summer destinations Archives - Salty Sweet Journeys

Australia July 22, 2024

A weekend guide to Portarlington with Kids

This once sleepy little seaside village is now a bustling town and loved by families! Only 1.5 hours from Melbourne, with a shallow calm beach and kid-friendly attractions, Portarlington is a fantastic weekend escape destination with kids!

_{This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a booking, I make a small commission. This is at absolutely NO additional cost to you and helps me keep the site running!}

Portarlington: A popular family destination on the Bellarine Peninsula

Located in the middle of Victoria’s Bellarine Peninsula, Portarlington has always been well known as a popular fishing destination and famous especially for it’s fresh Portarlington Mussels.

Mussels: Image by Stefan Schweihofer from Pixabay

It has in recent years gained more popularity with families holidaying and day-trippers. The town centre in the last 10-15 years has expanded, there are lots of dining options, family friendly caravan parks and a fantastic shallow beach. The popular Mussel Festival (January) and Celtic Festival (June) are extremely popular events that run once a year and defenitely put this town on the map!

Getting there

You can reach Portarlington by car in just over 1.5 hours drive from Melbourne. The nearby city of Geelong is just 30 minutes away, and historic Queenscliff just 20 minutes away, also worth a visit!

Ferry Crossing from Docklands to Portarlington

Walking the long breakwater on Portarlington Pier

In recent years with the main pier re-development, there is also now a passenger (no cars) ferry connection to Melbourne Docklands direct to Portarlington, and is popular for day-trippers. The ferry crossing takes around 1 hour and 10 minutes and runs once or twice per day depending on the day of the week.

Prices for the 1 way crossing start are 18.50 AUD per Adults and 11 AUD for kids. Kids under 3 travel FREE but must still hold a ticket. Check on the Port Phillip Ferries Website for more information and updates.

Top 5 Things to do in Portarlington with Kids

Portarlington Park

This amazing playground had a major upgrade in recent years and looks AMAZING. It’s very spacious and has amazing wood-carved sea creatures scattered throughout the park.

Perched at the top of a hill with fantastic view over the sea, it’s a firm favourite every time we visit Portarlington, There are heaps of climbing structures, as well as a small water play area with a pump and river, swings, slides, trampolines and a flying fox too!

Tuckerberry Hill Blueberry Picking

Blueberries: Image by Jan Temmel from Pixabay

If you are planning to go to Portarlington over the summer holidays, a favourite place to visit near Portarlington with kids is Tuckerberry Hill to pick the freshest and juiciest berries!

Located only 10 minutes away by car from Portarlington just outside Drysdale, here you can eat fresh berries straight off the tree and pick your own blueberries and strawberries.

Strawberries: Image by Robson Veneziani from Pixabay

Eat away as you pick and you pay per kilo for what you take home (around 20 AUD per kilo) before leaving. Tuckerberry Hill is Open 26 December to late January, 9 am to 5 pm, check on their website for opening days and times, café on site also.

Portarlington Bayside Miniature Railway

This cute miniature railway is located just outside the caravan park in Portarlington is one of the most popular attractions for young children. It’s been running for over 20 years and a favourite with locals and tourist visiting the area.

Rides start from 4 AUD per person, kids under 2 ride FREE. There is also the option to purchase a Family Pass for 35 AUD (2 adults and up to 3 children) for unlimited rides! It’s a 10 minute ride that does 2 laps of the parklands riding the miniature train.

Onsite, a café and BBQ area selling cold drinks and sausages & burgers starting from 3-4 AUD each make visiting this miniature railway a very affordable outing with the family. There is also a little playground, plenty of seating areas outdoor and undercover, as well as toilets and a giftshop.

Outside of school holidays it runs on Sundays only usually – but do check their website for opening times and days as they vary depending of the time of year.

Fishing

Portarlington is a really popular place for fishing and a great place to introduce fishing to young kids! Walk along the pier at any time of day or night and you will see sooo many people having a go at catching something! The updated pier has plenty of spots to fish from, some also gated making it safer for younger children.

Popular catches in the area include Australian salmon, flathead and snapper. In the evening you will also see people trying their luck to catch flatheads directly from the beach too.

Portarlington Beach

This beach directly across from the main caravan park is very popular with families as it’s a shallow, calm beach with no big waves, making it perfect for little ones. With easy access to the town centre and Portarlington Park, it’s popular over the summer months especially. There is plenty of parking right near the beach on both sides of the pier and closer to the park too.

Another nice beach nearby with lots of shaded areas for the little ones is Indented Head, just 7 minutes drive from Portarlington and has facilities and a small playground too.

Where to stay in Portarlington with Kids

Budget Accommodation – Dylene Caravan Park

Located just outside the main town centre towards St Leonards off the esplanade, Dylene Caravan Park offers basic cabin accommodation as well as some upgraded cabins. The facilities at this caravan park include a small playground, BBQ area, games room and a small outdoor pool.

Check Availability and Prices for Dylene Caravan Park HERE

Dylene Caravan Park: Image courtesy of Expedia

Midrange Accommodation – Bellarine Bayside Holiday Park

On an enviable location right in the centre of town and right on Portarlington Beach, this caravan park is a popular choice for travellers. Offering self contained cabin style accommodation ranging from standard to spacious family cabins, as well playgrounds, games room, camp kitchens and plenty of outdoor seating and BBQ areas.

Check Availability and Prices for Bellarine Bayside Holiday Park

Bellarine Bayside Holiday Park: Image courtesy of Expedia

Luxury Accommodation – Oxley Estate

Only 3 minutes from the centre of Portarlington near the golf course, Oxley Estate is set on 10 acres of land among manicured gardens, orchards and farmland with animals. The estate offers a total of 5 accommodation options that include rooms, as well as cottages that are fully self contained. A small playground as well as an outdoor pool looking over the gardens will keep the kids entertained!

