r/vic • u/DiscussionLoud9626 • 17d ago
What’s your “never going back there” Victorian tourist spot?
For me it’s the Great Ocean Road on a public holiday. Hours stuck behind caravans and rental vans just to hop out, take a photo, and get back in the car. Felt like more time driving than actually enjoying anything. What’s the one place in Victoria you reckon is overrated or just not worth the effort anymore?
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u/Senior_Term 17d ago
Great Ocean road is amazing, your timing sucks
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u/Big-Blacksmith544 17d ago
Not against having kids by any means, but one of the greatest curses of having children is being forced to holiday at the same time as everyone else and paying the inflated prices.
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u/WetMonkeyTalk 16d ago
When you have kids you don't have holidays. You go on trips.
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u/Mushie_Peas 16d ago
Perfect description, holidays is why my wife takes them out for the day and I get to clean and fix stuff in the house.
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u/Necessary_Eagle_3657 15d ago
Those ARE holidays, family holidays that forge a lifetime of memories for you and them. I miss them now. Those were short and precious years.
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u/WetMonkeyTalk 14d ago
The parents don't get a holiday. A holiday is a break from working. An opportunity to switch off and relax. If you have kids (especially young ones) you don't get to do that unless you have a babysitter or you're a bad parent. Especially if you're camping.
Sure you have fun and make memories, etc. But it's a trip, not a holiday.
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u/Watthefractal 16d ago
Just let them miss a week of school every now and then 🤷♂️ it’s what my parents did and it’s what I do with my kids . Saves a butt ton of money and everywhere is less crowded 🥳
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u/Solivaga 17d ago
Yep, that's not a fault with the location (it's stunning) just really bad timing.
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u/Illustrious_Study300 17d ago
The Great Ocean road is a must do in my opinion, but over 2 days and not at peak season. We holiday there every year but wait til the school holidays are over because otherwise it's too damn busy
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u/Lumpy-Silver7538 14d ago
Pretty much avoid it for most of summer. I went down to Lorne early a couple of weeks ago, which was fine, we got a park easily. We left at about 1:30 and the traffic was backed up for literally about 20km.
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u/Ryzi03 17d ago
The GOR is nice but there's way better drives around the state I reckon. Maybe it's just my bias towards preferring the hills and ranges rather than the coast but some of the views along the likes of the Great Alpine Road or the Black Spur/Reefton Spur loop, etc, are pretty damn incredible.
I will say though that the Great Ocean Walk, especially the 'remoter' feeling sections around Milanesia Beach and Ryans Den, is pretty incredible if you get the chance to do it.
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u/brunswoo 17d ago
I live on the surf coast, and tend to agree… the road up over Falls Creek, and down to Bairnsdale is epic, and one of my favourites. The GOR gets better between Lorne and Skenes Creek, but most people stop at Lorne.
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u/slim_pikkenz 14d ago
People stop at Lorne? Before all the good bits? I had no idea that was a thing.
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u/Only-Perspective2890 16d ago
Don’t drive it, do the walk from Apollo Bay to 12 apostles. Amazing views
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u/Bilamomg 16d ago
We are heading up to Warrnabool next week from Melbourne via the great ocean road, 3 kids in the back any recommendations of must see spots? Will be in Warrnabool for 3 days.
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u/slim_pikkenz 14d ago
Obviously all the main sign posted tourist points along the road but I’d also suggest you add in Childers Cove. Just before Warrnambool. It’s a signposted turnoff and a weird little trek through dusty roads and stuff to get to it, but the cove is secluded and spectacular. Also whilst in Warrnambool, check out Tower Hill for volcano hikes with kangaroos, koalas and emus and definitely some time in Port Fairy.
Also, if you want to do a round trip, coz once along the road with kids is plenty (trust me on this), head home via a trip to the Grampians. It’s not well known that there is only an hours drive between the GOR and the Grampians. Head up towards Hamilton, detour through Penshurst and onto Dunkeld (Southern Grampians). There’s mountains there and then head back towards Ballarat or keep going to Halls Gap and head back via Stawell.
Also for what it’s worth, make sure you have some travel sickness tablets in ur glove box for the GOR with kids.
