[Cat©]

Well we leave in 1 1/2 weeks OMG! By then end of the month we will be almost in Victoria Eeeeeek.

So I was wondering - does anyone have any last minute ideas, suggestions etc etc?

-Ideas for vouchers to save on outings

-Must see events on at this time of year (we will be in Vic from about early Dec till end Dec) yes over xmas as well.

- anywhere we can spend xmas - we shall be around Mt Kosciusko by then, heading back towards Grampians area - well somewhere between there anyway!

-little things we must see - for example, my father told us about the huge worms in Gippsland area, that is so cool and a must see for the kids! So anywhere cool like that, train rides into cool forests etc, ferry rides etc etc.

Anything else? Any really bad areas to avoid - we wont be going to the city, well maybe for a day or two to visit the zoo and water? park

I cant wait, Motorhome all booked and paid, housesitter organised, haven't packed yet though! lol

Also posting this in SA, as we are going through there (from WA).

This post has been edited by Cat©: 18/11/2012, 08:04 PM

[bek_p]

We love the grampians the ice cream shop is to die for, there is also a zoo/ wildlife park there that's good
Another fave for us is sovrign hill in ballarat

Addit some walks in the gramps are still closed of but still a beautiful place to visit

[Cat©]

We wont be doing almost any walking anyway, ones in a wheelchair, but can I ask why many paths are closed? Time of year or fire?

[howdo]

Are you doing the Great Ocean Road? If so, Otway fly, even if you don't go up ( although I recall it's accessible) it's really cool. Also Ballarat and Bendigo are made of awesome. Hanging Rock is a nice park, Wollongong has a cool maritime museum. Puffing Billy railway in the Dandenongs at Emerald is also of the fun.

[Jemstar]

We went in May.

A few things we loved:

Sovereign Hill - Ballarat
Flagstaff Hill - Warrnambool, the light and laser show of the Loch Ard Sinking was one of the most amazing things I have ever seen.
The Great Ocean Road, and go inland a bit to the Otway Fly
Werribee Zoo
Werribee Mansion
Melbourne Botanical Gardens
State War Memorial in Melbourne

Some of these places might be difficult with a wheelchair though, so perhaps call ahead to check their facilities.

Lots of other things too, but can't think right now, we also enjoyed visiting little historic towns too, eg Port Fairy, Queenscliff etc. Highly recommend fish and chips on the jetty in Port Fairy!


I think paths would be closed due to fire risk Cat.

[howdo]

Oh Queenscliff and Port Fairy are cool, yeah. Little seaside towns are dotted all along there, very cool

[MakesMeHappy]

If you do go into the city you could do the Melbourne myer window. It is extremely busy, but I always take DS I love Christmas themed thing...

There is puffing billy steam train in the dandenong ranges.
www.puffingbilly.com.au/

The ferry from queens cliff to sorrento or vice versa
www.searoad.com.au/

I don't know of a waterpark in melb but there is one in geelong.
www.adventurepark.com.au/

In the city there is also the aquarium, which is much better than the one in WA.

Im sure there is much much more but my brain is not really working I just answered to things you mentioned.

I hope you have a great holiday!!

[kshy]

Port Fairy is lovely - I grew up there - a visit to Tower Hill - extint Volcano would be a must - very accessable. Definately fish and chips on the wharf - there is also pretty cheap boat rides out to Lady Julia Island where they used to be heaps of seals

We missed the laser show at Flagstaff Hill but I heard it was awesome - we booked and were going to pay on the night - but a huge storm came through

Otway Flys - we went 2 years ago, but was very wet - our kids love it, there is a path down to the treetops that has dinosaurs on the way but is a very long walk - they do have a cart that takes people back and forth - the treetop walk itself - not sure how wheelchairs would go, but was a beautiful walk

Bellarine Pennisula - will be very busy that time of the year, there is great and safe swimming at Point Lonsdale, much better then Torquay/Barwon heads or Ocean Grove - Ferry leaves from Queenscliff over to Sorrento - can get pretty pricey - have to pay for Motorhome and people

There is a water park between Geelong and Ocean Grove - there are about 20 rides of varying ability - from memory was about $30 each - not sure what it would be now

Sovereign Hill - my kids loved this

Have you thought of getting zoo memberships- they should be valid all over Australia - I know our Melb ones are

Vouchers - not too sure, I usually look online to see what I can find - only ones I know of are from the entertainment book, dont know if there is one Australia wide that would be useful

have a great holiday

This post has been edited by kshy: 19/11/2012, 01:08 PM

[Cat©]

Thanks so much all! I have been checking all these places out and marking them on our maps.

I have just organised Zoo tickets here to pickup Friday, they are annual memberships that will do almost all the zoos over there too (thanks for that kshy!)

Getting exciting!

Feel free to add anymore suggestions please even camping spots that are nice/scenic/cheap! We will try to free camp a bit to be close to places I can do some photograpy at but will need to go to camp grounds every two days to recharge the camper - so two days free camping, two days caravan parks. Gets a bit exxy at $100 plus per night for all of us.

[twinboys]

It will be school holiday time - so most places will be very busy but there will be lots of activities happening.
Pages like Whats on in Melbourne
or Thats Melbourne
Or even Kids Spot

These pages will have constant listings of events and festivals in Victoria.

Sovereign Hill is a really great place to visit and fairly wheelchair friendly

The Dandenongs are beautiful to visit but maybe hard to navigate a wheelchair around - narrow or raised walkways
They do have a parrot feeding area at Grants picnic ground that is free - just buy the seed.

If your kids are into the fire brigade you can visit The museum in East Melbourne and on Fridays they have demos - they are fun. I have a free family pass if you want it pm me your details and I can post it to you.

Hope you have a great time!!