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Re: Travel: Australia - Melbourne

Posted: Mon Apr 23, 2018 3:47 pm
by Disneyland03
Belgrave to Olinda / Sassafras / Mount Dandenong Observatory- doable via public transport? as we prefer not to drive there.
floppy wrote:
galaxyraider wrote:
Disneyland03 wrote: ...
Puffing Billy- I am thinking of going there via public transport. Half day sufficient or we can spend full day there
...
You can definitely take public transport for Puffing Billy. Half a day is sufficient. Take the train from Belgrave to Lake District, have picnic there, then take public bus back to Belgrave or to any other destination. Of course it will be more convenient to drive. You can park at Belgrave to catch the train then you can drive up to Dandenong afterward.
I have done both methods - public transport and driving. While the Puffing Billy will only take you a couple of hours (half day), it's best to cater for an entire day at the Dandenong in any case.

If you are travelling by public transport and using a myki card, the daily limit is the same as two 2 hour fares for the zone/s in which you travel. In simple English, it means that if you are travelling to / fro Melbourne and Belgrave on the train (about 1hr 20mins each way), taking public transport in the Dandenong (zone 2) is effectively FOC. You can consider the following options:
Puffing Billy - Belgrave to Emerald / Lakeside (where you can have a picnic)
Emerald / Lakeside to Belgrave
Belgrave to Olinda / Sassafras / Mount Dandenong Observatory

If you are in Olinda, you will have to try the awards winning pies at Pie in the Sky.
Mt Dandenong Observatory is just a place to look see look see (but not free). A recent pic I took:

Re: Travel: Australia - Melbourne

Posted: Mon Apr 23, 2018 5:24 pm
by floppy
Disneyland03 wrote:Belgrave to Olinda / Sassafras / Mount Dandenong Observatory- doable via public transport? as we prefer not to drive there.
The simple answer would be yes. However, you may have to rush and check the Public Transport Victoria website (it is gonna be your best friend). You MUST check the timetable to ensure that the timing / time meets and keep to the schedule! If you miss a bus / train, you may have to wait up to 60 mins for the next public transport (note that public transport schedule on weekdays, PH and weekends can be different).

Public transport options:
From Melbourne to Belgrave - train (~1 hour)
From Belgrave to Emerald / Lakeside - Puffing Billy (~1 hour. You will want to be on the 10.30am train in order to maximize your time in the Dandenong. Please buy tickets online beforehand)
From Emerald / Lakeside to Belgrave (~25 mins, Bus 695)
From Belgrave to Sassafras (~15 mins, Bus 694)
From Sassafras to Olinda (~5 mins, Bus 694 or 688)
From Olinda to SkyHigh Mount Dandenong (~10 mins, Bus 694 or 688)
From SkyHigh Mount Dandenong to Belgrave (~25 mins, Bus 694)***

*** While it only takes 25 mins to get to Belgrave by Bus 694, there is no service between 2.30pm and 8.00pm on weekdays (last bus at 8.00pm) and service ends at 5.00pm (last bus) on weekends.
*** An alternative back to Melbourne would be Bus 688 (runs hourly till around 8.30pm or 9.30pm -ish) which will bring you to Upper Ferntree Gully Station where you can catch a train back to Melbourne

Re: Travel: Australia - Melbourne

Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2018 2:35 pm
by snower
Hi, can I check besides Colac, what are the stopover from Port Campbell to Melbourne via Princess highway. Thank you.

Re: Travel: Australia - Melbourne

Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2018 3:05 pm
by floppy
snower wrote:Hi, can I check besides Colac, what are the stopover from Port Campbell to Melbourne via Princess highway. Thank you.
Colac is nearly the midpoint on the journey and around an hour from Port Campbell. It makes for a good pit stop, especially if you are not used to driving for 2+ hours at a stretch. I had dropped by Colac because the McD is just next to the highway :wink:

Besides that, there really isn’t any other good stop along the way. Just before you reach Melbourne, you can also pop into Geelong (but given its proximity to Melbourne, I don’t see the point).

Re: Travel: Australia - Melbourne

Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2018 4:26 pm
by snower
Thanks Floppy for the great advice. Just check in case someone needs to go toilet otherwise one stop at Colac is good enough, moreover we are heading to Werribee zoo.

Re: Travel: Australia - Melbourne

Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2018 8:32 am
by galaxyraider
snower wrote:Thanks Floppy for the great advice. Just check in case someone needs to go toilet otherwise one stop at Colac is good enough, moreover we are heading to Werribee zoo.
You can make a small detour to visit the lake. We missed it the other time as the boys wanted to go to Target to buy toys instead. :roll:

Re: Travel: Australia - Melbourne

Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2018 9:59 pm
by snower
Sounds good! Whats the name of the lake?

Re: Travel: Australia - Melbourne

Posted: Tue May 01, 2018 12:20 am
by floppy
snower wrote:Sounds good! Whats the name of the lake?
Lake Colac.

Re: Travel: Australia - Melbourne

Posted: Tue May 01, 2018 8:46 pm
by snower
Oh ok hope we have time to visit the Lake, thanks.

Re: Travel: Australia - Melbourne

Posted: Wed May 09, 2018 3:06 pm
by CheLee
Hi, may i know how do we go about applying for Visa?

I have previously applied through Misa Travel but they had closed down.