New cemetery tour brings spirit seekers to Ballarat
Is Ballarat Australia’s spookiest city? According to Nathaniel Buchanan who runs Ballarat Ghost Tours and newly-started night tours of the Ballarat Old Cemetery tour, it is.
“Ballarat is one of Australia’s oldest cities, with one of the highest concentrations of old buildings in the country, and it has a very dark history,” he says. “We have had armed uprisings, underground battles, 13 official executions, and extremely dangerous mining adventures in freezing conditions.”
In the 1980s, Ballarat actually had two exorcism teams working to keep up with the needs of a town of 85,000. One of the exorcists, Cannon Denys Tonks, who previously spent 28 years working in Voodoo-saturated West Indies wrote that in his first two years working in Ballarat he was called out to more cases of the supernatural than in his entire time in the West Indies.
It is these stories and more than makes up the Ballarat Ghost Tours - which has been running for 12 months.
Last month Buchanan’s company Eerie Ghost Tours, launched a new night tour of Ballarat Old Cemetery. The tour visits some of the more important graves with an emphasis on stories that are ‘eerie’.
For more information: www.eerietours.com.au
Media contact: Nathaniel Buchanan, Ph: 0423 653 512 or email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
New wining and dining hotspots
Campari House
23-25 Hardware Lane
Melbourne
Ph: (03) 9600 1574
Campari House is an elegant addition to the Melbourne laneway bar and restaurant scene, an ambitious undertaking spanning four levels, each with their own distinct design and offering.
On the ground floor, there’s a restaurant with warm wooden furnishings and outdoor dining area offering a modern Italian menu, while on the first floor there’s a function space catering for up to 150 guests.
Serious drinkers, though, should head up the staircase to the second floor, a dedicated lounge bar that is open until 3am. Perch at the bar or disappear with your posse into the wooden booths complete with service buttons and have your own private party. The comprehensive drinks list features a great line up of European, Japanese and Australian beers, a wide selection of international and local wine with lots of lesser known varietals and an ample variety of spirits.
For some fresh air, there’s the rooftop bar serving up an excellent pizza and tasting plates menu.
1000 £ Bend
361 Little Lonsdale St
Melbourne
1000 £ Bend is the sort of establishment that Melbourne does so well - a distinctively individual and stylish place that you’d almost certainly never find unless a local took you there. Hidden away in Little Lonsdale Street, the café is part of a bigger business that includes a huge two story multi-purpose venue space. In addition to the café, there’s a large space on the ground floor used for exhibitions, fashion shows and other special events and a soon to be opened cinema on the top level.
The décor here is ‘scruffy-Fitzroy-sharehouse-chic’. The mismatched-but-somehow-it-works retro furnishings include comfy couches, booths and tables, kitschy artworks, cinema posters and old mirrors from St Jeromes. There’s also free wif-fi, a veranda for smokers and - in a first for any café we’ve seen - an indoor bike rack.
The inventive menu is economical both in price (nothing is over $12) and also size - there only five or six options for breakfast and lunch including a breakfast burrito and to roast vegie and fennel stew.
Considering the pedigree behind 1000 £ Bend, it’s surprising this establishment which opened in June has managed to escape the publicity glare so incredibly well. It is, however, way too cool to remain hidden for long.
Felice’s
114 Greeves Street
Fitzroy
Felice’s is a place that evokes memories of the low key and slightly mysterious old-school bar, the sort of place that is full of tables of (almost exclusively) old men of Mediterranean extraction convening for espresso, beer and cards.
Despite its distinctly retro interior, there are a few tell tale signs that Felice’s offers a post-modern spin on a new idea. There’s lack of smoke for one thing, there’s also the free wif-fi, the jazz-funk music on the stereo, and of course, the considerably younger clientele playing table soccer in the corner.
