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.
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
- 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
Labels: Australia, The Great Ocean Road
Snapshot of the week: sleepy beauty zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Posted by Marta 1.6.09 3 comments Links to this post
Labels: Australia
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.



Posted by Marta 29.5.09 1 comments Links to this post


