Travel to Lake Macquarie in May for Whale Watching

Lake Macquarie, one of Australia’s best spots to travel to for whale watching, is located on the coast of New South Wales, only a half-hour’s drive from the coastal regional city of Newcastle. Lake Macquarie is Australia’s largest coastal salt-water lake; the perfect destination for migrating whales in Australia, and for us who travel – whale watching in May.

Why should you travel to Lake Macquarie for whale watching?

It’s uncanny that these majestic mammals choose Lake Macquarie as a migratory destination and Australia is lucky to be en-route for one of the largest mammal migrations in the world. Humpback whales for example travel an average of 500 kilometres from their feeding grounds in Antarctica to the warmer climates of Australia’s central coast, then up to the north to Cairns for breeding and feeding. Plus, there’s sun, sprawling sand beaches and warm weather if you’re escaping the winter cold in Australia’s south.

What species of whales will you see in Lake Macquarie during May?

This mass migration occurs between May and November each year, so that whales enjoy the warmer waters and abundant food before heading back after the winter season. Humpbacks, occasional orcas, Bryde’s whale and Southern Right whales all travel along the coast of eastern Australia and travellers can seek out prime whale watching spots to witness these gentle marine giants.  All travellers need is a car, backpack with binoculars, snacks and a camera.

Magnificent humpback whale breaching at Port Stephens, Australia.

Where are the best spots to seek out whale watching in Lake Macquarie?

Walk to Awabakal Viewpoint for one of the best vantage points for whale watching. To get there, walk through the Awabakal Nature Reserve from Dudley South through coastal heath and forest to Redhead. You’ll be rewarded with panoramic views of Lake Macquarie.

The Caves Beach Walk is a picturesque introduction to the Lake Macquarie area, where you can traverse the craggy cliffs, to the secluded beach which is among Wallarah National Park. Walking trails are easy to navigate, and sea caves can be explored during your whale-watching visit.

Another beautiful nature walk is the Ken and Audrey Owens Walk, which is a community-created coastal walkway through restored bushland. A concrete timber boardwalk leads to optimal whale watching, leading all the way to Norah Head from a viewpoint in the Owens Walkway car park.

Travel to the rocky headland of Redhead Bluff with views that span across the ocean and south over Nine Mile Beach towards Blacksmiths Beach and Swansea. This is Lake Macquarie’s prime whale watching viewpoint.

After a day of whale watching at Lake Macquarie, where can you refuel with vegan food?

Head to the Boulevard in Toronto for the all-day breakfast, brunch, lunch at Double Take Café; a café with vegan options on the menu.  Common Circus, another café with vegan options is located in Belmont, as well as Sesames on the Lake for Asian fusion cuisine with vegan options. All of these locales are within driving distance of Lake Macquarie.

Have you travelled to Lake Macquarie in May for whale watching? If not, and you’re keen to go, you can learn more by heading to the Visit Lake Macquarie website. Flights to Newcastle run regularly from major cities in Australia and a car can be hired on arrival. 

Why Vegan is Different to Vegetarian in Your Travels

In the last few weeks, my vegan food travel has involved some family dinners at local omnivorous restaurants. If I’m dining at a new restaurant, I check out their website to research their vegan options (if any).  If I can’t find any options, I call the venue to ask if any if their vegetarian options can be veganised (prepared as vegan).

Reactions and responses from these restaurants have been positive in my vegan food travel so far. However, a couple of my phone calls have been met with responses such as “oh, but we have vegetarian options”, to which I ask, “But can any of these options be made vegan?” Vegetarian is different to vegan. When I explain this to restaurants through thorough questioning, I’m met with a long-winded “oh”.

Here are some thoughts I’ve prepared to decipher the confusion for restaurants that may not serve to vegans regularly.

Let’s look at the definition of vegetarian

Vegetarian Victoria defines vegetarian as “the practice of living on products of the plant kingdom, with or without the use of eggs and dairy products, but excluding entirely the consumption of any part of the body of an animal as food (including chicken, fish and seafood).”  In the context of the hospitality industry here in Australia, the most common manifestation of vegetarian is lacto-ovo vegetarian (with the use of dairy and eggs). So, many vegetarian options on menus contain animal-based cheeses, milk, yoghurt and eggs.

