breaking away

a little road-trip?

p&me loved driving around tassie, stopping in coastal towns for a few days and roaming

why not roadtrip victoria in the lovely skoda?

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Skipton Street Bakery - 1/522 Skipton St Delacombe  VIC  3356
Bakery in Dellacombe just outside Ballarat, Skipton Street Bakery scoops in pie awards (Ballarat Courier, 9 Sept 2011)
This is a golden year for the Skipton Street Bakery.The bakery and boutique pie shop recently won a gold medal and three silvers at the Great Aussie Meat Pie competition.It was third time lucky for the bakery, having won two bronzes in 2009 and one bronze and two silvers in last year’s competition.But this year it was the prized curry apricot chicken pie that had the judges’ mouths watering, taking out gold.Owners Andrew and Louise Juggins said it came as a massive shock when they found out the news.“We though we were in with a shot for silver or a bronze but definitely not gold,” said Mr Juggins, who has been a baker for 25 years. “Anything more than what we had won in the previous two years was just a bonus.”The pair have owned the bakery for three years and believe they have almost mastered the art of the pie. After all, they make about 1000 of them each week.“It’s good to put Ballarat on the map and we think we are doing Ballarat proud,” Mrs Juggins said. “But it’s not just us two, there are about 10 dedicated staff and we couldn’t do it without them.”The bakery also won silvers for its satay chicken, plain meat and chunky meat pies.



Discovery Bay Coastal Park, Lower Glenelg National Park (brochure Parks Victoria)

some ideas...
Cape Bridgewater walks

near Cape Bridgewater - Shelly Beach Retreat

link via Stayz

Shelly Beach Retreat itself is undisputedly in a "stand out" location making it a very special place to be. Secreted within a Coastal Reserve with stunning unspoilt panoramic coastal views across Bridgewater Bay to the Bridgewater and Nelson Capes, no other house is visible from the Retreat ensuring absolute privacy. Regardless of the weather the endlessly changing ocean view (and the occasional whale) can be enjoyed from one of 2 decks or from beside the cosy wood fire through the large windows. 

The isolation means it is unusual to see other people, or even footprints, whist walking along the pristine beaches. The 250 km-long Great South West Walk meanders past the property. Sections of this walk can be enjoyed along beaches, rugged cliff tops and through nearby tall eucalypt forests. A large breeding colony of Fur Seals can be viewed from the cliff-tops, and native fauna are often sited close to the house. 

February - $185 per night

1 Feb 13

28 Mar 13

Tariff 1

$185

$390

$1400

2 nights

$38

$20

GPS Address: 1363 Bridgewater road, Cape Bridgewater

Follow the double highway into Portland

Turn right into Otway Street at the William Dutton Motel. Otway st becomes the Cape Bridgewater Rd.

Drive aprox 18 kms to the Brown highway sign indicating Cape Bridgewater straight ahead and the Bridgewater Lakes to the right.

THIS SIGN IS CRITICAL! The sign stands right on the entrance to Shelly Beach Retreat. If you reach the actual intersection you have gone too far. The track turns back towards Portland parallel to the road, then turns towards the sea to the house.

KEY. The key to the house will be left in the frige in the garage. Please lock the house prior to departure and replace the key.

TELEPHONE. There is no mobile reception at the house, but mobiles can be operated from higher ground on the cape beyond the cafe. You are welcome to use the house phones for local calls and for incoming calls. The number is (03) 55 267255.

Apollo Bay - CUTHBERTSON (link via Stayz)

LINEN NOT PROVIDED.
Small and neat 2 bedroom cottage. Great for two couples or a family searching for a peaceful getaway without all the glitz and glamour.
(POA for February - minimum 2 nights - approximately $100 per night)

28 Jan 13

08 Mar 13

Holiday

$683.55

2

Sandpiper Motel Apollo Bay

$130 per night - book online
Secreted away these rooms stand alone in the resident orchard. Ground floor with easy access through the lavendar passage these compact beauties feel a world away offering Ocean sounds & morning birdsong 80cm LCD Austar TV & Ipod docking. FREE WI-FI


3 Murray St, Apollo Bay

Simple, stylish and contemporary accommodation at reasonable rates close to the beach and all the attractions of Apollo Bay.

Port Campbell - Southern Comfort (link via Stayz)

Enjoy the privacy of a fully self-contained cottage, set on one acre. Surrounded by the coastal scrub of Port Campbell National Park, the closest neighbours are a kilometre away in the little village of Princetown. 

The sea side town of Port Campbell is just 10 minutes away, offering a safe swimming beach, cafes and gift shops
Minimum 2 nights - February, $145 per night

29 Jan 13

28 Mar 13

Tariff 1

$145

$290

$1015

2 nights

$0

$0

Port Campbell - Port O'Call Motel book online

The Port O'Call Motel has 7 comfortable rooms situated in private native gardens. The property facilities include a barbecue area. Whether you are a family, a group, or a couple looking for a spectatcular getaway, Port O'Call Motel will not disappoint.
Double $132 per night / Queen $136 per night
book online, ph (03) 5598 6206

Port Campbell - Loch Ard Motor Inn  book online

Located just 20 metres from Port Campbell Beach, Loch Ard Motor Inn offers beachfront accommodation with free parking on site and free Wi-Fi access. All rooms feature a private balcony with views of the sea.

