, Melbourne. Home to approximately 185,000 people - known as Geelongite's - the city is located about 75 kilometres south-west of the capital. It has a wonderful history being named in 1827, and first surveyed in 1838 just three weeks after Melbourne. The city was a port for wool industry and experienced a period of gold rush off the back of the goldfields in nearby Ballarat, it's not better known as being the place where Ford Australia makes it's cars.

This history makes up the sights and sounds of the modern city and these are just a few of things you can see and do while you are visiting:

National Wool Museum

26 Moorabool Street, (Corner Moorabool and Brougham Streets)

Located near the new Waterfront Geelong, and National Wood Museum offers visitors the full history of wool in the district starting from the 1840's through to the modern day. You'll learn about the different types of wool, how the fibres are used to create clothing, carpets, and other woollen items. There is a wonderful gallery, and a gift shop so you can take your own piece of woollen history with you.

Adventure Park

1249 Bellarine Highway, Wallington

Just a ten minute drive out of Geelong you'll find Victoria's largest theme park, offering a full day of fun for the whole family. There are plenty of water rides if you like a splash including The River Torrent Lazy River with tides and a tropical oasis, The Gold Rush Rapids and Six Lane Aqua Racer are designed for the thrill-seekers. The Tiny Tots splashzone is perfect for the younger children and for those who prefer to say dry you can ride on the Go Karts, practice your 'Hunger Games' skills on the archery, or perhaps have a leisurely round of mini-golf.

Art in Public Spaces

The state of Victoria is well known as being cultural capital of Australia and Geelong lends its hand to this with it's Public Art, offering visitors a number of unique art installations around the city including:

• Baywalk Bollards - Over 100 sculptured bollards installed around the Geelong waterfront.
• Cargo Boxes - A series of brass and glass boxes containing sculptures and artifacts recognizing early imports into Geelong.
• Paving Splats - 'splattered' around the central Waterfront precinct as pavement inlays.
• North - seven cement objects resembling sails or fins that vary in size from 2.2 to 3.5 metres high.

For bed and breakfasts in Victoria visit 'The Australian Bed & Breakfast Book'.

Article Source: Jim_J_Thomas