Hluhluwe – An unsploit gem on the African Coast

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by Bill Forrester

Two and a half hours north of Durban in the KwaZulu-Natal lies the Elephant Coast on the north Indian Ocean coast of South Africa. The Elephant Coast stretches from St Lucia in the south to Kosi Bay in the north and encompasses a vast array of activities from Big 5 game viewing, whale watching, bird watching, encounters with hippos and crocodiles, turtle tracking, scuba diving, visits to cultural villages in the heart of the Zulu Kingdom or just relaxing on the pristine beaches of the Indian Ocean.
The region has a conservation ethos with the HluhluweiMfolozi Park and lake St Lucia having been under formal conservation since 1895. In 1999 the iSimangaliso Wetland Park was inscribed as South Africa’s first world heritage site.
The Elephant Coast has one other feature that statistics alone cant cant convey, if is a feeling of stepping back in time and immersing yourself in a culture of Africa that has been forgotten and overly commercialized in other parts of the country. It is both safe and extremely friendly. It final great advantage is that it is an extremely accessible destination that allows a wheelchair tourist to experience the majesty of Africa’s big game.
Hluhluwe is the oldest and second largest game reserve in South Africa and contains the mandatory “Big 5” (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino). It is world renown for saving the White Rhino from possible extinction and today has the largest population of Black Rhino in Africa. The park gives a feel of a true African adventure with its rolling hills dense forest and thornveld valleys. The park is open to private vehicles and has good roads throughout. Most of our travels were done with our car hired from Durban International Airport. We encountered herds of buffalo, giraffe, rhino, warthog, zebra and elephants with one very memorable close encounter. Driving is easy and well signed throughout, but often the best trick is to just stop by a river or waterhole and wait.
Accessible accommodation is available within the park at Hilltop Camp. As the name suggests it is a beautiful lodge perched high on the ridge line giving commanding views over the park. Apart from the rooms with roll in showers the main complex is very well designed with wide entrances and flat flooring throughout giving easy access to the dinning room and bar areas. The outside terraced area is two level with a very gently sloping ramp connecting both levels and giving a great place to relax over a drink and talk about the days encounters as the sun sets over the park. Accessible facilities are available within the complex both for overnight guests or visitors wanting a convenient place to stop for lunch or morning tea.
For those wishing to stay outside the park a beautifuloption is Leopard Walk Lodge located on its own 200 acres of private game reserve. There is a fully accessible chalet in a private bush setting. The lodge is fully catered in an open air dining room/bar with Zebras coming for their nightly feed right on cocktail hour.
Bonamanzi private game reserve and lodge is another outside the park option and it has a fully accessible unit. The lodge area is again very well equipped with level wide and smooth pathways connection all areas. The dinning facilities have easy access as does the elevated viewing area over the lake with gentle sloping ramps onto the platform. Bonamanzi is a private reserve and it has its own game drives including night drives. The open topped game vehicles are accessible via a purpose built wheelchair loading area.
If you are after a guided tour of the Elephant Coast Access2Africa safaris runs a series of inclusive itineraries from Durban including transport, game drives, scenic tours, activities and accommodation. We can put together an individual tour to meet your specific needs.
If you have ever wanted to experience the “wilds of africa” the Elephant Coast is a perfect and very accessible way to do it.




Art Gallery of Ballarat

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The gallery is located on Lydiard St. Entry is Level via self-opening doors. The entry from the street is level.

The reception counter is to the left. An accessible toilet is located on the ground floor.

A small elevator services the two levels. Large power wheelchairs and mobility scooters may require the service elevator to gain access to the second level.

All spaces are large and easy to navigate.




Wedderburn

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Wedderburn makes a good stopping off point, especially during business hours. The town has undergone a major Streetscape Improvement Project which has seen the footpaths raised and most shops and facilities made “level entry” accessible. There is a ramp into the local  Foodworks supermarket. Street crossing and curb cuts are all new and there are ample designated disabled parking bays along the main street.

In addition, the visitor information centre is accessible via a ramp and self-opening wide automatic doors. It contains an accessible toilet facility.

The Wedderburn information centre has a Trailrider all-terrain wheelchair for loan periods of up to three days. There is an opportunity to develop a series of outdoor itineraries centred around Trailrider suitable paths in the local area.

Wedderburn Goldseeker Motel

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The Wedderburn Motel is located in the main street of Wedderburn.

It has one accessible room.

Parking is right out the front of the room with an extra wide parking bay. The room has a full roll in shower equipped with a detachable shower head, portable shower chair.

The room and bathroom are spacious. There is both a queen size bed and single making the room suitable for families or a person with a disability and a carer.

The coffee making facilities are within easy reach.

Additional Services

The Motel also operates the Hotel, which is 100 metres up the road. The hotel has one small step off the curb and another step into the bistro. The hotel has portable ramps to deploy which can be pre-arranged from the Motel Reception. The motel also operates an accessible minibus to transfer guests to and from the motel. As an added convenience meals purchased at the hotel can be charged back to a motel room account. Breakfast can be taken either at the hotel or the motel room.

Boort Lake Boardwalk

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A new boardwalk and bird observation deck has been constructed over the inlet to the lake.

The wide observation area offers good accessible viewing of the local birdlife and is easily accessible from the parking area immediately adjacent.

The boardwalk is part of the lake’s circle walking path which is step free and level right around the lake. The surface of the rest of the path is fine, hard packed, compacted gravel.