The carefully chosen drinks list includes beers from Argentina (Quilmes), Italy and Australia, and eight different wine varieties available by the glass (one of each type) including several lesser known varieties such as prosecco, cerasuolo and marsanne. Although there’s no mention of labels or regions on the board, a quick glance on the shelves reveals quality drops from Mornington Peninsula, the Abruzzo region in Italy and France, and the price per glass is refreshingly low - just $6.50. The menu is inexpensive - most meals are around the $7.50 mark - and includes tasty comfort food such as calzone, pizza, pork and fennel sausages and some much-loved Italian style pastries. The dishes though simple hark back to the mountain communities of Abruzzo and others shared amongst suburban neighbours.
New dessert-only restaurant opening at Monsieur Truffe
In other news, a new dessert-only restaurant will be opening Thursday to Sunday evenings at the premises of French chocolatier, Monsieur Truffe (Smith Street, Collingwood). The menu is the creation of pastry chef Pierre Roelofs, whose creations have previously been servicing customers of the Deanery. Mouth-watering pictures of the sweet delights in store can be seen on Monsieur Truffe’s website.
Major awards put Victoria’s regional restaurants in the spotlight
The time has never been better to taste the food and wine in regional Victoria with restaurants and pubs in Gippsland, the Grampians, Bellarine Peninsula, Mornington Peninsula, Yarra Valley and the High Country recently named the winners in several high profile restaurant and catering awards.
Only 12 months after new owners took the reigns, the Albion Hotel in Gippsland has just been announced as the winner of the best Pub/Bistro in the 2009 ‘I Love Food’ Awards. Organised by the LifestyleFood Channel, the ‘I Love Food’ Awards attracted close 100,000 votes from viewers (across in the 16 categories) - making the win for the Albion - located in the tiny town of Swifts Creek which has a population of less than 300 people - an even bigger achievement.
With all meals on the lunch menu costing only $8 each, and mains on the dinner menu priced between $9 and $24, a meal at Albion hotel is one of the most economical award-winning meals you’ll ever eat.
Regional Victoria also kicked goals in the 2010 Gourmet Traveller Awards with the Royal Mail in Dunkeld winning the award for Best Regional Restaurant, while the Merrijig Inn and Provenance in Beechworth, the new venture for chef Michael Ryan, were included in the magazine’s just-announced top 100 restaurant ranking. Provenance was also a new recipient of a chef’s hat in the 2010 Good Food Guide, with other new recipients including Bella Vedere in Yarra Valley and Queenscliff’s Athelstane House.
Both sides of Port Phillip Bay scored highly in the Electrolux Appetite for Excellence awards with Matt Dempsy from Pettavel (Geelong) and Alice Heath from Montalto (Red Hill, Mornington Peninsula) beating serious competition from around the country to win the awards for Young Chef and Young Waiter respectively.
For more information: www.visitvictoria.com.au
Media contact (The Albion Hotel): Melissa Hrehoresen Ph: 0411 287 311 or email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Safari Pete releases new backpacker guide to Melbourne and Victoria
Safari Pete, popular travel identity and creator of one of Australia’s most popular backpacker guidebooks series, has just released his first guide to Melbourne and Victoria.
Produced with the support of Tourism Victoria, the first edition of Safari Pete’s Backpacking Melbourne & Victoria Guide is humorous, quirky and packed with great information for the inbound and interstate backpackers. The pocket size guide explores in detail the city of Melbourne, and the diverse regions of Victoria, from the white sandy beaches of Apollo Bay to the rugged bushland of the High Country and includes great fold out maps of Melbourne and Victoria included on the inside covers.
Famous for his sharp dress sense - natty powder-blue safari suits are his specialty - Safari Pete is a legend in the Australian backpacker travel circles not only for his guidebooks but as a tour guide and MC of the famous Neighbours Trivia nights in St Kilda.
Safari Pete’s Backpacking Melbourne & Victoria Guide is available in all major hostels and travel information centres for backpackers in Melbourne as well as information centres throughout regional Victoria.
