11 Feb 09 Help the Victorian Bushfire Appeal

The 2009 Victorian Bushfire Fund to assist individuals and communities affected by devastating bushfires in Victoria has been launched by the Premier John Brumby in partnership with Red Cross and the Federal Government.

Make your donation through the Red Cross Website
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31 Dec 08 Happy New Year 2009

It’s the biggest night of the year in one of Australia’s party hotspots, the Great Ocean Road.  Remember to book some holidays along the Great Ocean Road in 2009.

Happy New Year!

19 Dec 08 Apollo Bay Restaurants

With such a large array of cafes, bars, and restaurants in Apollo Bay, where to eat is often a hard question to answer. From a selection of fine cuisine to a quick bite to eat, every dining option in Apollo Bay provides an equally unique experience.

Chris’s Beacon Point Restaurant
280 Skenes Creek Rd, Apollo Bay, 3233
Reservations: 03 5237 6411

Apollo Bay Hotel
95-101 Great Ocean Rd Apollo Bay, VIC 3233
Reservations: 03 5237 6250

Great Ocean Hotel
29 Great Ocean Road Apollo Bay 3233
Reservations: 03 5237 6240

28 Nov 08 The Twelve Apostles

The Twelve Apostles were sculptured by the wild and powerful Southern Ocean. The constant erosion of the limestone landscape by the ocean slowly formed the rocky cliff, gradually leaving individual rocks.  These are the world’s tallest limestone stacks and the most recognizable attraction in Victoria.

The Twelve Apostles Marine National Park, located 7 kilometers east of Port Campbell, is Victoria’s second largest Marine National Park and covers 7500 hectares along approximately 17 kilometers of coastline.  The Marine National Park itself is relatively inaccessible from the shore because of the powerful sea conditions and high cliffs, the park includes the Twelve Apostles.  The Twelve Apostles is the third most visited natural site in Australia.

We recommend a flight over the Twelve Apostles as one of the most spectacular ways to veiw the Shipwreck coast.

Location:
Southwest coast of Victoria, Australia, between Cape Otway and Port Fairy, approximately 180 Kilometers (113 miles) coastal length.

Population Centers:

• Warrnambool is the largest city
• Port Fairy
• Koroit
• Allansford
• Timboon
• Peterborough
• Port Campbell
• Princetown

Getting there:
Closest international and national arrival point is Melbourne, Victoria’s capital. Travel along the coast on the Great Ocean Road, or inland via the Princes Highway or railway to Warrnambool. Charters and rentals of buses and cars are readily available in capital cities and larger centres.

Weather:
Variable, but mainly moderate in all seasons, with very hot or cold weather usually lasting only a few days. Winters can be wet and very windy at times, but this provides enthralling spectacles along the coastal cliffs.

17 Nov 08 Employment and Work

Employment and work along the Great Ocean Road area is a hot topic, especially for travelers on working holiday visas. Employment bureaus are scattered all over the area and provide wonderful information for anyone looking to hire or acquire a local job anywhere along the Great Ocean Road.

The Great Ocean Road is one of Australia’s most popular tourist destinations and due to this employment and work in the area is always available.

Working holiday visas are a great way to experience Australia and earn money at the same time.  Main criteria needed to obtain an Australian working visa are that you must be aged between 18 and 30 years, and have no dependent children. Being issued for a year in your home country, working visas are a good alternative to a quick holiday on the Great Ocean Road.

Local jobs opportunities are largely generated by the tourism and hospitality sectors. Typical jobs in on Great Ocean Road that are in high demand include:

• chefs
• waitresses
• cleaners
• deck hands / commercial fishing
• diving instructors
• hostesses
• shop assistants
• bar work

Other sources of local employment can be construction and labouring work.

A service associated with employment and work along the Great Ocean Road is the employment bureaus. Being committed to providing high quality service to any potential employers and employees, employment companies. With friendly, professional staff, employment bureaus offer expert knowledge and resources to help accomplish employment targets.

11 Nov 08 Lorne, Victoria

Lorne is one of the world’s most spectacular natural amphitheatres. Located between Anglesea and Apollo Bay on the Great Ocean Road, Lorne has a fantastic wide beach and a street full of cafes and boutique shops that we all could spend a lot of time at.

Lorne has entertainment all year round but at new years the town swells to over 10,000 people for the Falls Festival (Music Festival) and Pier to Pub (”the largest organised ocean swim in the world”).

11 Nov 08 The Otway Fly Treetop Walk

The Otway Fly Treetop Walk is the highest and longest steel canopy walk in the world.
Walking among the trees is a magical way to spend a day of your trip. To complete the walk takes around 1 hour depend on how many photos you take.

The Otway Fly is 45 minutes drive from Apollo Bay if you are staying there
and you can spend a full day if you add Beauchamp Falls, Triplet Falls or Hopetoun Falls to your sight seeing. Drive back to Apollo Bay via Aire River on the coast and enjoy
the magnicent Great Ocean Road.

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09 Nov 08 Apollo Bay Victoria

Apollo Bay is located 195 kilometres south-west of Melbourne, around half way along the Great Ocean Road. Taking the scenic drive along the Great Ocean Road you will enjoy all the sight seeing the trip has to offer.

Originally a fishing and dairying village, the accommodation market in Apollo Bay has flourished over the past ten years. Offering beautiful beaches at the foot of hills with lush pastures, it is no wonder people extend there stay.

Don’t forget to see:

• Otway Fly (Treetop Walk)
• Triplet Falls
• Maits Rest
• Beech Forest
• Beauchamp Falls
• Hopetoun Falls
• Lake Elizabeth

Apollo Bay is a fantastic place for a stop over on your way to the 12 Apostles, but make sure you stay for two nights on your way back as there is so much to see.

07 Nov 08 Falls Festival

The Falls Festival (previously Rock Above The Falls) is held in Lorne on the 30th and 31st of December every year. The Falls Festival not only attracts some of Australia’s best bands but also a huge crowd for the New Years Eve celebration.
If your planning on bringing in your New Years in Lorne then book very early as most accommodation is book out in advance. The majority of people going for the Falls Festival pitch a tent.

More Information at the Falls Festival Website

07 Nov 08 Torquay Victoria

Torquay is Victoria’s surfing capital. You will find some of the best surf beaches in the world along with every surf brand you can think of At Surf City Plaza, on the Surfcoast Highway into Torquay. Two worldwide brands Rip Curl and Quiksilver were both started in Torquay by surfers.
Torquay is a fantastic place to getaway and if you have a family with teenagers, it would be very hard to believe you could make it through without stopping, staying and shopping.

Torquay is home to some of the world’s most famous beaches, Bell’s Beach (home to the Ripcurl Pro Easter Classic) and Jan Jac. The beaches found around Torquay are the reason this area is known as the Surf Coast and only 95 kilometres from Melbourne it is worth a trip for any visitor.

While you are there don’t miss some fantastic coastal walks you can take like Ironbark Track and The Jarosite Track.