Discovering Melbourne’s Green Side

Penguins, Phillip Island. Photo credit: Tourism Victoria.

Lela wrote this guest post about discovering Melbourne’s green side. She is a writer for HostelBookers.

Melbourne is the cultural capital of Australia with Victorian architecture, museums and galleries as well as large gardens and parks. Melbourne offers its eco-friendly side from the middle of the city to the shores of Lake Eildon in the foothills of the Central Highlands.

Lake Eildon

Just 150 kilometres north-east of Melbourne, Lake Eildon is a large artificial lake that is an outdoor wonderland with Lake Eildon National Park, a protected area of forests and open woodlands. Boating and fishing, bush-walking, mountain bike riding, water skiing and wildlife watching are a few of the activities available in this wilderness area. It is a great place for a family holiday or a weekend getaway for some quiet fishing.

Zip lining at Otway Fly Tree Top Adventures. Video courtesy of Otway Fly Tree Top Adventures.

Treetop Adventures

Melbourne is a green city where visitors can experience the rainforests up close. Otway Fly Treetop Adventures offers zip lining through the forest as well as treetop walks and dinosaur encounters.

Healesville Sanctuary

For viewing and interacting with Australian wildlife, the Healesville Sanctuary is one of the best in the world. It is a Nature Tourism Eco Certified park in the heart of the Yarra Valley, just one hour northeast of Melbourne. Koalas, wombats, kangaroos, dingoes, emus, platypus and many birds of prey are in their natural habitat, which is why this is such a unique experience for visitors. The Sanctuary saves over 2,000 injured or ill animals every year.

Werribee Open Range Zoo

Werribee Open Range Zoo is also a Nature Tourism Eco Certified establishment. It is 30 minutes from the centre of Melbourne and has the Pula Reserve Walking Trail where visitors get close to gorillas, monkeys, cheetahs, a pride of lions, a hippopotamus family and much more. Rhinoceros, zebras, giraffes, antelopes are grazing together on the savannah. Visitors can even book a behind-the-scenes wildlife encounter.

Koalas, Philip Island Nature Walks. Photo credit: Tourism Victoria.

Phillip Island

For a completely different wildlife experience, visitors go to Phillip Island Nature Park. An Advanced Ecotourism Certified facility, the Penguin Parade is the top attraction. It is a 90 minute drive from Melbourne. Along with the wildlife, the park offers spectacular scenery including coastlines and wetlands. There is also a Koala Conservation Centre as well as Churchill Island Heritage Farm with its historical buildings and gardens.

Visitors can explore the rugged coastline and see the fur seal colonies and other marine life. There are facilities for children to play freely, and the site is accessible for people with special needs. All of the revenue raised from visitors is contributed to research, environmental and educational projects.

Melbourne

The City of Melbourne has many green attractions too. The Melbourne Aquarium is the newest and largest in Australia with over 10,000 marine animals. There is also the City Square that is a car-free zone and a great pedestrian mall.

Great Ocean Road, Australia. Photo credit: Tourism Victoria.

Flora and fauna lovers should check out the Albany Motel Melbourne, located right by the Fawkner Park and the Royal Botanical Gardens. You might also want to check out the HostelBookers website for eco-friendly hotels in Melbourne.

The Great Ocean Road offers some of the most spectacular coastal scenery in the world. Beginning in Melbourne, visitors can take a tour where they drive along the cliffs and see whales, dolphins, kangaroos, birds and much more.

A Viking Tour Of Denmark

A young Viking in Denmark. Photo credit: VisitDenmark.

The Vikings have long fascinated history lovers.

With the historical TV drama series Vikings, there is a new wave of interest in these legendary figures in Europe’s history. In fact, 2013 is the millennium of the Viking invasion of England by the Danish king Swein Forkbeard in 1013 and the crowning of his son Canute as King of England in 1016.

In this anniversary year, Denmark is holding a series of exhibitions and events across Denmark. The idea behind these events is to recreate authentic Viking life and culture.

Among these events will be VIKING, a major exhibition, running from June 22 – November 17, 2013 at Denmark’s National Museum in Copenhagen. The exhibition, which will transfer to the British Museum in London in spring 2014, will feature the world’s longest Viking ship wreck ever displayed.

This 37-metre long warship, which carried 100 Viking warriors, is thought to be part of a royal fleet. It shows that it was possible for Vikings to travel across continents to colonize Iceland and Greenland and America and bring back traded goods from the Middle East, the Byzantine Empire and China.

In the exhibition, there will also be other historical artifacts including gold and silver from Yorkshire, Russia and Norway and Viking warrior-shaped chess pieces from the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides.

For true Viking immersion, travelers can take Viking-themed tours of Denmark to historical landmarks with reconstructed villages, battle re-enactments and sail on a Viking longboat and ride on Viking ponies.

