Hi,<BR>My family and I (wife, children 16,13) are in Australia in December and I know its a while off yet but we are looking for general ideas for day trips from Melbourne and Sydney.<BR>We are coming from Wales UK so its important for us to absorb Australia in the 4 short weeks we have there whilst not trying to see too much,thus spoiling the trip.<BR>I hate some of the tacky tourist trails and I really would love to introduce my family to 'real' Australia. We plan to hire a car for some of the time.<BR>I plan to see some Cricket but we are interested in most things.<BR>Any guidance would be appreciated.<BR><BR>Muck

Hi Muck, <BR>We have just been to Australia, maybe our report under 3wks advice on Sydney/Melbourne will give you a couple of ideas. It's down to nr. 165 at the moment. Have fun planning your trip.

Probably best not done on a day trip - but Wilsons Prom is spectacular - and not part of the 'tourist trail'. It is however very popular and has VERY limited accom (as it's a National Park). Day trips away from the tourist trail - Point Nepean (and you can enjoy the wineries etc on the Mornington Peninsula, Point Lonsdale, Daylesford and the entire Goldfields region. In and around melbourne - the new museum, federation square, scienceworks, a trip along the Yarra through the port area and a visit to the immigration museum. And although it appears time and time again on this board - The Great Ocean Road is truely spectacular. Hope this helps.

G'day Muck, <BR>MaryK gave you some good info to start with. <BR>Especially the Goldfiels area and especially Souvereign Hill at Ballarat are highly recommented, both for you adulys as well as for your youngsters. <BR>If going to Ballarat also look for the Reptile and Wildlife Park. <BR><BR>You say Dec., just watch out once the School Holidays start. Accommodation can be hard to get and many places will then 'suffer' from an influx of holiday makers. <BR><BR>See what this countryman of yours wrote about Melbourne ( and other places ) during his visit last December. <BR>http://freedsville.org.uk/aus02/index.htm <BR><BR>When you first get to melbourne, try to arrange for a few hours with one of the Voluntars from the &quot;Melbourne Greeter Service&quot;, http://www.thatsmelbourne.com.au/con...Document_ID=76 <BR><BR>Another way of getting 'aquainted' with Melbourne is the free &quot;City Circle Tram&quot;. <BR>If you are interested in our History, a visit to the Old Melbourne Goal is a Must and the kids will love it. <BR>A link here: http://www.weekendparent.com.au/museums/oldmelbgoal.htm <BR><BR>Enjoy your visit, <BR>Mike<BR>

From Sydney - well, Blue Mts obviously. If it wasn't school hols I would recommend a trip to The Basin - at that time of year depends on whether you mnd sharing a beautiful spot with lots of others. The Basin is a camping, swimming, bushwalking spot only a couple of hrs from Syd - and getting there is half the fun. Take the bus to Palm Beach; then a ferry across Pittwater. The only facilities are loos and a kre are

From Sydney - well, Blue Mts obviously. If it wasn't school hols I would recommend unreservedly a trip to The Basin - at that time of year depends on whether you mind sharing a beautiful spot with lots of others. The Basin is a camping, swimming, bushwalking spot only a couple of hrs from Syd - and getting there is half the fun. Take the bus to Palm Beach; then a ferry across Pittwater. There are loos, but that's about it.<BR><BR>Spit to Manly walk (about 4 hrs) doesn't qualify as a day trip cos it is on the shores of Sydney Harbour - but still a top thing to do.

I like Bundeena south of Sydney - drive through the big national park, about an hour and a half from centre and you go through some pretty countryside. Bundeena reminds me of places from my childhood - few fancy houses and quieter than a lot of more built up towns north of Sydney. Good swimming beaches and not busy.<BR>May like to consider the races one Saturday - still a very popular past time. The best UK race tracks are better than those in Sydney and Melbourne, but still a good day out with a typically much more knowledgeble crowd compared to UK. Sydney tracks are nicer than Melbourne.

Out of Sydney, Myall Lakes, to the north, are just wonderful. National Park, boating, beaches. Consider that you'll be in school holidays, from about mid-December.

Thanks everyone for your comments,I have been eagerly investigating your suggestions.<BR>Could you tell me the start date of the school Holidays.<BR><BR>Thanks<BR><BR>Muck

The school holidays in New South Wales start on December 20 and continue until the last week of January. I am not sure about other states but it would be much the same.

Thanks Prue

School hols in Victoria begin on the 19th December - but some schools start the week before.