Check Availability and Prices for Oxley Estate HERE

Where to eat in Portarlington

There are lots of options on places to eat or have an afternoon treat in Portarlington with kids. Our favourites are these:

Pier Front Pizzeria: Traditional woodfire Pizzeria
Pier St (recently renovated): Modern Brunch, Lunch & Mussel restaurant on the water, kids menu available!
The Bakehouse Portarlington: Classic country bakery
Devils Donuts: Look for the van (and the queues!) on the left side of the car park facing Portarlington pier. THE most delicious, classic hot jam donuts, dusted in abundant sugar. A firm favourite when visiting Portarlington.
Portarlington Food Park: Permanent rotating food trucks set up with a variety of foods, ice-cream and coffee. Seasonally opened for lunch and dinner, has outdoor seating.
Staple Eatery and Deli: Deli-style café with italian style gourmet sandwiches & pizza.

Want to read more about Portarlington?

Looking for more kid friendly adventures near Portarlington? Adventure Park Geelong is only 20 minutes away!

Hope you enjoyed reading my post on Portarlington with Kids! You can read more about Portarlington and the renowned Portarlington Mussels and where to get them from HERE!

If you want to explore more on seaside destinations in Victoria, you can check out my other post on Warrnambool with Kids HERE.

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Australia July 14, 2024

Top 8 Things to do in Merimbula with Kids

Merimbula in the NSW coast is a fantastic family friendly destination. With so many activities for kids of all ages, that includes fishing, outdoor adventures and even it’s own theme park, there is something to do for everyone! These are the Top 8 Things to do in Merimbula with Kids.

_{This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a booking, I make a small commission. This is at absolutely NO additional cost to you and helps me keep the site running!}

Why Merimbula is a great family destination

Lots of natural attractions to explore and opportunities to learn about the local wildlife
A proper town centre well equipped with everything you need and with things to do for the whole family, for younger and older children
Magic Mountain theme park is lots of fun and makes for an exciting day out in Merimbula

Read on to find out more on the Top 8 Things to do in Merimbula with Kids!

These are the 8 Top Things to do in Merimbula with kids.

Magic Mountain

Guaranteed fun for all the family is Magic Mountain, one of the Top Things to do in Merimbula with Kids. Merimbula’s own theme park has been around for over 30 years and popular with locals and tourist alike.

It is located just a few minutes out of town. Entry to the theme park gives you access to all the rides. It includes a toboggan ride, minigolf, a rollercoaster, dodgem carts, tube rider and more. In summer there are also 2 extremely popular (and steep) water slides and a play pool for younger ones.

Magic mountain roller coaster — Rollercoaster at Magic Mountain

There is plenty of space for picnics, as well as a playground, a maze, bouncy castle and of course a café to fuel up for the day. We spent the whole day here and the kids had an absolute ball.

DETAILS: Open daily in summer and on selected dates during VIC/NSW school holidays from 10am to 4pm – 59 AUD for adults, 52 AUD for children 4 to 12 yrs. Children below 4 years have FREE entry. Discounts offered for pre-booking online and for season passes. Some days the park can be closed for private functions, check the website first! More info on the website HERE.

Bega Heritage Centre

A popular place to the take the kids for a tasty cheese toastie is of course Bega! Bega is the home of popular Bega Cheese and you can reach it in just 30 minutes drive from Merimbula.

Head to the Bega Heritage Centre, onsite where the Bega Factory is to see the wonderfully recreated farmhouse, machinery and cows that the kids will love looking at and learning more about. The in-house buzzing café is great for lunch or to stock up on local goodies and cheese for a picnic.

DETAILS: Open daily 9 am to 4 pm. Entry to the Farmhouse is FREE for a look around! More info on the website HERE.

Merimbula Beach & Ford Park

The pristine 5 km stretch of sand of the Merimbula Main beach is a must see for families. It’s patrolled over summer and has plenty of space to play in the sand and water.

Ford park a popular playground — Ford Park

Just backing on the beach, Ford Park playground is perfect for little ones and popular with locals and families here on holidays. It’s fully fenced and also has lots of sitting areas and BBQs. The Merimbula Seaside Market is also hosted here on the 3rd Sunday of each month.

Merimbula Boardwalk

This stunning walk is an easy stroll for kids and stroller friendly. The Merimbula Boardwalk stretches from just off the main street at Market Streets and stretches for just over 3 km (return loop). Young ones will enjoy being able to see up close all the oysters, fish and oyster farms on the shallow wooden boardwalk.

Top Fun

For rainy days, Top Fun is an indoor and outdoor fun place for the whole family. Top Fun has a 10 pin bowling alley, laser tag, 18 hole minigolf, as well as a full arcade with heaps of games.

DETAILS: Open daily 10 am to 8 pm, longer weekends and summertime. Each activity is charged separately. Prices starting from 8 AUD for kids and 15 AUD for adults playing minigolf. Discounts offered COMBO deals starting from 26 AUD per person to play in 2 attractions to include Minigolf, Lasertag and Bowling. Check the website for the most up do date opening hours HERE.

Barefoot Bowls at Club Sapphire

Barefoot bowls in Merimbula — Barefoot Bowls at the Club Sapphire

Club Sapphire in Merimbula is a huge entertainment complex with restaurants and a full sized lawn bowls club. A fantastic budget family friendly activity in Merimbula is Barefoot Bowls, the spacious undercover lawn bowls also has a playground for kids right next to the lawns!

The attached Pacific Bistro serves up delicious pub meals with a kids menu and perfect for a feed after a game of bowls. Kitty’s Bar and Restaurant also onsite is a popular dining spot for delicious Asian fusion meals and has kid friendly dining on Wednesdays and Thursday nights.

Seafood platter in Merimbula — Dining at the Pacific Bistro

DETAILS: Club Sapphire is Open daily 10 am to 10 pm, longer weekends and summertime. 2 hour Barefoot Bowl sessions Prices can be booked HERE starting from 10.50 AUD for kids and 16 AUD for adults playing. Discounts Family Pass for 2 adults and up to 3 children at 42 AUD. Check the website for the most up do date opening hours HERE. Bookings necessary HERE for dining in the bistro or at Kitty’s.

Potooroo Palace

Another family – friendly popular attraction in Merimbula is Potoroo Palace. If you are an animal lover and are looking for experiences to interact and get up close with local wildlife and see some potooroos, Potooroo Palace is the perfect place. This wildlife park is less than 10 minute drive from the centre of Merimbula and allows you to Feed free roaming kangaroos, ride the miniature train and have close up encounters with koalas, reptiles and many more incredible animals.