For more information / media contact: Safari Pete Ph: 0409 426 212 or email on .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
River Country Adventours launch Burke and Wills Tour
Kyabram tour operator River Country Adventours and Echuca-based flight company Aus-air have joined forces to develop a brand new outback tour based on the last days of Robert O’Hara Burke and William John Wills who were the first explorers to successfully cross the Australian continent from south to north.
Guests depart via Aus-Air flight from Echuca airport for the two-day tour that delves into the tragic circumstances of the ill-fated Burke & Wills expedition in 1861. The modern traveller will discover the difficulties confronting the early explorers and will visit many of the famous sites including an off-road vehicle tour to Cooper Creek, site of the famous ‘Dig Tree’ - which contained the word ‘DIG’ carved into the wood to point to the whereabouts of crucial supplies, the place where the rescue party found John King, the one surviving member of the expedition party and the location where Burke died.
For further information: www.adventours.com.au
Media contact: Rob Asplin Ph: 5852 2736 or 0428 585 227
New Melbourne Style Tour launched
Want to discover Melbourne without maps, wrong turns and tram timetables? Then the new the Melbourne Style Tour from Meridian Tours is the answer.
The tour introduces shoppers to Melbourne’s stylish fashion scene, home-wares and is also popular with food enthusiasts. Your guide whisks you into places off the usual tourist track with ‘insider access’ privileges that allow you to meet designers and specialist vendors.
With the option of customising your tour and a flexible itinerary based on your specific interests - the Style Tour is a great time saver and is the only tour to introduce you to the authentic one-off speciality shops, studios and private galleries.
With hotel or airport pick ups and your very own driver/escort to guide you around the city, the Melbourne Style tour is the perfect way to discover Melbourne.
For further information: www.meridiantours.com.au
Media contact: Anna Cook (03) 9853 0701 or 041 147 2656
Vinefinders - the story of one man and a GPS
When it comes to wineries, Victoria has an abundance of riches, and now a new online location service has been launched to make it easier to find them.
VineFinders (vinefinders.com.au) utilises GPS navigation and on-line mapping technology to provide directions and maps from your house to any wine region, any cellar door, brewery, vineyard and more.
A handy service for wine lovers who are visiting Victoria’s regions, searches can be done not only by business type (cellar door, winery, brewery, distillery), by wine region (e.g. Yarra Valley, Pyrenees), by state and by postcode. VineFinders can even locate negociants (sellers that purchase other vineyards’ grapes or wine and resell them under their own label) or a specific grape variety in the region you are visiting.
Offering turn-by-turn directions to cellar doors, with contact details, opening hours and links to further information, the site can also search for which vineyards/cellar doors have a food, accommodation or function offering.
Vinefinders is the creation of wine enthusiast Dick Friend, who spent the last seven years with his GPS personally visiting 5,000 vineyards across Australia - including 2000 from Victoria.
Specialist online mapping company, MapData Sciences Pty Ltd (MDS) provides the search and route-finding capability.
For more information: www.vinefinders.com.au
Media contact: Dick Friend Ph: 0419 503 198 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Loam restaurant brings ‘show-and-tell’ cuisine to the table
The Bellarine Peninsula already has many great places to eat, but Loam restaurant - which opened in July - has raised the bar even higher.
Located on the property of Lighthouse Olive Oil in Drysdale, Loam was set up by Aaron Turner, former chef at Athelstone House in Queenscliff, and his wife Astrid, who along with their staff have an infectious enthusiasm for their food especially regional, seasonal and artisan-created produce and products.
Upon arriving guests are presented with a minimalist menu - a list of ingredients that will be in the day’s meal and an option to choose between two, four or seven tasting courses. Then the waiting staff will passionately share their extensive knowledge about the cooking process and the producers who supply the kitchen. Before the order is taken, guests find out where the food is grown (or made), how the dish is prepared, where the grapes from the wine you are drinking came from and even the name of the winemaker. The most memorable step in this information sharing session is the show-and-tell style ‘produce presentation’, where the staff bring over freshly picked examples of the meal’s more unusual ingredients (such as huge heirloom beet fresh from the garden or Point Henry saltbush) for customers to touch, sniff or even taste.
