Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

South bank over the Yarra River

After several months of hitting the gravelled backroads of our little New Zealand we have landed on the shores of Australia. Australia, New Zealand's bigger cousin, an exciting new land to explore! 

Melbourne Day parades

Adorable little jockeys

Life over the great old ditch is pretty similar to New Zealand. The laid back attitude of locals who have found themselves suddenly in a big city is warm and friendly. 

From the airport we were greeted with a chirrupingly friendly 'g-day'. But however friendly the locals are there is always an element of caution. The threatening wildlife is menacing; besides their deadly snakes and man eating spiders, you can find crows that cackle a murderous laugh and black birds that replicate horrendous sounds of an early morning alarm clock. In the oceans harbour several species of the deadliest jelly-fish, sharks and killer whales. If that's not worrisome there is also the beautifully brutal weather systems that reek havoc over the country.

Otherwise, life has pretty much the same beat.

Cosmopolitan Melbourne, our first stop, and Australia's second largest city is very multi-cultural. Famous for it's regular events, climate, waterfront location architecture and nightlife. Together these ingredients make Melbourne perhaps Australia's most live-able city.

We did notice immediately that it is so much busier everywhere, more people, more cars, more trains–all fighting for their small space of road. With 4 million people in the city and outer suburbs it's logistically a transport nightmare. As tourists, trying to get from A to B was like not unlike a spider shifting left and right over a web of buses, trams and trains. 

After spending the last few weeks, roving in our camper it was nice to dress up a little and venture into Melbourne city. Catching in the tram, using our new MYKI cards seemed reasonably straight-forward (after we waited for rush hour to quieten). 

Watching the artists

Check the street art

Down in the heart of the central city on the cold rainy morning we arrived we had the opportunity to watch the joyous Melbourne cup pre-parades (Australia's primer thorough-bred horse racing event). We had made our way there to have a look around and were surprised when the parade trotted right on past us! 

Flinders street railway station

That day in the central city we visited Flinders central and Federation square, both central icons. We made our way up the busy Collins street to locate the national bank headquarters and sort out our bank accounts. Next we grabbed a small sushi lunch in a small mall before just aimlessly wandering around enjoying the small dark laneways and arcades.

John at the St Kildas Wharf

The following day was Tuesday, still a little dreary and overcast, we joined Kara's sister who was celebrating the Melbourne cup day antics at a bar by St Kilda beach.  

St Kildas, just several kilometers from the down town area was once home to Melbourne's elite during the Victorian era. Now-days the district has a real student bohemian vibe and is a popular yuppie destination!

Yarra cycle-way

The Australians went crazy over the race, men dressed to the nine's in ironed tuxedos and women glamourisely adorned in steeler high heels, floaty summer frocks and matching head pieces!

It shocked us how much money people were willing to put forward, beating ridiculous amounts on horses while getting notoriously drunk in the process and we thought we were splashing out on a $3,99 Shiraz! Everyone seemed to be having a really great time- shame the weather didn't hold out. 

Federation square

After returning from a short visit to Hobart, the unusually warm November weather didn’t deter us from a cycling down along the winding brown Yarra River into the city. The 10km trail took us through several parks and behind houses. Conveniently it also has a free public rock-climbing walls, under a bridge at the half way point! (Incase looking at all the beautiful nature gets too overwhelming!). 

Two happy cyclists

Not your best angle Kara

On our last day in Melbourne we were very fortunate to join Meg and Misha on a behind the scene tour to the local Southbank Carlton Brewery. 

Carlton brewery tour

Carlton Brewery

The eclectic brew house is famous for it's range of Australian favourites; like Carlton Draught, VB and Crown lager. After an extensive look at how they make the beer, how it's shipped and were it goes, the tour ended at the brewery's eclectic homey-feel bar. With our bottoms comfortably squeezed over the wooden bar stools we engulfed the free samples from their wide range of on tap beers and ciders!

John

Kara

Meg

Misha

For dinner later it was a special treat to be taken to M&M's favorite restaurant, not far down the road; "I rof dumplings". 

I <3 dumplings! 

Were we ate- no, we feasted on the small prawn and pork filled balls of yum. Lightly dripping in a sweet soya sauce, there was only silence and the soft clink of the bamboo chopsticks as our mouth's were over-filled.

Early the next morning we were up while the stars still shone and at the grand Melbourne central station to say a sad goodbye to our wonderful hosts. Our train: The Great Southern Rail took us from the bustling inner-city of Melbourne to the quiet laid back suburbs of Adelaide. 

Over the next two weeks we will be attending a MENSA camp in the Adelaide hills and looking forward to spending some time in the Barossa Valley. 


We are looking for some seasonal work and will hopefully be able to update you soon with our next plan!! 

Our first attempt at Kangaroo burgers

Again a really big thank you to Meg & Misha, who were extremely generous hosts! 

Tot siens,
John and Kara