Activities |
Phillips Island and Gippsland |
Attractions
Agnes Falls Scenic Reserve
Agnes Falls, at 194ft (59m), are the highest single span falls in Victoria. The falls are situated 100 miles (160km) southeast of Melbourne near Toora on the South Gippsland Highway. The Agnes Falls Scenic Reserve protects a small remnant of the forests that once covered the Stzrelecki Ranges. The canopy of eucalyptus provides food and nesting areas for a variety of birds, including the laughing Kookaburra and a range of honeyeaters. All plants and animals in the reserve are protected, and camping is not permitted. There are designated walking trails.Address: Silcocks Hill Road, Toora; Website: www.parkweb.vic.gov.au; Telephone: (0)3 131 963 (Parks Victoria Information Centre)
Gippsland Lakes Coastal Park
This park is unique and picturesque, offering lakes, wetlands, marine and terrestrial environments. It is a narrow coastal reserve covering 17,584 hectares along a portion of Victoria's Ninety Mile Beach, from Seaspray to Lakes Entrance. There are designated camping sites and a picnic area. Access to the park is from Seacombe.Address: Sperm Whale Head Road, Seacombe; Website: www.parkweb.vic.gov.au; Telephone: (0)3 8627 4699; Admission: Free
National Vietnam Veterans Museum
Next to the Phillip Island Airfield is Australia's only museum that deals with aspects of the Vietnam War, with more than 5,000 artefacts, memorabilia and photographs on display. The museum relies on volunteer staff who are veterans of the Vietnam War or connected family members, all uniquely suited to guide and answer visitors' questions. Displays vary from large vehicles and weapons to articles of clothing, badges, maps and personal letters.Address: 25 Veterans Drive; E-mail: vvmuseum@nex.net.au; Website: www.vietnamvetsmuseum.org; Telephone: (0)3 5956 6400; Opening time: Open daily from 10am to 5pm; Admission: A$10 (adults), A$6 (children under 15)
Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit
At Cowes, racing enthusiasts enjoy visiting the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, originally opened in 1956, which annually hosts two international motorcycle events, the Superbike World Championship and the Qantas Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix. The Circuit has a Visitor Centre, which includes information displays on the history of motor sport on Phillip Island, a circuit viewing area, a café, water gardens and wildlife enclosures. Guided walking tours take visitors to off-limits areas around the track, including the winner's podium, the pit lane and the control tower. Visitors may also experience an adrenaline-pumping triple lap ride with an experienced racing driver in the HSV Hot Laps.Address: Back Beach Road, Phillip Island; E-mail: info@phillipislandcircuit.com.au; Website: www.phillipislandcircuit.com.au; Telephone: (0)3 5952 9400; Opening time: Visitor Centre open daily, from 9am to 7pm. Guided tours daily at 11am and 2pm. HSV Hot Laps from 5pm, Monday to Friday; Admission: Guided tours: A$19 (adults), A$10 (children 5-15); HSV Hot Laps: A$295
Wilsons Promontory National Park
The Promontory (known as 'the Prom') once linked Tasmania to the mainland. It has been a reserved area since 1898, with its 80 miles (130km) of coastline framed by vast granite masses, mountains, forests and fern gullies. The focus for tourism and recreation is at Tidal River, about 19 miles (30km) inside the park boundary, where visitors enjoy the sandy beach at Norman Bay, and Squeaky Beach with its pure white quartz sand. It is possible to walk up Mt Oberon or take 'the Prom Lighthouse Trek' with a ranger along the southern section of the Park.Address: Wilsons Promontory; Website: www.parkweb.vic.gov.au; Telephone: Parks Victoria Information Centre: 131 963; Admission: A$9.90 per car per day. Multi-day passes for 2 and 5 days are also available
Excursions
A Maze 'N Things
As suggested by the pun in its name, A Maze 'N Things is a theme park that specialises in mazes, tricks, puzzles, optical illusions and other ludic delights. The great strength of the establishment, is that its exhibitions are aimed primarily at adults - and are of a high-enough quality, and are genuinely mind-boggling enough, to provide hours of entertainment to even the most jaded of theme park patrons. Truly discombobulating, the park's attractions are separated into four main sections: the Maze, consisting of over two kilometres of twisting, dead-ending passageways; Maxi Golf, a 19-hole putt-putt course that will bring even experienced golfers to their knees; Puzzle Island, an interactive area of challenges and illusions, including the Rotating Room and the 6.5-metre Look Out! Slide; and the pick of the bunch, the Illusions Rooms, where visitors will disbelieve their eyes, as they watch water flow uphill, watch themselves shrink, defy gravity, and even disappear. A Maze 'N Things is one of those rare places where everyone in the family - from grandfather to grandson - is pretty much guaranteed to have a great time, and is a highly recommend tourist attraction for family vacationers to Victoria.Address: 1805 Phillip Island Road, Cowes; E-mail: info@amazenthings.com.auż; Website: www.amazenthings.com.auż; Telephone: (03) 5952 2283; Opening time: Open daily, from 10am to 5pm; Admission: A$32 (adult), A$21 (child). Different packages and concessions are also available