The hidden Melbourne - the lesser known natural charms

Think of Melbourne, and chances of most will think of a hep and happening city, a huge cricket stadium, one or two lovely beaches and a wonderful population. The fact that it has been voted as the best place to live in many times draw focus to the concrete infrastructure. Yet, hidden from the knowledge or itinerary of many who visit Melbourne for a day or two, are a whole host of spectacular charms. Melbourne's geological position presents it with an astonishing variety of landscapes and rockfaces. Built on the confluence of lave flows and Silurian mudstones, it follows the Yarra River and the Dandenong Ranges, spreading into a flat country later on. The ocean-side situation further provides it access to the oceanic geology. The result is an astonishing variety of landscapes and natural wonders with breathtaking scenic beauty.

Northeast of the city proper one can see the beautiful Yarra Valley. The Black Spur Drive is an enchanting 30 minutes drive between Healesville and Marysville. The drive links the Yarra Valley with the mountains around Marysville, and crosses through tall trees, fragrant air and heady scenery. The famous Lady Talbot Forest Drive is a round-trip drive of 46 kilometers through rare old growth myrtle beech forests, boulders, gorges and creeks lined with ferns and mosses. The drive takes one through the Marysville State Forest and the Yarra Ranges National Park with rolling valleys of eucalyptus. Nearby is the Steavenson Falls Reserve which is full of pristine mountain ash, mountain gray gum, peppermint, and other trees. It has any number of beautiful walks, one of which will take you to the top of the central attraction - the Steavenson Falls, 84 meters tall and one of the highest in Victoria. The Mt. Donna Buang Rainforest Gallery is situated within the Yarra Valley providing another unforgettable forest experience. At one end of the Yarra, merely one hour from the Melbourne CBD, is the SkyHigh - the summit of the Dandenong Ranges. If offers a wonderful vista of the whole city and nearby landscape amid its cool ferns and verdant ageless forests. It offers a spectacular sight after sundown as the stars pop out of the sky - one by one - and as the city lights are switched on to welcome the dark night. While you savor this stellar performance you can enjoy the SkyHigh caf? and bistro, or you can light your own barbeque. With a beautifully crafted garden and trails, SkyHigh has something for everyone. One can take the picturesque and enchanting Mt. Dandenong Tourist Road to arrive at the Mt. Dandenong Observatory.

The Mornington Peninsula, on the other hand, much south of the city proper, is a haven for the beach lovers. Mornington has an endless parade of beaches. The Frankston is a large and safe sandy beach popular for all sea activities - including swimming, snorkeling, sailboarding, yachting and diving. Safeguarded by a Lifeguard club, this is a popular family picnic spot and is also known as a boating location. Between Mount Eliza and Mornington there are a large number of small bay beaches, like the Daveys Bay, Ranelagh and Sunnyside beaches and the Canadian and Half Moon bays. Mornington itself is another focal point of other spectacular beaches. Around this picturesque bay harbor lie the Scout, the Mill, Shire Hall, Fishermans and other beaches. In fact the list is quite endless. You could visit the Mount Martha beaches, the Safety Beach, the Dromana, the Rosebud, the Rye or Blairgowrie, the Sorrento Front Beach or the Portsea Front Beach.....Just across the Port Bay from Mornington are the two fabulous pair of the French island and the Philip Island. But let these two enchantments be a tale for another day.... The simple fact is that far too many people shy away from exploring the Melbourne hinterland - a treasure trove of natural spectacles. Far too many...

Produced by the team at http://www.travelAU.com.au - A group of travel and technology industry professionals promoting unique Australian tourism and travel products produced this article on behalf of http://www.vervebeachside.com.au

Wear Your Gold Pendant And Flaunt It

A gold pendant is an ornament or charm (worn for protective or magical power) made of gold that hangs from a cord or chain worn around the neck. Even Necklaces have pendants.

Practical tips to purchase Gold Pendants

?Most gold jewelry manufactured in the U.S. is marked ''14K'' which means that the actual gold content in it is 58.3 percent. As pure gold is designated as 24-karat; hence, a 14-karat item consists of 14 parts gold and 10 parts of another metal known as an alloy which works out to 58.3 percent pure, unalloyed gold. The added alloy serves two purposes - They make the jewellery durable and reduce the prices greatly thereby making it affordable too.

?Sometimes gold pendants also come with the marking ''14KP''. Here ''P'' stands for plumb, meaning the pendant is exactly 14 parts pure gold.

?On the other hand if a gold pendant is engraved ''999'' it means it is a pure gold pendant which equivalent to 24-karat gold. ''999'' is the European designation for pure gold. Also sometimes more plentifully available in the market are European-manufactured pendants marked ''750'' which is equivalent to 18-karat or 75 percent pure gold. Actually, it is the 14K gold that is much popular in the US.

?The heft or weightiness of a gold item is measured in terms of Pennyweight. One troy ounce equals 20 pennyweights which equals 31.1 grams. Ounces and grams are the most common weights used in the U.S. and when you see prices quoted on pendants, such as $20 per gram it should be kept in mind that finished items, such as jewelry, have an artistic value that may be actually greater than the actual value of gold in it.

