Hi Mucky,<BR><BR>Well, the time you set to come back from Bendigo would depend on how long you are drawn to feeding in the park. If it's a day trip and you have your room already in Melbourne, I would think you'd be ok but will get back late. Sunset in Dec should be around 8:30 to 8:45PM. So, however long you stay after that. We were there earlier in the year, so the day was shorter. <BR><BR>It's about 120KM back to Melb, more or less, but it's almost all smooth divided highway with a speed limit of 80KMH or more.

Oops. Not thinking. It's as low as 80KMH in places, but up to 110KMH. Anyway, with the travel through the suburbs, it was a little less than an hour and a half back.

Hi Clifton,<BR>Yes we will have our hotel in Melb for a week so I don't really want to break that up, so it will be a day trip, its no problem we can get back by 11pm.<BR>Thanks mate.<BR>I showed the kids your idea and they think its great too!<BR>Not only have you made me happy but you have made 2 teenagers smile !!...hell one of them is female too.<BR>That's pretty good going !!!<BR><BR>Cheers<BR><BR><BR>Muck

Well, excellent!<BR><BR>I'm glad we found something everyone wants to do. That's usually a tough one. This is one of those little things that wouldn't ever show up in a guide book. It's just something the local people do to enjoy the evening.<BR><BR>You guys have fun and let us know how everything went when you get back!<BR><BR>Cliff

If you miss out on feeding the possums in the park in Bendigo, visit the Treasury Gardens in Melbourne with some pieces of apple and you can have them feeding out of your hand.

No worries mate (I am practicing my australian...lol)<BR>We will try to do both.<BR>Thanks<BR><BR>Muck

Did you know that there is a Welsh church in Melbourne? I have been told that they conduct the services in Welsh. It's in LaTrobe Street in the CBD - it's a little old church.

Hi Marg,
Yes we had spotted it on the map and we were quite intrigued.
I think we will pay a visit, however we are not really welsh speakers, or regular church goers for that matter.
But my wife has expressed an interest in visiting there, I think we probably will go along.Just to meet ex pats will be interesting as we are seriously considering migrating.
I just need to convince my 16year old son that life would be far better in oz.
This trip will also serve a purpose to sell the idea to him.
Any suggestions are welcome.....lol
Thanks

Muck

Hi Mucky,
I read all your posts with interest expecially the last one about convincing your 16 year old to come &amp; live in Australia.
Give us a list of your son &amp; daughters interests....This will help us all send you in the right direction... I may be a bit over the hill but I can tell you when I was 16 I was always bored stiff being with my parents on holidays as they would look at all the churches, cemeteries, drive drive drive when all I ever wished to do was to go somewhere warm &amp; swim all day. ( &amp; look at the boys)
However my husband was very happy to go for drives around &amp; look at the cattle in the paddocks see how fast the grass was growing ect.....he is still happy doing this...I still wish to go to the beach summer or winter.
Is your son interested in Car racing / motor bike racing/ hourse racing. Maybe enjoy's boating or try wind surfing / surfing/ water skiing, skate boarding....what is it he enjoy's doing... tell us &amp; we will let you know what is on in December which may suit.

Hi Aussiejoe,
Yes I agree with your thoughts.
I think my daughter aged 13 loves animals, has talked about being a vet caring for sick animals, I am sure she would love to do something like looking after baby animals that have lost their parents or horse riding.
She likes music and clothes and the usual girl stuff and boys too of course.
My son, is a bit more tricky.
He is currently studying for his exams before going to college next year.
He is interested in Journalism and Law !! Is chaiman of the school council and Head boy at High school.
So we really have a problem with interests that are not accademic.
It could be that he really doesn't know how to have fun !
Your suggestions for Car racing, motor bike racing,hourse racing, boating wind surfing, surfing, water skiing. Could all be a good pace to begin.
He swims but does very little sport.
He enjoys watching and writing about it.
He has developed a website dedicated to the local soccer team and that's one of his interests really.
He likes TV production and a visit to a TV studio for something like Neighbours would interest him.
He likes to know how large organisations work, like airports for example.
Yes he's not your average 16yr old..lol
You must understand that living in Wales we don't really have the opportunities for outdoor life that you lucky aussies do, so perhaps thats what we should look at.
Any ideas?

Thanks

Muck

Hope I'm not repeating anything here - i didnt read all the posts!