DETAILS: Open daily 9am to 4pm – 25 AUD for adults, 16 AUD for children over 3 yrs. Children below 3 years are charged 5 AUD. Discounts offered for family tickets.

Merimbula Wharf and Aquarium

Merimbula Aquarium, one of the top attractions in Merimbula with kids — Merimbula Aquarium

Perched at the top of a popular fishing pier in Merimbula, the Wharf in Merimbula is not only a amazing seafood restaurant, it’s also a full size 70,000 litre aquarium with over 20 tanks with local and tropical sea creatures!

A highlight for little ones is seeing the fish during feeding times at 11.30am every Wednesdays & Fridays and on Thursdays also during school holidays.

DETAILS: Open Wed to Sunday 10am to 4pm, longer on weekends – 25 AUD for adults, 17 AUD for children. Discounts offered for family tickets. Check on the website for the most up to date details.

Where is Merimbula

Merimbula is located in NSW, 75 km from the Victorian Border, and approximately 7 hours drive from Melbourne. From Merimbula, you can reach Sydney in 6 hours drive, and Canberra in a 3 hours drive.

Merimbula is also served by Merimbula Airport that has local and charter flights operating across regional cities as well as Melbourne and Sydney (just one 1 hour flight time).

Where to stay in Merimbula

There are so many places to stay in Merimbula for families. From self catering accommodation to caravans parks, there is something to suit all budgets!

Luxury Family friendly accommodation

Coast Resort Merimbula is a great accommodation option for families! The resort offers luxury townhouses and apartments with stylish interiors as well as 2 swimming pools and a tennis court. The resort is also located just a short walk to the main beach in Merimbula and the popular Ford Park Playground, just across the road. You can read my full review here.

Check out prices and availability for Coast Resort Merimbula HERE

Midrange/Budget Family friendly accommodation

NRMA Merimbula Beach Holiday Resort is a fantastic resort for kids. A playground, pool and school holidays club will keep the kids entertained. With holiday cabins ranging from budget friendly standard cabins up to Spa Villas and Glamping tents, there is something to suit every budget.

Check out prices and availability for NRMA Merimbula HERE

NRMA Resort Merimbula – Photo Courtesy of Expedia

Want to read more about Merimbula?

Hope you enjoyed this post on the Top 8 things to in Merimbula with Kids!

Want to venture to more places in the area like the hidden Eden Rockpools or the Killer Whale Museum? You can read more about it in my other post on the Top 7 Experiences in and around Merimbula HERE.

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Australia February 24, 2024

Visiting Mount Gambier with kids

Mount Gambier is jam-packed with natural attractions that the whole family will enjoy! Wander through limestone caves or marvel in the hidden gardens inside sinkholes or head for the white pristine sands and rugged coastline along the Limestone Coast. These are the top attractions to see in Mount Gambier with kids.

Umpherston Sinkhole a popular attraction in Mount Gambier with kids — The gardens in Umpherston Sinkhole

Why Choose Mount Gambier for a family holiday?

These are my top reasons of why Mount Gambier is a great place to take the kids:

Lots of impressive Natural Wonders like sinkholes & caves all over town. The kids will love venturing inside the sunken gardens and exploring the limestone caves!
Beautiful beaches close by at Port MacDonnell and further north along the Limestone Coast. You can read about Port MacDonnell on my other post HERE.
Family-friendly: Many accommodation options are suitable for families. These include farm stays, motels, apartments and caravan parks to suit all budgets, as well as updated, accessible playgrounds and family-friendly pubs

beaches in Port Macdonnell — White limestone sand at Port MacDonnell

Where is Mount Gambier

Mount Gambier is in the state of South Australia, and the 3rd largest city of the state. It’s a 4.5 hour drive from Melbourne if coming from Victoria and roughly the same distance from Adelaide. Mount Gambier is a popular stopover destination on the way to and from Melbourne and the Great Ocean Road.

How long to stay in Mount Gambier

People generally stop in Mount Gambier for 1-2 nights. But if you want to see more of the sights even outside Mount Gambier, 3-4 days is perfect!

Top Attractions to see in Mount Gambier with kids

Mount Gambier is the 3rd biggest town in South Australia and with so many things to see, these are my top picks when visiting with kids, and if you want to read more about Mount Gambier you can also check out my other post with a comprehensive list on the Most Popular Sinkholes and Volcano craters to see and snorkelling spots too!

Umpherston Sinkhole

An absolute must-see when visiting Mount Gambier with kids. Travel down the steep stairs that go 20 mt below the road to these beautiful manicured gardens & tall palm trees.

In the evening, the kids will enjoy seeing the local wildlife come into the sinkhole. Lots of local possums come out at night in the sinkholes and you can feed them too (fresh fruit only)!

More info at: southaustralia.com Cost: FREE

Cave Garden Sinkhole

Another smaller sinkhole located right in the middle of Mount Gambier is Cave Gardens.

Cave Gardens is a bit smaller than Umpherstom Sinkhole with a depth of around 30 mt. It has gardens around it, and stairs to travel down the sinkhole and a viewing platform over the lowest point.

Opposite Cave Gardens is the main library, which is very well equipped for children and has a cave-inspired area for kids too!

More info at: southaustralia.com Cost: FREE

Mount Gambier library apposite Cave Gardens in the city centre

Engelbrecht Cave

A must-see attraction to see in Mount Gambier with kids is Engelbrecht Cave. This large sinkhole and the caves beneath it can be explored by guided tour only. The tour takes you through to visit an impressive crystal clear underground lake, as well as the western cave located alongside it.

The fully guided tour takes around 1 hour. The knowledgeable guides take you through the very interesting history of the cave, and lots of fun facts kids will enjoy.

There are some steps down to access the caves and not too much walking so it’s suitable for young children also. The temperature in the cave is at around 16 degrees. It’s a great thing to visit Mount Gambier with kids on a hot or rainy day! Just be mindful of the rules when entering the cave, they are quite strict about them.

