Ok this is going to tak a while to write:
Ok Sydney to Melbourne is around a 9 hour drive (1 1/4 hour flight, cheap
flights are available for as low as $90 Aus $65 US)
Now if you drive the 9 hour drive, there isnt a lot to see apart from the
main highway. But the Blue Mountains, North, Central & South Coast areas
are beautiful and all within 1 to 2 hours drive of Sydney. Sorry Otzi, but
I'm a but biased, I was born and bred in the Riverina and its boring as bat
**** LOL. Actually it has some stunning Canola fields at the moment (oh and
BTW, the D70 struggles with the mass of yellow) Obviously it goes without
saying that Sydneys Harbour is its jewel, and you will find plenty to shoot
around there, including plently of wildlife (even seen dolphins in the bay)
I wont go over the Queensland area as it was well covered by another poster.
Victoria (my home state):
North East of the State down to the Yarra Valley is mostly bushland, and
mountains very pretty.
Yarra Valley is one of Australias top wine areas.
As you come into the top of the populated areas of Melbourne you come into a
place called Healesville, well known for the Healesville Sactuary. Here you
will find a lot of Australias natural fauna in there own environment.
(Check the link under my name and you will find some shots from there).
This area is the start of "The Dandenongs" a mountain range that flanks the
North to East of Melbourne, here you should find plenty of Aussie wildlife
as well as Puffing Billy, a very old steam engine with open window carraiges
that runs regularly through the mountains.
Heading south of there takes you down to what we call the Mornington
Penninsula (sp). this is another area full of wineries and stunning views of
the south east coast of Victoria.
As you start to head back up towards Melbourne, dont forget to head to
Phillip Island, well known for the Motor cycle Grand Prix, but equally well
known for its natural residents that come out at night, the Fairy Penguins.
and I believe Seals as well.
Cutting across from there brings you through Melbourne, Melbourne is a very
pretty and clean city with plenty to shoot, lots of great restaurants and a
stunning city skyline at night.
As you head West from Melbourne, there is a multitude of hidden treasures in
Victoria, if you stick to the main Highways, you will see nothing, but head
along the "Great Ocean Road" and you will see some of the most stunning
coastline you will ever see, try to time your trip so that you get to Port
Campbell before Dusk, because if you manage to get shots of "The 12
Apostles" at the right time of the day, it will make your whole trip worth
it (once again, check the pics on my link, of the Apostles)
Directly north of there (about 2 hours) you will find "The Grampians" a
mountain range that juts out in the middle of nowhere, some stunning
opportunities there as well.
You will now head back towards Melbourne, you will pass so much on the way
including a small mountain called Mt Buangor, great wildlife and waterfalls
(waterfall shot in my pics) you will then pass through the Regional City of
Ballarat, here was the home of the infamous Eureka Stockade which was
basically a revolt by Gold miners back in the Gold Rush days, there is
plenty to see here, from a town fully recreated to represent those days, to
a show at night imitating the revolt itself. Just a little further on is a
full size castle called Kryal castle, they do full on sword fights and its
made up to be just like medeval times.
Now one place that I suggest that you go to mainly because of the time you
will be here is a little Arty town called Daylesford, normally a pretty
little place, but at the time you are here, it is our Autumn (Fall), this
place explodes with colour, and its a great little place to stay and relax
for a while, they have natural mineral spas and plenty of galleries and
stuff to look at. The food and cafe culture is alive there.
Thats all for Victoria (well if I put everything, this would be huge)
Tasmania
Tassie is about a 45 minute flight from Melbourne or if you like its an
overnight trip on the ferry (you can take the car) Flights can be as cheap
as $45 AUS, the ferry has specials at times for around $99 + $10 for the
car.
The ferry stops at a port town called Devenport, I could go on and on about
Tassie, it really is one of the most stunning places in the world but its
cooler than most other areas in Australia. Head west from Devenport takes
you to Burnie, a pretty little town, then head south to Queenstown from here
you cut across What is called Cradle Mountain, this is truly Gods Country,
stunning views, breathtaking. You can also check out The Great Lake which
is not tht far from there. Then you head South to the Capital of Tassie,
Hobart. You can kick on from here to places like Port Arthur, there really
is so much to see and shoot, I could never put it all in a post.
You need to then head diretly north to return to Devenport to get the Ferry
back to Melbourne. Make sure you stop in Launceston and check out yet
another stunning little Gem of a place.
All along the way you will see Heritage buildings that are nearly 200 years
old (Shene Stables on my site, is my friends place he purchased a couple of
years ago which he is renovating). And countryside will be Green and lush
and full of Autumn colours.
Now I have only briefly covered 3 states and as you can see it would take a
long time to cover everything, I dont know much about regional South
Australia, or even Western Australia. The Northern Territory is worth
seeing (Ularu (Ayers Rock) etc), but it is a few hours flight.
My email address is
, drop me an email if you want any
more info, I travel all over Australia and am lucky enough to have seen most
of it.
Cheers
--
Michael Brown
Melbourne Australia
www.photo.net/photos/mlbrown
"Roger N. Clark (change username to rnclark)" wrote in
message ...
otzi wrote:
No bears here. And for some reason some one decided to give the
passenger a
steering wheel to play with. You'll thus find many drivers dropping out,
directing, pointing, arguing and ignoring perfectly good maps. Never
the
less one will find a spot or two to reflect upon only the distances
between
them tend at times to be a hours or days apart.
From Sydney there is inland the Blue Mountains and further inland the
Riverina area offers some capital sights. Best considered by map.
If you are considering places further afield, in Victoria there sits the
Grampian Mts. pretty but populated. (maybe not by your standards.) And
in
Sth. Australia the more photographic Flinders Ranges offers a good look.
Bit
more remote (?) but offering more ancient rock formations. This area
requires days rather than hours. We tend not to have the grand canyon
vistas you may be accustomed to. We can offer unlimited flat space
though.
Inland NSW just about affords the curvature of the earth from the roof
of
your car. Then again you can get that anywhere with a wide angle lens.
Car hire is essential but driving here is relatively simple. Fences are
put
along both sides of the road to stop folk wandering too far off the
track.
Can't go wrong really as being an island you'll eventually hit the coast
you
then just follow it around.
Otzi, others,
I do plan on renting a car, but will also consider
flying the big distances. For example:
How long is the drive from Sydney to Melbourne, and if you
visited places in between, what would you visit and how
long would that add? The other option would be
to fly to Melbourne, get a car and tour the Victoria
and nearby regions. Here is a link to a site that
explains different routes,
http://www.smallguide.com.au/itin-sydmel.html
but which, in your opinions, are the most interesting
and photogenic places to see?
Roger