I wanted to re-iterate Bundeena as a great day out from Sydney. BUt I wouldnt drive all the way ther. Drive to Cronulla (about 35 mins from City Centre) and then take the ferry to Bundeena. The ferries go once an hour and it is a beaitiful 20 minute run. I lived in Bundeena last year (and got married there) and it is truly magical. Lots of deserted beaches, walks etc. Bring a picnic as eating places are limited to a coupl eof cafes and a fish and chip place!

I fyou fancy seeing some Aussie animals, try the Australian Repltile Park near Gosford (about 1 hour north of Sydney, straight up Pacific Highway and then the freeway for about 15 mins). They have all the aus spiders, tasmanian devils, snakes, wombats, dingoes etc etc and they have feedings and talks throughout the day. They also have Eric the crocodile but i have a feeling they only do feedings for him once a week and its crowded on the weekend. I am from London orginially and have lived in Sydney for 2 years. We have taken all our visitors here and they loved it.

I would also recommend The Hunter Valley wineries (2 hr drive), Canberra (4 hour drive), Manly, Palm Beach etc etc

Hello Mucky

Get a train up to Woy Woy on Central Coast, about 1 hr 15 mins from Central Sydney station and have fish and chips at 7C's on the wharf or if you have a car drive to Terrigal (about 1 hr 30 mins from Syd)-lots of 100 ft pine trees and a absolutely gorgeous beach. Great pub (Crowne Plaza)and fine food everywhere. You will see lots of Aussies enjoying themselves! Have a great holiday and do not miss the Central Coast as it is the way Australia used to be.

If your son watches Neighbours, 'Ramsay Street' is near us and I can give you directions if you are interested. Email address is [email protected]

Your daughter would enjoy Healesville Sanctuary - lots of Australian animals and birds (and you could try some Australian wine on the way).

Thanks everyone for the great info.
Marge I will mail you shortly for the directions if I may.
We did look at tours but its all too 'tacky' for me.
However just to get to Ramsay street and have a photograph taken will be great for both the children (my wife too...lol)
Thanks will be in touch.

Muck

Hi Mucky,
Just wanted to pick up on a point you made about not having the opportunities for outdoor life in Wales that Australians so much enjoy. We suffer from the same climate (Ireland) and this was one of the things we most looked forward to about Australia. We spent a month there in April this year.

The first thing I'd recommend is surfing - we took a lesson at Noosa in Queensland (but Melbourne/Victoria coast is excellent for this too), and we so much enjoyed it. In fact, non-sporty little ol' me thrived on it, and my sporty competitive husband was quite jealous! It could be just what your son, and daughter, would enjoy. The company we booked with guarantee to get you standing on your surf-board by the end of the first lesson. We paid about AU$40 for a 2-hour lesson.

The other thing we did was white-water rafting, and this would be a great day-trip which you could all do together. Not sure where it's available in the Sydney/Melbourne area, because again we did this in QLD, but it was such an excellent day out - over the rapids in a 6-person raft, and then in calmer waters jump in for a swim or just bask in the sunshine as you float along through the deep gorges. Not to mention lunch, which was yum!

These are just a couple of generic things, rather than area-specific, but hope they are of help. Enjoy your planning.

Anna

Hi Anna,
Thanks; your suggestion for white water rafting sounds fantastic, Surfing I can resolve quite easily but white water rafting may be more difficult.
Ok you Fodors experts....where can I do white water rafting in the Melbourne or Sydney areas?
I know you guys will come up trumps on this.
Thanks

Muck

I believe you can go rafting on the Mitta Mitta River in north east Victoria - a fairly long drive from Melbourne. However, unless we have really heavy rains during the winter, there may not be much water in the river.
How about a little gentle rowing (boat or canoe) on the Yarra? About 5 km from the city, you can go to Studley Park Boathouse, have a nice meal and try out the river.

topping for daisyho

ttt

We were originally from Melbourne, now living in Calfornia. You must go to the Grampians National Park, about 3 hrs drive from Melbourne. Gorgeous NP, wild kangaroos, wallabies, etc..running around. Excellent hiking to the pinacle! Our favourite NP. You could stay in a log cabin and see kangaroos from your window (if they happen to be hanging around). Another great place for shopping, eating, coffee, people watching is Chapel St, South Yarra/Prahran. Take a tram to get there, easy. Or South gate is a nice shopping/restaurant complex by the water. St Kilda beach is nice to bike/rollerblake/walk around..on the weekends they have stalls set up on the sidewalk. You'll fine excellent dessert and coffee in St Kilda. The best Italian restaurants in in 'Little Italy' (unofficial name) on Lygon street. Have fun!