Melbourne - Australia 2004 - page 569

room has good views and is stocked with antiques (as is much of the house) and
queen-size beds. Two have an attached bathroom with shower, and the third has
a private bathroom across the hall. There's a TV and a phone in the cozy lounge.
The hosts can pick you up from Cowes.
At Backbeach and Ventnor roads. (RMB 1093, Cowes, Phillip Island, VIC 3922). & and fax 03/5956
8777. 3 units. A$130 (US$85) double. Rates include cooked breakfast. AE, MC, V. Not suitable for children.
Amenities: TV lounge; tour desk; business center; limited room service; coin-op laundry; nonsmoking rooms.
Inroom: TV, fax, hair dryer, iron.
Rothsaye on Lovers Walk The penguins are just down the road and
the beach is right on the doorstep—who could ask for anything more? The two
suites here are adjacent to the owner's home, and the one-bedroom cottage is set
slightly apart. All rooms come with antiques and king-size beds. You also get a
fruit basket, free fishing gear, beach chairs and umbrellas, magazines, and fresh
flowers. Lovers Walk, a romantic floodlit path, leads from the doorstep to the
center of Cowes. The owners also have a new beachside property nearby called
Abaleigh on Lovers Walk. The two gorgeous apartments here come with
kitchens, barbecues, and good water views. They cost A$215 (US$140) a night.
2 Roy Ct., Cowes 3922. & and fax [phone]. www.rothsaye.com. 4 suites, 1 cottage. A$140-A$190
(US$91-US$124) suite; A$130-A$170 (US$85-US$111) cottage. Rates include breakfast. MC, V. Children not
permitted. Amenities: Golf course nearby; tour desk; laundry; nonsmoking rooms. In room: A/C (portable),
TV/VCR, kitchen, coffeemaker, hair dryer, iron.
AROUND PORT PHILLIP BAY
West of Melbourne, the Princes Freeway (or M1) heads toward Geelong via a
bypass at Werribee. To the east of Melbourne, the Nepean Highway travels along
the coast to the Mornington Peninsula as far as Portsea. If you have time to stay
the night, you can combine the two options, heading first down to the Morn-
ington Peninsula (see below) and then taking the car and passenger ferry from
Sorrento to Queenscliff (see below).
WERRIBEE
This small country town is 32km (20 miles) southwest of Melbourne, a
30-minute drive along the Princes Freeway. Trains run from Melbourne to Wer-
ribee station; a taxi from the station to the zoo will cost around A$5 (US$3.25).
The Mansion at Werribee Park Known as “the palace in the paddock,” this
60-room Italianate mansion was built in 1877. It was quite the extravagant proj-
ect in its day. In addition to touring the house, you may stroll around the
grounds and have a picnic; it's surrounded by 132 hectares (326 acres) of bush-
land fronting the Werribee River. You can also prearrange to take one of the pop-
ular carriage rides that make their way through the property. Allow 1 to 2 hours.
Great afternoon tea.
K Rd., Werribee. & 13 19 63 in Australia, or 03/9741 2444. www.visitvictoria.com/mansions. Free admission
park and picnic grounds; admission to mansion A$11 (US$6.50) adults, A$5.40 (US$3.40) children 5-15, A$28
(US$18) families. Nov-Mar daily 10am-5pm; Apr-Oct daily 10am-4pm. Closed Christmas.
Victoria's Open Range Zoo at Werribee From inside your zebra-striped
safari bus you can almost touch the mainly African animals that wander almost
freely over the plains—no depressing cages here. This high-caliber open-air zoo
is closely associated with the Melbourne Zoo. There is also a walk-through sec-
tion featuring African cats, including cheetahs, and monkeys. The safari-bus
tour takes 50 minutes.