So nice [View Full Entry]

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We went to Noel's to watch the Grand Final, only to see the Swans being beaten by just one point after coming back in the last quarter. We went out in South Melbourne that night where all the Bloods supporters were and danced the night away in the Golden Gate which was not the orginal plan but is what we ended up with. Then ended up going to Stalactites which is open 24 hours and has the best souvlakis in Melbourne. Of course it was a battle with Irene to even get there as she wanted to go to Mackers and [View Full Entry]

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The AFL Grand Final is always played at the MCG in Melbourne regardless of what teams are actually in the final. And as it turned out this year it was Sydney Swans v West Coast Eagles - neither a Victorian team. However, as AFL originated in Victoria many former Victorian teams have now moved state, Sydney used to be the old South Melbourne team and hence still have quite a large support base here. Therefore, a Grand Final parade with both teams is always held in Melbourne the Friday before the game, and then a parade is held in the finalist’s [View Full Entry]

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I visited the The Leonardo da Vinci Machines - An Exhibition of Genius where sixty four models of Da Vinci’s famous machines are featured, many of which can be touched, tried and tested by visitors, and each explores the master’s genius in design. The exhibition is from the Museum of Leonardo da Vinci in Italy. To satisfy the world-wide interest in Leonardo Da Vinci and his creative process, the Florentine artisans of the Niccolai family from Teknoart have spent the last half-century studying the mechanics of his projects and have created an outstanding exhibition of fully fun [View Full Entry]

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We went to dinner at Thali Thai to celebrate Sabine's birthday, Dave, Sabine and I met Annelise and Rob there. Poor Doug got the tram wrong and walked up the wrong end of Lygon Street! The food was lovely though, we couldn't even finish it they gave us so much! The Comfy Chair, a couple of doors down, is this funky little bar that has loads of second hand couches, loungers - "comfy chairs"! It's a totally chilled vibe, you can just relax into your chair....until of course mine unbalanced and hit Rob's arm that he just broke a week previously [View Full Entry]

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Rising 1270 metre (around 4000 feet) above Hobart’s harbour and the wide Derwent River, Mt Wellington gives a fantastic view of the city. It's a 21 kilometre drive to the summit, ending in panoramic views of Hobart, Bruny Island, South Arm and the Tasman Peninsula. The interpretation centre at the top protects is good to get away from the abnormally strong winds and a viewing platform on the western side of the car park looks out to the southern World Heritage Area beyond. The Aboriginal name for Mt Wellington is Unghbanyahletta or Poorawetter. In February 1836 Charles Darwin climbe [View Full Entry]

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We went to the Salamanca Market in Hobart which is just really really gorgeous, it has like 300 stalls from selling local crafts, clothes, fresh produce. There are different entertainment acts along the street, bands playing - a man spray painted silver , and just a really festy atmosphere. We then drove up north to a one horse town that looked as if it was literally still back in the 60s. We ended up staying the night in a little town south of Hobart called Snug! Was really cute though - just a little seaside town. [View Full Entry]

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We went to visit the Tasmanian Devils in a wildlife park. Tasmanian Devils seem to be dying off due to a cancer that is infecting them. This wildlife centre is dedicated to the eradication of the disease and have been really successful so far. They are now trying to stop any infected devils crossing over onto the Peninsula. The park is really nice and well done, they have some of the good birds like hawks and eagles … they are absolutely massive! They have some parrots and cockatoos as well which were nice to see, normally seeing birds bores tears out [View Full Entry]

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We drove down to Port Arthur, and I for one was expecting a town with a historical settlement on the outskirts….as it happens the town is on the outskirts of the settlement, the town consisting of one bakery and one shop. After paying for our orientation tour and boat cruise, you are given a Port Arthur booklet and a playing card that corresponds to one of the former inmates. Mine, the Seven of Hearts, turned out to belong to George Hunt who was originally transported from London at an unknown age for the crime of stealing a handkerchief. The original punishment [View Full Entry]

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We drove down to Tasman Peninsula and the scenery is absolutely amazing. Every five minutes you are hit with a beautiful inlet or lake or view of a mountain. We went for a drive down the coast and stopped at a little carpark where you can walk along the sea front towards the tessellated pavement - because of earth movements the rocks forming the sea front appear tessellated - as if they are tiled - by a giant! The flatness of the pavement is due to erosion by waves and by chemical action of sea water. Tasman's Arch further down the [View Full Entry]

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