Blogs from Wilsons Promontory, Victoria, Australia, Oceania - page 2

Nous quittons donc les Dandenongs Ranges en début d’après-midi pour se rendre dans la péninsule sud du Victoria, la point la plus au sud de l’Australie, le Wilson Promontory National Park. Petit arrêt sur la route à Korumburra, histoire de se dérouiller le dos et de prendre des infos sur ce parc national. Le « visitor center » comprend un grand village reconstitué de la belle époque de la ville, quand ils exploitaient des mines à charbon. Du coup on se balade, c’est tout à fait du même style que Sovereign Hill, le côté tourisme de masse et payant en moins ! Mais faut être honnête, c’est complètement mort, les boutiques/maisons sont fermées car les volontaires qui tiennent ça sont rentrés chez eux (eh oui il est 16h !) On repart une petite heure plus tard ... read more

The Prom We rent a car in downtown Melbourne (Mellie?) and thank the powers that be that we had days of practice driving on the left in New Zealand. That would have been a harrowing drive out of the city otherwise! We’ve decided to head to “The Prom,” the nickname that locals affectionately use when referring to Wilson’s Promontory National Park. It’s one of Australia’s most beloved parks and is typically packed around Christmas and New Year holiday season. We read in multiple books and brochures not to ever, ever travel around this time of year since Aussies come out en masse to the beaches and the campgrounds, in the it’s-a-holiday-and-summer exuberance with which Americans celebrate 4th of July (no fireworks in the bush though…). But we have no choice and we’ll take our chances. Victoria ... read more

22 - 26 November 2010 We are now at Tidal River campground at Wilsons Prom. All I can say is get your booty down there. Wilsons Prom is the most southern tip of the continental mainland. The weather is pretty erratic and we were lucky enough to see all seasons while we were there. This place is magical and like nothing we have seen so far on our trip. It is great for the avid hikers and keen campers with so many hiking tracks with the most spectacular views. Beautiful pristine beaches, soaring mountains, enormous rock formations. We saw our first emu's, echidna and mother & baby wombat. As well as all the amazing birdlife - albatross, rosellas, blue wrens, ducks and of course sea gulls. Unbeknown to us, we started to set up camp near ... read more

Wilson's Promontory (trying saying promontory when you're bloody hungover) is Australia's most popular national park. It's about a three hour drive from Melbourne so Christen, Niall and I rented a car for the weekend to check it out, do lots of hikes and camp with the animals. Christen hadn't seen a wombat yet so this was her opportunity and boy was the place overrun with the furry sausage rolls. Overrun with 'em! ... read more

After a week driving around Tasmania, it was time to go back to the mainland. I flew back to Melbourne and spent another two nights with John and family, this time joining them for brunch (including coffee, of course... Melbournians love their coffee!) at a local playground, then a bit of much needed internet time interspersed with trampolening, driving dumper trucks, building Lego towers and watching Wallace & Gromit. My stay was topped off by a fantastic roast dinner, washed down by a lovely bottle of Tassie red. The next day it was time to leave Melbourne, so I said my goodbyes to the people and the place (I was becoming quite fond of the city!) and went to pick up my hire car. But Melbourne wasn't going to let me go quite so easily... the ... read more