Here are some other Viking tour ideas which VisitDenmark suggests around the country:

ROSKILDE

About 30 minutes west of Copenhagen, Roskilde was the capital of Denmark during the Viking Age. If you head to Roskilde, you should make time to visit the Roskilde Cathedral where Viking kings and queens are buried. Then see the five, famous 11th century restored Viking ships from The Viking Ship Museum. Try dining on an authentic Viking meal at Restaurant Snekken which is known for its New Nordic Viking Cuisine.

LEJRE

Head 10km south west of Roskilde and you will find Lejre Museum which was the centre of power at the beginning of the Viking age. Set by the river Lejre, you will see two traditional thatched houses and a collection of finds from the Iron Age and the Viking Age.

There is an open air museum called ‘Sagnlandet Lejre’ (The Land of Legends), which began as an archaeology site and has grown to an Iron Age village; a Stone Age settlement; the Viking market town of ‘Ravnsborg’ and a 19th century farmstead.

FUNEN

On the garden isle of Funen, there are villages, beaches and The Viking Museum at Ladby. Called the only Viking ship grave in Denmark, it is said to mark the final resting place of a wealthy Viking chieftain. Today, the imprint of the ship where he was buried is visible in a burial mound near Kerteminde Fjord.

For more Viking tour ideas, go to Visit Denmark.

More modern-day Viking scenes around Denmark:

All photos courtesy of VisitDenmark.

10 Unique Camping Spots In The UK

Surf pod near surf beaches in north Cornwall, England. Photo credit: Atlantic Surf Pods.

Sarah Riley wrote this guest post and shared her Top 10 list of unique camping spots in the UK for unconventional campers. She is the founder of Inspired Camping, a free online magazine designed to inspire camping and glamping adventures outside, often with a bit of a twist.

The United Kingdom really is a green and pleasant land, and when you mix that with a healthy dose of Great British eccentricity it results in delightful camping spots that are able to meet the needs of the more unconventional camper.

How does the saying go? Ah yes…

“Only mad dogs and English men go out in the midday sun!”

I think they have a point there! Here are my Top 10 Unique Camping Spots in the UK for Unconventional Campers:

Blackberry Wood, East Sussex

Fancy staying in a helicopter, gypsy caravan, curvy cabin or red London Double Decker bus? In the Blackberry Wood Campsite, you can pick any one of these delightfully quirky options.

Atlantic Surf Pods, Cornwall

If the beach is your escape and activities in the sea your pleasure, then Surf Pods (above) should also be your accommodation. Their voluptuous shape, coupled with beautiful surroundings makes them one of the most unusual glamping spots in the UK.

Skipwith Station, North Yorkshire

If you are a train enthusiast and like nothing more than to get your little white flag and whistle out, then Skipwith Station might be the place for you. You have the option of staying in an old train carriage, which is spacious, luxurious and definitely a bit peculiar.

Eco-Pod, Scotland

The Eco-Pod is a boutique retreat with an eco philosophy to make even the most discerning green camper feel good. So if your thing is receiving a food hamper full of gorgeous goodies to consume, (such as hand-dived scallops or handmade chocolate), while viewing their beautiful Scottish Loch with its own iconic castle dating back to 1320, then this is the place for you.

Bensfield Treehouse, East Sussex

If you choose to stay in Bensfield Treehouse, you will definitely feel like a bit of a cheeky monkey in the canopy of the tree line. With a huge tree trunk that goes straight through the centre of the house, you will never feel closer to nature while you monkey about.

Wild Boar Wood, Somewhere!

You would think that to run a campsite you would need to publicize its location as much as possible. That’s not the case for Wild Boar Wood. Instead, they only reveal its location once you’ve booked. Part of the reason for this is to keep this outstanding area of natural beauty untouched by the outside world.

Bouncers Farm, Essex

A commercial orchard with organic principles, Bouncers Farm is hidden away down a very narrow lane with high banks on either side. The trees form a tunnel overhead with their arching branches, which lead you to a very special place, filled with live opera music. If you want to stay here you can experience the delights of a gypsy caravan and get a unique and unconventional operatic experience.

Barefoot Yurts, Hastings

It is the peace and tranquility of the Barefoot Yurts location that makes this such a special place to visit. The two traditional Mongolian yurts can accommodate a family, couples or a small group of friends.

Jollydays Luxury Camping, York

This luxury camping experience helps bring the romance of getting back to nature that little bit sweeter. As one happy camper said: “Imagine The Ritz in a tent and you’ve got Jollydays.”