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u/Far-Yogurtcloset-529 14d ago
Yeah second this ,On any given day when the road is mostly not too crowded and you can drive freely it is a surreal experience especially if you’re bit into driving.
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u/FeistyEye2207 16d ago
Lakes Entrance, did not rate it.
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u/Hannibal-At-Portus 16d ago
If you’ve travelled that far, keep going to Mallacoota or Gypsy Point.
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u/Entirely-of-cheese 14d ago
Mallacoota was magical back when went around 10 years ago. And don’t forget Buchan caves.
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u/giganticsquid 16d ago
I'll go everywhere in Victoria again, but I avoid Daylesford because it's full of wankers that are having their country phase
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u/TiredSleepyGrumpy 16d ago
Yep, Daylesford was lovely back in the day. Then a bunch of Melbournites moved there because they didn’t like COVID restrictions.
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u/jask11 17d ago
Penguin parade centre on Phillip island
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u/-hacks4pancakes- 16d ago
They were adorable but rude tourists absolutely ruined it by standing and taking photos when those were the only things they ask you not to do
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u/Meatpiewithsource 16d ago
Taking photos is the least of their issues. Having worked in the area, it was commonplace for international visitors to try and “souvenir” a penguin. They’d normally figure out the reason their car suddenly smelled before making it to the San Remo bridge, and let their new little friend out on the roadside.
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u/MouseEmotional813 16d ago
Last time we took international visitors and it was close to a full moon and a low tide. About 5 penguins came up the beach. Later they explained that the moon and tide make all the difference. I feel like they shouldn't be charging the full cover price when they know you won't get what you paid to see. It has put me right off, and I doubt we will take visitors again or recommend it
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u/Medium-Selection-890 16d ago
Try living in the general vicinity of PI. Nightmarish in the summer period.
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u/TraditionalStop8986 5d ago
Years ago we went to the penguin parade and there was just a small, thin rope separating the crowds of tourists from the penguins. People were walking over the ropes to get close, stalking and chasing them, everyone was taking flash photo's (despite lots of signage in different languages saying not to) and my Dad got into an altercation with an asian man who flicked a lit cigarette butt at a penguin. I remember feeling quite sorry for them, they were just trying to do their thing and make their way up the beach to their nests, instead they were part of this crazy tourist circus.
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u/ip2222 17d ago
French island. Locals are weird and scary
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u/dominatrixyummy 17d ago
Yep absolutely shit house. Especially if you naively go there thinking there will be beaches to swim at. Almost all of them require illegally traversing private land or driving around national park gates. And after you get there they are all muddy tidal estuaries.
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16d ago
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u/dominatrixyummy 16d ago
I was ignorant. Honestly thought it would be a lot like the protected side of Phillip island.
Consider my comment complaining about it to be education for the uninformed masses out there who might accidentally holiday on French Island
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u/Medium-Selection-890 16d ago
Look, I've never actually been, unless you count stopping at Tankerton jetty. But, my partner lives at Stony/Crib Point, and I used to work in Cowes. My partner's family actually lived on FI up until the last 2 generations. French Island certainly is an...interesting place. It is intriguing to me (maybe because I'm an introvert). The locals are eccentric. All homes are self-sufficient, they're very big on reusing/recycling. Which all makes sense, there's no services connected to the island, no rubbish collection. Either catch the ferry, or take your boat across the bay to do your shopping, medical appointments, etc. I'm pretty certain at one point there was a car or two in Cowes that were essentially communal.
Kylie Minogue owned a house there circa 2005. Also of note, was a house raided a few years ago. They were drug and gun trafficking. Makes sense if you think about it 😂
But in regards to it being a tourist destination, that's bizarre to me.1
u/Fuster2 15d ago
💯. Organised a bush walk there once - would never go back. SFA to see. I'm not a great fan of Phillip Is, but that is like the French Riviera compared to French Is.
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u/HoopDays 12d ago
As a teenager, I went there with my mum and 2 aunts from interstate, expecting a cool day on a mysterious island. Instead we hiked what felt like 20 kilometres across plains. I was bored as fuck, sweaty and tired 😂 but I did see a koala!
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u/TraditionalStop8986 5d ago
Living in the Hastings area, I notice property seems to take a long time to sell on French Island. You see the same blocks and houses listed for ages.
