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Cowes on Phillip Island is home of the Australian MotoGP

main Street Cowes You can take your pick: luxury, economy, or a combination of the two. You might feel spoiled simply because of the view you get each day from your Cowes accommodation. Being so close to the water in Cowes, no hotel or bed and breakfast will place you far from sandy beaches and marine wildlife. Native animals live or wander close, even if you do not see them.

Victoria in Australia is known for its great tourist destinations. Cowes, located on Phillip Island in Victoria, is one of these magnificent places. There are so many things for young and old people to do all day long. There are mixtures of adrenaline rush activities and activities that take it slow and let you enjoy a relaxing time on the island.

There are several restaurants planted all over the small island of Phillips. Many of them are premier seafood restaurants that offer up the best shrimp and fish in the Pacific. Enjoying classical Australian dishes or trying new tasty dishes has never been easier with so many restaurants nearby.

Boat rides are also a growing attraction on this island. These boats can cruise around in the bay, offering a great view of the city and a relaxing getaway from urban life. You can also choose to do sailing on the ocean. The warm ocean air and beautiful scenery will take that stress right off your shoulders.

There are also a variety of nature parks located on the island. Many of these parks are almost like botanical zoos. There are a wide variety of tropical and subtropical plants for people to enjoy. There are also many animals, some actually native to the island, for people to watch and to feed.

MotorGp Grand prix racing, believe it or not, is on of the islands most popular events. These races take place during certain times of the year and take place on the grand prix race track on the island. There is also a racing museum and tourist place where people can go to explore and learn about the drivers of the past.

Many charters on the ocean also offer boat rides that aim on seeing spectacular and some rare sea life while sailing. These nature trips go out in aims of finding whales and sometimes even dolphins. Some of the boats in these fleets are glass bottomed, offering a view that is rivaled by even the best underwater goggles.

Many of the institutions on the island are there to specifically relieve pain and stress, as well as attempting to make the body and mind mesh into one force. There are a lot of herbal living centers and spa treatment places all over the island. The spa treatments aim to get you relaxed and to get all of the crud of yesterday off of your body and mind. These places often help a lot with stress.

Where are the Best Place to Ski in Australia?
Charlotte Pass

Image by flyingpurplemonkeys - flickr.com

When most people hear the word Australia they will often think of the Outback or the large cities such as Melbourne. However, Australia is known for something so much more that makes it truly unique, great skiing. As there are numerous resorts and runs that the beginner to the most advanced skier will find challenging. As a result, there are numerous places to ski that can provide you with that sense of rigid beauty that Australia is known for with the traditional winter feel.

Charlotte Pass

Located in the Snowy Mountains this ski area the resort is in the town of Charlotte Pass Village. The area is completely snowed in during the winter which means that over snow transport is necessary to go in and out of Charlotte’s Pass. However, once at the resort it is clear that the entire town has become virtual ski area as you can literally ski from your front door to the lifts. This provides visitors from all walks of life that winter experience which is difficult to find in many areas of the world as large interests have commercialized the sport. At Charlotte Pass, you can see what it felt like to skiing 50 years ago when many areas were known to be inaccessible during the winter.

Dinner Plain

This ski area is located a little over 5.5 hours from Melbourne. However, the skiing is well worth the trip with the resort catering to mainly beginners as evidence by all of the runs at such skill levels. The resort is nestled in the high Victorian Alps and can provide everyone with that overall unique feel of classic Australian architecture with the wondrous beauty of Victoria.

Clearly, Australia has outstanding skiing for skiers of all skill levels. During the winter the various snow reports indicate snow fall amounts similar to what is experienced at the popular areas in the Northern hemisphere. This along with the one of a kind feel is what makes Australian skiing the well kept secret that only continues to build a vast grass roots following.

Arman Pascal is a journalist and winter sports enthusiast from New Zealand. He is often writing about ski resorts, ski tracks, snow reports, skiing destination, popular mountains and similar popular topics.

Article Source: Where are the Best Place to Ski in Australia?

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Visit some of the most beautiful gardens in Olinda Australia

The beauty of each season can be experienced in Olinda, one of the highest villages in the Dandenong Ranges.  The colors during autumn and spring are brilliant.  The summers are crisp and a layer of snow occasionally blankets the town.  The many antique, handicraft and art galleries are worth visiting. On a cold day, be sure not to miss a sample of scrumptious Devonshire tea.

National Rhododendron Gardens

National Rhododendron Gardens

Olinda also offers some of the most beautiful gardens in Australia.  One should see the National Rhododendron Gardens in addition to strolling through the mystical sculptures concealed in the William Ricketts Sanctuary.  The Dandenong Ranges National Park is the perfect place to meander through ferns, looking for lyrebirds, while RJ Hamer Arboreturn offers a brilliant forest hike to Olinda Falls.

Scattered along the Olinda’s roads are stalls that sell garden produce, flowers, eggs, chestnuts, home-made preserves and a variety of plants.  Unique Australian fauna, including emus, wombats, possums, echidnas and lyrebirds can all be seen walking around Olinda.

Each village in Mt Dandenong and Sassafras has antique galleries and shops that sell locally made jewellery, glass, pottery, leather, and ceramics.

Olinda can be found about 44 kilometres, or an hour’s drive, east of Melbourne.

Visit our accommodation website to find Olinda Accommodation options.

Shepparton is the perfect destination for families.

Nestled within the Goulburn Valley, a major center for agricultural and food processing (and also known as the ‘’food bowl of Australia’’), lies Shepparton.  The riverside town has a fantastic climate and offers gourmet food and wine, top quality shopping and a diverse array of recreational activities. Victoria Park Lake in shepparton

Shepparton is the perfect destination for families.  Kids will love the SPC Ardmona KidsTown Adventure Playground with its giant slides, cozy tree houses, miniature railway, mazes, flying fox, monkey bars and swings.  Take the whole family on a picnic at Victoria Park Lake, located in the heart of the city. Or explore the Aquamoves complex featuring state of the art aquatics—pools, spas, sauna, and a waterslide.

The ceramics collection at the Shepparton Art Gallery is top notch. For a hands-on experience try milking a cow at the Emerald Bank Heritage Farm.  Take note of the various life size fiber glass cow sculptures which have been slipped into odd places all around town as part of the MooovingArt project. At Bangerang Keeping Place you’ll be steeped in Aboriginal culture and history.  Get all your shopping done at local factory sale outlets for the best bargains.

There are a number of noteworthy local events happening throughout the year; in January there’s International Dairy Week while in March you’ve got the SheppARTon Festival and in November, the World Cup Show Jumping.

To get to Shepparton, which  is 179 km north of Melbourne, by car, take the Goulburn Valley Highway. Daily rail and coach services departing from Melbourne are also available.