A Year in Australia: Melbourne, Victoria....

We were in Melbourne for five days / four nights recently and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Melbourne and Sydney have always had a major rivalry (not unlike Vancouver and Toronto) and so we weren't too surprised when we found ourselves comparing the two very different cities repeatedly during our holiday.

Melbourne is the second largest city in Australia and the capital of Victoria. It is not exactly a pretty city. It is alot more industrial than Sydney and the weather is grey and bleak. However, it is VERY funky and stylish, much smaller and easier to get around as it is a planned city, and the people somewhat more laid back and friendlier! There is an interesting mix of old and new architecture and lovely parks and a river runs through the city. The city has the largest tram network in the world - 245 kms of tracks, 500 trams and 1813 stops! It began in 1885 and adds to the European feeling of the city. The shopping and food is fantastic and we ate our way through the city! Throughout the trip we often thought the city felt like Glasgow except the food was muuuuuch better!

All in all we had a great time. Melbourne is also where my friends Kate V. (we worked together in Vancouver 10 yrs ago) and Catherine Y. (we met doing volunteer work as teenagers) make their home. It was great catching up with them as it's been a good 5 - 10 years since we last saw each other!

Day 1 - We left Northmead at 6am and flew to Avalon airport with Jetstar. The flight was just over an hour and a breeze. We picked up our wee rental car and within a few minutes, Fiona threw up! She had a bit of a fever and slept for most of the day while we had lunch along Chapel Street in Prahran and wandered the South Yarra area. We also took a drive out to St. Kilda for dinner and went back to our lovely apartment in S. Yarra off Toorak St.

Just before Fiona threw up!

Chic apartment in South Yarra.

Day 2 - Everyone awoke feeling much better and so we went to Harvey's for brekkie and made a stop at St. Kilda beach/playground before heading to Lorne , along the Great Ocean Road. There was some gorgeous scenery along the way. The great ocean road was built by 3000 soldiers who returned from WWI, over a period of 13 years. It is 243 km of breath taking scenery.

We stayed for one night at Allenvale Cottages just 2 km away from Lorne in the bush. It was great and relaxing. The cottages are managed by Sarah (aussie) and husband (Canadian from Halifax) and their three kids - 7, 5 and 4 (Kate). The girls explored with Kate at the river and climbed trees and had a blast.

The glam girls at Harvey's

St. Kilda

Torquay - our first glimpse of the ocean.

Margot took this one!

Gorgeous and huge waves!

Margot took this one too!

Split Point Lighthouse

Anglesea

The official sign

Check out that house! (near Fairhaven)

Dirt road to Allenvale Cottages - 2 km from Lorne beach

Buddy - beautiful welcome wagon

The Gables

A real wood-burning fireplace in Australia!

Day 3 - We had to pack up and leave Lorne. We drove in the direction of the 12 Apostles for about 20 minutes and stopped at a beach. The drive to Port Campbell is just too far for such a short trip and so we'll have to come back here again!

After checking into the youth hostel in Northern Melbourne, we went to Lygon Street in Carlton for dinner. The street has heaps of restaurants - mostly Italian but also Asian and anything you want. It was busy and bustling with young people, families - it had a great vibe. Apparently this is where the Italian maffia of Melbourne from the 1990s all started (in which the television series UnderBelly is based - the show has been very popular).

We drove west towards Wye River and stopped at this beach.

Built in trampolines at Lorne waterfront.

An empty skateboard park can provide hours of fun!

First night at a youth hostel for the girls - YHA - Melbourne Metro rooftop

Day 4 - We had a lovely breakfast at Kate and Chris Venters house in Glen Iris. We met their wonderful kids Samantha (age 4) and Christian (age 1). Their kids are beautiful and it was great to catch up.

In the afternoon, Margot and Fergus went to an Aussie Rules Footie game at the MCG - Richmond against Adelaide. They are mad for their footie here in Australia -- Aussie Rules in Victoria and South Australia are more popular and Rugby League and Rugby Union in NSW.

Karen and Fiona went for a wander through the arcades and shops of the laneways and alleys in the city centre. There are lots of places to explore - tiny wee dark places with cafes and boutique shops. Lots of fun!

In the evening we drove out to Forest Hills to Catherine and Alan Yeung's house. We met with Emily and Lawrence (their kids) and also Yawen (Catherine's cousin) and boyfriend Issac. It was lovely to catch up and also hear talented Lawrence (age 10) on the violin and flute!

Princess Fiona in her element with Princess Samantha

Karen with Kate

One of Melbourne's laneways/alleys

GPO building - Fiona and I had a lovely coffee and sandwich.

Inside the GPO

Day 5 - In the morning, Margot woke with a fever and it took awhile before the panadol started to work. We had a wander through Queen Victoria Market - the mother of all markets. It was a bit junkie but it was HUGE! We then went to Federation Square to the Australian Centre for the Moving Image. We caught a session at the Melbourne Children's Film Festival and wandered around the lanes a bit longer. We had lunch at Degraves Espresso and then headed to the Royal Botanical Gardens. Unfortunately the Children's Garden closed at 4pm but the main gardens was beautiful nevertheless. Finally we had dinner in Chinatown and drove back out to Avalon airport. It is a 50 minute drive and we had a totally laxidazy attitude and just about missed our flight but whew we made it!! Home by about 11:30pm. What a busy wee trip!