Often called the Europe of Australia, Melbourne is internationally renowned for it’s cultural attractions. However, Victoria’s cultural credentials don’t just finish at Melbourne’s city limits and there are many regional and suburban galleries and museums which offer a truly unique experience. This week, we look at five of our favourites.
The first full week of July (in 2017 it’s the 2-9 July) is NAIDOC (National Aboriginal and Islander Day Observance Committee) Week. NAIDOC Week is a time to recognise and celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The event itself originated from a protest letter written by Indigenous political activist William Cooper in preparation for the Day of Mourning in 1938, (an important milestone in the Indigenous rights movement). Although there are dozens of celebratory events going on around the country to celebrate NAIDOC Week, we think it is also the perfect opportunity to discover some of Victoria’s important Indigenous cultural and archaeological sites. This week, we look at three important Indigenous sites around Victoria where you can go to learn more about the long history and rich culture of Australia’s First Peoples.
Although it is one of Victoria’s most iconic tourism destinations, the Mornington Peninsula can become quiet during the winter months as beachgoers and holiday makers seek gentler climates further north. However, there are still plenty of things to do on the Peninsula during the winter months, and with its proximity to Melbourne, it’s the perfect place for a winter daytrip. This week, we’ve come up with five ways you can enjoy the beauty and tranquillity or the Mornington Peninsula during the winter months.
The Mornington Peninsula is home to 32,000 little penguins and these petite, ocean faring birds have long captivated the public attention. Phillip Island is of course, the most famous location for little penguin spotting and this week, we thought we’d take a closer look at this beloved and unique creature through five interesting facts.
Grampians National Park is a place blessed with spectacular natural beauty, located in the rugged Grampians Region in Western Victoria. This magnificent nature reserve that was ravaged by bushfires in 2006 and again in 2014, and hit by floods and landslides in 2011, is now flourishing once again. If you are in need of some serious nature therapy, you’ll find exactly what you are searching for in this Australian National Heritage listed park. Here is our top 5 list of things to do on a visit to the glorious Grampians.
The Yarra Valley, just an hour’s drive from Melbourne CBD, has so much to offer: from wine estates and breweries to peaceful nature walks and wildlife sanctuaries, and everything in between. Despite its proximity to the city, a day trip to the Yarra Valley will transport you to a new world, one where you can truly wind down and appreciate the serenity. If you’re wondering how to spend your day in the Yarra Valley, here are three of our top recommendations.
With varied landscapes encompassing mountain, bushland, desert and coastal regions, Victoria is home to a diverse range of birdlife ranging from the vibrant to the rare. This week, we thought we’d look at three very different birdwatching hotspots in Victoria, which offer something for hard-core twitchers and novice birdwatchers alike.
‘Big cats’ are perhaps the most famous subject of Australian cryptozoology (the study of mythical creatures). Since the 19th century, thousands of reports describing large, feline like creatures have given rise to legends including the Gippsland phantom cat, the Blue Mountains Panther, the Tantanoola Tiger, and the big cats of the Sunshine Coast. Victoria is a hot spot for big cat folklore with sightings reported all over the state (save the semi-arid north-west), but none are as well-known (or as studied) as the Grampians puma. For more than 60 years, the Grampians puma has been a beloved campfire tale and when you look out over the wild, rocky terrain of the Grampians, it’s not hard to imagine a secretive cat thriving in the thick bushland. This week, we take a closer look at this fascinating piece of Victorian folklore.
Sovereign Hill is an outdoor museum set on a 25 hectare site in Ballarat which forms part of the world’s richest alluvial goldfields. This recreated goldfields township takes you back in time to the decade following the first Gold rush in Australia in 1851 when thousands of gold prospectors flocked to this part of Australia in an attempt to strike it rich. Sovereign Hill is a fantastic day out for both the young and old. Read on to discover 5 fabulous features that make this open-air museum a family-friendly attraction not to be missed.
If you feel the need to rejuvenate after the Easter break, why not treat yourself to a day at the impossibly tranquil Mornington Peninsula Hot Springs? Not only does bathing in natural hot springs come with amazing health benefits, it’s also a great way to get out into nature and socialise with friends. In case you need more convincing, read on for three great reasons to pay a visit to the Peninsula Hot Springs.