More info at: www.engelbrechtcave.com Cost: AUD 15 per Adult, AUD 9 per Child, Free under 4 yrs

Blue Lake

This dormant volcano crater has the most beautiful shades of blue, unfortunately, the day we visited we did not have the best visibility but on a clear day the lake is a bright blue colour.

Even thought you cannot swim in there (it’s Mount Gambier’s water supply) you can hike/walk all along the crater. The popular Blue Lake Circuit walk is around 3.5 km long, and is pram friendly too!

If you just want to take a look and not hike, there are lots of viewpoints. The Blue Lake lookout has a small carpark and has a convenient viewing spot accessible via a tunnel below the road for photos or you can also go up a set of steep stairs to see the lake from higher up.

More info at: southaustralia.com Cost: FREE

Echo farm

A popular attraction for families. Echo Farm is a historic 1920′ farmhouse where you can see farm displays and see and feed lots of different animals like ducks, chickens, alpacas, sheep, guinea pigs and rabbits.

More info at: echofarm.com.au Cost: AUD 21 per Adult, AUD 18 per Child, Free under 2 yrs

Little Blue Lake

Very popular with families and teenagers, this sinkhole that you can swim in is called Little Blue Lake. Located about 15 minutes from Mount Gambier, in nearby Mount Schank. The Little Blue Hole is stunning, and worth a visit even if you don’t plan to swim in it.

Little Blue Lake in Mount Gambier is a popular swimming spot

Heads up, it’s as deep as a 15th storey building (47 metres) so the water is quite cool and it’s not easy to float as it’s freshwater. Lots of people had inflatables for easier floating.

Note: Although the Little Blue Hole is a very popular attraction for families and teenagers, due to the steep stairs, depth and access to the sinkhole, in my opinion this place is NOT suitable for swimming for toddlers and very young children (under 6).

More info at: southaustralia.com Cost: FREE

Other things to see with kids near Mount Gambier

Hop in the car and a short drive from Mount Gambier there are many other great towns to explore with kids along the Limestone Coast.

Port MacDonnell

Port MacDonnell and its stunning white Limestone beaches is just 30 minutes away! Also the known as the Rock Lobster Capital of South Australia, it’s a great half day trip from Mount Gambier. You can read about Visiting Port MacDonnell on my other post HERE.

Millicent

Just 40 minutes drive north from Mount Gambier is Millicent. Famous for its local museum that displays historical farm machinery and artefacts, it also has a fantastic, toddler friendly swimming lake, Millicent Swimming Lake.

This large, half moon shaped man-made lake has a sandy ‘beach’ and lots of shaded areas. There is also a small playground facing the lake as well as a cafe/takeaway shop on side also. For picnics, a large grass area is very well maintained. The shallow end with the sand make it ideal for toddlers and young children, and the maximum depth of the lake is 1.8 metres. Note: entry to the lake is free and open only during swim season, no lifeguard on duty

Sandy, shallow shore at Millicent Swimming lake

Closer to town, the Millicent Domain Playground and Skate Park and Nature Playground are also great for children. One part of the park is a bit older, but extremely well maintained and completely fenced. Some of the facilities include tunnel slides, tractor bouncy rides, a flying fox, a liberty swing & gym equipment.

Just outside the fenced park, a new nature playground has recently been added with a tall tunnel slide as well as tunnels underneath that the kids loved. A skate park is also just outside the playground with a spacious shaded grass areas, BBQs and toilet.

Nature Playground just outside Domain Playground

Naracoorte caves

Another popular cave that the children will enjoy is Naracoorte Caves – located 1.5 hours drive from Mount Gambier. This dry/wet cave is most famous for its fossils and is South Australia’s only World Heritage Site. More information on Naracoorte caves can be found HERE.

Family Friendly Dining in Mount Gambier

These are some popular dining spots in Mount Gambier:

South Eastern Hotel: Fantastic bistro serving Australian food, very family friendly with a large indoor playground. Kids meals are offered at AUD 15 per child, and Adult meals range from AUD 25-45 and include with each main a salad buffet, which has hot and cold salads, sides as well as fruit and bread rolls. More info at www.southeasternhotel.com.au

Other popular dining options in Mount Gambier:

Natural Born Grillers – Burgers
Fact – Fish and Chips takeaway
Wild Ginger Thai – Thai Food
Bahn Kubo – Asian food (popular for roast meats)
Federal Hotel – Australian Pub with kids meal and small playground on site

Accommodation in Mount Gambier

High End: The Barn Accommodation. Click HERE to check prices!
Mid Range: Aloha Central luxury Apartments. Click HERE to check prices!
Budget: Blue Lake Holiday Park. Click HERE to check prices!

Stop points from Melbourne

Travelling from Melbourne? Here are some great stops in Regional Victoria to stretch your legs with kids:

Lismore in Regional Victoria is a good quick stopover point to recharge — Lismore Train display

Lismore – Playground located next to the local outdoor pool. It has a large old steam train on display at the front and historical farm machinery.
Mortlake – Roadhouse with a display room of die cast models of HUNDREDS of trucks for the little truck lovers!
Heywood – Heywood Bakery – Cozy country bakery with freshly baked goods & Vietnamese coffee.
Portland – Portland All Abilities PlaySpace playground is wonderful and in a great location in town facing the sea.

Mortlake Roadhouse Truck display — Die cast trucks display at Mortlake Roadhouse

Want to read more about Mount Gambier?

You can read more about Mount Gambier in my other post on the Most Popular Sinkholes and Volcano Craters to visit in Mount Gambier and Visiting Port MacDonnell on the Limestone coast.

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Destinations July 30, 2023

These are 3 of the Best Islands in Croatia

Croatia Island Hopping? Let me take you to explore 3 of the best islands in Croatia, Korčula, Vis & Hvar. Crystal-clear blue waters and gorgeous little towns make these islands must-see destinations. Check out the grand walls of Dubrovnik and the city buzz of Split as gateways, and of course, let’s not forget the food, the seafood is the best you will ever taste!

Starting your trip: Dubrovnik or Split?

