My husband and I will be arriving in Melbourne on Easter and want to take a day or overnight trip to a place where we can see kangaroos and hopefully a koala or two in the wild. We are not used to driving on the left side and had a terrible time in England. So I am looking for a bus tour. I have found a couple but want advice about where I would have the best chance of seeing <BR>wildlife, the Grampians or Wilsons Prom. We are not divers or beach folks. Should we go to the GBR even though our time in Australia is short? I'd appreciate any advice.<BR>Kris

For an overnight trip eitheer the Grampians or Wilsons Prom - but if it's easter you may have problems getting accomodation as it will be school holidays here. The best day trip for wildlife is to Healsville Sanctuary - the animals may not actually be &quot;in the wild&quot; but it's very much like it. Both The grampians and Wilsons Prom are more than 3 hours from melbourne - so you'd probably want to take three days with one there and one back and a full day there.

Well, to begin with the traffic down here in melbourne is a bit more relaxed than England although being Easter and all is a bit more than usual, if you're game to drive there is no need to go as far as Wilson's prom or the grampians which are very far from melbourne indeed. Gumbaya Park, Healesville Sanctuary are both excellent places to visit not only to see the kangaroos,etc. but the very extensive australian wildlife that a lot of people dont know about. Something much closer to the city than that maybe about 30 mins from the city is the Werribee Park Mansion which has an open zoo safari in which you ride in a mini bus and observe the animals close up in their natural habitat (no cages) the only thing between you and the animals is the mini bus, it is mostly african type animals Zebras,giraffes and even a cheetah but also the kangaroos and koalas plus the mansion itself an original from the 1800's or there about happens to also be a hotel and I'm sure with some more investigating you might be able to find some day tours . Although koalas are more difficult to see in open spaces as they like to climb up high in the trees or hide behind the branches.I hope this has helped

I live very close to Wilsons Prom. &amp; at times when driving down to Tidal River I have seen Kangaroos in the distance. They are in the wild but I wouldn't be driving that distance just to try &amp; see a couple.<BR>Look at a bus trip which will take you to Phillip Island Penguin parade which stops at The big work at Bass. &amp; ??? craft at Grantville. &amp; if you are luck to Koala colony on phillip Island.<BR>Better still drive down yourself. Freeway out of Melbourne &amp; divided 2 lane highway 3/4. of the way there. Would take you around 1. Hour. to Phillip Island.<BR>If you wish to see the penguin parade this is at dusk nightly so look at staying over if you do check out the Palican feeding 11.30.a.m. San Remo pier. I hope this help. Enjoy

Hi Kris,<BR>if you are not beach folk, I'd skip the Great Barrier Reef (or did you mean Great Ocean Rd in Victoria?). I've been to the Grampians and Wilsons Prom quite a few times and have seen lots more wildlife at the Grampians. Koalas can be hard to find there, they sleep during the day and are high up in gumtrees, but you should see kangaroos, wallabies, emus, kookaburras, etc. Halls Gap, which is the small town, is about 4 hours drive from Melb.<BR>The Koala Conservation Park at Phillip Island is good, you're almost guaranteed to see koalas, and you could go to the penguin parade as well - wrap up warmly, it will be very cold at night on the beach. There are different animals in different parts of Victoria, but for kangaroos, I'd go for the Grampians. Don't be tempted to feed them, however tame they might look.<BR>Kay