Destination Daylesford: Come for ChillOut Festival & Weekends

'Tho I camped during ChillOut Festival in years past, I've had the opportunity to return to Daylesford with a local, and next time I'm staying at a B&B! The ChillOut Festival is every Labour Day weekend in March.

As a former resort B&B operator, I can relate to the guys who run the two gay owned and operated traditional B&B's in Daylesford. There are other GOO properties, but hard to find outside Rainbow Tourism, GalStays and SameSexTravel.

Among the OUT properties on Rainbow Tourism is Holyrood House, left, and Old Chilli, right, both boutique places with gay male hosts and traditional B&B experience. They are located within a few minutes of Daylesford CBD, but you'll want a car or bicycle for the steep hills. I walked from my lodging on the hill - and all around town - but needed a ride back to home base with the shopping bags!

Write me if you want first-hand photos and dee-tails of your prospectice visit there. Dee Farrell. Cheers.

USA Photo Album: Trip Memories with Friends & Family

Here are some of the characters I met during my travels...thanks for the memories.

I travelled through 10 airports, flew more than 30,000 kms, and wore out 3 suitcases. Stopovers included Auckland (New Zealand) Chicago (both airports), Indianapolis, Philadelphia, Oakland, Kansas City (easiest), Denver International (favorite) and LAX airports (worst), and of course home port, Melbourne's Tullamarine Airport.

If this is Tuesday, it must be Tasmania. I'm here for an extended rest by the seashore, watching lazy waves, snorkeling for abalone, fishing for flathead, and hanging out by the oyster farm and fishing boats for the daily catch and harvest.

More travel news from the edge of the planet - when it happens. Ciao 4 now, Dee

Dee-touring down-under again: Good to be "home"

My long stay in America was punctuated by a funeral on the front end and casting a ballot on the tail end in my homestate of Colorado. I trust my presence (virtual and physical) made a difference at both.

Marvelous Melbourne looked very mellow upon my arrival, and it feels great to be home. But I didn't linger long, as was swept away for anti-jet lag mind and body relaxation therapies in delicious Daylesford. Thanks to Mackie for making my afternoon possible with Ann and her magic fingers and hot rocks.

Later, I discovered the new wine bar and had my prophetic photo taken out front. Good luck to former Tasswegian Tim and his partner Devon on their new endeavor with local and international wines. It's sure to become the epicentre for fine wine and food from the region. Soon you'll be able to book winery tours with them whilst sampling the local vintages, arranged by Schoffered Tours.

Everyone's personal detour or journey should include a stop in Daylesford; I'll be back in March for the annual ChillOut Festival, no worries!