Egg-citing Easter day trips
EASTER isn’t just about chocolate eggs – it’s also about getting an extended break from uni. With that in mind, we’ve put together a list of great day trip destinations that will have you excited about hopping out of bed.
Photo: Flavio Takemoto
Regional Victoria
Let your inner-child come out to play at The Enchanted Maze Garden in Arthur’s Seat. Winners of the 2011 RACV Victorian Tourism Awards for New Tourism Development, the gardens feature three towering hedge mazes, four giant tube slides, an outdoor sculpture park, an indoor 3D maze and The Amazing Lolly Shop.
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And at only an hour’s drive from the city on the Mornington Peninsula, the gardens are a easy day trip, especially for those of us who aren’t used to stepping out of Melbourne’s borders.
The gardens are open from 10am-6pm daily. Tickets are $29.
Cruise along the Murray River. Photo: thinboyfatter, flickr
If you are feeling adventurous, take a trip to the Murray region with your buddies. Unwind among the countless natural attractions and make the most of the great outdoors along the mighty Murray River.
There are lots of fun activities to keep you occupied – from water-skiing, fishing and sailing in Echuca-Moama, Mildura and Swan Hill, to horse riding, hiking and golf in Cobram-Barooga, Corowa and Yarrawonga-Mulwala.
And while you’re there, don’t forget to indulge in all the fresh produce available in the Murray region. You’ll find a bountiful supply of fresh fruits, vegetables and seafood perfect for an Easter feast.
Discover some of these gems on the bush tucker trail at the Rhyll Trout & Bush Tucker Farm.
And try your hand at fishing at the Rhyll Trout & Bush Tucker Farm’s indoor rainforest pool.
If you like to get your hands dirty, there’s no better way to enjoy Easter lunch than to catch it yourself at the award-winningRhyll Trout & Bush Tucker Farm on Phillip Island.
Friendly fishing instructors are on hand to teach you how to fish for rainbow trout in the magnificent indoor Rainforest Pool and the scenic tree-lined Trophy Lake. You can either choose to take your catch home or to have the onsite chefs cook up a delicious meal to enjoy in the barbeque area of the park.
For $9 you can spend the entire day fishing, the farm closes at 5pm, but you’ll have to fork out an extra $4 if you want rent a fishing road.
Chocolate making at Pannys, the Phillip Island Chocoate Factory.
The Phillip Island Chocolate Factory is also must-see for all chocoholics with a fascinating, interactive and educational celebration of all things chocolate. Experience the sweetest adventure on the island with Panny’s Amazing World of Chocolate, a wonderland of experiences including a chocolate kitchen where visitors can create their own chocolates, life-sized chocolate displays and more – every chocolate lover’s dream.
Tickets for the chocolate tour are $12 and run daily from 9am-5pm.
Photo: Jessica Spengler
Melbourne and Surrounds
Melbourne’s favourite theme park,Luna Park in St Kilda is open every day from 11am, and this Easter, they’ve got a basketful of “eggstreme events” lined up. Cuddle up to bunnies, take part in the gigantic annual Great Luna Park Easter Egg Hunt and hop on the gravity-defying Round Up ride.
Entry into the park is free, but you’ll have to pay for rides of course. You can purchase an unlimited ride ticket for $43.
For something a little more calming, walk along the Yarra River and head to the Melbourne Aquarium instead. If you plan to do so this Sunday April 8, you may also like to book yourself in to enjoy a sit down seasonal gourmet Easter breakfast.
Tickets to the Melbourne Aquarium are $34.90 for adults and $23.90 concession, and the Easter Breakfast will cost $45 per person.
Satisfy your sweet tooth and go on a chocolate tour through Melbourne city.
Indulge on one of the many Chocoholic Walking Tours that trawl Melbourne’s many sweet streets, historical laneways and arcades every weekend. For $37 you take your pick from a variety of tours, each bent on indulging your chocoholic fantasies. Some of the big names you can visit and savour on the tour are Haigh’s Chocolates, Koko Black, Lindt and Ganache, just to name a few.
Each tour has a different meeting point, so be sure to check online when you book.
Indulge in Mámor Chocolates Truffles. Pictured, the Raspberry Framboise, an aromatic raspberry purée and sweet Framboise liquor dark ganache in dark chocolate.
While we’re on the subject of chocolate, experience a decadent European high tea at Mámor Chocolates, a baroque Chcolate & High Tea Salon in Collingwood. Beautifully furnished with antique chairs, chandeliers and traditional cutlery and crockery, Mámor offers a lavish chocolate dining banquet for $45.
High tea includes an 11-course repast from savouries to sweets and including such delicacies as liptó cheese, artisan style pate, chocolate truffles, chicken liver mousse and Somlo sponge cake. Add to that some French bubbly, juice, coffee and a selection of Madame Flavour gourmet leaf teas, and you and your party will be in heaven!
Icehouse: the centre features two Olympic-sized ice skating rinks, stadium seating for 1000 people, a gym, cafe and bar.
And finally, to work off some of that Easter chocolate calories, hit the Docklands and check out Medibank’s Icehouse Circus Skate-A-Rama. Enjoy daily professional circus acts, free face painting and beginner skating and ice dancing sessions.
Skate hire is $3 on top of the $21 entry fee and the centre’s opening hours differ from day to day, so check before you rock up.
And with that, we at Meld wish you a very safe and awesome Easter! Happy holidays everyone!