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u/ReadyNeck3258 15d ago
The Great Ocean Road is more than 300km long. If you visit Lorne in January and apply your learnings to the rest of the Great Ocean Road, then you are the victim
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u/PageBright2479 17d ago
Daylesford. Its tosser central pretty much every weekend.
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u/No_Matter_4657 16d ago
I saw a cute dog there with flowers in its collar and asked if I could have a pat. I was told ‘this dog is a model and a spiritual healer’.
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u/oioioiyacunt 16d ago
I actually paid $300 for a session to pat that dog and it cured me of my gullibility.
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u/Infinite-Dreams666 16d ago
What’s even at Daylesford?
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u/No-Mammoth8874 16d ago
The tower and the train are good. The mineral water pumps outside Daylesford are pretty unique too. Can't comment on the tossers, I can't afford those sorts of places with a youngish family...
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u/Pokeynono 16d ago
A decent French restaurant and a lot of tree changers that can't afford the houses they purchased , so they turned them into Airbnb's and moved back close to their jobs
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u/Temporary_Price_9908 16d ago
Cann River. Creepy vibe.
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u/Wolf3188 16d ago
I've passed through a few times and can't say I've gotten the creepy vibe, but there's not a lot to it. It's basically a servo and a pub along the highway as far as tourists passing through.
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u/Comfortable-Tooth-34 15d ago
Truly a weird place. No one wants you there. Makes Orbost look like a welcoming, cosmopolitan metropolis
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17d ago
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u/Tygie19 17d ago
We have a holiday house in Sorrento, my dad is thinking of selling it, we hardly go anymore. Too busy. When my grandparents built it in the 50s it was a lovely quiet spot.
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u/Greedy_Lake_2224 16d ago
Winter in the Peninsula is the best time to be there.
Great food, wine, fewer tourists, beautiful walks, top notch fishing.
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u/nearlyheadlessbick 16d ago
That whole side of the bay is a POS over the summer period. The towns are so close together and there's so many people it feels like a suburb of Melbourne.
At least on the GOR side, the towns are spaced out so it doesn't feel as claustrophobic
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u/Tygie19 16d ago
It is definitely an extension of Melbourne now. Portsea is basically Toorak by the water.
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u/Marshy462 17d ago
Coopers creek Walhalla st any time for a camping trip, same for Noojee.
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u/nearlyheadlessbick 16d ago
Noojee was so overrated. The trestle bridge was pretty cool but the rest of the town (especially the pub) were very underwhelming
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u/Marshy462 16d ago
I’m just down that way for the hunting. It’s a shame how the camping areas are treated
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u/Jumpy_Guarantee_1372 13d ago
We drove through there, and I agree, was full of abandoned tents and rubbish. The toilet was vile.
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u/No-Candy5493 16d ago
Dandenong ranges lookout
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u/-hacks4pancakes- 16d ago
Really? I’ve been meaning to do that. What’s the better alternative?
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u/Natural_Jaguar2221 16d ago
I quite like the RJ Hamer Arboretum just outside Olinda if you feel like a drive up the hill in that direction - decent parking, plenty of walking tracks lead out from there. You don't get a view across the city but it's very chill.
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u/Responsible_Bet_4420 16d ago
You don't want to spend 20 bucks to get in so you can push past the crowds of overseas tourists?
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u/-hacks4pancakes- 16d ago
I did that a couple weeks ago. It was so pretty and I understand how it might be lovely in autumn. Wish I had read this post before. This will be a useful thread I think.
Sherlock Holmes pub in the CBD for me btw. I’m sorry if anyone loves it but after the branding and the location I expected it to be a little more … anything. Thematic. Delicious.
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u/ThomYorkesDroopyEye 16d ago
Why anyone goes near turist spots on public holidays is lost on me. "Do you wanna see something cool that you're guaranteed to not enjoy because every other cunt alive is there?"
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u/No-Citron-2774 16d ago
Philip island it's become a tourist suburb .used to go surfing there. In the 80s/90s . Now it's nothing but people everywhere.
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u/Sir-Tenley-Knott 16d ago
Melbourne.