Hi Mucky,<BR>this is Mick from Newcastle (2hrs Nrth) of Sydney. the teenagers will definitely love any of the beaches - check out Tamarama - pretty but be careful of the rips etc wherever you go. Also be warned that it will be very hot. Aussie kids are brought up on &quot;Slip, Slop, Slap&quot; - ie be prepared for the heat around 100 over Xmas and New Year most of the time. Slip on a shirt, slop on the sunscreen and definitely slap on a hat. School kids are not allowed outside w/o a hat is apolicy most schools have adopted.<BR><BR>The Hunter Vally vineyards are excellent and would make for a great day trip - the teenagers might have do something else? <BR><BR>Definitely, Taronga Park Zoo - superb views although steep hills - a tip is to go down one side and have lunch at bottom and come up the other side or, better still, catch the Ferry over from Circular Quay, walk up to the top, lunch and go down hill in the afternoon back to the Ferry.<BR>The Cricket Test starts in Melbourne on Boxing Day and is Huge - book now for seats. The MCG also has a great Museum. The Sydney Test starts on Jan. 2. If you go, definitely check out where your seats are in relation to the Sun. I recommend the Brewongle Stand at the SCG - terrific seats at a reasonable price and easy to get to.<BR>cheers,<BR>Mick

Thanks Maryk, we leave Melbourne just befor the kids holidays so that should be good for our trips.<BR>Hi Mick, we are leaving Sydney on the 2nd Jan, Do you know where I can find a fixture list for the SCG for the week from 28th Dec?? <BR>I tried their sites but there is nothing past August yet.<BR>Thanks for the info, my wife and daughter did Taronga last year when we were in Sydney, my son and I did the bridge, daughter was too young by 4 mths !! So we will do both this time.<BR>Cheers<BR>Muck

Sovereign Hill in Ballarat is one of the best folk museums around and well worth a visit. They also have a sound and light show in the evening. Across the road from Sovereign Hill is the Gold Museum, also interesting. The old gold towns of Ballarat, Bendigo, Maldon and Castlemaine are all interesting with some beautiful Victorian buildings.<BR>From Melbourne, a good day trip is through the Yarra Valley (wine country) to Healesville (Healesville Sanctuary specialises in Australian animals and birds) and onto to Marysville via the Black Spur. The country along this route is really beautiful.<BR>In Melbourne, you must visit the Queen Victoria market for food, clothes and souvenirs. You could also take the ferry along the river to Williamstown (old port area with lots of eating places etc.) and possible stop off at Scienceworks on the way.<BR>St Kilda Esplanade on Sunday has a great craft market and is good for people watching, plus walk a little further to the cake shops at Acland Street.<BR>A longer trip would be to drive along the Mornington Peninsula (have a swim at one of the beaches), then take the ferry from Sorrento to Queenscliff, stop overnight and either return to Melbourne, or continue to the Great Ocean Road which is a must for your trip.<BR>If you are interested in cricket, you can visit the museum at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.<BR>

Thanks,<BR>I have a map in front of me now and I am wondering if the M8 motorway to Ballarat was worth avoiding, perhaps taking the M79 in Malmesbury/Bendigo direction then coming down to Ballarat then maybe to Geelong and back to Melb.<BR>Would this route be ok do you think?<BR>If the M8 is anything like motorways in UK its just a dull boring drive, which is not what I want.<BR><BR>Muck<BR>

The road from Malmsbury to Ballarat is an interesting drive - it takes you through Daylesford (very historic and full of good eats). it will make it a pretty big day. it's about 11/2 hours to Malmsbury and then another hour and a bit across to Ballarat - not counting any stops. The freeway from Ballarat to Melb takes about 1.25 hours - but you're right it is boring!

do your best to visit Canberra! But give it 2 days to see it properly! Wish we had spent more time. I am jealous of your trip. Getting on 2 weeks vacations makes it very hard to plan a long vacation like yours!<BR><BR>

Mucky,<BR><BR>If you find yourself with a car and some time, out from Melbourne there are a couple of nice trips.<BR><BR>For completely untouristed, there's Bendigo as was listed. Nice medium sized town but with something extra for the kids. Take some bananas and go down to the city park there, maybe an hour before dark. It's a nice tree filled area near the little river through town and a monument on the hill climb up to. Once it starts getting dark, bring your bananas down and you can hand feed the ring tailed possums who will slip up and take the pieces from you if you're still. No bread or other types of food though, this will harm the possums. Just fruit! Interesting little animals they are, with big eyes and fingers to take the food, sort of a noctural marsupial cross between a squirrel and a monkey. They all start to come around but are still a little wary, not aggressive. This was one great experience for all ages in our family including those that already live in Bendigo! The 1 to 1.5 hour or so drive north up to Bendigo is countryside and rolling fields.<BR><BR>The other direction is Philip Island. Here, also at dusk, you can pay a bit to see the little penguins (the actual species name) come ashore in groups on the beach and wander in a small packs up to burrows in the dunes above. It's a -little- touristy (there's a gift shop), but only from the human standpoint. The penguins are just on their daily commute. While waiting for dusk, you can tour the island, which is windswept and interesting and not developed. On one end of the island are rocks where seals congregate, an observatory for watching them and a winding path to take you down closer. The trip down runs south out of Melb along the shore, with a rolling mountain range on one side and the undeveloped coast along the other. A very nice day out.<BR><BR>Have a fun trip!

Hi Clifton,<BR>Thats a great suggestion.<BR>Bendigo was on my wish list I am certain now that we will get there.<BR>Philip island is also on my wifes schedule so I am totally confident that we will get there too.<BR>One further question;if I may.<BR>What time does it get dark in December and hat time do you think we should set off from Bendigo back to Melbourne after dark?<BR>Thanks Muck