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Snapshot of the week: a chilling scenery

Rotoiti Lake, Nelson Lakes National Park – New Zealand

It felt like to be staring at a canvas of a stunning landscape so pretty that made me breathless ... it might have been actually the temperature as I froze up while taking this pict at 7am after a dusting of snow the night before. This glacial lake, together with the nearby lake Rotoroa, on my opinion beats even the beauty of the fame Fiordland, maybe due to the fact that this spectacle was all reserved to us.

Posted by Marta 29.6.09 3 comments Links to this post  



The Great Ocean Roadtrip

We couldn’t have come to Victoria and not hit one of the most famous coastal drives of the world snaking for 250km along the spectacular unspoilt Victoria’s south-west coastline. I am talking about the obvious Great Ocean Road. This route draw heaps of tourists every year which majority come to admire the legendary Twelve Apostles.





When we reached the look out of this natural landmark I thought there was something wrong .... definitely not my vista, just had an eyetest, not going bonkers yet plus I was sober so what it was? Some of these giant limestone rocks have been eaten away by the power of the sea so they are not 12 anymore as I was expecting it but I think I counted 8 of them. So how long the one left can keep it up with the force of the nature? They are eroded at rated of 2 cm each year but if they are on your travel list too I would hurry up, you never know.



Lake Elizabeth near Forrest

However, there is much more on this coastline to be discovered. Even a drive along the rugged winding coast offer nonetheless magnificent views over the ocean that Chris had to hold me not to stop at every lookout for the inevitable panorama’ snap. Then we came across rough bays great for surfing lovers like Bells Beach, the untouched Otways rainforest, steep cliffs residence to uncountable underwater shipwrecks, the sight of sleepy Koalas on top of the trees and kangaroos on side of the road, so keep your eyes well open as there is a surprise at any corner.

Many will probably do The Great Ocean Road in 3/4 days but we spent 2 weeks wondering around, feeling the vastness space and soaking the beauty of Mother Nature also cause our beloved van, named Milky Way, decided to stop every morning unless she got a big push or jump started, but that is another (annoying for us) story.

West Barwon Reservoir, great picnic spot

Insights:
  • there are many great walks along the way, check out the Great Ocean Walk site;
  • if you want to splash some cash you might want to take a helicopter flight above the ocean but it doesn’t come cheap at $95 each for 10 mins(http://www.12apostleshelicopters.com.au/). Does this include take-off and landing, ummm??;
  • the great thing of the great ocean road it’s that is not only a terrific scenic drive but it was built after the WWI both as war memorial and to give a kick to the economy by giving work to the many soldiers returning from the war, indeed an admirable and smart act by the Government;
  • if you got time hit back to Melbourne catching the ferry on Queenscliff (http://www.searoad.com.au/ circa $68 for 45 mins crossing) and drive through Sorrento and the Mornington Peninsula coast, very pretty too.

Posted by Marta 1.6.09 8 comments Links to this post  

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Snapshot of the week: sleepy beauty zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Koala along the Cape Otway Lighthouse's road
You could spot many Koalas along this road though they camouflage really well up on the eucalyptus trees. They looks absolutely so adorable.
Do you know that a Koala spend 18 hours a day sleeping?

Posted by Marta 1.6.09 3 comments Links to this post  

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Melbourne: love at first sight

Coming from a land rich of history (Italy), at first sight Melbourne appeared to us just like another ordinary newborn city with not major attractions but that didn’t stop us to just loven’ it.

As we step in the city centre we were wrapped by a great vibe. The city itself is quite big but it still manages to be so accessible and keeps that cosy feeling of a small town where everybody knows each other. It might be also thanks to its multiculturalism, we never felt as foreigners as Melbournians come often themselves from a mix of cultural backgrounds.

My fav spot of the city: the city's graffiti on Hosier Lane
A big role was played also by its sunny weather: considering it’s autumn over here we enjoyed some great sunny days only break by few, out of the blue, drizzles of rain in the late afternoon and some chilly nights (still nothing compares to what we were used in the grey London); only now I could understand why they said you could experience 4 seasons in a day in Melbourne!
The contemporary Federation Square
It might be also for the full of character neighbourhoods like St Kilda, Hampton where you breath in the air that relaxed atmosphere and perfect Neighbour’s series-like lifestyle. Everybody are some kind of sports’ nuts, in a healthy way, whatever is football, cricket, golf, surf and many more. I could easily picture myself having an earlier morning jogging along Beach Road or the Botanical Gardens (I wish), catching up for gossip over a meal on a little bay side cafe’ (without doubt), do a bit of shopping (oh yes I am so good on that if I could only have a bunch of credit cards on me) among the modern city’s laneways, Flinders Lane, Collins Street, Brunswick street, hunting for bargains at the hawker stalls of Queen Victoria Market, picking up my own style at Richmond cheap but cool second-hand shops, hopping on and off the Melbourne tram before enjoying a night out attending a live performance, ohhh yeeeeees.
It’s seemed to me just a fab city to live in.
Melbourne lively streets

Posted by Marta 29.5.09 1 comments Links to this post  

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