The food is delicious, lovingly prepared and overflowing with subtle flavours.
One of the nicest touches is left until last - as they leave, guests are presented with an envelope, inside containing details of the dishes they have just eaten. A nice touch, and essential considering this is almost certainly a meal that you will be wanting to tell friends about.
For more information: www.loamrestaurant.blogspot.com or Ph: (03) 5251 1101
Media contact: Astrid Turner, Ph: 0433 815 776 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Stay in a Bordello or fire up an old Hot Rod at Old Dadswell Town
One of Victoria’s most unique themed accommodation properties, Old Dadswell Town is proof that the most interesting things can often turn up in the most unlikely of places.
Nestled on 280 acres of natural bush just 20 minutes out of Horsham in the Grampians, Old Dadswell town is a bit like stepping onto a movie set. Set up like an old fashioned outback village, the property is littered with the skeletons of old cars, mismatched road signs and some of the quirkiest bric-a-brac and curios outside of ebay. The ‘town’ itself comprises of six self-catering accommodation cabins, each themed as a different location in the village including a bordello, barber shop, post office / bank, cattle shop or general store.
When not in their cabins, visitors can enjoy a drink or a meal in the ‘Town Hall’, a crazily decorated shed where convivial dining tables and a large open fire sit amongst a cacophony of ‘swagman’ shearing equipment hanging from the roof and row-upon-row of beer cans lining the walls. For the petrol heads there’s also Mad Max’s garage, a veritable shrine to hot rod and motor memorabilia.
Old Dodswell Town is pet friendly, has wheelchair access and a 24 hour reception.
For further information: www.olddadswelltown.com.au
Media contact: Jennifer Green Ph: 0408 737 218 or email: (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Melbourne accommodation update: The Alto becomes carbon neutral, Tyrian opens in Fitzroy
Melbourne’s Alto Hotel has just completed the final steps to completely remove its carbon footprint making it Australia’s first ever carbon neutral hotel.
A standard hotel operates on approximately 26 kilograms of greenhouse gas emissions per guest per night (including a meal)* while the Alto operates on an impressive 13.5 kilograms per guest per night (including a meal), a target that was achieved through various sustainability practices such as capturing of water run-off, utilising green energy, biodegradable room cards and low energy globes.
The final vestige of the hotel’s carbon footprint was removed in the past few weeks through undertaking a carbon offsetting program with the Carbon Reduction Institute.
In other news, the Melbourne inner city suburb of Fitzroy - famous for its quirky bars, galleries, live music, independent fashion and design - has long been a key destination with tourists but until recently accommodation options in the area have been limited. This appears to be changing with news that the Tyrian, a new serviced apartment complex, has opened in Johnston Street. Boasting state of the art facilities and luxurious modern design, The Tyrian is the second boutique property to open in the area in less than a year, following The Brooklyn Arts hotel which opened in late 2008.
For further information: www.visitvictoria.com.au
Media contact (The Alto): Gary Strickland, Alto Hotel Ph: (03) 8608 5502 or email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
* statistic provided by Sustainable Tourism Cooperative Research Centre
Special Packages
HOT DEALS
Spring is in the air so saddle up for the social season
Experience one of Melbourne’s most popular sporting events for the year - The Melbourne Cup Carnival. Whether it is the world-class thoroughbred racing, fashions on the field or just a day out with friends, the carnival is Australia’s number one racing event with an infectious social atmosphere to match.
3 night holiday - Westin Melbourne, $1,399pp*
205 Collins Street, Melbourne
Modern, chic and elegantly understated, The Westin Melbourne is the ultimate accommodation after a day at the races. Located right in the heart of the city, the luxurious five-star property is central to public transport and designer boutiques (just in case you need that extra fascinator).
