From my bedroom window, if I stand on tippy-toes and cock my head, I have a fabulous view out to Mount Dandenong. Whilst not a big mountain, it is the highest point close to Melbourne’s CBD and I am right at the foothills making it very accessible to some favourite spots and all within a 15 minute drive! How lucky are we?

In the short fifteen minute drive from our home, the road weaves up the side of the mountain, past tree ferns, towering mountain ash gum trees, through the small mountain villages of Sassafras and Olinda to the summit. From here, there is a spectacular view eastwards over the eastern suburbs of Melbourne to the city centre which is clearly marked by the towering skyscrapers but is totally peaceful and far removed from the chaos of city life.

Throughout the Dandenongs there are some well-known landmarks that are frequented by both national and international visitors. The most well-known being the historic steam train ‘Puffing Billy‘. The journey carries its passengers along a 24km stretch of track from Belgrave to Gembrook through forests and over the famous wooden trestle bridge built in 1899.

Another well-know location is the ‘William Ricketts Sanctuary‘. A four-acre property purchased by sculptor William Ricketts during the 1930s ended up expanding by the 1960s when the Victorian Government purchased the adjoining properties. William Ricketts remained on the property and continued to produce his Australian sculptures that can be enjoyed throughout the outdoor gallery, until his death in 1993 when he was 94 years of age.

There are also many less-known and well hidden treasures dotted through the hills. One of my favourites for that true velvet escape experience is the ‘Alfred Nicholas Gardens‘. Set on a steep slope opposite Sherbrooke Forest is a magnificent garden of rhododendrons, camelias, azaleas and other exotics dwarfed by the surrounding mountain ash eucalypts.

Taking the path that meanders down the hill through the garden, you arrive to a small, secluded lake with small walkway bridges and families of ducks. At the end of the lake is a little, wooden boat shed framed by the garden and mirrored by its reflection in the lake. It’s an image that could be straight from a fairytale book. It’s not unusual to have this secluded spot all to yourself!

This post was originally written for Velvet Escape.

Travel Photo of the Week: The Arch found on the Great Ocean Road

This photo was taken during our January 2010 family holiday along the Great Ocean Road. We were fortunate to have glorious, summer days during our time exploring the coast. This photo depicts clear blue skies and calm seas, which most definitely is not the case most of the time along this wild Southern Ocean coastline.

Where is Ras Mohammed?

Ras Mohammed National Park

Ras Mohammed National Park is located on the most southerly tip of the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt. It’s an extremely remote travel destination on the shores of the Red Sea. Access is generally either by vehicle or boat from Sharm el Sheikh.

I was fortunate to meet a German/Egyptian family who were holidaying for the diving in and around Sharm el Sheikh and they offered to take me to this remote destination in their vehicle. Access was probably even more difficult back in the 1980s as the towns on the Red Sea were yet to be discovered and developed into the tourist destinations we know today. The only access to Ras Mohammed was with someone who had a vehicle.

The small 4WD drive was loaded up with 6 passengers, scuba diving and snorkeling gear, and south we headed.

Diary extract – 18 July, 1988

Reef Fish on Local Postcard

“…We were stopped at a number of military checkpoints where Passports were required. Unfortunately, my passport was left as a security deposit with the Aqua Marine where the snorkelling gear was hired. Our host, who was of Egyptian origin, managed to confuse them at each checkpoint and we were not asked to show them. Whilst it was a mere 15km drive, it took an hour to get there! The last 5km was very much cross country and a 4WD was a necessity.

Desert Camels

We headed straight for the reef with our gear and I’ve never seen such an incredible number of fish of all colours and sizes. It can best be compared with swimming in a large, tropical fish tank found in your neighbourhood pet shop. We made it to the edge of the reef and the colours were simply breathtaking, as it plunged away beneath us. There were clams to be seen on the reef cliff and coral in many colours, shape and form. I’d not been out there for any length of time, when the others surfaced to say they saw a Hammerhead shark – I decided not to hang around and headed back to the safety of the reef…”

The Red Sea Dive Guide

Map

TravelTipsPlus Google Map of Ras Mohammed

One Great Reason to Visit Ras Mohammed

One great reason to visit this remote travel destination is to experience the diving and/or snorkelling over the reef, through an abundance of fish, to the spectacular reef edge.

Ras Mohammed from Sharm El Sheikh

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Where is the Great Ocean Road?

Twelves Apostles

The Great Ocean Road is one of Australia’s most popular travel destinations luring both national and international visitors to the south-western coast of the state of Victoria. I decided to spend my recent summer holiday exploring the region with my family. I will admit, I was a little apprehensive after my husband booked the holiday because I’d been to the area on three previous occasions and experienced miserable weather with horizontal rain! Not the best conditions for sightseeing.

A couple of days after Christmas we had the car and trailer packed with all our camping gear and set off early for the seven hour drive from Melbourne to the Great Ocean Road which is signified by a memorial arch just before you arrive in Lorne. The arch commemorates the returned service men that commenced building the road during 1918, and on to our destination, Warrnambool.

The Arch

During our 10 day holiday (my 10 day ‘digital-detox’) we enjoyed the beach at Warrnambool, a day trip to the ‘Shipwreck’ coast taking in the 12 Apostles, The Arch, London Bridge, Bay of Martyrs, Bay of Islands and Port Campbell. Helicopter flights over the coast seemed very popular with as many helicopters as flies!

A lovely day trip was also taken to the nearby historic township of Port Fairy where the children enjoyed a camel ride and I drooled over the historic cottages by the old inland port. From Port Fairy we visited ‘Tower Hill State Game Reserve‘ which is based around an extinct volcanic crater, so makes for some interesting landscapes and plenty of wildlife can be seen including emus, kangaroos and koalas. We were very impressed with the Worn Gundidj Visitor Centre. Its design blended beautifully with the landscape and is very well hidden within the crater.

Kirsty enjoying her digital-detox!

One of the highlights of our stay at Warrnambool was the ‘Shipwreck Sound and Light Show‘ at the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village. The spectacular laser show depicts the voyage of the ill-fated Loch Ard ship bound for Melbourne from England during 1878 and was wrecked on the reefs near Port Campbell. There were only two survivors which is miraculous in itself when you see the size of the cliffs they would have been confronted with. The Loch Ard Cemetery is located near Loch Ard Gorge and named after the wreck.

Our holiday ended with a superb meal at Simons Waterfront Restaurant. The restaurant is situated right on the foreshore of Lady Bay with a lovely view over the water to sit back and enjoy the sunset. We all enjoyed our summer, family holiday but for me, the digital-detox was very necessary and a chance to enjoy the 3D world!

Australia’s Great Ocean Road: Walks, Beaches, Heritage, Towns, Ecology and Sustainable Tourism: The Complete Guide to Southwest Victoria

Map

TravelTipsPlus Google Map of the Great Ocean Road to Warrnambool

One Great Reason to Visit the Great Ocean Road

One great reason to visit this travel destination is for the spectacular coast line that can be viewed via the scenic drive through coastal towns, national parks and open, salt-bush, cliff tops.

Great Ocean Road, Victoria, Australia

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