Final Day in Melbourne.

Our final day in Melbourne!  It was quite a cool day yesterday and as it is the equivalent of our Octber, I thought winter had finally arrived! However, this morning dawned bright and sunny once again - max of 30’ We Met J for lunch. 

Melbourne is now the fastest growing city in Australia. It is multi cultural.  It is a very wealthy city as is exhibited by the number of designer shops in the city. It is definitely a young person’s city and one can see how is has attracted some of our brightest and best. The quality of life is exceptional - the numerous restaurants, the concerts and the festivals make for a vibrant city. 

We saw the Town Hall, which we had missed earlier. 

We looked down lanes  and saw coffee shops

and saw the graffiti artist at work. 

and saw one of the many arcades with upmarket shops 

and finally 

the pub with the Irish flag outside - the significance of which I do not know? 

We’re now in Tullarmarine Airport  awaiting our flight to Dublin via Doha - c 22/23 hours - maybe more......

Til the next trip - thank you dear reader for your indulgence.....

The Great Ocean Road

Yesterday we travelled the Great Ocean Road (GOR).  The GOR is the largest war memorial in the world. It was built between 1919 and 1932 by the soldiers returning from WW1.  From Melbourne to Torquay where the Ocean Road commenced is 1.1/2 hrs driving. The entire route to Warrnambool is 358km return! 

It was to be a long day. As time didn’t permit, we had to do the journey in one day. It was not drivable in a day so we took train and bus with V line, the public transport operator for Victoria. It was a compromise but it avoided taking a tour! (you already had my thoughts on tours!)  

The train departed Southern Station for Geelong ( pronounced Gelong) at precisely 09.10 hrs. It took an hour. A V- line bus met us at the station and we travelled to Torquay, where the GOR officially begins. 

We travelled on to Apollo Bay. At times the road hugged the coast, at other times the road climbed above the ocean.

The scenery was breathtaking - sandy beaches (so many that most were unoccupied), 

or extensive wave cut platforms. 

Apollo Bay is one of the highlights of the route. It was once a forested area from which logs were exported. The seas around are treacherous and there have been many ship wrecks - less than half have been recovered. 

Today Apollo Bay is a resort with the usual water  sports. 

After a 40 minute break ( we had just enough time to picnic at a nearby site)  and we were off on another bus. 

From here the landscape changed and the road wound uphill towards Laver’s Hill.

Here were areas of rain forest intermingled with cattle and sheep ranches. The ground is irrigated to produce grass for silage. 

Eventually, we arrived at the most famous site along the route - the 12 Apostles. 

                   St Patrick never came here!

However, due to erosion some of the apostles (sea stacks) have been eroded. I counted 7 but it depends on whether one calls a sea stump an apostle. 

From here we travelled to another geological feature -an arch described as London Bridge.

We continued our journey now on the coast then in the mountains unto we reached Warrnambool, from whence we took the 3.1/2 hour journey back to Southern Station Melbourne., arriving c. 12 hours later at 21.20hrs - a very enjoyable stress free day. 

Yarra Valley - Mornington - Melbourne

Breakfast at Oscars was a little ‘Faulty Towerish’. While a chef had cooked dinner, this morning one of the owners  was in charge of breakfast. We were the only residents yet when we arrived in the dining room, no table was set for breakfast  and the hot water burner was turned off  - hence cold coffee !!The proprietor put his head out of the kitchen door and said he was running late!! At his request, we had nominated breakfast time! The receptionist arrived to make us tea and coffee. The cooked breakfast was just about edible - the scrambled eggs unappetizing and the tomatoes burnt. Nor did we receive what we had been requested to order for breakfast at check -in.  At $320 it was expensive!! 

Having quitted Oscars, we drove towards the Mornington Penninsula and arrived at the Peninsula Spa. 

( No photographs of pools permitted because others privacy compromised)

It was a delightful place, set in a wooded landscape with various types of pools to treat all ailments. It also included a steam room and a sauna. We spent two hours there - we could have stayed all day - but time didn’t allow.  

