Eco Getaways in Victoria

With ‘eco’ options popping up all over the place, more and more people are considering how their travelling habits are impacting on the environment; we do it at home, so there’s no reason not to continue when we’re on the road.

The Grampians National Park and Great Ocean Road with their range of activities that only require a good pair of walking shoes are ideal locations to get the eco-getaway ball rolling. There is a choice of some great eco-friendly accommodation here that won’t break the bank.

Here are 2 Lazyshark recommendations:

Grampians YHA Eco Hostel, Halls Gap

The Grampians is Victoria’s largest National Park boasting some of the state’s most inspirational bushwalking, rock climbing, bike riding, native wildlife and horse riding.

Highlights include hiking to the famous Balconies, visiting the Mackenzies Falls or learning about and seeing the Aboriginal rock art. Under 4 hours drive from Melbourne you can easily reach the Grampians by public transport making it an affordable eco destination.

A great place to stay at Halls Gap is the Grampians YHA Eco Hostel - set in the heart of the majestic Grampians Ranges. The hostel has an impressive range of energy reducing and water saving features including a passive solar design, with more glass on north facing walls to maximise winter sunlight, and with the glass restricted on the southern walls to minimise winter heat loss. 150 solar tiles on the roof generate solar electricity to power the hostel.

It also has a unique reed-based Greywater Recycling System, which means that waste water can be safely stored and treated by UV rays (without the use of chemicals) for re-use in flushing toilets and irrigating the landscaped gardens.

With free bike hire on offer to explore the area by day plus use of the hostel’s ‘Chicken Hilton’, veggie patch and fruit trees to pick fresh produce to cook your evening meals the price of $75 per night for a double room or $28 for a bed is very reasonable.

For more info/to book Grampians YHA hostel call (+613) 5356 4544 or email grampians@yhavic.org.au

Eco Beach YHA, Apollo Bay

The seaside town of Apollo Bay is an easy 2.5 hour drive from Melbourne, and also reachable by public transport. Things to do include roaming the quiet shore of the bay, wandering through the dense rainforest of the Otways National Park or taking part in one of the many adventure activities in the area, both on land and water.

From serious bushwalkers to casual strollers, the Great Ocean Walk starting in Apollo Bay and stretching 91kms along the spectacular west coast is a must for all visitors. The walk has been designed so that visitors can ‘step on and step off’ the trail at a number of places, completing short, day or overnight hikes.

Like the Grampians YHA, Eco Beach YHA also has a passive solar design and has been created using materials sourced from managed Victorian forests, glass and stone. Solar Hot Water Systems generate 75% of the hot water used, all lights use low-energy LED globes, rainwater tanks have been installed with the collected water being used on the gardens, and to save energy there is no air-conditioning at either of the eco hostels.

Other facilities include a rooftop deck with breathtaking ocean views, two wood fire lounges, a TV room and a fully-equipped kitchen. Prices start from $28 for a bed and from $80 for a double.

For more info/to book Eco Beach YHA call (+613) 5237 7899 or email apollobay@yhavic.org.au

The Perils of Volcanic Ash

So the travel industry announced the other day that volcano Eyjafjallajoekull in Iceland has cost them £1 billion. As the dust – I mean ash settles – we are all counting the costs of the chaos that has affected over 1 million travellers worldwide.

The post-mortem has begun and questions are now being asked as to whether it was really necessary to shut airspace down for 10 days. The general opinion is probably not. The regulators had to err on the side of caution as the effect of the ash on the jet engines was unknown. However they probably could have carried out safety checks a lot faster, rather than waiting until weather conditions blew the cloud of ash away from Great Britain (and ironically back towards where it came from – Iceland!)

The airlines now have to cough up millions of pounds each in compensation to travellers forced to spend money (often extortionate amounts) charged by hotels around the world who took advantage of the situation and raised their room rates knowing people had no option but to agree to their raised tariffs.

That the airlines have to pay for this seems incredibly unfair. However I’m sure it will not be long before current legislation is changed so that if in the unlikely occurrence of a repeat scenario the airlines are exempt from footing the whole compensation bill.

In the long term I can only fear that the eruption of a volcano in Iceland is bad news for all travellers as airlines will all have to put up their prices to cover the millions of pounds they have lost due to volcanic ash.

The Virgin London Marathon

This year’s marathon was different for me. In previous years it was something I watched on TV in bed with a cup of tea to ease into a lazy Sunday morning. Last year I broke from tradition and went along with my girlfriend to offer some much needed moral support for a friend who was running. As we watched the thousands of runners streaming by with a beer in one hand and a burger in the other I had a crazy thought – why not enter for the Virgin 2010 London Marathon? Just over 1 year later I can proudly say I was one of the 36,000 slightly sadistic runners who lined up to cover the 26.2 mile course around London. 4hrs and 20mins later I had achieved what was once a distant dream and joined that elite club of people who have successfully completed a marathon.