Air-conditioned guest rooms have a kitchenette with a fridge, a microwave and kitchenware. Amenities include a work desk, a DVD player and a flat-screen TV. The en suite bathroom comes with toiletries and a hairdryer.

The motel offers barbecue facilities and there are dining options only 2 minutes’ walk away. Guests can borrow movies free of charge from the DVD library. Luggage storage is provided.

Port Campbell - Eastern Reef Cottages

 website

Designed, built and owner managed by The Loving Family.
We take great pride in offering you quality, affordable accommodation in five self contained cottages each with individual, creative and eco friendly designs.
Crafted by the owners from Earth and reclaimed timbers.

Bay Reef Cottage
book online $100 deal
This is a one bedroom self contained cottage we built from radial sawn reclaimed timber with polished floor boards inside. One double bed and one sofa bed if required. Hand made bed and polished slab bench tops.

One-Bedroom Cottage Prices are per bungalow Included in room price: 10 % VAT.

• Special conditions

AUD 140 AUD 100

Graeme aka "station cat"

I am one of the lucky locals to know Graeme
A chance conversation today revealed Graeme's true identity (I just called him "station cat"), enormous popularity and some of his charming habits.

(from his Facebook page)

Personal Interests	Hanging out at the local train station. Occasionally riding the train. Being a cat about town. Jogging. Loves ice cream and knitted fabrics. (Please don't give him access to either) Greatly dislikes "Sabotage" by The Beastie Boys.

Here's an article all about him,

Graeme the cat gains rock-star status on the Hurstbridge line

Greg Thom 

From:Herald Sun, 17 September 2011

GRAEME the trainspotting cat has attained rock star status among commuters at his station.
Every morning the laid-back feline leaves home and saunters down to the platform on the Hurstbridge line to mix with travellers heading off to work.

A COMMUTER GIVES GRAEME A PAT

The pampered cat cannot get enough of attention, with scores of regulars calling him by name as they stop for a chat and give him a pat on the head.

Safety conscious, the sociable moggie is meticulous about using the subway to cross to the city-bound platform, rather than take a dangerous short cut across the tracks.

When the evening peak comes around, Graeme puts on an encore performance, arriving at the opposite platform in time to greet owner Nicole Weinrich as she returns home from work.

"He always seems to know which train carriage I am on and will be sitting there behind the yellow line when the doors open, because he is all about safety," Ms Weinrich said.

"He is an amazing cat."

Many of the locals at the station, which the Herald Sun has chosen not to name at the request of Graeme's owners, agree.

"He's gorgeous. He just lights up our mornings and evenings," Julia Scott said.

Fellow traveller Damien Dempsey said Graeme lived for his adoring public.

"He's very regal. He's kind of aloof but in a nice way," he said.

"It's his platform and he welcomes people."

But sometimes Graeme can take his desire to be close to his fans a bit too far - he has been known to jump on the train and get off a station or two later.

LITTLE AMELIA GREETS GRAEME

"He doesn't do it often, but we do worry about that," Ms Weinrich said.

She said Graeme, believed to be about 12, had roughed it on the street before being saved from the RSPCA's "death row" six years ago, so his love of people is tempered by his survival instincts.

"He is very friendly and loves to go to the station to watch people go, but he's weirdly stand-offish," Ms Weinrich said.

"He's very cool about it.

"I've heard people get off the train and say, 'Look, it's Graeme'. Some just call him 'rock star'."

Graeme even has his own Facebook page.

"He has about 60 friends," Ms Weinrich said.

"Half of them we don't even know."

as well as being a lovely story, there were some lovely comments

Sparkey MelbournePosted at 4:49 AM September 17, 2011

In the early 70s we lived in Orange Grove Balaclava and our cat used to follow me all the way down to Carlisle St every morning as I went to catch the train at Balaclava Station and there she would wait at the last house until I got off the train at night. She seemed to know which train I would be on because she would run to meet me then do a couple of roll overs on the footpath then run ahead of me all the way home. I've always said "If only animals could talk"

Jacqui of GlenhuntlyPosted at 11:47 AM September 17, 2011We had a cat that did he same. He used to go for walks with us. He even followed us onto the tram. Cats are very devoted to their owners. Our cat used to come and greet us when the children were small. They would get out of their pusher and the cat would get in.

JamesPosted at 7:42 PM September 17, 2011Ive seen this little charmer a couple of times, they were around midday though, haven't seen him around all the people in the morning and evening. I originaly thought it was just a stray and thought it was a bit odd for a stray cat to spend its day sunbaking at a station but now it all makes sense :)

francescaPosted at 6:44 PM September 18, 2011I rescued Graeme a few years ago when he was lost in the back lanes of west brunswick. I traced his owners through his microchip and returned him to them. I'm absolutely chuffed to read about him and know he is still going strong!

I am thinking of getting a  Graeme t-shirt,