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Published: November 21st 2008
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Well we have arrived in Australia !
We decided to stay in a hip and trendy suburb of Melbourne but when we arrived early in the morning it just looked run down and delapidated. Our hostel is on one of the main tram routes into Melbourne centre and about 10 mins walk from the main area in St Kilda. So off we went to look around and found the main street in St Kilda, which is full of cafes, cake shops and bars - sort of like soho on the beach.
After a couple of days sightseeing in St Kilda and Melbourne we have found some nice things to do.
In Melbourne:
* Walk along the Yarra River water frontage and under the many bridges - nice views and quiet in the city centre
* Ride the free circle line tram around the outskirts of Melbourne centre, get an idea of the city and things to do
* Take a walk in the hidden lanes and arcades, stopping at a coffee shop to eat miniature cup cakes - yum
* Walk through the yellow grass in the inner city parks and look at the dry ponds and fountains
- Melbourne is in the midst of a bad drought
* Visit a micro brewery and sample their ales at lunchtime - nice
* Eat in the chinese precinct and get stuffed on chop stick rolled crispy duck pancakes !
* Visit Melbourne Gaol and see the gallows where Ned Kelly was hanged
* Take an organised tour round Queen Victoria Market, a huge fresh food market and get to sample tasters of cheese, meat, wine, pasta, cakes, crocodile sausage etc - beats buying lunch
In St Kilda:
* Have a really nice cake at one of the cake shops in the main street. The windows are chock full and it was so difficult to choose
* Have full aussie (english) breakfast in a cafe - this is a big event in St Kilda and runs from first light to late afternoon
* Look at the nice beach - its too bloody cold to swim or even sunbathe 😞
* Eat at Donovan's - a really great restaurant on the seafront; the best so far on the trip - but we will just have to try harder !
* Go into the
biggest pub we could find and have a couple of ales as the only straight people in a pub full of gays
* Send Bill to the barbers only to find out they offered a free beer with every haircut and played music on vinyl
One day we decided to go to Ballarat, an old gold mining town. Its about 100 Km from Melbourne so we let the train take us. Ballarat is set up as a authentic shanty town, just as it would have been in the gold rush 150 years ago. Buildings, mines and people in costume. It was a good day out, panning for gold (we didn't find any), watching a $100,000 gold ingot being smelted, going underground to visit a mid level mine - the deep ones are at 3000 feet.
We also went for a day out at Wilsons Promontory - a nature park about 3 hours drive out of Melbourne. This is a nature reserve set in original temporate forest. On the way in we stopped to look at a Echid (not sure we have the spelling right), a large light brown hedgehog type creature and not normally seen. First stop
was to climb Bishops Mt, 7km and 2 1/2 hour round trip - quite easy but a nice walk in the forest and the views from the top were good. Then it was onto Tidal River where we walked about 2 1/2k to Squeeky Beach. On the way Sue spotted a Wombat on the path (Bill only saw its bum) and looked at great views over the sea. Squeeky Beach really lives up to its name - its gives off loud squeeks as you walk along. There are also great orange coloured boulders at one end of the beach. We also saw a Cookaburra and a wallaby, both for the first time a very long and tiring day, but well worth it.
And Sue's birthday - Bill managed to keep what was arranged a surprise. First stop was Melbourne Casino (nothing like Las Vegas) where Sue managed to transform $50 into $560 in 10 mins and then retired to the bar to celebrate. She put 2 chips on the number 20 (her birthday) and the number came up along with a pile of winnings 😉. Then it was onto a meal on Melbourne's Tramcar Restaurant which goes round the
streets as you eat. The food was cooked on the tram (Kangaroo is nice) and was delicious, the wine plentyful and included in the price - Sue said she had a good time 😊
Time to move on now. Next week its the Great Ocean Road
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Sally and Colin
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see you in Sydney
What a fantastic trip you are having, sorry about the hospital trip but adds to the story! We are looking forward to catching up with you in Sydney on 1st January all being well! Love Sally and Colin