- Return airfares to Melbourne flying Virgin Blue
- Three nights accommodation
- Two day race package including tickets to Emirates Melbourne Cup and Crown Oaks Day
For bookings or more information visit www.virginblue.com.au/melbournecup or call 13 15 16
*Ex Hobart, Twin share. Subject to availability and conditions apply. Valid for sale until 30 September 2009, for travel 31 October - 7 November 2009.
5 night holiday - The Albany Hotel, $1,183pp*
Corner Toorak Rd and Millswyn Street, South Yarra
One of Melbourne’s funkiest little hotels, The Albany is the perfect accommodation of choice for the spring racing season. Nestled between Fawkner Park and the Royal Botanic Gardens - The Albany is a home-away-from-home during the busy racing season. With a fashion meets music theme throughout the property, the place is the ultimate inspiration before a day of rubbing shoulders with the fashionistas.
- Return airfares to Melbourne flying Virgin Blue
- Five nights accommodation
- Two day race package including tickets to Emirates Melbourne Cup and Crown Oaks Day
For bookings or more information visit www.virginblue.com.au/melbournecup or call 13 15 16
*Ex Hobart, Twin share. Subject to availability and conditions apply. Valid for sale until 30 September 2009, for travel 31 October - 7 November 2009.
Important Diary Dates
Victoria’s Events November 2009
Melbourne
Spring Racing Carnival, 30 September - 18 November
The Spring Racing Carnival is a world class event showcasing thoroughbred racing, fashion and entertainment at its finest over 50 fabulous days of activity across Victoria. Major race days include the AAMI Derby Day, the BMW Caulfield Cup, the Crown Oaks, the Tatts Cox Plate and the Emirates Melbourne Cup.
For more information: www.racingvictoria.net.au
Media contact: Damian Booth, Communications Manager on (03) 9258 4252
Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination, Scienceworks, 4 June - 3 November
Could cars that hover above the ground become the mass transport of the future? Will we ever have droids like C-3PO in real life? Fantasy and reality join forces in Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination. This is the first exhibition to showcase more than 80 costumes, models and props from all six Star Wars films. Enjoy this innovative exhibition at Scienceworks in Spotswood.
For more information: www.museumvictoria.com.au/starwars
Super Human Exhibition, RMIT Gallery, 5 November - 5 December
The Super Human Exhibition at RMIT Gallery is part of an event that looks at art science collaborations and its interactions with the human body. The exhibition will highlight aspirations and fears about the human body and its functions and includes an artists’ talk, artists’ reception, a symposium at BMW Edge and a Super Human Masterclass at ACMI.
For more information: www.superhuman.org.au
Australian Masters, Kingston Heath Golf Club, 12 - 15 November
The distinctive Gold Jacket and Waterford Crystal trophy remain one of Australian golf’s most coveted prizes. This year’s Masters has already confirmed the world’s number one rated player, global sporting icon, Tiger Woods, and world number five, Australia’s Geoff Ogilvy, to play in this prestigious event.
For more information: www.australianmasters.com.au
Dennis Hopper and the New Hollywood, ACMI, 12 November 2009 - 7 March 2010
The latest major international exclusive exhibition at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI), Dennis Hopper and the New Hollywood, is an expansive exhibition showcasing an extraordinary man’s life’s work, his collaborations and personal art collection, and an amazing insight into a formative era of Hollywood.
For more information: www.acmi.net.au
Media contact: Claire Butler, ACMI on (03) 8663 2415
1940s Melbourne: Photographs by Albert Tucker, Heide, 18 July - 15 November
Heide Museum of Modern Art presents 1940s Melbourne: Photographs by Albert Tucker provides a unique insight into Melbourne during the tumultuous decade of the 1940s. In addition to more than 40 exhibition prints, many of which are new to the public realm, the exhibition includes the artist’s original contact prints, related paintings from his early oeuvre, and archival material drawn from the Heide and State Library of Victoria collections. Heide
Museum of Modern Art is located in Bulleen.