None of the Islands I talk about in this post have airports, so you will need to take a ferry to get there. Most people opt for getting to the islands from either Dubrovnik or Split, in mainland Croatia. Where should you start your trip from? If you have the time to do both cities, do both. Depending on what islands you are visiting, it may make ferry connections easier so that you are not backtracking.

Dubrovnik cobbled streets — Cobbled Streets in Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik is a much smaller town, but it’s jam-packed with history and beautiful to explore due to its location, well-preserved old town, and fortified walls. It is very touristy and can be quite expensive if staying in hotels (many people opt to stay in local guesthouses). Split on the other hand has much more of a city vibe, and is much bigger and more affordable for budget travellers. It really depends on what your preferences are when you are traveling to make you go for either Split or Dubrovnik as your base.

Want to know more? Check out my other post: Where is better – Dubrovnik or Split?

Getting to the islands & Getting around

Most of the popular ferry routes in Croatia are run by large car ferries or catamarans. Jadrolinija ferries, serves routes to the islands from Dubrovnik & Split as well as from Italy to Split (from Ancona, 11 hours) and to Dubrovnik (from Bari, 7 hours). Local company Krilo also runs services from Split to some of the Croatian islands like Hvar, Korčula & Brac.

Ferry travel in croatia — Travelling by ferry between the islands

Once on the islands, buses will get you around to the main town centers. Bikes can also be hired from local travel agencies as well as cars and scooters from car rental companies. My preference is to personally hire a car so you can go and explore easily at your convenience. A thing to note is that hiring a car in summer (especially around July / August) can be difficult, and if you leave it to when you arrive, cars may not be available. Book in advance if possible.

Ferry travels between the islands — Sunset over Croatia

What to eat in Croatia

In most places in Croatia, the menus at restaurants (called Konobas in Croatian) are well-catered for tourists. You will find lots of pasta & pizza (some better than others), meat, and seafood. I was initially put off by the very touristy-looking menu, but I must admit, in most instances, I was quite impressed. The fish & seafood in Croatia is abundant and delicious, especially on the coast and the islands.

The typical Dalmatian Style seafood is just grilled and dressed very generously with olive oil, parsley, and garlic. There is an old saying in Croatia:

The fish in Croatia must swim 3 times, first in the sea, then in olive oil, and then in wine!
Traditional Dalmatian Saying

seafood platter in Croatia — Seafood platter served with potatoes

You will generally find Skampi (prawns with long claws), octopus, squid, and local Adriatic fish varieties on a seafood platter.

Other popular dishes are Black Ink Risotto, Octopus salad, and generous plates of ‘small fried fish‘ (minnows). A traditional side dish to accompany seafood and meat is par-boiled potatoes with a local variety of a green similar to Swiss chard, called Blitva.

a typical Croatian dinner of seafood & grilled meats — Seafood and grilled meats at the Konobas in Croatia

For any meat eaters out there, you will also find plenty of grilled meat dishes and stews too. Cevapi is a popular street food in Croatia. They are skinless sausages made of pork and beef, with lots of paprika and garlic. They are served grilled, usually in flatbreads, loaded with lots of Ajvar, a spicy and extremely delicious capsicum/red pepper, and eggplant spread. You can often find imported Ajvar in European specialty stores to buy too.

Restaurants in Dubrovnik — Restaurants or ‘Konoba’ in Dubrovnik

Ice cream shops are plentiful in Croatia and Rožata (a Croatian version of baked crème caramel) are popular desserts if you still have room!

These are 3 of the Best Islands in Croatia

Korčula

Korcula Old town — Korčula Old Town – Image by invisiblepower from Pixabay

What to see in Korčula

Popular on the tourist route and one of the larger Adriatic Islands – Korčula has a glorious Old Town that is almost a miniature version of Dubrovnik. Beautifully maintained and built with Gothic and Renaissance architecture, it’s a must see in Korčula. If you look at a map of the old town, the streets were cleverly laid out in a fishbone shape in order to protect from the sun and wind.

Korcula Old town gate — Old Town Gate in Korčula

An interesting, although controversial, part of history for Korčula, is that it claims to be Marco Polo’s Birthplace, so you can see from the outside his supposed house, as well as a museum, and (lots of) souvenir shops.

Racisce, a small village in Korcula — The village of Racisce – 12 km west of Korčula Town

The beaches in Korčula are stunning and there are lots of places to see. Most of them are pebbles or rocky so arm yourself with some proper footwear! Nearby Lumbarda, does although have some great sandy beaches. If you are after a bit more quiet, the nearby islands of Proizd, with its turquoise waters and sloping rock formations, and Badija with its Franciscan monastery and deers roaming around, are fantastic day trips from Korčula.

The turquoise waters of Proizd island nearby Korcula — Proizd Island – 35 minutes via boat from Korčula

How Long to Stay in Korčula

4 – 5 Days

Accommodation in Korčula

There is a limited amount of full-service hotels on the islands, most of the accommodation is apartments and guesthouses. Korčula Town, Vela Luka & Lumbarda are the most popular places to stay. The small village of Racisce is a bit quieter but also a great little town to be based in if you have a car to get around. Check out Booking.com for a wide range of accommodations in Korčula.

Getting to Korčula

There are two major Ferry ports in Korčula – Domince & Vela Luka. Daily Ferries and Catamarans from Dubrovnik (approx. 2 hours), Split (approx. 3 hours), Hvar (approx. 1.5 hours).

Check Jadrolinija’s website for full schedule.

Vis

What to see in Vis

One of the less developed islands of Croatia, Vis is still rugged & filled with vineyards and was fairly undiscovered to tourism up till recently. This is mainly due to the island actually being closed off to tourist only up till 1989 as it was a military base.

Vis countryside — Church of St Nicholas, Vis

The two main towns of Vis and Komiža are cozy and stretch along the coastline of this small island. The main attractions are the local beaches of Stiniva & Zaglav (there are many more coves too) and taking a boat trip to Biševo to view the Blue Cave.

Bisevo cave in Vis — Biševo Cave, near Vis

How Long to Stay in Vis

3 – 4 days

Accommodation in Vis

There is a limited amount of hotels on the islands, most of the accommodation is apartments and guesthouses. Most of the accommodation is located in Komiza or Vis Town. Check out Booking.com for a wide range of accommodations in Vis.

