Melbourne

After Sydney we flew to Melbourne. After the high cost of the big-city, it was nice to see some sane prices in Melbourne.

These bells are along the riverfront in downtown Melbourne. They play some beautiful music. Definitely worth a visit! I also highly recommend the Melbourne Museum. It was great!

We took a great group tour. We visited a winery that was not too impressive (we must be spoiled in OR), and a wildlife park/wombat sanctuary where we all had turns holding a wombat and feeding the kangaroos. We went to the beach where Christopher played with his new friend Maito and Clark got caught by a sneaker wave! The main highlight was the Penguin Parade. Thousands of small penguins came out of the water at sunset and trundled up the beach to their babies.  It was amazing.

If you ever go to Melbourne you have GOT to visit the Victoria Market.  Passing by on the tram it doesn't look like much of a place, but go inside the market gates and you will be amazed. Acres of produce, craft, food and manufactured goods stalls.  A great place to pick up the fixings for dinner, a new shirt, souvenirs and lunch all in one fun stop.  Christopher ate a huge avacado for breakfast (his choice)

For some reason, the touristy Penguin Parade Center had a huge stuffed koala that Christopher was very attracted to...

We arrived back in town after our penguin tour to learn that it had rained a LOT while we were away. Downtown there was a lot of damage apparent. Flooded stores and cars. It continued to rain hard all night, and by morning the street outside our hotel was completely flooded. It made it a little more difficult to negotiate the already-strange road on our quest for the freeway.

We went for a drive along the Great Ocean Road. This sundial mozaic with aboriginal themes was impressive.

These scenic photos were taken at the 12 Apostles. Quite beautiful, but a long drive from Melbourne. Next time I would do it as part of a tour.

Home              Photos of Port Douglas