?Interestingly there are a few who would like to buy Gold in colors other than its natural yellow color which also has become quite a fashion. The most popular is the green gold. When gold is alloyed with metal combos like silver, zinc and copper, these metals contribute a subtle greenish tint. Only Copper is used to make pink gold and nickel is often used in white gold.

?Gold-plated items contain very thin topcoats of gold of about seven-millionths of an inch in thickness. Some better quality gold-plated items may also have more than the minimal 0.000007inch coating.

?Rules prescribe that the gold filling of an item should be at least 1/20 or 5 percent of the total weight of the item. Gold content must be stamped on items -- for example: 1/20 14K GF means the gold content is 14-karat and makes up one-twentieth of the total weight of the item.

NamSing Then is a regular article contributor on many topics. Be sure to visit his websites Gold Bracelet, Gold Jewelry Bracelet

Custom Jewelry And Enhancer Bails Work For Your Pendant

Enhancer Bails Work. Generally, an enhancer is a bail which opens to allow the necklace, pearls, for instance, to be inserted and the enhancer is closed to secure it to the necklace. The types of closures are an important consideration. Some only "snap" shut. Others only have a small "figure 8" shaped safety that folds from one side over a small bead on the other to make the closure.

The "figure 8" safety is one commonly seen on bangle bracelets, gold necklaces with box or cylindrical clasps and on bracelets. The most secure type of enhancer both "snaps" shut and has the "figure 8" safety for added assurance the enhancer will not come open while being worn on the necklace.

Generally, a 14k gold enhancer bail will run from about $50 to $90 in the most common sizes. Fancier ones and added stones will certainly increase the price. If the pendant you have will need a loop soldered on to fit the enhancer, or if the enhancer must be soldered to the pendant, the cost will rise a little. A simple loop soldered on will be about $14 to $18 in my neck of the woods. Solder directly to the enhancer will run from $10 to perhaps $15, including soldering and refinishing. This is added to the cost of the enhancer.

Prices certainly may vary from location to location. Keep in mind, in the usa most jewelers can get the findings, parts, like enhancer bails, for essentially the same prices, regardless of location. For any pendant, and enhancer of the right size is needed to maintain balance in the look of the jewelry. The enancer should fit the necklace and not overpower or look too small for the pendant.

Then again, a necklace of pearls should also balance in size with the pendant. I have seen some enhancers which are much too large for the pendant part of the jewelry and detract from the beauty. If the necklace requires a larger opening, you might choose a longer and more "slim" enhancer which can accommodate a larger necklace but is narrow enough to look in balance with the pendant.

The best thing I can suggest is to go to a jewelry shop and ask to see enhancers. Generally, not many are kept in stock since it is very difficult to predict what a particular customer may need. You can generally see life sized images in catalogs from suppliers. At this time, the store should be able to tell you what labor or modifications to your pendant are needed to fit the enhancer.

There is alot of people that are looking for a some custom jewelery like a gold jerusalem cross pendant with small diamonds or cz at the center of each cross. This unusual form of cross is not likely to be found in stock in jewelry stores. Sometimes these stores will have cross jewelry but most will not be made in gold.

My suggsent is, you will likely have to go to jewelry stores and ask if they can special order the cross for you. At this time of the year, the sooner you can do this the better. Once you get the cross, any competent jeweler should be able to add a stone to the cross.

I did find one jewelry supplier who has a Jerusalem Cross in their religious jewelry catalog. This company is Stuller Findings. The company sells only to businesses but so many jewelry stores use Stuller for supplies and various jewelry items it should not be too difficult to find a store with a Stuller account. The cross could then be ordered. The order would need to specify white gold.

Alternative suggestion. There are many of these crosses listed on Internet sellers sites along with other jewelry that you might like. I do not know if white gold is available or not and that will take a search and perhaps an inquiry to the seller. If you can get the cross that way, still, a local jeweler should have little problem setting a stone in the cross. Whether stones may be set in the side crosses will depend on how the cross is made in the first place. Center should be no problem in the larger cross.

Custom Work: A jewelry store who advertises "custom work" should be able to make the cross if you cannot find one. This approach will be more expensive and it might be pushing to get this custom work done by the time that you need it at. If you try the custom direction, please download and print or otherwise get pictures of the cross for the jeweler to see. This will be needed to get the cross done properly and initially to work up and estimate of cost.

There are certainly some other suppliers that jewelry stores use who will have a Jerusalem cross available. When checking stores, I recommend local stores first and not mall chain stores. Local stores often have a lot more flexibility for special ordered items such as the cross. Local stores are often more eager to place a special order than some chain stores appear to be.

Victor Epand is an expert consultant for http://www.DiamondGems.info/. DiamondGems.info carries the best selection of loose diamonds, diamond rings, and diamond jewelry on the market. Browse through our selection of loose diamonds by size, cut, shape, type, and other features here: http://www.DiamondGems.info/subcategory/loose-diamond.html.