Getting to Vis

There is one Ferry port in Vis – Vis Town. Daily Ferries and fast catamarans from from Split (approx. 1.5 to 2.5 hours).

Check Jadrolinija & Krilo for full schedule.

Hvar

What to see

Green Hvar has become to be known as one of the party islands of Croatia. It has lots of bars, beach clubs and can get very busy over the summertime. The main town of Hvar is located on the harbour and rows and rows of luxury yachts line the waterfront of this beautiful island. The town centre itself is quite small and can be seen easily in a few days. St Stephens Cathedral has been standing proud in the main square for centuries and is worth a visit as you stroll through town.

St Stephens Square & Cathedral in Hvar — St Stephen’s Square & Cathedral in Hvar

Take a 30-minute hike to Hvar Fortress for fantastic views over the island. To cool off, head to the nearby beach of Dubovica or take a boat trip over the swim in the clear blue waters of Pakleni Islands.

How Long to Stay in Hvar

2 – 3 days

Accommodation in Hvar

Due to being ‘the place’ to be in Croatia, Hvar has some of the most luxurious and expensive accommodations of all the islands. Accommodation in the old part of Hvar town can be very pricey and noisy over the summertime so venturing further out of town and staying in apartments and guesthouses can be a more affordable option. Stari Grad in the north of the islands also has accommodations and is a quieter, more affordable alternative to Hvar Town. Check out Booking.com for a wide range of accommodations in Hvar.

Hvar Fortress & Harbourside — Hvar Fortress & Harbour – Image by Joëlle Moreau from Pixabay

Getting to Hvar

There are two major Ferry ports in Hvar – Stari Grad and Sucuraj. Daily Ferries and Catamarans from Split (just over 1 hour), Korčula (approx. 1 hour), Dubrovnik (approx. 3 hours).

Check Jadrolinija & Krilo for full schedule.

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Hope you enjoyed this article! Want to read more? Check out more of my posts below:

Where is better: Dubrovnik or Split? HERE.

How to Save Money When Travelling Around Europe HERE & Europe Hidden Gem Destinations HERE.

To compare and book flights to Europe, head over to Skyscanner.

Looking for some great hotel deals? Check out Expedia or Booking.com.

Compare car hire prices at Expedia Cars.

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Destinations July 17, 2023

Europe Hidden Gems – Top 5 Destinations

Planning your next Europe getaway and want to venture somewhere off the beaten track on your trip? Be amazed by the beauty of these Top 5 Destinations and the Best of Europe’s Hidden Gems. Read more below on what makes these places unique, what to eat and how to get there.

evening along the rivers in ghent — Ghent – Belgium

Europe, where do I begin with all the amazing places to visit? There are so many incredible countries soaked in hundreds of years of history, beautiful big and small cities with a maze of narrow cobbled laneways, majestic cathedrals and so much more.

When I first planned to move to Europe I had all this long list of places I wanted to see and it was all the bucket-list destinations we have all heard of.

a few from lake garda one of europe hidden gems — Lake Garda, Italy

But, those times I ventured off that list and went to some other places I had not heard of before, what I found was nothing short of magic!

So, if you have the time, don’t be afraid to venture off the itinerary you had in mind. There are more amazing destinations than just the 5 in the list below, the list could be endless! These are my favourite Top 5 of Europe’s Best Hidden Gems.

the port of gozo another hidden gem to visit — Mgarr Harbour, Gozo

Europe’s Best Hidden Gems – Top 5

Ghent, Belgium

You probably have heard of Brussels and of the gorgeous little town of Bruges, but have you heard of Ghent? A stunning city with lots and lots of medieval charm. A popular university town, it has great restaurants, bars and some cool, modern street art too!

Take a stroll or a boat ride on river Lys and marvel at the beautiful façades of the Graslei. Visit St Bavo’s Cathedral to see the stunning masterpiece of the Ghent Alterpiece. And, if you are into some real life historic horror stories, visit the Gravensteen Castle, also called the Castle of the Counts to learn more about it’s dark past.

Gravenstreen castle in ghent, one of europe hidden gems — Gravensteen Castle, right in the centre of Ghent

Getting to Ghent

International & domestic airlines fly into Brussels (BRU) and then it’s just under 1 hour by direct train or by driving to Ghent if you have a car. If you are in France or England, you can also reach Brussels with the Eurostar in less than 2 hours!

tourist relaxing on the graslei in ghent — Weekenders in relaxing at the Graslei in Ghent

How long to stay

2-3 days

What to eat

Waffles, Chocolate, Chips (Frites) & Beer of course! Do I need to say more or are you packing your bags already? Read more about Belgium’s most popular foods & beers HERE in my other post.

chocolate shop in belgium — One of the many chocolate stores in Belgium

Wroclaw, Poland

With a stunning, colourful town square to rival it’s other bigger sister city, Krakow, Wroclaw is still an undiscovered beautiful university city to visit in Poland. Tiny little gnome statues appear in every corner of the city, representing the long history of communism in the past of this country and the protest against it.

It also has one of the most beautiful Christmas markets in Europe! This one definitely makes the list in being one of Europe’s Best Hidden Gems.

You can read more about Wroclaw in my other post HERE.

a colourful square in wroclaw, a hidden gem of europe — Colourful buildings in Wroclaw Market Square

Getting to Wroclaw

Wroclaw has an international airport located just outside town (Wroclaw Nicolaus Copernicus Airport, WRO). It serves flights from London (2 hours), Warsaw & Frankfurt (1 hour) and from many other countries in Europe. You can also get there by train from Berlin, which has a daily connection and takes around 4 hours. It’s about 3 hours by train from Krakow.

How long to stay

2 -3 days

What to eat

Pierogi filled with potato or cheese (or both), a warming Hunters Stew or Bigos, made with pork and sauerkraut, Cabbage Rolls or Golabki, stuffed with meat in a red sauce.

a plate of creamy pierogi, a typical food of poland — Pierogi topped with butter, onion and pork rinds – Image by Julita from Pixabay

Gozo, Malta

This little island located right next to it’s big sister Malta, is small but mighty in history and things to see. Venture to the capital Victoria, to see the fortified walls of the Cittadella for a great view over Gozo or cool off on the stunning beaches with red sand of Ramla Bay or San Blas.

