From Beaches to Ballarat

Snippets from our 2013 Victorian Holiday

Greg & Kathie Haar

“In 2013 due to the generousity of my brother Phil & sister-in-law Ruth, we were able to enjoy a fantastic holiday in Victoria staying at two luxury Wyndham resorts�

This is an experience we will remember forever.

“Torquay is a magical place offering a wonderfully relaxed lifestyle where Yuppies and Surfies exist together against a backdrop of natural beauty.�

If we had a spare million or two it would be a nice place to live.

Staying at the resort situated only a stone’s throw from the beach was a great laid back experience.

We made good use of the kitchen facilities and I took the opportunity to have some early morning walks on the sand with my camera in hand.

There was a good selection of local cafes and restaurants plus several well stocked supermarkets.

Our day trip to Angelsea & Bells Beach was a real highlight bringing back childhood memories for Kathie.

Liselle & Simon also drove up from Melbourne and visited us for a day.

Despite its many pot holes the coastal pathway was a pleasure to walk on and the best way to take in the scenery, sea breeze included.

“Leaving Torquay we were both feeling a little sad. There was also the question of how we would find our way to our next accommodation in Ballarat�

Also note the issue with the flat battery which we will try to forget.

Ballarrat, a cosmopolitian city, boasts all the artistic and cultural wealth that comes with its spectacular rise from a humble mining settlement to a world famous city. Money flowed into Ballarat with the discovery of gold in the mid-19th century, giving us elegant architecture, broad tree-lined streetscapes and cultivated gardens.

Thanks to this illustrious heritage, we have the best of both worlds - a captivating history and a contemporary urban lifestyle with outdoor escapes of all kinds. It’s a place where you can sip coffee in a chic city cafe, then, minutes later, be walking a bushland trail surrounded by the majesty of nature. (source - City of Ballarrat website)

“Our Ballarat resort was a restored Victorian bluestone mansion and former orphanage surrounded by extensive park-like gardens including its own lake�

The frosty mornings were cold, but also great for photographs.

We appreciated all the little details of the decor in the mansion - especially the unusual ceramic tiles that lined the stairways. They all added to the genuine historic feel of the place.

“Sovereign Hill re-enactment village”

Sovereign Hill is a place that surrounds you with historical sights, smells and sounds.

There are real Cobb & Co carriages, sprukers, maids, miners, marching soldiers, teachers, blacksmiths, town drunks and roving policemen.

“We loved the beautiful old theatre / concert hall