For more information: www.heide.com.au
Leonardo Da Vinci Anatomy to Robots Exhibition, Southbank, 17 October 2009 - 31 January 2010
Visit the Da Vinci Pavilion Queensbridge Square, Southbank to view Anatomy to Robots, the World Premier of the Da Vinci Exhibition from Florence, which features interactive 3D life-size human and animal models, created from Da Vinci’s original drawings. The exhibition also features the reconstruction of DaVinci’s ‘Last Supper’ painting, by Italian Fresco Master, Antonio de Vito. This exhibition is experiential, artistic, historical and technical, designed to explore the mind and the genius of Leonardo Da Vinci in a way that has not been done before.
For more information: www.davincimelbourne.com.au
UCI Track Cycling World Cup, Hisense Arena, 19 - 21 November
As a qualifying round for the World Championships, the Melbourne round will see Australia’s and the world’s best burn up the boards for three big days and nights of exciting track cycling.
For more information: www.trackworldcup.com.au or www.ticketek.com.au
Australasian World Music Expo, 19 - 22 November
Melbourne will host the Australasian World Music Expo, an event that brings together musicians, industry representatives and festival audiences from around Australia and the globe for three days of the finest indigenous and world music from Australasia.
For more information: www.awme.com.au
ABN AMRO Hockey Champions Trophy, 28 November - 6 December
The world’s top six hockey teams, including Australia’s Kookaburras and teams from England, Germany, Korea, The Netherlands, and Spain will compete at the ABN AMRO Hockey Champions Trophy - Men 2009 at the State Netball and Hockey Centre in Parkville. The spotlight will once again be on Melbourne as it hosts one of the international hockey’s marquee events.
For more information: www.hockey.org.au/championstrophy
Australian Corporate Games, Melbourne, 20 - 22 November
This annual national multi-sport event for businesses and organisations will attract more than 10,000 participants from 300 organisations over three days at various venues in Melbourne. Twenty team and individual sports and games are on the program including AFL; badminton; basketball; cricket; golf; indoor karting; netball; outrigger canoeing; poker; running; soccer; softball; squash; swimming; tennis; table tennis; tenpin bowling and volleyball.
For more information: www.corporategames.net.au
Jersey Boys, Princess Theatre, Melbourne, from 4 July
“Too good to be true” raved the New York Post about Jersey Boys, the 2006 Tony Award winning Best Musical about rock ‘n roll group The Four Seasons. This is the story of how four blue-collar kids, including lead singer Frankie Valli, became one of pop music’s great success stories. They wrote their own songs, invented a new sound and sold 175 million records world-wide - all before they were 30.
For more information: www.jerseyboysaustralia.com.au
CHICAGO - the Musical, Her Majesty’s Theatre from 15 August
After a decade CHICAGO returns to Melbourne for a strictly limited season at Her Majesty’s Theatre from 15 August 2009. With an all-star Australian cast including Caroline O’Connor, (Velma Kelly), Sharon Millerchip (Roxie Hart), Gina Riley (Matron ‘Mama’ Morton) and Craig McLachlan (Billy Flynn), CHICAGO tells the tale of Roxie Hart, a nightclub dancer who dreams of headlining in Vaudeville, kills her lover, then convinces her husband to come up with the $5000 to hire Chicago’s shrewdest, smooth-talking lawyer Billy Flynn. CHICAGO has been honoured with six Tony Awards®, two Olivier Awards, a Grammy® Award and thousands of standing ovations.
For more information: www.ticketek.com.au
Regional
Toast to the Coast, Geelong, 31 October - 1 November
Toast to the Coast is the Geelong region’s annual festival devoted to wine, food and music. The festival highlights and celebrates the excellent cool climate wines produced locally. More than 100 of the region’s finest wines can be savoured for $15. Approximately 20 venues will host festivals across The Bellarine, Surf Coast and Moorabool Valley.