Roulotte Retreat, Scotland

On the Scottish boarders, in a wild flower meadow, you will find a collection of vintage French Roulottes. With names like Karlotta, Rosa Bella and Devanna, these Roulottes promise to give you a gypsy traveler experience like no other.

Wild Photo: Yukon

Camping, Chuck Creek in the Yukon, Canada. Photo credit: Tourism Yukon.

The Yukon, Canada’s most accessible northern destination, is a vast, beautiful, wild place.

Next to Alaska, the Yukon is in the upper Northwest corner of Canada. This wilderness travel destination attracts adventure travelers to Mount Logan, Canada’s highest mountain and the non-polar icefields located in Kluane National Park.

How wild is it? Here is the Yukon’s wilderness in numbers:

80 percent pristine wilderness;
483,000 square kilometers;
160,000 caribou;
70,000 moose;
22,000 mountain sheep;
6,000 grizzly bears;
220 species of birds and
34,000 humans.

Villa Holidays In Turkey

Villas in Gocek, Turkey: A place in the sun where the Mediterranean and Aegean Coast meet. Photo credits: Gocek Villa Holidays.

Villa holidays can be the perfect getaways for family travelers. In Europe, if you’re seeking a family villa holiday, then you could head to Turkey and stay at Gocek Villa Holidays.

On the Aegean Coast, the luxury villas are located in the town of Gocek, Turkey, which lies in a valley surrounded by hills, where the Mediterranean and Aegean Coast meet. With their private pools and beautiful views, the Gocek Villa Holiday luxury villas sleep eight to ten guests.

These Mediterranean villas are fully-outfitted for holidays whether travelers want a relaxing short break or a long-term stay. The travel company will start the holiday by shopping for basic groceries which will be waiting for guests upon arrival. Guests can also arrange babysitting/childcare, in-villa dining and a 12 island boat trip to see the islands around Gocek. If they want to stay connected or work on holiday, the villas offer complimentary unlimited WiFi.

Between April and September, Gocek typically receives 12 hours of daily sunshine which is perfect weather for sailing, quad biking, rafting and tandem paragliding. Exploring the area on bicycle is popular and affordable with bikes for hire at £7 per day. In the evenings, villa guests can dine out in town at seafood restaurants and dance at the salsa nights.

Find out more at www.gocekvillaholidays.com.

Here are more scenes from the villas in Turkey:

All photos courtesy of Gocek Villa Holidays.

The Wild Atlantic Way In Ireland

What is a road trip of a lifetime? In Ireland, that may be the Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland’s first long distance touring route. The Wild Atlantic Way stretches along the Atlantic coast from Donegal to West Cork, Ireland.

A Safari House In Kenya

TOP: Drawing Room at Sirai House; BOTTOM: Lion on the Borana Ranch conservancy. Photo credits: Aardvark Safaris.

Fancy staying at one of Africa’s best private safari houses? Then you might fancy a safari holiday at Sirai House in Kenya, part of Aardvark Safaris’ portfolio of private homes and exclusive-use camps for multi-generational family safaris.

Known for its architecture, art and design, Sirai House is an elegant luxury retreat located at the foot of Mt. Kenya in the private Borana Ranch conservancy.

On the 30,000-acre Borana Ranch, elephant, lion, leopard, cheetah, buffalo, giraffe, zebra and other wildlife roam. Safari travelers here can go on custom safari vehicles, walking safaris led by experienced guides and game viewing on horseback.

Bathroom with a view at Sirai House. Photo credit: Aardvark Safaris.

Says Richard Smith, owner of Aardvark Safaris:

“This is an extraordinary property on a par with top-end European villas. Surrounded by Kenya’s most dramatic scenery and wildlife, Sirai is a perfect house for families or groups of friends who want uncompromising service and style in a safari wonderland.”

Culture at Sirai House. Photo credit: Aardvark Safaris.

The main features of Sirai House include:

Six ensuite bedrooms;
Drawing room;
Library and billiards room;
Outdoor living with its verandahs, terraced lawns and covered dining places;
Croquet lawn;
Boule pit and
Heated infinity pool.

Bedroom at Sirai House. Photo credit: Aardvark Safaris.

In contemporary and classic style, Sirai House also offers its guests their own gym; stables; a wine cellar; private cinema; communications; private security and full staff (management, equestrian specialists, butlers and cooks).

Sirai House with Mt. Kenya as a backdrop. Photo credit: Aardvark Safaris.

In addition, guests can take a short helicopter ride to Mt. Kenya and go fly fishing or picnic or visit the Singing Wells where the Samburu, Laikipia Masai and Boran tribes water their livestock.

Another trip option is to take a bi-plane ride to Lake Bogoria in the Great Rift Valley to see flocks of flamingos or the Nile crocodiles on the shores of Lake Turkana.

Find out more at Aardvark Safaris.