Written by Jorn Monday, 26 November 2012

Awesome Victorian Getaway!

A couple of weekends ago we booked a tour to the Great Ocean Road and Philip Island. It was the first trip we’d planned in Victoria and it was a good one! After this two-day trip around Melbourne we came back fully relaxed!

Day 1

The first day we were picked up at 7:25, just in front of our Hotel. We were pleased to see that the fellow passengers were also (working) travellers so there were a lot of different nationalities on board. Our tour bus was called the ‘Black Pearl’, which looked like a pretty cool old mafia vehicle, much better than the other busses we saw.

When we started the tour we met our driver Campbell and he told us that we were going to do the Great Ocean Road backwards (from the Twelve Apostles to Bells Beach). That meant we first had a two hour drive via a more inland roads and would arrive at the Twelve Apostles for our first stop. The weather was pretty rough this day and the sky was clouded. Some said it was a pity (maybe it was), but I thought the weather fitted the dramatically environment the Twelve Apostles created.

While we were at the Twelve Apostles we noticed that there weren’t a lot of tourists at the lookout points. This is when we saw the big advantage of doing the Great Ocean Road backwards: no overcrowded look out points! We stayed ahead of all the mayor tourist busses and we crossed them all at some point.

After a day full of driving, sightseeing and a lot of humour we stayed in a nice and peaceful accommodation in Lorne. Here we all helped preparing the Aussie BBQ and had a few beers. The driver turned out to be a great BBQ cook, credits for him. We tried Kangaroo for the first time and it tasted perfect! The next day we would see them again, but in a different shape… The Wildlife Park.

Day 2

Before we went there, we stopped at a spot full of wild Koalas. There were dozens of them, just sitting in a tree and sleeping! The Wildlife Park itself was exciting to see, we don’t have those kind of animals in The Netherlands!

After seeing all those animals we drove to Philip Island. We crossed the Port Philip Bay by ferry before a drive to the island itself. When we arrived there, we first enjoyed the good weather on the beach. The driver was really flexible with the times we spend at each stop, so we spend a little longer to enjoy the sun!

We ate Pizza at a spot with an amazing view before we drove to the Penguin Parade at Philip Island. This all was worth-seeing and most of the girls went crazy when they saw the little Penguins! Afterwards we drove back to Melbourne.

From the pick-up to the drop off you could feel the organization of Wildlife Tours Australia around you. The driving / sightseeing times were in a good balance and we were all pleased by the humour of the driver. I really enjoyed the tour and so did all the other passengers!

Written by Jesse Monday, 24 September 2012

3 Days Great Ocean Road & Grampians National Park Tour

I have been on an awesome 3 day tour on The Great Ocean road and to the Grampians National park with a company called Wildlife Tours Australia. I had such a good time and I’ve seen so many different wildlife animals. The views where amazing, and it kept getting better and more beautiful!

Day 1

The first day I was picked up from my own hostel in Melbourne and we were with a total of 11 people. The bus was mend for 24 people so there was enough space. After we were complete the bus went off to the Great Ocean road which was so cool!!

The first stop was at Bells Beach in Torquay. We had a beautiful view over the ocean with a cup of tea or coffee in our hands. Such a good feeling and really nice to wake up a bit! After that we did an extra stop at the Splitlight lighthouse. Took some really nice pictures over there.

Next up was The Great Ocean Road Memorial Arch. As a sign of the official begin off the Great ocean road and to remember the soldiers that build the road.Then we went to the beach near Lorne and we saw the beauty of nature. Such pretty beaches, white sand and clear blue water. On our way to the next stop we spotted some whales and dolphins, wow! Talking about a wildlife tour.

Next stop was a park at Kenneth River with Koalas and carrots and Cacadu’s. Really cool to see those animals in real live!! The birds even sat on me. On my hand, my head and my shoulder, it was an awesome experience! After the fun time in the park we had a good lunch at Appolo Bay.

During the bus tour our guide told us lots of interesting stories about some historical facts; stories about the Wrack Coast, William Buckly and lots of other stories. They were told with a humoristic touch which made it even more interesting.

After lunch we stopped at a rainforest at Mait’s Rest. Really cool to see so many different kinds of nature. Also exiting cause there were also snakes and big spiders in the forest…

Next up was literally another highlight of de 3 day tour. We visited The 12 Apostles! I did a helicopter flight over there. It was so cool to see the apostles from above and just to fly in a helicopter! I’ve also been to the beach to see the apostles from nearby. I got myself some beautiful pictures from above and from nearby. I’m still amazed when I see them.

Close to the 12 apostles was the crash site of the boat where Eva and Tom were the only survivors from a terrible crash. It’s a story that I had never heard but it looks allot like the Titanic story. In the history books it is listed as the most tragic crash in the history of Victoria. The famous salt and pepper shaker are also there, big limestone’s in front of the coast. Just a 5 minute drive from the crash site is the London Bridge. The Bridge collapsed in 1990 but it’s still worth a visit and you can take some good photos over there.

We spend the night in Warnambool at Warnambool Beach Backpackers. A really good hostel with very friendly people.