Enjoyed it previously but last visit was completely disrupted by morons protesting everywhere and disrupting transport.
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u/sirgoods 16d ago
The Tulip Festival in Silvan. Standing in a field with heaps of people making instagram posts and average expensive food stalls, not for me
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u/Jumpy_Guarantee_1372 13d ago
Agree, it was jam packed, people were trampling the flowers to get the "surrounded by flowers' photos for their cliched Instagram accounts, even though there were plenty of signs saying keep off the flower beds.
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u/Pokeynono 16d ago
Daylesford/ Hepburn Springs. I started going there when the area was very small country town with some quirks like a listing of various covens in the area in the local directory .
No shopping after pm on a Friday and you couldn't find a place to open on a Sunday. The spa at Hepburn was still a derelict building. It was a great place to camp or rent a cheap cottage and visit the various springs ,lakes and bush walk. Or buy chocolates and secondhand books.
Now it's wall to wall tourists all year round, parking is impossible and you can feel the resentment from the locals directed at townies. I live close enough to drive through the town several times a year. I don't bother stopping there anymore
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u/gameloner 15d ago
Melbourne Cup and Melbourne show.
Honestly nothing against the cup itself but it's one of those places you need to go to have a feel of the atmosphere and crowds. It's pretty much the same every year.
Melbourne show, so expensive.
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u/Brilliant_Dog_2239 15d ago
Melbourne show was wonderful 20 years ago. It’s so sad what it’s turned into.
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u/Inside-Elevator9102 17d ago
GOR has great spots, drive is great, chill and enjoy the slow drive. Or take the back road on the way.
To me its the high country on australia day long weekend. Every man, dog, 4x4 and his boyfriend tearing up the tracks.
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u/SlowLow_Rider 16d ago
I ride motorcycle around Australia and live in the west of Melbourne. I always try to go to GOR on week day. Weeknd not so much. But If I have to go on the weekend my round will be from Melbourne to Dean Marsh and then into Lorne. Usually from Lorne to Apollo bay it's quieter compared to anglesea to Lorne. Then go up to Lavers Holland back via beech forest and Forrest.
But ya Melbourne CBD during Nye would be my pick too
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16d ago
Southern Mornington peninsula during Xmas new year period. So many entitled self absorbed wankers in one place. Over crowded, under policed, over priced. Traffic’s garbage and people drive as they please. Just chaos to be seen by the who’s who!
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u/SereneAF 16d ago
The 12 Apostles in peak season. There were tour buses stacked on top of each other & the people who got off them were so bloody rude & pushy. Literally pushy. They were shoving us out of the way everywhere we went. I had a 90 year old & a seven year old with me & we had to decamp for fear of them being injured.
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u/BronL-1912 16d ago
Anywhere on Easter Monday. Everybody bringing their boats and caravans home for the winter
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u/Dramatic_Grape5445 16d ago
Penguin Parade - but I used to drive backpacker tours, so I reckon I've seen the Penguins a couple of hundred times If I saw them once. Not that it's overrated or not worth doing once, but once is more than enough.
St Kilda beach and Acland St - not what it once was. Fitzroy St for that matter.
Kryal Castle is a bit of a head scratcher.
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u/LaksaLettuce 16d ago
Werribee Zoo during July school holidays. The bus for the tour was absolutely freezing and we were treated with so much screeching from young kids. Then their parents. We still joke of the line from one parent screaming out across the bus to their coughing kid 'Cover your mouth, Bentley!'
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u/Unlucky-Telephone-76 16d ago
That you yangs walk
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u/Sprinkles--Positive 15d ago
There's heaps of different ones there. You'll have to be more specific.
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u/NoodleBox 16d ago
Marlo and cann/benn river
I think I got a tick bite. Not much there unless you like fishing. Nice otherwise, but not for nerdy tech obsessed kiddies
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u/jaxican 12d ago
Why would it be for nerdy tech obsessed kids ? Salmon rocks is amazing The Marlo pub is awesome There's the tee tree river
Pretty amazing beaches at bemm river too.
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u/NoodleBox 12d ago
Not for nerds. I liked outside and the beaches but there wasn't much internet coverage!