In comparison, vegans are perceived as pure vegetarian…

If we read Vegetarian Victoria’s definition for vegan, it states that vegans are “pure vegetarians who exclude animal products from their entire lifestyle (e.g. wool, leather, soaps that contain animal fats, products tested on animals etc.).”

So, what are the best questions to ask?

Once you’ve determined if a restaurant has vegan or vegetarian options on their menu, you can then question if your food choices can be catered for. Questions like “is it vegan?” or “can you make this dish vegan?” are too general. You need to dig deeper in your research. Ask specific questions like “what kind of cheese do you use?”, “are animal-based stocks used?”, “are eggs used?”, “do you use honey or seafood products in this dish?” and so forth. This type of questioning then creates a two-way benefit. You benefit because you’re ensuring your food choices can be catered for successfully. The restaurant benefits because you’ve educated the venue in what to expect when they’re catering for vegans. When dining in Asian restaurants, (Chinese in particular) some sauces like oyster sauce is used in vegetarian or vegan dishes so you need to be particularly careful and ask if a soy-based sauce can be used instead. When dining at Indian restaurants, I have found that using the term ‘pure vegetarian’ works particularly well. If your research is conducted on phone or email before you visit the restaurant, then it’s also a good idea to get the person’s name so you can refer to them when you arrive.

As a side note, menu coding can be confusing. Know what to look out for…

What is interesting in Australia is that the dietary coding on menus is inconsistent; not standardised by law. Some venues use VG to denote vegan options as well as vegetarian options, and same goes for the V symbol. I’ve also seen VGO to indicate that a vegetarian menu item can be made vegan. To complicate the matter, even VGN is sometimes used for vegan items. Is your head spinning already? As a vegan, Australia’s coding can be an exhausting experience and you need to know what to look out for. Mostly, menus do have a key to guide diners when they’re dining at a particular restaurant. If there are any discrepancies between coding and the ingredients in the dish, then ask the waiter for clarification.

But what if a restaurant ‘can’t do’ vegan?

If you can’t get the clarity you need in your research or you feel uncomfortable with the answers you receive, then you may need to re-consider your choice of restaurant and go elsewhere.  You can have a read of my Aussie Vegan Directory for places I’ve experienced in my vegan food travel around the country to help you make a more informed choice.

Why Vegan is Different to Vegetarian in Your Travels

In the last few weeks, my vegan food travel has involved some family dinners at local omnivorous restaurants. If I’m dining at a new restaurant, I check out their website to research their vegan options (if any).  If I can’t find any options, I call the venue to ask if any if their vegetarian options can be veganised (prepared as vegan).

Reactions and responses from these restaurants have been positive in my vegan food travel so far. However, a couple of my phone calls have been met with responses such as “oh, but we have vegetarian options”, to which I ask, “But can any of these options be made vegan?” Vegetarian is different to vegan. When I explain this to restaurants through thorough questioning, I’m met with a long-winded “oh”.

Here are some thoughts I’ve prepared to decipher the confusion for restaurants that may not serve to vegans regularly.

Let’s look at the definition of vegetarian

Vegetarian Victoria defines vegetarian as “the practice of living on products of the plant kingdom, with or without the use of eggs and dairy products, but excluding entirely the consumption of any part of the body of an animal as food (including chicken, fish and seafood).”  In the context of the hospitality industry here in Australia, the most common manifestation of vegetarian is lacto-ovo vegetarian (with the use of dairy and eggs). So, many vegetarian options on menus contain animal-based cheeses, milk, yoghurt and eggs.

In comparison, vegans are perceived as pure vegetarian…

If we read Vegetarian Victoria’s definition for vegan, it states that vegans are “pure vegetarians who exclude animal products from their entire lifestyle (e.g. wool, leather, soaps that contain animal fats, products tested on animals etc.).”

So, what are the best questions to ask?