What an amazing experience. The first 13 miles flew by. The crowd seemed to be constantly shouting out my name (printed on my vest!) and I must have given hundreds of young kids standing on the roadside with their hands out high fives…

I was buzzing. I was going well up until mile 22 and on course to go sub 4hrs (my target) Unfortunately at this point the wheels fell off and I had to get some treatment from St Johns Ambulance for my legs which at that stage felt more like blocks of lead…

After a few miles of intermittently running and walking I saw some friends along the embankment who gave me a hug and a pep talk at which point I found a new lease of life and was able to run the last 2 and ½ miles in. A final shout of encouragement from my brother at Westminster Bridge and the right hand turn onto Birdcage Walk and I had the sudden realisation that I was going to make it (something that I had doubts about 5 miles previously)

It was a strange mix of euphoria and pain running the last 800 metres. The crowds were electric not only here but all around the course and I can safely say that without the constant shouts of encouragement I would never have made it. Like many of the other 36,000 runners I was running for a charity (for the Elimination of Leukaemia Fund, in memory of my grandpa who died of leukaemia) and it is this central cause that generates a sense of amazing camaraderie that unites all the runners.

Will I be entering London 2011? No
Will this be my one and only marathon? I doubt it…

In fact only yesterday I entered the Bristol half marathon in September. It is official…I have caught the running bug!

Travel Insurance small print

I am sure that I am not the only one who has been caught out by not reading the small print contained within an insurance policy. You take the time and spend the money to get covered but sometimes the policy you think is providing you with the security and comfort of full protection is not. Why not? Because like 99% of all people you do not read the pages and pages of small print that follow a policy document.

I recently returned from a weeks skiing in Switzerland. Whilst over there I was told a true story of how one unfortunate holiday maker fell victim to the insurance small print. Every skier or snow boarder’s worse nightmare is to wipe out at the top of a mountain badly enough to require air helicopter evacuation off the summit and then be transported on to the nearest hospital equipped to deal with your injuries. Worse still is to find that the insurance policy you thought covered your medical bill actually doesn’t and subsequently to be told by the insurance company that you have to foot the bill out of your own pocket.

The sad reality is that if you are planning to do any kind of extreme sport whether it is bungy jumping, scuba diving, white water rafting or skiing then a standard travel insurance policy will exclude cover from doing these activities. Make sure you get them added on. It might add a few more pounds to your insurance cost but this is preferable to the thousands it could cost you if an accident were to befall you.

Queenstown

If you are an adrenalin junkie by day and a party animal by night then Queenstown is the place for you!

So what to see? Depending on your budget here are some Lazyshark suggestions on how to spend your time and NZ dollars whilst you're there:

Money to burn?

1. Do a Bungy - Spiritual home of bungy jumping you can still bungy off the Kawarau bridge where it all first started back in 1988. However at 43 metres this is now viewed as small bungy...! So for you braver souls try out the Nevis Highwire, the highest bungy in Australasia with 8.5 seconds of fall time!

2. Skydiving - At certain times of the day, when weather conditions are clear, if you look up to the skies there is a procession of skydivers circling their way down from above.

3. The "Triple Challenge" - Combine a helicopter flight with jet boating and white water rafting for an all in one action packed day.

On a shoestring budget?

1. The Skyline Gondola - Venture up the gondola for a spectacular view over Queenstown, Lake Wakatipu and the peaks of the "Remarkables". While you are up there you should definately have a go on the 800 metre luge tracks.

2. Go fishing at Lake Wakatipu - Rainbow trout, brown trout and quinnat salmon can be caught all year round.

3. Admire the views - Climb Queenstown Hill or Ben Lomond for great vistas over Queenstown and the surrounding area. The national parks of Fiordland and Mount Aspiring are also both close for casual walkers or serious hikers alike.

Modern Toilet

I've often seen reviews of restaurants where the critics slated the food as "a pile of crap", but never before have I seen it used as an advertising tool.

Well, an enterprising new business starting originally in Taiwan back in 2004 and now more recently spreading to Hong Kong has done exactly that, seating diners on toilets and serving attractive dishes such as Mediterranean Seafood Au Gratin or Korean Pork BBQ. The ice cream dishes served in mini toilets are classic...

Whetting your appetite?!! Read more at Modern Toilet

Byron Bay

Byron is a major stop-off on the East Coast backpacker trail. A beautiful beach and a laid back vibe are probably good enough reasons to stop here, but here are a few other Lazyshark ideas of things to do whilst in Byron:

Money to burn?

1. Nimbin - A number of different organisations run day trips to Nimbin, taking in a bit of rainforest on the way there or back. Nimbin is a festival town, stuck in the 1970's, and a bit tired, but the museum (dedicated to the sacred weed) is worth a look.

2. Surf School - Byron is a good place to learn apparently - reliable break, not too powerful an undertow - and a good choice of surf schools that cater to all standards. One word of warning though - King's Beach is not for the faint hearted

3. Arts Factory - Also a backpacker hostel, they run all sorts of classes and courses, from making a digeridoo to recording your own music.

On a Budget?

1. Music - Byron is a great place for live music. Best heard in a beer garden with a cold beer in one hand.

2. Chill out - You're there for the beach and sun..! Enjoy it...

3. Whale Watching - Another place on the East Coast that you can see these amazing mammals (mainly between June and November)