The total length of the trail is 3.7 kilometres.

Simply Tomatoes and Aussie Quilts – Boort

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Simply Tomatoes farm is at Boort in Northern Victoria. Their green tomatoes are handpicked, pickled, then finished in extra virgin olive oil, herbs and garlic. But that’s not all they do. So if you want to know what you get when you combine woolly sheep with green tomatoes? Well jump in the car and visit Simply Tomatoes to find out!

They also manufacture Aussie Wool Quilts, 100% natural wool bedding, and Woolly Warmers – Therapeutic Heat / Cold pads.

he main parking area is located at the end of the long driveway opposite the homestead. The parking area is on a hard packed fine gravel apron.

Entry is through the double gates onto a gently sloping smooth brick paved pathway. The accessible door into the main lounge is to the right at the end of the path. The side door is wide with level entry.

The lounge area is both a lounge and dining area and is where the presentations are given on the history of the farm and green tomatoes product tastings. Tea and coffee are available all day.

A ramp next to the pool leads up to the quilt making demonstration area. The table is low making viewing easy for children and wheelchair users. An accessible toilet is available at the back of the demonstration area.

Spanner man Sculpture Park. Boort

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Displayed in John and Sonia Piccoli’s country garden are over 25 unique life size and larger than life sculptures, including an iconic shearer, a family of deer, a pair of fighting stallions, a mallee bull, intricate garden seats and many more. John makes the sculptures by welding together antique through to modern day spanners. The tallest sculpture, “ The Marlin”, is over 7 m tall, weighs 1200 kgs and is made from 3500 spanners.

On arrival follow the driveway to the back of the house. There is ample level parking on a fine hard packed gravel apron. 

Entry is next to the garage on a concrete and paved path. At the back of the house is a concrete picnic area under cover where coffee is provided.

A concrete path leads to the extensive aviaries.

The sculpture garden is at the front of the house. All of the sculptures are accessible via an open lawn area. The surface of the lawn is smooth and the underlying surface is very hard packed.

All sculptures are accessible and touchable making it a good option for people with visual impairments as a sensory experience.

A fully accessible bathroom is available next to the picnic area at the back of the house.

Skydancers Garden, Gift and Cafe – Butterfly House. Castlemaine

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Welcome to an inspiring garden centre, housing a gift shop, cafe and temperate butterfly enclosure set amongst beautiful seasonal, floral and fragrant gardens. Browse the stunning gift and homewares section displaying exquisite traditional and contemporary jewellery and elegant fashions. Enjoy a coffee or glass of wine in the cafe or tuck in to a delicious breakfast, lunch or sweet afternoon treat, prepared using the best gourmet produce from the region. Find yourself a unique garden accessory, pot or plant and make sure you take a look at the colourful butterflies that are hatching and in flight seasonally from Oct-May.

Skydancers is accessible throughout.

The car park is fine crushed rock. There are 3 designated disabled parking bays immediately to the left of the entry door. 

The entry and all internal pathways are concrete and entry is gained into the café and nursery area through self-opening wide glass doors.

All of the display shelving is low to the ground.

The outdoor nursery has a surface of fine crushed rock. The seeding displays are at 500mm height off the ground.

The butterfly house is accessed through a two-door airlock. The doors are wide and once inside the space is open and easy to move around.

The café has three zones.

The indoor air-conditioned section is accessed from the entry area. There is a section located within the nursery that is located on a deck accessed via a ramp from within the nursery, and finally, an outdoor section accessed from the main café. The surface of the outdoor section is loose gravel.

An accessible toilet is located adjacent to the main sales counter.

Maldon Shire Gardens

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The Maldon Shire Gardens are a peaceful and picturesque public gardens right in the centre of historic gold rush era village of Maldon.

The most accessible part of the gardens is at the rear, where there is a playground, picnic tables and a BBQ. The front section of the park is quite steep and the lawn area is inaccessible due to brick path edging. Best access is from the top of Fountain Street or from Francis Street. The is an accessible toilet available at the picnic shelter adjacent to Francis Street.

BUDA Historic Home and Garden. Castlemaine

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BUDA is a historic house and garden from the gold rush era of Castlemaine.

Parking is available directly outside the fence line and relatively level and constructed of fine crushed rock. Entry to the house is via the small gateway.

In front of the house is a wide veranda. A 75mm step is required to get onto the veranda and a further step of the same height to gain entry into the house hallway. Off the hallway are a series of display rooms. Each room has a wide doorway. The content of the rooms is protected by barriers. The full content of each room is fully visible from the door.

At the end of the hall is a room that is traversed across the main lounge/piano room. There is a full step drop to enter this room.

The tour of the house then follows the sunroom and finally another formal lounge. There is a further 75mm step to negotiate.

The garden is accessed by following the house around. The garden paths are all well compacted fine gravel. The garden slopes away quite steeply immediately behind the house. There is a map available the clearly shows the steep sections of the garden and the paths that contain steps. The upper areas of the garden are easy to navigate right around to the tea room.

An accessible toilet is located within the tearoom. It should be noted that this may not be available if there is a private function in the room. The nearest accessible toilet facilities are at the Castlemaine Botanical Gardens at either of the two car parks in Downes Street.

Steps restrict access between the house and nursery at the front. Accessible access can be found by exiting the property through the main gate and re-entering through the double gates.