We were fed up of the constant rain, so we flew south to Melbourne. We did wander if we’d done the right thing because it was quite cool, windy and cloudy when we arrived. The transfer from the airport to our hotel was really easy. We caught the Skybus outside the terminal. The bus took us directly to their bus station in Melbourne then their minibus took us to our hotel.
We had chosen the Travelodge Southbank which is just at the edge of the city centre. We couldn’t have picked a better location. It was really easy to spot the hotel,
just lookout for the gold bees next door.
just lookout for the gold bees next door.
From the hotel we were within walking distance of most of the museums, galleries and other attractions. We viewed quite a few of them while we were there. The central hub in Melbourne is Federation Square.
It is a large pedestrianized area surrounded by modern museums and street cafes and restaurants. Many open air events take place in the square. While we were there they had a Turkish cultural event, a wine tasting evening and the University of Victoria had some hands on events.
In the square they have deck chairs and cushions for the steps where you can sit and soak up the sun or watch the big screen which shows some of the events which have taken place there and adverts for future events.
It is a large pedestrianized area surrounded by modern museums and street cafes and restaurants. Many open air events take place in the square. While we were there they had a Turkish cultural event, a wine tasting evening and the University of Victoria had some hands on events.
In the square they have deck chairs and cushions for the steps where you can sit and soak up the sun or watch the big screen which shows some of the events which have taken place there and adverts for future events.
There are many pedestrian and cycle only paths throughout the waterfront area.
We hired a couple of bikes and took off along the paths. We headed out to the Melbourne cricket ground then across to the Rod Laver Arena where the Australian Open Tennis championship had taken place the week before.
We then passed the Olympic village before heading out along the riverbank. We cycled under the motorway where someone had erected climbing walls.
We stopped and watched for a while before continuing along the river. We eventually crossed the river and made our way back towards the town centre.
Several boat clubs have boat houses near the centre.
We watched some rowers practising before we dropped the bikes off at the cycle station.
We hired a couple of bikes and took off along the paths. We headed out to the Melbourne cricket ground then across to the Rod Laver Arena where the Australian Open Tennis championship had taken place the week before.
We then passed the Olympic village before heading out along the riverbank. We cycled under the motorway where someone had erected climbing walls.
We stopped and watched for a while before continuing along the river. We eventually crossed the river and made our way back towards the town centre.
Several boat clubs have boat houses near the centre.
We watched some rowers practising before we dropped the bikes off at the cycle station.
St Kilda is a beach suburb. We took the tram there a couple of times.
It is like a small town stuck in the 60’s or 70’s. Lots of individual shops selling all sorts of clothing, jewellery and gifts.
Practically every second shop in the main street is a cake shop. They all have tables and chairs outside where you can sit with your cake and coffee and watch the world go by. There is an old fashioned type of funfair called Luna Park.
The majority of the rides and side stalls are one’s we would have seen a few decades ago. They had a wooden rollercoaster where the brakeman stands in the middle between the two cars and pulls the brake to slow the car at the necessary points. It was quite nostalgic. The beach at St Kilda is not very deep, but they make good use of what they have. There was a national Beach Volleyball event on while we were there.
We sat on beanbags on the beach for ages watching the games.
Well I was watching the game. Syd might have been watching the girls in their miniscule bikini’s.
It is like a small town stuck in the 60’s or 70’s. Lots of individual shops selling all sorts of clothing, jewellery and gifts.
Practically every second shop in the main street is a cake shop. They all have tables and chairs outside where you can sit with your cake and coffee and watch the world go by. There is an old fashioned type of funfair called Luna Park.
The majority of the rides and side stalls are one’s we would have seen a few decades ago. They had a wooden rollercoaster where the brakeman stands in the middle between the two cars and pulls the brake to slow the car at the necessary points. It was quite nostalgic. The beach at St Kilda is not very deep, but they make good use of what they have. There was a national Beach Volleyball event on while we were there.
We sat on beanbags on the beach for ages watching the games.
Well I was watching the game. Syd might have been watching the girls in their miniscule bikini’s.
Melbourne is a beautiful city. Their war memorial building is a work of art.
It is shaped a bit like a pyramid.
The roof inside the monument follows the pyramid theme with a glass window at the top. In the middle of the floor of the main room there is a stone which represents the graves of all the soldiers who perished in the first world war. There is a hole in the building which lets a beam of sun light into the room. On the eleventh of November the sun is in a position where the light comes through the building at 11am and the beam hits the corner of the stone. The light then takes 11 minutes to cross the whole length of the stone. Quite an achievement. The crypt in the building houses a visitors centre telling stories of some of the soldiers who didn’t come home and showing the medals earned by some of the men. The outside of the memorial is just as impressive.
The gardens are beautiful. Various monuments have been erected to commemorate the soldiers lost in wars that have taken place since 1918.
It is shaped a bit like a pyramid.
The roof inside the monument follows the pyramid theme with a glass window at the top. In the middle of the floor of the main room there is a stone which represents the graves of all the soldiers who perished in the first world war. There is a hole in the building which lets a beam of sun light into the room. On the eleventh of November the sun is in a position where the light comes through the building at 11am and the beam hits the corner of the stone. The light then takes 11 minutes to cross the whole length of the stone. Quite an achievement. The crypt in the building houses a visitors centre telling stories of some of the soldiers who didn’t come home and showing the medals earned by some of the men. The outside of the memorial is just as impressive.
The gardens are beautiful. Various monuments have been erected to commemorate the soldiers lost in wars that have taken place since 1918.
There is a tall skyscraper called the Eureka Tower which has a viewing floor 88 stories up.
It takes 38 seconds to get to the 88th floor. On exiting the lift you can see all over Melbourne and the surrounding area.
The walls throughout the floor are glass, so you get a 360 degree view. They have an added extra. A glass cube which protrudes out of the side of the building. The floor is glass but is opaque when you enter. They then press a button and the floor clears leaving you with a view directly to the street beneath you. In typical Australian humour they then play the sound of glass cracking. I’m afraid to say I didn’t witness it in person.
It takes 38 seconds to get to the 88th floor. On exiting the lift you can see all over Melbourne and the surrounding area.
The walls throughout the floor are glass, so you get a 360 degree view. They have an added extra. A glass cube which protrudes out of the side of the building. The floor is glass but is opaque when you enter. They then press a button and the floor clears leaving you with a view directly to the street beneath you. In typical Australian humour they then play the sound of glass cracking. I’m afraid to say I didn’t witness it in person.
The city has something for everyone.
Lots of beautiful buildings both old and new.
some others have been turned into canvases for street art. There are many green areas throughout the city where you can wander through the gardens or sit and watch the world go by.
The docklands area is undergoing renovations but they have a lovely marina. There was a boat show taking place while we were there.
No we didn’t buy one, not even a small one.
The city has lots of small lanes which date back to when the city was first built.
Many of the lanes have been turned into arcades where you find lots of street cafes,
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| You sure you haven't been to Melbourne Chris?? |
The docklands area is undergoing renovations but they have a lovely marina. There was a boat show taking place while we were there.
No we didn’t buy one, not even a small one.
Melbourne was a city we didn’t really think we’d have time to see, but due to the floods in Queensland we took the opportunity to fly south and we’re both glad we did.
Even if we did walk our legs off!
Even if we did walk our legs off!
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