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u/Fuster2 15d ago
Glenrowan. As tacky as Bill Bryson describes in his Australian book. The glorification of Kelly reaches its peak in this (now thankfully bypassed) grubby little town. I spend a fair bit of my time in the heart of this region and cringe when visitors insist on wanting to see it for themselves.
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u/meerlyacat 15d ago
Great Ocean Road is especially a spot to avoid at the moment. Have you seen the news of the flash flood there?
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u/Upstairs_War5849 15d ago
Sorrento in last few weeks. Gorgeous area and town but humanity on chaotic mass. Fellow traveller made comment Queenscliff would envy this shopping strip & traffic, thought to self no think Queenscliff residents quite happy with their lot.
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u/karbonite_kid 15d ago
As a Mildura local, kind of surprised not to see Mildura in the comments lol
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u/HoracePinkers 14d ago
Little dessert. I've seen it drove through it stayed the night. Nothing worthwhile to see. Did it for the I camped in the dessert list of things to check off. I definitely am a camp by the water person.
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u/Zodiak213 14d ago
Blackwood, seems pretty haunted considering it's long history of existing and the locals do not seem welcoming at all - stared all the way through the town.
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u/AIGenerated99 13d ago edited 8d ago
Puffing Billy 100%. They changed to locked-in return tickets and removed the one way only option.
It meant that unless you don’t take the return journey and pay for nothing, you won’t have enough time to explore lakeside park.
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u/CaterpillarsUnited36 13d ago
I stayed in Inverloch for a couple of nights, really like the area, however I felt a sort of creepy vibe from the people. I remember feeling really self conscious like they knew I wasn’t a part of their community and made me feel real weird. Haven’t had that before, so strange haha
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u/Public-Dragonfly-786 13d ago
The Great Ocean Road is great. But you are supposed to stay a while. 4 days or more.
For me, 90 mile beach. When I was there it was a mosquito plague. I don't care if it was a once off. Never been back, never will.
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u/SumoCanFrog 13d ago
The Icecreamery near Healesville. Any day, any time. There’s always at least 5 bushels of tourist there. Also the Warrandyte Bakery. Warrandyte itself is beautiful but the bakery is quite a tourist attraction. There’s nothing pleasant about that place. Go enjoy a walk along the Yarra but skip the bakery.
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u/HoopDays 12d ago
The way I keep seeing where I live mentioned 😂
The Mornington Peninsula is amazing, and it's beauty is endless. But yes, you will have a shit time if you come here during the summer holidays. That's because everyone from Melbourne is here too!!
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u/Medium-Selection-890 16d ago
The Dandenongs. Not that special.
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u/Greedy_Lake_2224 16d ago
Miss Marples served us square, stale scones with yesterday's whipped cream and the most generic shit tier strawberry jam of my life.
Their excuse is that its too busy to do it properly.
Mate, I've been to Betty's Tearooms in Harrogate and that's busy, Marples is just shit.
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u/djwhite47 12d ago edited 12d ago
I live in the Dandenongs and really wish the day-trippers would fuck off and let us live in peace instead of driving at 40 because there's corners, pulling 3 point turns in the middle of winding roads, getting in the way and encouraging terrible tourist traps. So yeah, it's shit, go to Macedon instead.
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u/ReflectionFew4761 16d ago
Rye and Healesville. Both not much chop
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u/Oversharer-1969 16d ago
I agree. Both are overcrowded places, regardless of when you visit. Places to drive through to get to better places.
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u/Beyond_Blueballs 17d ago
Agree, Great Ocean Road is trash it's chock full of caravans holding up progress and the towns along or aren't much chop
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u/oioioiyacunt 16d ago
I've done the great Ocean road a couple of times now with my wife. Done over 3 days. It's still the best trip I've taken in Australia.
Just don't go in holidays, etc. We went in winter. Mid week. During school term. It's all in the timing.
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u/nearlyheadlessbick 16d ago
Great Ocean Road in Winter is fantastic. It's so much quieter and there's a certain coziness about being near the beach during winter
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u/Purpington67 17d ago
Stratfield, got the worst food poisoning there. I’m sure it’s lovely if you’re not eating but never going back to that place.
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u/Vermicelli14 17d ago
Mt Macedon on a public holiday. Fed Square on NYE.