For more information: www.toasttothecoast.com.au
Media contact: Jo Surkitt on 0417 549 218
The Great Victorian Camp Oven Festival, Heyfield, 31 October - 1 November
The Great Victorian Camp Oven Festival is a great family weekend; highlights include camp oven cooking competitions, food and wine demonstrations and tastings, country music, market stalls and children’s activities. Prizes will be awarded to all competition winners and camping is available on site.
For more information: www.campovenfestival.com
The Wangaratta Festival of Jazz, 30 October - 2 November
The Wangaratta Festival of Jazz is an annual celebration of jazz and blues held in Wangaratta two and a half hours from Melbourne in Victoria’s north-east. Since its inception in 1990, the festival has grown to include more than 90 events featuring 350 national and international artists. The festival hosts the National Jazz Awards, youth jazz workshops, master classes and events throughout Wangaratta and surrounding wine regions.
For more information: www.wangaratta-jazz.org.au
Media contact: Michelle Buxton on 0419 134 278 or email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Mildura Jazz, Food and Wine Festival, Mildura, 30 October - 2 November
With its unique blend of wineries and rugged Mallee landscapes, Mildura is always an enticing destination, but it will be simply irresistible in October and November when the city comes alive with jazz in the streets, the restaurants and wineries, by the river and on the paddleboats. Visitors and locals will savour the flavours of the world class local produce and wines on offer.
For more information: www.artsmildura.com.au/jazz
Media contact: Helen Healy on 03 50215100 or email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
The Southern Gippsland 2009 Summer Starters, 31 October - 1 November
The Southern Gippsland Summer Starters is held on the weekend prior to Melbourne Cup. The winery celebration extends from Phillip Island to Wilsons Promontory as cellar doors located in this emerging wine region showcase local food, music and art. This is a great opportunity to meet the winemakers and sample cool climate wines.
For more information: www.southerngippslandwine.com.au
Media contact: Robyn Schmidt on (03) 5664 3204
A Potpourri of Gardens, Castlemaine, 31 October - 3 November
View eight diverse gardens in and around Castlemaine and Maldon. Chat to the owners and learn how they keep their gardens looking healthy and beautiful in times of water restrictions. Gardens range from classical beauties to native landscapes. Cost is $4 per garden. Gardens are open from 10am to 4pm.
For more information: www.festivalofgardens.org
Inaugural Pyrenees Escapade, Avoca Shire Turf Club, 1 November
The Pyrenees region famed for its regional produce will this year host the first Pyrenees Escapadé, a festival which will celebrate the region’s quality produce focusing on its local wine industry and European influenced cuisine. Visitors will be able to taste delightful wines and savour the flavours of cuisines from different European regions with some of the key wineries providing European-inspired entrée size dishes for people to purchase.
For more information: www.pyrenees.org.au
Compass Windows Kyneton Cup, 4 November
Head to Kyneton, in Victoria’s spa country, and enjoy all of the fashion and excitement of country racing at Kyneton’s biggest race meeting. Held annually on the day after Melbourne Cup, this meeting offers a total day of entertainment including live music, fashions on the field, private and corporate marquees, punters’ club, on-course competitions and much more. Entry is $20 for adults and children under 14 are free. Courtesy buses are scheduled to meet trains from Melbourne at the Kyneton train station.
For more information: www.kynetondistrictracingclub.com.au
Beechworth Celtic Festival, 6 - 8 November
Join in the celebrations of Beechworth’s Celtic heritage. Music, myth and mayhem abound throughout Beechworth over this November weekend festival. There will be a street parade, workshops, concerts, dance, music and displays. Dine at local pubs and restaurants which feature their special menus.
For more information: www.beechworthcelticfestival.com.au
Macedon Ranges Budburst Wine and Food Festival, 14 - 15 November
Budburst, the annual Macedon Ranges Wine Region celebration features more than 30 talented winemakers who open their doors for this popular food and wine celebration. Wine-lovers can sample a range of white and red varieties as well as the native sparkling ‘Macedon’ from Victoria’s famous cool climate region.
