Travel guide Victoria

  It seems when you go on holidays that Mum’s handbag turns into everyone’s bag! The Annabel Trends Shoulder Bag was given a very good road test on our recent family holiday to Lithgow in the Blue Mountains.     When we travel we do a lot of walking with the kids. Everyone has their own camera (around their neck) and their own drink bottle; I make sure I carry snacks and treats to keep everyone going, too. Then there are the beanies, jackets, towels, sun cream and everything else that you carry just in case you need it! That not only weighs you down, but also makes it hard to find something at the bottom of the bag, with all the other stuff on top.   However the Annabel Trends handbag is extremely lightweight, yet strong and features long shoulder strap... Read more

  The Magna Play Magnetic Puzzles from Haggus and Stookles is a cute little metal suitcase that opens to reveal magnetic pieces in all shapes and sizes, designed to get kid’s imaginations working, as they create all manner of objects from fairies to robots to animals. To help them along, there is a booklet with easy to follow designs, but we found our girls got the hang of it quickly and were soon making up the most intricate things.   Each brightly coloured magnet is quite thick so they are easy for little fingers to gently put into place and pick up. When we covered over 1,700kms in three days, we found the Magna Plays to be the most popular toy, and the one that kept the kids the quietest as they thought about what to make next.   The girls would open the suitc... Read more

Lisa Monk is a marketing communications writer with a diverse background that includes experience in travel, hotel, finance, public relations and advertising. She has worked with Club Med, the Holiday Inn group and on a number of other travel projects on a freelance basis. Lisa has travelled throughout Australia, Asia Pacific, North America and Britain. Lisa now works with occupancy.com, which powers both takeabreak.com.au and rentahome.com.au, as the editor of the Holiday Inspirations website and newsletter, and other e-publications. She lives in Sydney with her husband and sons.   Kylie-Jane Degeling is a freelance writer who has lived in Adelaide,Yulara (Uluru), Alice Springs and Canberra, as well as five different countries throughout the world. After backpac... Read more

  We all love to relax and get away from the stresses and responsibilities of everyday life, but more and more we realise the fragility of the many wonderful eco systems that comprise the Australian continent. We want to be able to leave our troubles behind and there is an inspiring way to do that, make memories and leave only footprints on our stunning landscape.   We have rounded up five of the top eco-friendly destinations on takeabreak.com.au to help you choose a holiday that leaves you – and our country – in good shape.   Anketell Forest, NSW Anketell Forest has history, location and eco awareness all rolled into one lovely property. All the timber used in the extensions, fittings and furniture was salvaged from fallen trees and milled and handcrafted ... Read more

  A trip to Maldon is a treat for any history buff. Listed as Australia’s ‘First Notable Town’ by The National Trust in 1966, this old gold mining town has beautifully preserved buildings dating back to the 19th century and a genuine steam train. At one time in history, the town had some of the world’s richest quartz reefs, with wealthy fortune-hunters flocking to the area where they built luxurious homes and businesses at the height of the boom. Today, the miners have gone, along with the quartz and gold – but in 2006 The National Trust referred to Maldon as “…the most intact historic streetscape in Victoria.” It is truly a picturesque preservation of Australian history.   Fans of Australian literature and movies will be intere... Read more

Once upon a time, planning a holiday was both time-consuming and expensive. It could involve a lot of map reading, phone calls and visits to bookshops or the library. Doing all that research and then developing an organised system to record all your findings was a major trauma. Thanks to the internet, everything is now so much easier - and often cheaper, too. For our Great Ocean Road accommodation, I went to the local travel agency and picked up a few tourist brochures on the areas we intended to visit. These are useful to get an idea of the significant sites and tourist spots, so I can choose to include them in our itinerary – or, in some cases, avoid them.   I then worked out a route using the NRMA Trip Planner, www.drivethere.com.au, which gives you the distance betwe... Read more

Sometimes, a person wants to escape the rat race and get back to the simple life. But not if you live in Walhalla! If you lived there, you probably wouldn’t encounter much traffic, as today there are only ten permanent residents! But it is this simplicity that makes Walhalla such a delightful destination to visit. Over a hundred years ago, thousands of gold miners and support businesses made this town a thriving community, but today only their ghosts remain.   Ghosts? Well – friendly ghosts anyway. If you fancy some intrigue, a local favourite tour is the Walhalla Ghost Tour where you will hear eerie stories about the characters that once roamed the town (and never left…).    Things to do: If the idea of a ghost tour gives you the chills, conside... Read more

If you are considering taking a break where you can achieve the perfect mix of excitement and relaxation, look no further than Victoria’s Ocean Grove. This seaside town situated along the Bellarine Peninsula offers visitors thrills, surfing, and plenty of natural beauty. Things to do: The proximity of Ocean Grove to both Melbourne and Geelong, combined with its seaside location, means that you will find something to keep you busy, whatever you choose to do. Whether you want to leap out of a moving aircraft, scuba, surf or sip wine, you can do it nearby. Here are a few interesting ideas to get you started: Adventure Park: Geelong has an exciting theme park that will thrill children and adults alike (hey – there’s even an adult jumping castle!). Themed water slides, trad... Read more

Pied-a`-terre is a French phrase for second home and that is exactly what the owner has achieved. This lovingly refurbished and renovated 1940s cottage is a self-contained B&B and is situated in a quiet street just a short stroll from Mildura’s CBD and the Murray River. From the moment you walk through the front door you are transported to an idyllic luxury escape. You will be greeted by wine and chocolates and as you walk further through the cottage you will find everything you need to make your stay enjoyable and homely. It is obvious the owner of Pied-a`-terre is passionate about the house, with a flair for decorating and yet still making you feel at home. Your visual senses will come alive at the striking red walls of the entry while each of the five queen bedrooms ha... Read more

If Mildura is an oasis of greenery and abundance in the normally dry Mallee region, then Pied-a`-terre is similarly a refuge of spaciousness and style within the town itself. It’s obvious that to the owners Pied-a`-terre is a “labour of love”  and you will notice the attention to detail and the warm inviting feel as you wander through the house. Nothing is forgotten... everything you need to make your stay memorable and enjoyable is provided. Pied-a`-terre  features five spacious bedrooms, individually styled using colourful and contemporary fabrics and furnishings and all featuring queen-size beds, crisp white linen, ample storage space and an inviting ambience. The main bedroom has French doors that you can open at night and just enjoy the fresh countr... Read more