Dwejra inland sea — Inland Sea at Dwejra, Gozo

It also has temples dating back to before the pyramids, the Ggantija Temples! It comes alive during the summertime for the many ‘feasts’, where each small town celebrates its patron saints and puts on fabulous parades and fireworks. Take a day trip to nearby Comino to see the stunning Blue Lagoon.

blue lagoon in comino — The Blue Lagoon on the Island of Comino, right next to Gozo

Getting to Gozo

There is no airport in Gozo, so you need to fly into Malta’s main airport (Malta International Aiport, MLA). From Malta, you need to get to Ċirkewwa Harbour, where the ferry will take you across to Gozo. The Ferry crossing is about 25 minutes. Although there is public transport available, the services are not frequent so hiring a car would be your best option to get around on the island!

view of a popular beach in goo, ramla bay — View over Ramla Beach in Gozo from Tal-Mixta Cave

How long to stay

4 – 5 days

What to eat

Ftira or Gozitan Pizza, is the speciality here and you will find it either filled with ricotta & goat cheeses, or topped with potatoes, slices of tomatoes and loads of olives and capers (they grow wild all over the island). You will also find rabbit stew, called Stuffat Tal Fenek, and of course Pastizzi, two very traditional Maltese foods to eat. The traditional Pastizzi fillings are Ricotta or Peas.

rabbit stew, a typican dish of gozo, malta — Rabbit Stew, with a Cisk beer to it wash all down of course

Lake Garda, Italy

When people think of a lake in Italy, everyone thinks of Lake Como, but did you know that Lake Garda is the biggest lake in Italy? With a picturesque, green coastline, it’s dotted with pretty little towns and that makes Lake Garda one of Europe’s Best Hidden Gems! The most popular towns are Sirmione, Malcesine, Riva del Garda and Limone.

a stunning view of riva del garda, in lake garda — A scenic view of Riva del Garda

Sirmione, has a 14th century roman castle that is one of the best preserved in the whole of Italy! For some fabulous views on a clear day, head to Malcesine and ride the cable car to the top of Monte Baldo.

You can also see the remains of a roman villa at Grotte di Catullo dating back to the 1st Century BC. The locals LOVE Lake Garda and it’s a very popular day trip so it does get busy on weekends, public holidays and during summertime.

scaliger castle in lake garda — Scaliger Castle, Sirmione

Getting to Lake Garda

The closest airport is Verona (Valerio Catullo Airport VRN) in the north of Italy which is just outside the city of Verona (famous for Romeo & Juliet and Juliet’s Balcony). From Verona, by car you can reach Lake Garda in about 20 minutes. You can also reach the towns of Peschiera e Desenzano on Lake Garda via train from Verona station. Venice international airport is around 2 hours away by car to Lake Garda.

lake garda in bloom during summer — Lake Garda in bloom during spring

How long to stay

2 – 3 days

What to eat

The main speciality of the area is seafood dishes! Locals will travel for the day just to have a seafood feast for lunch from Lake Garda. A very typical pasta dish is Bigoli con le Sarde, which is a thick spaghetti with fresh sardines and lots of garlic & parsley (You can find my version of Bucatini with Sardines HERE).

Risotti are also very typical of the north of Italy and the Vialone Nano variety is often used to make a creamy red wine risotto called Risotto All’Amarone, a local wine of the area.

Lucerne, Switzerland

chapel bridge in lucerne — Chapel Bridge, Lucerne

Another stunning medieval town, with distinctive wooden bridges that stand the test of time, being built in the 1400s. The old town is charming with beautiful painted houses and stunning churches with Renaissance and Baroque architecture. Take a trip to Mt Pilatus on a clear day for stunning views over the city, Lake Lucerne and the surrounding Alps. You can usually see snow capped mountains from November to April.

Getting to Lucerne

The closest airports to Lucerne are Zurich (ZHR) or Bern (BRN), from there Lucerne is well connected by rail links and road that will get your there in about 1 hour. Geneva is around 3 hours away by car / train.

painted building in lucerne — The beautiful façade of Restaurant Fritschi in Lucerne, opened in 1602

How long to stay

2 – 3 days

What to eat

Potatoes and cheese, lots and lots of swiss cheese! Swiss Potato Rösti is a very popular dish and is essentially a very large hash brown. The potatoes are shredded either when raw or par-boiled then fried in butter or oil till crispy. They are just eaten like that or topped with eggs, cheese, mushrooms (usually chanterelles) or bacon and onions.

cheese display at a local market in Lucerne

Swiss Fondue is the other popular dish and comes served in a fondue pot served at the table, where you dip chunks of bread or potatoes in. The cheeses used for a fondue are usually a mix of Gruyere and other Swiss Cheeses like Emmental or Vacherin.

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Hope you enjoyed this article!

If you are planning to travel to Europe and want to read more about it, check out my post on How to Save Money When Travelling Around Europe HERE.

I also wrote a more extensive post on Wroclaw HERE and one on the amazing food in Belgium HERE.

To compare and book flights to Europe, head over to Skyscanner HERE.

Looking for some great hotel deals? Check out Expedia or Booking.com.

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Destinations June 18, 2023

Don’t miss these Top 5 Attractions in Kefalonia

The largest of the Ionian Islands in Greece, Kefalonia is a stunningly calm, relaxed alternative to some of the other popular islands in Greece like Kos & Mykonos. Well known for it’s landscape diversity, good wine and stunning beaches, you will love this island! Here is more about it and the Top 5 Attractions in Kefalonia.

_{This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a booking, I make a small commission. This is at absolutely NO additional cost to you and helps me keep the site running!}

landscape kefalonia — One of the many stunning views of Kefalonia

About Kefalonia

Vast, green and with a real laid back vibe, Kefalonia is one of the Greek Islands gems. Jam packed with natural beauties like underground caves and beaches that will just make you want to dive in. Wine is what this island has always been about much longer before tourism started too.