For more information: www.budburst.com
La Dolce Vita, King Valley, 14 - 15 November
Celebrate the arrival of spring at La Dolce Vita - the King Valley’s springtime celebration of the sweet life. Enjoy a diverse variety of wines, gourmet food, spectacular scenery and warm King Valley hospitality during a weekend of Mediterranean al fresco indulgence.
For more information: call 1800 801 065 or go to www.winesofthekingvalley.com.au
Media contact: Elizabeth Ellis on (03) 5722 9774
Jazz on Track, Walhalla, East Gippsland, 14 November
Enjoy a train trip on Victoria’s most spectacular railway while listening to the sounds of traditional and Dixieland jazz. The train departs Thomson Station in East Gippsland at 7pm and travels to Walhalla. Tickets cost $85 per person and include the train trip, dinner, champagne on the train and entertainment.
For more information: www.walhallarail.com
Malmsbury Village Fayre, 15 November
The Malmsbury Village Fayre is a wonderful opportunity to taste the food and wine of the region in the beautiful setting of the 150-year-old Malmsbury Botanic Gardens.
For more information: www.malsburyvillagefayre.org.au
2009 FITASC World Sporting Clay Shooting Championships, Warrnambool, 16 - 22 November
The 2009 FITASC (Federation Internationale De Tir Aux Armes Sportives De Chasse) World Sporting Clay Shooting Championships are returning to Australia after 15 years, with Warrnambool winning the right to host this major international sporting carnival. The seven-day clay shooting championship carnival will be held at the Laang Range in Warrnambool with more than 600 competitors from 23 countries expected to participate. This will be the third time that the event has been held in Australia (Geelong in 1988 and Mount Gambier in 1994).
For more information: www.shipwreckcoast.com.au
Strawberry and Cherry Weekend Festival, Bacchus Marsh, 21 - 22 November
The Strawberry and Cherry Weekend Festival, to be held in Bacchus Marsh, 45 minutes’ drive from Melbourne, will feature opportunities to pick strawberries and to buy fresh produce, family fun activities and prizes.
For more information: www.visitbacchusmarsh.com.au
Warratina Lavender Harvest Festival, Yarra Valley, 29 November
Head to the annual Harvest Lavender Festival at Warratina Lavender Farm (Wanin Yallock) and enjoy a day of entertainment. Set among fragrant purple fields of lavender, enjoy fine food, boutique beer and local Yarra Valley wine while being entertained by music, dancing and singing. Highlights of the day include displays of old time arts and crafts, Scottish Highland dancing, bagpipes and Irish dancing. Entry is $10 for adults, $5 for children and concession and $25 for a family pass.
For more information: www.warratinalavender.com.au
Queenscliff Music Festival 2009, 27 - 29 November
The award-winning Queenscliff Music Festival is one of Australia’s great contemporary music events. A family-friendly festival, Queenscliff is much loved for its depth and diversity of musical talent as well as its picturesque seaside setting. Located just over an hour’s drive from Melbourne - or a 40 minute ferry trip from Sorrento - Queenscliff presents top Australian and international guests. There are wonderful venues, great food and wine. Announcements of the 2009 line-up will commence in August.
For more information: www.qmf.net.au
The Age Spring Harvest Picnic at Werribee Park, 29 November
Food and wine producers from all over Victoria will gather in the grounds of Werribee Park to sample, showcase and sell their tasty products. This will be a great day for the family and will feature music and dance on stage throughout the day, cooking demonstrations by well-known chefs, and lots of activities for kids. Bring a blanket and basket and create a picnic from the delicious range of goods on offer. The entry price includes admission to the Spring Harvest Picnic, Victorian State Rose Garden and cooking demonstrations, entertainment and car parking. Tickets cost $20 for adults, $15 for concession card holders and children under 15 years of age enter free.
For more information: www.harvestpicnic.com.au
Media contact: Kirsty Hunt 0419 525 796.