Once you’ve determined if a restaurant has vegan or vegetarian options on their menu, you can then question if your food choices can be catered for. Questions like “is it vegan?” or “can you make this dish vegan?” are too general. You need to dig deeper in your research. Ask specific questions like “what kind of cheese do you use?”, “are animal-based stocks used?”, “are eggs used?”, “do you use honey or seafood products in this dish?” and so forth. This type of questioning then creates a two-way benefit. You benefit because you’re ensuring your food choices can be catered for successfully. The restaurant benefits because you’ve educated the venue in what to expect when they’re catering for vegans. When dining in Asian restaurants, (Chinese in particular) some sauces like oyster sauce is used in vegetarian or vegan dishes so you need to be particularly careful and ask if a soy-based sauce can be used instead. When dining at Indian restaurants, I have found that using the term ‘pure vegetarian’ works particularly well. If your research is conducted on phone or email before you visit the restaurant, then it’s also a good idea to get the person’s name so you can refer to them when you arrive.

As a side note, menu coding can be confusing. Know what to look out for…

What is interesting in Australia is that the dietary coding on menus is inconsistent; not standardised by law. Some venues use VG to denote vegan options as well as vegetarian options, and same goes for the V symbol. I’ve also seen VGO to indicate that a vegetarian menu item can be made vegan. To complicate the matter, even VGN is sometimes used for vegan items. Is your head spinning already? As a vegan, Australia’s coding can be an exhausting experience and you need to know what to look out for. Mostly, menus do have a key to guide diners when they’re dining at a particular restaurant. If there are any discrepancies between coding and the ingredients in the dish, then ask the waiter for clarification.

But what if a restaurant ‘can’t do’ vegan?

If you can’t get the clarity you need in your research or you feel uncomfortable with the answers you receive, then you may need to re-consider your choice of restaurant and go elsewhere.  You can have a read of my Aussie Vegan Directory for places I’ve experienced in my vegan food travel around the country to help you make a more informed choice.

How to Eat Vegan Food When You’re on a Cruising Holiday

Last week, I went on a cruising holiday to Tasmania from Melbourne. I have been on a cruise before, but I haven’t cruised as a vegan traveller. I was both excited about the prospect of amazing vegan food, yet I was somewhat reserved about whether it was going to be easy. Suffice to say, and despite my wary anticipation, I cruised through my holiday with relative ease and I was able to eat vegan during all my main meals. Staff members were more than happy to bend over backwards so I didn’t miss out and I was able to enjoy my holiday without any negative eating experiences.

Here are my tips on how you can eat vegan when you’re on a cruising holiday so you don’t miss out.

Outline your vegan dietary requirements upon booking your cruise

A cruising holiday isn’t any different from any other mode of holiday. Upon booking your cruise, it’s best to ensure your vegan requirements are recorded at each step of the way; including your booking. Tell your travel agent about your vegan requirements so they can record it on your booking in the travel agent’s and the cruise company’s systems. This means you’re being a thorough and informative traveller and the cruise company then knows what to expect.

At the same time, choose your dining option

On this last cruising holiday, Anytime Dining was chosen. This means I could dine in the dining rooms at any time they’re open. This is really helpful, especially on days when you’re in port and out on a day excursion. You’re not pressuring yourself to be back on the boat by a strict time.

Talk to the Maître d’ at the start of your holiday

You’ve chosen your dining requirements for the duration of your holiday and you’ve decided to dine in the dining rooms. Now, it’s time to sort out your vegan options. When you arrive at the dining room and are seated, ask to speak to the Maître d’. He or she will be able to recommend which meals on the day’s menu can be made vegan. He or she can also check with the kitchen staff and ask any further questions you may have on your behalf.

You can order the day before

Menus for the next day’s dining are available on request and the Maître d’ may even encourage you to order in advance. At the end of your meal the night or lunch before, request to see the next day’s menu and place tour order with the Maître d’. Then, all you need to do is turn up at the next lunch or dinner sitting and notify your waiter that you placed an order the day or night before. Then, just sit back and wait for your meals to arrive.

But, what about breakfast?