Day 2

We started the 2nd day at Cudgee Creek Wildlife Park. That was so cool! You could just touch the wallabies, kangaroos, the koalas and all the other animals. You could come so close to them! Monkeys, dears, Cacadu’s, an eagle, a wombat and so many more animals. I even held a joey, a baby kangaroo in my arms. Also had a snake on my shoulders, a real python! A bit freaky but how many times do you get the opportunity to hold a snake on your shoulders.

We did a stop at the beach after our wildlife experience and we had the luck to see a whale from so close by! Unfortunately it was a dead one which stranded on the beach but still awesome to see it from so close.

Next up was a volcano at Tower Hill national park. You can walk around in the park and see what the volcano burst did with the nature, it looks so beautiful. All kinds of animals life in the park as well. After the walk the journey went off to the Grampians National park. We stopped for lunch at Dunkeld.

Next was a climb to the top of mountain Pinnacle, next to the Hollow Mountain. From the top you have a breathtaking view over the Grampians area. It was a walk with so many cool views and such impressive beauties of nature. For dinner there was a real Australian or what they call it; an Aussie Barbeque planned. It was my first time tasting kangaroo meat and it was delicious! It was a really nice Aussie BBQ with a really nice group of people. Overnight we stayed at Ned’s Bed in Halls gap. A good hostel in a little town in between the mountains of the Grampians.

Day 3

After a stormy night we headed off to Bunjil Shelter. It’s a place where the aboriginals made their cave paintings. On our way over there we almost hit a kangaroo that suddenly jumped across the road. Luckily it escaped but it was really close!

Our next stop was at Brambuk Aboriginal Cultural Center. A place where the tragic history off the Australian aboriginals is explained in words, pictures and videos. Many said stories about the Jardwadjali and DjabWurring. But really good to be told and I found it really interesting.

The jaws of dead were next on the program were we had such an amazing view. Everybody became quit when we saw the view. It was so nice! And I thought I already had the best views but there were so many beautiful sights. Nearby were the Mckenzie Falls. Some giant waterfalls which again delivered me some great pictures. The Mac Kenzie falls are part of an area were also the Clematis Falls and the Silverband falls are situated.

For lunch we went to Horsham. A little town in Victoria with an award winning bakery for vanilla slices. And they were really, really good!

Last thing on the program was the winery tour in Great Western. First we had a small tour through the wine shelters of Best’s Winery and after we could try some different wines. A really good closure of a brilliant 3 day tour! At dinner time we were back in Melbourne and that was also the end of the tour. For me it was such a good option to see so many things from Australia in just a few days. Although it looked like a long vacation. It was a really good time and I would definitely do another tour with Wildlife Tours Australia!

Written by Anna Stokes Friday, 24 August 2012

Yarra Valley and Winery One Day Tour

Join us for a leisurely day touring the famous wineries of the Upper Yarra Valley. The Upper Yarra Valley is known for its consistently cool climate allowing excellent growth of grapes for producing chardonnay, pinot noir and sparkling wines. We start the day at Domaine Chandon, home to the Moet and Chandon sparkling wines. The vineyards at Chandon were planted first in the early 1800s. Take a tour through the extensive winery and learn about making sparkling wine. We end the tour at Chandon by tasting a few of their exceptional wines.

Read more: Yarra Valley and Winery One Day Tour

Written by Anna Stokes Wednesday, 22 August 2012

Two Day Tour of the Great Ocean Road and Phillip Island Penguin Parade

A combination of hiking, sightseeing and wildlife watching makes this a truly complete tour package. And who could come to Australia without seeing a penguin or two or hundreds? We so enjoy introducing our tourists to the lovely Little Blues!

Day 1: The Great Ocean Road

From Melbourne we will take you on this 243 kilometre long road with stunning vistas and so many photo opportunities, even your digital camera won’t have enough capacity! Our first view will be the Twelve Apostles, which are shaped stacks of limestone that have a very significant meaning to our citizens. We will then take you through the Loch and Gorge, where you will be amidst cliffs rising above you to glorious heights. This is where shipwrecks often occurred. From here you will also be able to view the historic Memorial Arch, build to commemorate the soldiers who lost their lives in WWI. We will guide you up the Gibson steps where you will be able to see the full extent of the amazing Twelve Apostle stacks.

From here you will be able to enjoy an ancient rainforest, Otway’s Rainforest, where the tallest trees in the world live. Keep a sharp eye out for all the wildlife in this park! They can hide well! After the rainforest hike, we will take you to the Kennett River area where many cuddly wild Koala, melodic Kookaburras and colorful parrots live. See how many Koala you can find!

Day 2: The Great Ocean Road and Phillip Island

We continue onto the beaches off the great road and to a ferry ride to Phillip Island where you will be accompanied by seals and dolphins. From there we will immerse you in our native wildlife at the Australian Wildlife Park where you will be able to approach and photograph Koalas, Kangaroos, Emus, Tasmanian Devils, Crocodiles, Wombats and all types of native birds. While you wait for the Penguin Parade, you can explore the wetlands where you can see seals, birds and shy wallabies.

The height of joy and excitement, however, is at dusk when the Little Blue Penguins emerge from the surf and head to their nesting areas. You will never forget this experience!