Melbourne - Jan 08

[DesertSailors]

If I were a visitor to Melbourne, I would go to the Healesville Sanctuary, then have lunch in the Yarra Valley at a winery and then return home via our Dandenong Ranges.Jennie

 

Jennie, You have us hooked and we've contaced Southern Cross to take us on this journey for eight hours. Would you have any more specific recommendations for our day? How much time to spend at Healesville? Recommended winery for lunch? Thanks for all your helpful hints and great ideas!

 

Tom and Sherri

[Aussie Gal]

Tom and Sherri,

 

We have a number of good wineries in the Yarra Valley where you can eat. De Botoli is one which is very popular with great views. Here is the website:

http://www.debortoli.com.au/ Just look under the heading restaurant.

 

Another lovely one is Domain Chandon, which is owned by the French company Moet. We are going to take our visitors there for lunch in April.

http://www.yarra-valley.net.au/domaine_chandon/qamin.htm

 

A third one which is often recommended is Yering Station. Here is the link:

http://www.visityarravalley.com.au/accom_result1.asp?code=17786

 

This is only a small list of many wineries in the area but with each one you are assured of good food. I would book one of these if you can, either by emailing them or getting your driver to book a table.

 

Depending on what time you arrive at Healesville, I would allow as much time as you can, making sure that you leave there with 20-30 minutes to spare so that you can get to your luncheon venue.

 

Afterwards get the driver (if you have a few hours left) to take you back through the Dandenong ranges from Lilydale. He may even show you Puffing Billy. It does depend on what time your ship leaves. If it leaves at 5pm, then you need to leave the area around 3pm to make sure you get back in time before 4.30pm. The driver will know how much time to allow for the trip back.

 

Enjoy your day in our lovely city and I hope the weather behaves itself. It is a beautiful day today. Around 33C and is going to be like that all this week.

 

Jennie

[susierailroad]

Aussie Gal:

 

I've so enjoyed your posts. I think you've addressed this before, but...

 

If we are only doing one, would you recommend Featherdale or Koala Sanctuary in Sydney or Healeyville in Melbourne?

 

Thanks for your insight.

[Aussie Gal]

Susierailroad,

 

What a gorgeous name, I do love it.

 

It is very hard for me to help you with this decision as the last time I visited a Koala santuary in Sydney was probably well before you were born, back in 1959 when I was a teenager.

 

I can only speak for our one here in Melbourne and that is great. Look at the websites of all of them and this may help you make a decision.

 

http://www.zoo.org.au/HealesvilleSanctuary

 

http://koalapark.com/

 

http://www.featherdale.com.au/index.htm

 

I think the two parks in Sydney are privately owned whereas Healesville is run and owned by our Government.

 

Whichever you decide on, it will be a day to remember as our animals are just so different to anything you have seen before.

 

Jennie