MONDAY 21 FEBRUARY

Breakfast
Waves

1000
A Maze N Things
At A Maze N Things you can marvel at the mental confusion of objects defying gravity, rooms flooding without getting wet, a huge magic tap floating in mid air, or giant people shrinking into tiny versions of their former selves.

A Maze N Things
Phillip Island Road
Cowes VIC 3922
Tel: (03) 5952 2283
www.amazenthings.com.au

1130
Visit
San Remo and watch the pelicans being fed.

1215
Lunch
San Remo’s Fisherman’s Co-op

San Remo’s Fisherman’s Co-op
190 Marine Parade
San Remo
Tel: 03 5678 5129
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SUNDAY 20 FEBRUARY

0430
Hot air ballooning with Global Ballooning
You’ll fly for approximately one hour over the beautiful Yarra Valley and its vineyards, drifting gently over the countryside in a beautiful hot air balloon.

Global Ballooning
8-10 New Street
Richmond VIC 3121
Tel: (03) 9428 5703
Fax: (03) 9428 8473
www.globalballooning.com.au

0900
Arrive
At Rochford Winery from your balloon flight.
Rochford Wines is a fully operational vineyard and winery that houses a spectacular complex and a tourism award winning restaurant and café, as well as a permanent sound shell for outdoor performances.

Rochford Wines
Cnr Maroondah Highway & Hill Road
Coldstream VIC 3770
Tel: (03) 5962 2119
Fax: (03) 5962 5319
www.rochfordwines.com.au

0900
Return
To Sebel Yarra Valley and check out.

1000
Visit
Yarra Valley Dairy
Producers of fine farm cheeses, the Yarra Valley Dairy specialises in both cow’s milk cheeses and goat’s milk cheeses, which are sold throughout Australia.

Yarra Valley Dairy
McMeikans Road
Yering VIC 3770
Tel: (03) 9739 0023
Fax: (03) 9739 0101
www.yarravalleydairy.com.au

1100
Arrive
At Rayners Stonefruit Orchard
The freshest fruit is the fruit taken straight off the tree. Peaches, Nectarines, Apricots and other varieties to select from. It’s the ‘Garden of Eden’ in the Yarra Valley… and you can take an Orchard Walk through the groves of stone fruit trees, sampling the freshest fruit, and enjoying the company of one of our staff explaining about the fruit of our trees.

Rayner’s Stonefruit Orchard
60 Schoolhouse Road,
Woori Yallock
Tel: (03) 5964 7654
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As promised, here’s the itinerary for Day 2 of my 10 days trip to Melbourne!

SATURDAY 19 FEBRUARY

Breakfast
Causeway 353

0845
Depart to The Dandenong Ranges
The Dandenong Ranges have been a favourite escape for Melburnians since the boom times of the 1880s when members of Melbourne society would board a train at Flinders Street Station and slowly travel east to enjoy the peace, pure air and pristine forests of these Ranges. Taking tea in “the Dandenongs” became a custom, as did a lazy picnic under a shady tree, a bush walk through the forests of mountain ash, gums and ferns, and a night or two in a guesthouse. Not much has changed except the Dandenongs are now accessible to everyone.

1015
Depart on Puffing Billy
Puffing Billy Steam Railway is a genuine relic of Victoria’s early rail days. It is Australia’s oldest steam railway and one of the finest preserved steam railways in the world. The vintage steam train hauls passenger carriages through the Dandenong Ranges from Belgrave to Lakeside Station, via Menzies Creek and Emerald, a distance of 13km. A round trip takes just over two hours.

Puffing Billy Steam Railway
Old Monbulk Road
Belgrave VIC 3160
Tel: (03) 9757 0700
Fax: (03) 9757 0705
www.puffingbilly.com.au

1130
Disembark at Lakeside and depart to mountain villages, Olinda and Sassafras.
Sassafras has always been a popular weekend destination for city dwellers since the area was first settled in 1894. Close to Melbourne, Sassafras village has maintained its original charm, attracting visitors to its cafes, restaurants and tea rooms, specialty shops, quality boutique accommodation, antique shops and scenic drives to national parks and gardens.

Sassafras has always been a popular weekend destination for city dwellers since the area was first settled in 1894. Close to Melbourne, Sassafras village has maintained its original charm, attracting visitors to its cafes, restaurants and tea rooms, specialty shops, quality boutique accommodation, antique shops and scenic drives to national parks and gardens.
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I’m flying to Melbourne today (SIA flight at 945pm tonight) and I’m thrilled beyond words (or any other form of expression for that matter!). This is going to be my first time EVER stepping on Australia’s soil. I can’t thank Tourism Australia & Tourism Victoria enough for this opportunity. 😉

This is Day 1 of my 10 days non-stop, packed, and fully pre-planned itinerary for the SOUTH EAST TOURING TRIANGLE, covering Melbourne CBD, Yarra Valley and the Dandenong Ranges, Phillip Island & Mornington Peninsular.

I will be updating my blog with short & concise posts with some pictures (hopefully on a nightly basis); as Internet connection is provided in the hotel. So do visit my blog & leave me a comment or two! Any recommendations, feedback or query is welcomed! Seriously!  😉

FRIDAY 18 FEBRUARY

1010
Arrive
Onboard flight SQ5329. To meet Tourism Victoria guide Reiner Aderhold and transfer to accommodation.

Check in
To the Causeway 353
Melbourne’s newest 4 star boutique hotel located in the heart of the CBD. The Causeway 353 Hotels offers you modern hotel facilities, comfortable and fashionable rooms with LCD TV’s, King Size Beds and large bathrooms.

353 Little Collins St
Melbourne VIC 3000
Tel: (03) 9668 1888

Visit
Federation Square
Federation Square is a complete inner city block, the first ever to physically connect the central business district with the Yarra River in Melbourne. Situated at the heart of central Melbourne, Federation Square is a fusion of arts and events, leisure, hospitality and promenading.

Federation Square
Corner of Flinders Street and Swanston Street
Melbourne VIC 3000
Tel: (03) 9639 2800
Fax: (03) 9663 3652
www.federationsquare.com.au

Visit
Chinatown
(Lt Bourke St, & the laneways bordered by Spring, Lonsdale & Swanston Streets).
Visit the Chinese Dragon at the Chinese Museum and learn about the early gold mining days in Victoria. Take part in a Feng Shui tour or enjoy Yum Cha on Sunday. Eye-catching architecture, numerous restaurants, Chinese lanterns and wind chimes in Little Bourke Street make Chinatown an indulgence of the senses.
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