I wanted to have a little more flexibility to my mornings (yes, I like to sleep in on holidays) so I decided to dine in the buffet area at breakfast time. I found this to be a little easier than dining in the dining room. I was able to choose fresh fruit, grilled vegetables, plain rice and vegetable stews. Each day tends to be different so kitchen staff are also very helpful when asked to clarify what ingredients are in each dish. If your questions to kitchen staff are specific and you outline you’re vegan, the kitchen staff can answer your questions in detail for you. Ingredients aren’t always listed on a sign near the dishes, so be alert and aware. Also, just don’t expect a meal to be cooked or prepared especially for you. Still, there’s enough food to choose from. You can also ask waiting staff for plant-based milk once you’re seated. On my cruising holiday, I was able to request soy and rice milks.

Other treats can be found when you look…

A cruise ship tends to have other eateries to choose from, such as cafes, patisseries and pizza bars. On my cruising holiday, the pizzeria was able to transform their vegetarian pizza to a vegan option, just by removing the cheese. Vegan gluten-free bases were available, too. It’s just a matter of asking the chef about all ingredients used, from the bases to the sauce and toppings then asking the chef to adjust to suit your vegan needs. It’s amazing what you can find, just by asking and being thankful for the help you receive.

Have you been on a cruise as a vegan traveller? Did you have a good or bad experience? Do you have any cruising tips from your own travels? I’d love to hear about your cruising experiences in the comments below.

Disclaimer: The above vegan travel tips were developed as a result of my personal travelling experiences while travelling with Princess Cruises from Melbourne, Victoria to Hobart, Tasmania in Australia. I am not affiliated with, nor receive payments from, Princess Cruises for the purposes of this blog post.

Sponsored Post: Vegan Holiday Ideas when Travelling to Tasmania

Today’s post is sponsored by Webjet.com.au Australia and New Zealand’s leading online travel agency for cheap flights and cheap holiday packages.

Tasmania can be chilly but is warmly welcoming, cosy and easily explored from a vegan perspective. All you need to do is book in a few days, or a longer cheap holiday package, to reap the rewards that the Apple Isle can unveil.

What is enticing about Tasmania is its natural, unadulterated landscape, pristine waterways, ancient forests and wilderness. Organic produce (apples, especially), historic breweries and convict history give vegan travellers much to do and much to discover when holidaying here.

Witness the Breath-taking Wilderness in Tasmania

The ruggedness, clean air and sparkling waterways are common in Tasmania. Everywhere travellers travel will be smitten by Tasmania’s natural beauty and there are countless spots to experience the wilder side that Tasmania has to offer. Tahune Airwalk is an easy wilderness walk, including a walk among the canopy and treetops. Add the Huon Pine Track to the journey to experience Tasmania’s native Huon pines. For a multi-day hiking trip, the Three Capes Track is a four-day, easy to moderate graded walk through ‘three capes’. Starting at the historic convict site of Port Arthur, travellers walk through untouched wilderness from Cape Raoul to Cape Hauy and Cape Pillar.

Meet the Local Wildlife at Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary

Take a lazy drive through Hobart’s suburbs for about 30 minutes to Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary. Many native animals who find themselves injured, orphaned or living in endangered habitats (even the endangered marsupial Tasmanian Devil) arrive at Bonorong. Owner and manager Greg Irons’ passion for animals and conservation started when he visited the sanctuary on his seventh birthday when he declared that he would “own this place one day”. Travellers can take a guided tour of the grounds to meet the animals who call this place home, or are being rehabilitated to be released back into the wild. Wombats, koalas, kangaroos, native birds, quolls, and reptiles are found here and tour fees go back into running Bonorong. A small onsite tuckshop sells snacks with vegan options and hot and cold drinks including coffees with soy milk.

593 Briggs Road, Brighton Tasmania 7030.

Sample the Amazing Vegan Food in Tasmania’s Capital

The vegan food scene in Hobart is a burgeoning one, with new places opening or established businesses adding vegan options to menus regularly. Even a trip to Salamanca Market on a Saturday is where travellers find vegan options or vegan stalls such as Spice Lotus or the Our Little Vegan Kitchen food van. This vegan caterer operates their mobile food van and travels to markets around southern Tasmania. HeartFood, Straight Up and Thai Veggie Hut are all on Liverpool Street, are all vegetarian but welcome vegans with vegan menu options. Hobart’s newest plant-based establishment is Veg Bar on Elizabeth Street that’s feeding vegan travellers with its fusion food menu. City Organics on Criterion Street is a go-to for vegan food supplies.

