Blog Update

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Milpera Apartments

Confirmed 5th & 6th nights of our trip with Milpera Apartments in Warrnambool city centre. From their website, this development was acclaimed as the best development in Warrnambool, and all the nine apartments were sold out prior to completion in August 2001. The cost is AUD185 per night for two adults and two children.

Pisces Holiday Park

Confirmed accommodation for the 4th night at Pisces Holiday Park. The park is located directly opposite Apollo Bay's main beach. The Ensuite Cabin comes with a double bed and a triple bunk, TV, sofa, dinning table, stove, sink, small fridge, attached toilet and bathroom, costing AUD 85 for one night stay.

Bluebell B&B

Confirmed the accommodation for first three nights in Melbourne with Bluebell B&B, located 15km from Melbourne city in Melbourne's eastern suburbs. Dr. G Kosa, the host, is very kind to offer early check-in (if the room is not occupied the previous day) or allows us to leave our luggage with them when we begin our sight-seeing.

The tariffs is AUD 100 per night for 2 adults and 2 children, inclusive of breakfast.

The Helen Lempriere National Sculpture Award Exhibition at Weribee Park

Launched in 2000, the Helen Lempriere Award has introduced a renewed vigor in the contemporary Australian sculpture scene. The Award presents a total of $145,000 to Australian sculptors – fundamental funds that help to cultivate the vitality of this art form. The sculptures of the selected finalists are exhibited in the gardens of Werribee Park, Victoria – a spectacular setting for the public to experience and appreciate the wide variety of sculptural work.

Visitor Information

Admission:
Adult - $12.50, Child - $6.50, Family (2A2C) - $30.00

Opening Hours:

November to April
10:00am - 5:00pm daily

May to October
10:00am - 4:00pm weekdays (Monday to Friday)
10:00am - 5:00pm weekends (Saturday, Sunday)

Open everyday except Christmas Day

Rippon Lea Estate

Rippon Lea is one of the last privately owned great 19th century suburban estates and one of the finest National Trust properties in Australia. Designed and built in 1868 in the Romanesque style, the mansion sits as the center piece of an original Victorian pleasure garden. The gardens are of international significance and include a grand Victorian fernery, a lake, an heritage orchard and a 19th century conservatory. The mansion is a mix of Victorian decoration from its first owners with the glamorous 1930s "Hollywood" influences of its last owner.

This place has many great potential for still life photography. Also an excellent place for our family portrait. Will definitely spend at least a morning or an afternoon here.

Opening Hours: Daily 10am to 5pm
(Close on Mondays during winter, Good Friday, and Christmas)

Admission:
Adult - $12.00
Child - $6.50
Family (2A4C) - $30.00

Sunrise and Sunset in Melbourne

The daylight hours in Melbourne is starting to get shorter from May. Luckily we still have around ten hours per day for sightseeing.

Collingwood Children's Farm

Collingwood Children's Farm is just 4km from Melbourne's CBD, and has many different types of farm animals such as donkeys, cows, horses, pigs, goats, sheep, geese, peacocks, ducks, chickens, cats, guinea pigs, bees and even earthworms, etc.

The Farm has its very own cafe serving breakfast, lunch and things in between. There's also a farmers' market open on every Saturday of the month. Since our flight touch down at Melbourne airport early in the morning, this might be the perfect place to spend our morning before checking in at the hotel.

Open daily 9am to 5pm

Daily Activities
10am - cow milking
4pm - cow milking

Entry Price
$16 Family
$8 Adult
$4 Child

Car parking is $2 all day

Panoramio.com

Found this super cool website panoranio.com that allows you to upload photos and put them on the map of the world using Google Earth. Just click on the balloon to view the photos.

Melbourne Observation Deck

Melbourne Observation Deck offers a spectacular 360 degree views from the top of the renowned Rialto building, right in the very heart of the city.

Opening hours:
Daily 10am to 10pm
365 days a year

Admission:
Adult $14.50
Child $8.00
Family (2A4C with ages of 5 and 15) $39.50

Note: Remember to print this coupon for a 15% off !!!

National Wool Museum @ Geelong

The National Wool Museum was established as Australia's only comprehensive museum of wool. The Museum is housed in an historic 1872 bluestone wool store near the port of Geelong.

Discover why fleece from Australia’s sheep has been the heart of the economy for nearly 200 years. Feel the variety of wool grown in Australia. Listen to shearers’ tales and songs as you relax in the shearers’ quarters. Marvel at working machinery involved in textile processes.

Interactive and working displays, including a 1910 Axminster Jacquard carpet loom, sock knitting machine and a 1928 AA Ford wool truck provide an entertaining and informative view of Australia’s rich wool heritage. Enjoy stories related by honorary staff, from life as a shearer to working in the textile industry. Each has a different ‘yarn’ to spin.

Opening Hours
Mon-Fri 9.30am to 5.00pm, Sat-Sun 1pm-5pm. Closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day and Good Friday.

Admission (GST free):
Adult $7.30
Child $3.65
Family (2A4C) $20.00

Wool and Wheels - Ford Discovery Centre
A special combined package is available for groups to visit the National Wool Museum and the Ford Discovery Centre - just a short stroll away. (Please note, the Ford Discovery Centre is closed most Tuesdays). Combined tickets are valid for up to 7 days.

Adult $11.50
Child $5.50
Family (2A4C) $30.00

Ford Discovery Centre

Geelong is also the home to Ford Discovery Centre, showcase of the rich heritage and the advances of technology in Ford's design, development and manufacturing operations.

One of the exhibit that I would like to see is the Ford Model T produced from 1908 through 1927.

The Model T set 1908 as the historic year that the automobile came into popular usage. It is generally regarded as the first affordable automobile; this was due to some of Ford's innovations, including assembly line production instead of individual hand crafting, as well as the concept of paying the workers a wage proportionate to the cost of the car, so that they would provide a ready made market.

Henry Ford (1863-1947) is commonly reputed to have made the statement "Any customer can have a car painted any color that he wants so long as it is black."

Another famous quote from Henry Ford is "If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing, you're right."

Admission: Adults - $7.00, Child - $3.00, Family (2A4C) - $18.00

The Carousel @ Geelong

Desperately searching for fun stuffs and activities to amaze my two princesses so that they don't have to wait till we get to Gold Coast to have fun. Having two grumpy princesses is definitely a no-no that I can assure anyone. Well, their definition of "fun" may be very much different from us adults, but this merry-go-round, err... Carousel will definitely amuse Georgia, or maybe Ashley too.

Opening Hours:
Seven days a week
Monday to Friday 10.30am to 5.00pm
Saturdays 10.30am to 6.00pm (April - October)
Saturdays 10.30am to 8.00pm (November - March)
Sunday 10.30am to 6.00pm

Admission:
$3.00 for children and concession
$3.50 for adults
$25.00 for multiride tickets
Group discounts are available

Free Wireless Access in Oz

Found this blog with a good list of free wireless access in Australia. Will come in handy ...

Got this link from the above blog that can help to search for free wireless access.

Queen Victoria Market

Queen Victoria market is said to be the largest open-air market in the southern hemisphere. Queen street is closed on Sunday to give way to cafes, carnival rides and other activities. Hmm ... sounds interesting. Link

Puffing Billy

Georgia would love this. Choo choo ... ... choo choo ... ...
Click here for the official Puffing Billy website.

Free Tram Ride in Melbourne City

Just discovered that Melbourne city has a free tram service call the "City Circle" that circles around the CBD area. The service operate daily from 10am to 6pm. Click here to see the service map.