Just 30 minutes towards the coast outside of Mount Gambier, you get to Port MacDonnell. This little beachside town might seem unassuming as you arrive. It’s not just the stunning white limestone beaches that the locals love. It’s also one tasty thing this place is well known for. CRAY! Welcome to Port MacDonnell, the Southern Rock Lobster Capital of Australia.
Visiting Port MacDonnell
Once you are done visiting all of the popular Sinkholes in Mount Gambier, on the most southern point of South Australia is Port MacDonnell.
Just a 30-minute drive south of Mount Gambier, the little town of Port MacDonnell is famous for being Australia’s Southern Rock Lobster Capital. The statue on the jetty makes it clear that this place is about one thing, (a common name also for lobster) CRAY!
What is the difference between regular Lobster and Southern Rock Lobster?
When it comes to lobsters, Port MacDonnell and the surrounding areas along the Limestone Coast are the places for it. Southern Rock Lobster is said to be the best tasting lobster you can find in Australia.
This type of lobster has a distinct dark red, almost purple shell, and no claws, just long legs, spines and antennae’s that are much larger than a regular lobster. The meat is sweet, rich in flavour and quite firm. There is plenty of meat in the tail and a 1 kg lobster is sufficient for 2 people.
Things to do in Port MacDonnell
Relatively a small town, as you get to the water near the jetty, there are lots of signages explaining the history of Port MacDonnell, which was the site of many shipwrecks.
The Maritime Museum is a popular attraction in town and has lots of historical artefacts and details the history of the many shipwrecks along the coast.
The most well-known one (and not for good reasons) was the shipwreck of the SS Admella, which claimed most of its passengers and crew in 1859, after crashing into a reef at nearby Carpenter Rocks.
The beach in Port MacDonnell is a must see and a popular destinations during the warmer weather. A popular spot to swim is the Woolwash area, near the Port MacDonnell Foreshore Tourist Park.
The white, compact limestone sand is also great to drive on and Wollwash Beach has car access. This is just outside the main town centre of Port MacDonnell. To reach it, take Racecourse Bay in the direction of Eight Mile Creek Road) where you will pass The Penguins.
These penguin statues are made of local limestone, from there you can actually drive right onto the perfectly flat white beach and stop for a swim.
For kids, Port MacDonnell also has a new Jetty playground, which is very well equipped with slides, swings, a climbing frame, trampolines and an accessible liberty swing. BBQ facilities and shaded picnic tables are also available to have lunch. There are some fish and chips stores just across the road too.
Last but not least, Fishing is of course is a popular thing to do in the area and all along the Limestone Coast. Lots of people take boats out, and fishing can be done off the jetty and depending on the season, salmon, whiting, squid and garfish are popular catches.
Eating Lobster in Port MacDonnell
Because Cray/Lobster is so popular here, across town and on the main street you will see Rock Lobster for sale and advertised in the menus of most restaurants.
Local pizza restaurant Bay Pizzaria sells a delicious Cray Pizza for AUD 37. Salt and Tide Café are the other 2 popular spots for brunch & dining facing the sea.
You can also purchase Rock Lobster directly from the seafood stores. A popular one in Port MacDonnell is Five Star Seafoods. Here you will find cooked Lobster from AUD 75 per kilo during lobster season (October to May).
Attractions nearby Port Macdonnell
If you travel by car towards Frog Rock further up the coast, you will find Shelly Beach. Shelly Beach has a beautiful small beach with rock formations that you can walk across to to explore.
Continue on the coast to Cape Banks lighthouse for some great views of the Limestone Coast.
For other places to swim, the Little Blue Lakeis just 15 minutes drive away in Mount Schank, on the way back to Mount Gambier.
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 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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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.
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! The1953 The Ionian Earthquake did extensive damage to Kefalonia and neighbouring Zakynthos and that meant that most of the island had to be rebuilt.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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!
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!