Wash it all down with Tasmania’s Local Vegan Beers

Cascade Brewery brews its beers on the edge of the world and is Australia’s oldest continually operating brewery, located in South Hobart. In 2013, Cascade decided to modernise its beer-making processes (using animal-based processing aids) to produce beers that are now all-vegan. Brewery and heritage tours including tastings run each day, seven days a week.

140 Cascade Road, South Hobart Tasmania 7004.

Another brewery that’s vegan-friendly is James Boag, 1881, on the banks of the Esk River in Launceston. This is an easy road-trip from Hobart, only two and a half hours one way. James Boag beers are known for using Tasmania’s pure waters and natural ingredients, and travellers can take a fully-guided tour here, too.

39 William Street Lane, Launceston Tasmania 7250.

So, have you ever travelled to Tasmania as a vegan yourself? What holiday tips would you share to other readers? I’d love to hear about your Tasmanian holiday tips, too!

Travel to Lake Macquarie in May for Whale Watching

Lake Macquarie, one of Australia’s best spots to travel to for whale watching, is located on the coast of New South Wales, only a half-hour’s drive from the coastal regional city of Newcastle. Lake Macquarie is Australia’s largest coastal salt-water lake; the perfect destination for migrating whales in Australia, and for us who travel – whale watching in May.

Why should you travel to Lake Macquarie for whale watching?

It’s uncanny that these majestic mammals choose Lake Macquarie as a migratory destination and Australia is lucky to be en-route for one of the largest mammal migrations in the world. Humpback whales for example travel an average of 500 kilometres from their feeding grounds in Antarctica to the warmer climates of Australia’s central coast, then up to the north to Cairns for breeding and feeding. Plus, there’s sun, sprawling sand beaches and warm weather if you’re escaping the winter cold in Australia’s south.

What species of whales will you see in Lake Macquarie during May?

This mass migration occurs between May and November each year, so that whales enjoy the warmer waters and abundant food before heading back after the winter season. Humpbacks, occasional orcas, Bryde’s whale and Southern Right whales all travel along the coast of eastern Australia and travellers can seek out prime whale watching spots to witness these gentle marine giants.  All travellers need is a car, backpack with binoculars, snacks and a camera.

Magnificent humpback whale breaching at Port Stephens, Australia.

Where are the best spots to seek out whale watching in Lake Macquarie?

Walk to Awabakal Viewpoint for one of the best vantage points for whale watching. To get there, walk through the Awabakal Nature Reserve from Dudley South through coastal heath and forest to Redhead. You’ll be rewarded with panoramic views of Lake Macquarie.

The Caves Beach Walk is a picturesque introduction to the Lake Macquarie area, where you can traverse the craggy cliffs, to the secluded beach which is among Wallarah National Park. Walking trails are easy to navigate, and sea caves can be explored during your whale-watching visit.

Another beautiful nature walk is the Ken and Audrey Owens Walk, which is a community-created coastal walkway through restored bushland. A concrete timber boardwalk leads to optimal whale watching, leading all the way to Norah Head from a viewpoint in the Owens Walkway car park.

Travel to the rocky headland of Redhead Bluff with views that span across the ocean and south over Nine Mile Beach towards Blacksmiths Beach and Swansea. This is Lake Macquarie’s prime whale watching viewpoint.

After a day of whale watching at Lake Macquarie, where can you refuel with vegan food?

Head to the Boulevard in Toronto for the all-day breakfast, brunch, lunch at Double Take Café; a café with vegan options on the menu.  Common Circus, another café with vegan options is located in Belmont, as well as Sesames on the Lake for Asian fusion cuisine with vegan options. All of these locales are within driving distance of Lake Macquarie.

Have you travelled to Lake Macquarie in May for whale watching? If not, and you’re keen to go, you can learn more by heading to the Visit Lake Macquarie website. Flights to Newcastle run regularly from major cities in Australia and a car can be hired on arrival.