The Robola grape variety is grown in abundance, and produces an elegant dry white wine which is extremely popular and you will often see served in restaurants on the island.

Green landscape in kefalonia — The immense green across most of Kefalonia

One of the main differencing factors of Kefalonia is also the architecture. It’s not your typical white domed Cycladic architecture you find in Santorini or some of the other Greek islands. Most of the towns, aside from Fiskardo, are actually quite modern.

That is actually due to a major earthquake that destroyed a lot of the island in the 1950s! The 1953 The Ionian Earthquake did extensive damage to Kefalonia and neighbouring Zakynthos and that meant that most of the island had to be rebuilt.

Old Building in Fiskardo kefalolia — Walking around Fiskardo

How to Get to Kefalonia

Flying

There is one airport on the island, Kefalonia International Airport Anna Pollatou. If you are travelling from mainland Greece – there are are usually 3 flights a day that connect Athens to Kefalonia (just over 1 hour flight time). The island is also very well connected to other parts of Europe with several budget airlines flying to Kefalonia like Ryanair & EasyJet.

Ferry

There is no direct route via ferry from Athens, so you would first need to travel from Athens to Patras or Kyllini (both still in mainland Greece but to the south) to reach Kefalonia. From other islands, there are also ferry connections to the nearby islands of Lefkada (Vasiliki to Fiskardo), Ithaca (Pisaetos to Sami), Zakinthos (Agios Nikolaos to Pessada). The ferry routes are only 1-2 hours depending to which islands you are coming from and prices start from as little as 20 Euro pp one way.

Once you do get to Kefalonia, I do recommend hiring a car to get around! Do book ahead to secure the best price as it does get busy over peak holiday times of June, July & August.

Where to stay in Kefalonia

There is a variety of accommodation options throughout Kefalonia. The majority of the accommodation is located in the main town of Argostoli, but also in Skala, Assos, Fiskardo & Sami.

There are also lots of other smaller villages that you can stay in if you want to be somewhere quieter, and if you have a car it’s very easy to get around to most places. Check out Expedia.com to see what’s available.

Sandy Beach in Kefalonia — Avithos Beach

We opted to stay in Svoronata, in the south, just 10 minutes away from the airport. We stayed at the beautiful Avithos Resort. It’s recently had a refurbishment and is now a modern, upscale complex with a stunning pool.

Check Prices and Availability for Avithos Resort Here

Avithos Resort – Image courtesy of Expedia.com

Nearby there is also the popular sandy Avithos Beach and two fabulous Taverna’s where you can get your fix of your classic Greek dishes, and of course some very fresh seafood. You can check them out here: Avithos Preview & Taverna To Enetiko.

Fish platter in a taverna in Kefalonia — A fresh mixed fish platter, a typical dish in Kefalonia

These are the Top 5 Attractions in Kefalonia

Myrtos Beach

Stunningly beautiful. I don’t really have many other words to describe it because it really is the postcard kind of beach that you will see on a lot of advertising for Greece. It’s a white pebble beach (wear beach sandals!) and it’s located about 8 km from Assos. As you drive down the steep windy road to reach it, there are lots of viewing points where you can see the beach and it’s tall marble cliffs in all of it’s beauty. There is free parking as you reach the beach, but it does get very busy in summer! An absolute must see in the Top 5 Attractions in Kefalonia.

You can read about Myrtos and more great beaches in Greece on my other post 5 of the Best Beaches in Greece.

Assos

Nearby the town of Assos (about 20 minutes by car), is another stop that is worth seeing and is a beautiful colourful seaside village. Assos was mostly destroyed during the 1953 earthquake, but with the kindness of the French community which loved the village so much, Assos was completely rebuilt as it was previously!

Antisamos beach

Close to the port of Sami, this is a place that brought some significant fame to the island. It was a filming location for the 2001 movie Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, starring Nicolas Cage and Penelope Cruz. Since then it’s retained popularity as one of the most visited beaches in Kefalonia.

Antisamos beach from afar — Antisamos Beach from afar

The beach has lots of amenities like restaurants, beach bars, toilets and facilities. It’s also very long, so If you want to be away from the crowds there is plenty of room. Just walk further down the beach away from the loungers to get some more peace and quiet. It’s surrounded by pine trees, that protect it from the wind, it’s green all around! It has white, smooth pebbles and the water is of a stunning turquoise colour.

Lake Melissani Cave

Melissani cave lake, one of the Top 5 attractions in Kefalonia — Lake Melissani

Also nearby Sami, this cave and lake is a definite Top 5 Attraction in Kefalonia. Before going and seeing the pictures I did have my doubts if it was that incredible to see with my own eyes, but it well and truly was! It’s a cave, which has an underground lake with an opening at the top. If you see it especially around midday, the sunlight that comes in directly above the cave, lights up the lake in an unbelievable blue and mystical glow. It’s sure to blow your mind!

Melissani cave lake water while in the boat, one of the Top 5 attractions in Kefalonia — The stunning blue water at Melissani cave

The history surrounding this place is nothing short of spectacular either. Also called the ‘Cave of the Nymphs’, artefacts were found in the cave dating back to the post Classical period, thousand of years old! To note: You cannot swim in the cave. After paying for the entrance you will be taken for a short boat ride across the lake (10-15 minutes). The cave is just open to visitors May to October. Check their direct website closer to travelling for up to date opening dates.

Fiskardo Harbour

This stunning village is one of the few places that was not destroyed by the 1953 earthquake and still has the authentic old world charm. If you are a history buff, you can take a short walk and visit a Roman Cemetery that dates back thousands of years and gaze at the old Venetian lighthouse. There are lots of tavernas and shops so it makes for a great stop. Fiskardo is a working port and is very popular docking stop. It does get very busy with yachts and boats during the summertime.

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I hope you enjoyed this post on the Top 5 Attractions in Kefalonia. Efcharistó (Thank You!) for reading!

Browse some great Kefalonia Hotel deals, check out the best prices and availability on Expedia.com

To book a car in Kefalonia, check out Expedia in their Car Hire section!

Check out the best airfares to get to Kefalonia, check out Skyscanner.

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