Many thanks Doc.... U have been very helpful..... I will study these
options....do more 'research...'
Peace
TMLee
-----Original Message-----
From: Dr Peter Gilbert <peterg@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Wednesday, February 07, 2001 9:44 AM
Subject: Re: [OM] .....Melbourne.....
>For OM Gear:
>
>Couple of stores in the Melbourne CBD but all way overpriced IMHO.
>Example: How about AU$600 for poor condition OM-1 with 50/1.8?
>(That's about US$300). Ridiculous !
>
>I find I do much better thru e-bay or via the internet from overseas
>(UK, NZ and USA).
>
>As for photo opps and day trips for the family, it depends on your
>inclination and whether you will have access to a car or not.
>
>My choice would be to hire a car and take a trip to:
>
>1. Yarra Valley (40-50min NE of Melb)
>
>great vineyards
>rolling countryside
>Healesville sanctuary is fantastic - native birds, walk-through
>aviaries, wombats, koalas, platypus etc educ sessions and displays
>for the kids
>needs a whole day to do properly
>
>2. Dandenongs (50min E of Melb)
>
>these are a couple of medium mountains/hills east of Melb with great
>art galleries, eateries, fern gullies, Ricketts Sanctuary (aboriginal
>rock carvings in natural bush settings), great views over Melb city
>on a clear day. You'll need a full day here. Can recommend towns of
>Sassafras and Olinda for arts/crafts/galleries. Best eating joint is
>a place called "Miss Marples" at Sassafras. Go for lunch or afternoon
>tea. Desserts are spectacular, and the whole restaurant is themed on
>the Agatha Christie novels. Lovely atmosphere. Bring a tripod if poss
>or fast film as the light can be poor under the tree canopy. The
>Rhododendron Gardens in the Dandenongs is near Olinda and is
>spectacular but I can't remeber when they are in flower. Worth a
>visit if "the season" otherwise give a miss.
>
>3. Mornington Penninsula (SE of Melb)
>
>Drive down the eastern side of Port Philip Bay down to Sorrento or
>even Portsea nice bay views from Arthurs Seat at Dromana. Nice
>pleasant drive, safe beaches for the kids to swim at (but water might
>be a bit cold by march). Some traditional old changing sheds along
>the beach that are brightly coloured and come up well on film.
>
>4. Drive down to Geelong the Surf Coast and Great Ocean Road (SW of Melb)
>
>1 hr drive SW of Melb is Geelong (where I live). Within 20min drive
>are some great surf beaches, and a further 20 min gets you to Lorne
>along the Great Ocean Rd - probably some of the most spectacular
>ocean coast-road scenery anywhere and the otways mountain ranges
>-great huge Mountain Ash eucalypts, lush fern gullies, waterfalls etc
>etc.The Great Ocean Rd is very reminiscent of the Pacific Coast
>highway in the USA near Monterey and Big Sur - great spectacular
>cliffs, rock shelves and formations with pounding surf, lovely quiet
>beaches and river inlets - but with the added interest that just
>inland is lovely rainforest. Driving the road itself is fantastic fun
>on the twisting/winding road right at the ocean/cliff edge if you
>like driving. Little holiday towns dotted along the coast like
>Angelsea, Torquay, Lorne, Aireys Inlet and Apollo bay. I'd recommend
>drive down to Apollo bay via the coast (get an early start from Melb)
>and enjoy the coastal scenery, have luncjh at Lorne or Apollo Bay
>then cut back to Melb inland via Colac, driving thru the otways
>ranges and the lovely bush smells, ferns, eucalypts and bird calls on
>the way. The drive back thru Colac/Geelong/Melb is a bit boring
>(straight country highway driving thru cleared farming /grazing land)
>so leave this for the return when it might be getting dark. Bring
>wide lens (say 24mm or 28mm) for spectacular seascapes and landscapes
>, a tripod and heaps of film. A zoom 35-105 would also be useful as
>would a 90/2 macro if you have one. Take a drive along Turtons Track
>(dirt road but beautiful ferns etc), go up to the lookout inland of
>Apollo bay, walk out onto the jetty at Lorne.
>
>If you want to do an overnight trip from melb, you could combine the
>Gret Ocean Rd trip above and continue down to Port Campbell on the SW
>coast. You have probably seen pics of the "12 apostles" and some of
>the sandstone freestanding columns amidst the surf - very
>spectacular. The "Bay of Islands" at nearby Peterborough is also
>lovely. You won't do all this in one day though - better to do melb
>to Appollo Bay on Day One, then do 12 apostles and the "Shipwreck
>Coast" and return to Melb on Day Two.
>
>
>5. Shorter trips closer to the city
>
>If in Melb over a weekend, or you want closer, shorter excursions you
>might like to visit Ackland St and St Kilda Market on a Sunday
>morning - it's a sidewalk art/craft market very popular along the
>esplanade. Ackland St has nice Continental food shops (not good if
>you are on a diet !!) Would be good for candid street portraits.
>
>Or try a walk along Lygon St in the evening - Italian restaurants etc
>and coffee shops al fresco etc. Very interesting. maybe not so
>exciting for the kids (depending on age). Would be good for candid
>street portraits.
>
>The Melb zoo is very good too. A wonderful butterfly enclosure where
>you can walk thru the enclosure and the butterflies even land on you
>- the kids would love it. Bring your macro gear and a small flash -
>and heaps of film ! The gorilla enclosure is great too - bring a
>200-300mm range tele for nice portraits of the gorillas.
>
>Go for a ride on the free City Loop tram.
>
>great parks and gardens close to the city - have a picnic with the family.
>
>try and get to see a game of AFL "Aussie Rules" football at the MCG
>(Melb Cricket Ground). Great spectacle. Season should be started by
>March I think. You can catch a tram to the MCG from anywhere within
>the inner city region.
>
>hope these ideas help.
>
>I'm sure you'll have a great time in Melb and surrounds.
>
>peter
>
>>I'll be visiting Melbourne in mid March.....
>>
>>Any photo stores I should visit for OM gear ? Nothing in particular , just
>>the usual OM "itch" .......
>>
>>Where are the must visit places for good photo-opportunities ? With and
>>without kids/moms-in-laws.... in tow ?
>>
>>Peace
>>TMLee
>>
>
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