 |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
||
GIPPSLAND DISCOVERY
A majestic region of lakes, rivers, forests, beaches, national parks, valleys and villages, Gippsland epitomises “the lucky country”.
Within easy striking distance east of Melbourne, Gippsland is rich with history from the gold rush era of the 1860s and provides a wealth of attractions and activities for all the family.
The latest issue of Unique Places to Stay lists many of the best guesthouses and B&B establishments in Gippsland and on Phillip Island, giving you plenty of choice as you plan your holiday. You can opt for a weekend on Phillip Island coinciding with one of its major motor-sport events, then back it up with a few days relaxing in the tranquillity of a Gippsland town, such as Lakes Entrance or Metung.
One of the accommodation gems on Phillip Island is Glen Isla House, a small luxury hotel in B&B style, set in the grounds of the historic Glen Isla Estate.
Catering for discerning adults, there are six superbly appointed guestrooms, each with their own character and style. An internationally experienced chef prepares a country breakfast and evening meals can also be arranged.
GIPPSLAND LAKES
The Gippsland Lakes are Australia’s most extensive inland waterways and are separated from Bass Strait by a long line of sand dunes known as the Ninety Mile Beach.
Why not make a reservation at one of the superb venues at Lakes Entrance and discover why generations of Victorians return time and time again to this very special part of Australia?
For the energetic, there’s boating, swimming, fishing and bushwalking aplenty. A feature of the area is the large variety of birdlife, some of it quite rare, so it’s best to take a pair of binoculars. The lakes have many moods, depending on the season and time of day, so a camera is advised if you wish to capture the essence of the area.
Horse riding is permitted along certain sections of the Gippsland Lakes Coastal Park, while hunting for wild duck, stubble quail and hog deer is permitted in season only, provided all the required permits are obtained.
THE “PROM”
Wilsons Promontory, known to locals as the Prom, is the most southerly part of the Australian mainland, jutting into Bass Strait. It comprises some 50,000 hectares of pristine national park and a magnificent, rugged coastline with quiet beaches, long walking trails, stunning scenery and prolific native wildlife. Some of the highlights of the park include:
• The scenic drive from Yanakie to Tidal River.
• The sandy beach and swimming along Tidal River at Norman Bay.
• The kids will enjoy Squeaky Beach, with its pure white quartz sand.
The beach was once known as the “singing sands” because of the
sound it makes when walking on it.
• Take in the view at Mount Oberon for one of Victoria’s best
panoramas and to see how vegetation changes with aspect and altitude.
• Discover the Lilly Pilly Gully Nature Walk to see fine Australian
heathland, eucalyptus forest and rainforest.
GOLD IN WALHALLA AND KORUMBURRA
The prospectors may be long gone, but their exploits are still part of the fabric of Walhalla, a pretty village in the Gippsland High Country. Though only a handful of people now call it home, Walhalla was one of Australia’s richest towns after the discovery of gold in 1863 and had no fewer than 10 hotels, 30 shops and seven churches in its heyday.
Mains electricity only arrived at this mountain outpost in the late 1990s and many of its buildings have been restored to give visitors a taste of life in the early days of European settlement in Australia. There is also an opportunity to explore the old gold mines and try your hand at panning. Walhalla is the starting point of the Australian Alps Walking Track, which leads all the way to Canberra and would take about eight to 10 weeks.
A recreated pioneering mining town, Coal Creek Heritage Village is located on the South Gippsland Highway at Korumburra, where you can stroll through the cottages to see what life was like for the settler in the 1870s. There’s a blacksmith at work, you can have your picture taken in period costumes and visit the General Store for supplies. Australia’s oldest printing press is also in action here.
The South Gippsland Tourist Railway operates on Sundays throughout the year, using historic diesel locomotives along a 38 kilometre scenic railway track. The track winds along the foothills of the Strezlecki Ranges, with views across Gippsland and towards Phillip Island.
You can get a look at tomorrow’s technology at the Toora Wind Farm, just off the South Gippsland Highway at Toora. There is no charge to travel up to the wind farm viewing area. A comprehensive display on the project can be viewed at the Wind Mill Cafe in Toora.
BROWSER’S HEAVEN IN YARRAGON
Yarragon, a successful Gippsland pioneering town, had its start in the timber industry, with its first shops opening in 1879. Today, the town is given over largely to tourists, drawn by a village full of the unique and the unusual.
It’s a perfect spot to stock up on fresh local cheeses and wines, artisan breads and pastries, as well as arts, crafts, textiles and antiques. Dine alfresco in summer and beside a log fire in the winter months.
The trend to wellbeing has not passed Yarragon by – there’s a chance to experience relaxation and renewal and to be refreshed with yoga, massage, meditation, body balance, reiki and beauty treatments.
MOUNT BAW BAW HIGH COUNTRY
The spectacular Mount Baw Baw is good to visit all year round, but really comes into its own in winter when the ski season kicks in. While all levels of skiing experience are well catered for, it’s the beginners who have an ideal place to learn, with two specially designed lifts. Snowboarders also find ideal conditions, joining exotic runs like Champagne, Maltese, Drops on the Rocks, Slam Dunk, Old Hut, Bombardier and the Slalom run.