We departed for the Mornington  Peninsula. It was again a beautiful day. We arrived at the Port Sea Hotel - an iconic landmark of the Mornington Peninsula. . 

The view from the dining room over Port Philip Bay was spectacular.  

We ordered lunch. I had crab and guess what - it was deep fried!! Why do the Aussies desecrate their fabulous fish by deep frying it.??  After lunch, we walked along the jetty, where numerous fishermen awaited their catch!! We continued along the coast but the view in many cases was obscured by trees. 

We returned to Melbourne, having spent two days enjoying some of the delights of the state of Victoria. 

The Yarra Valley

Last night, we went to CHINCHIN, another Melbourne institution, I am reliably advised.  To eat at both The Empress of China and CHINCHIN, one has to queue to book a table and then wait - no advance booking!! We adjourned to a nearby hostelry and were called two  hours later!! The food was amazing - a fusion of foods too complex to describe here but so delicious that even on a weekday afternoon, there is a queue for tables. There are fixed price tasting menus or one can order from the an a la carte menu.  We chose the tasting menus. 

Again the city was buzzing - a young person’s paradise with loud music everywhere!!   

The morning commenced with breakfast at Neds - a bakery in South Yarra. Having collected the car, we set forth for the Yarra Valley. It is a beautiful, warm morning with a balmy breeze. It's reputed reach 30 today. How will we adjust to the reported appalling weather at home??

Our first call was to the Chandon Winery, part of the Moet et Chandon group. 

It was very commercialised so we departed having sampled one sparkling wine. A few kilometers further on, we visited Helen’s Hill Winery. 

It was quieter here and they were generous with their samples. We lunched on a cheese platter. 

We continued our tour with a visit to the Four Pillars. 

This distillery is famous for its gin, including one made with the addition of a shiraz!!! Unfortunately, it is in so much demand that stocks had run out. 

Our final call was to Innocent Bystander. 

Though tastings were generous, it was in fact a wine warehouse in a village. 

We drove to Oscars - our overnight destination. It is located in extensive grounds on the banks of the Yarra. 

We planned to see the sunset on the deck but unfortunately clouds gathered and obscured the sun. 

Dinner consisted of Scotch steaks for CC and J and kangaroo sausages for me. Food was delicious but at this stage I’m fooded out!! 

Tomorrow, we explore the Mornington  Penninsula....,,,

Hobart - Melbourne

Breakfast of fresh fruit, eggs graced with edible flowers and tea served in china cups befitted a hostelry with a long history 

We departed Longford for Hobart airport.- our journey was hampered by numerous road works and town speed limits. We boarded the flight to Melbourne (1hr) and taxied to South Yarra.  As it was evening rush hour, the traffic was very heavy both entering and leaving the city, which gave us ample opportunity to talk to our taxi driver, an electrical engineer, born in Dubai of Indian parents. He was working for a large engineering company here and completing his Masters. He hoped to do a PhD but wasn’t committing to Melbourne even though he enjoyed its multicultural acceptance - a far cry from the inately conservative city, I worked in, in the 70s. He was taxi-ing  part time. One has to admire the Indians - such hard workers. 

On arrival at our apartment - two doors down from J, we took the train - 2 stops - to Flinders Street station - that architecturally beautiful building hadn’t changed.   We walked to Chinatown. 

What a buzz! It was teeming with young people  celebrating the week-end. 

We adjourned to  a small restaurant renowned for its dumplings. 

We ate well. We left J to meet her friends and returned to the apartment to rest. 

This morning we are brunching with Js friends. They have been following my blog and want to feature in it!! It appears they are fascinated by the fact that I came  to work in Melbourne in the 70s and want to hear my recollections! It should be interesting !!!

We met for brunch (a Melbourne institution) at Como, a National Trust Property located in South Yarra. 

The weather was glorious for a late Autumn day. The temperature was c.24 as we sat outside.  We travelled with Sh from Abbeyfeale to the venue, then A from Askeaton arrived followed by Sa and  Hal both Corkonians. I’m glad J has found her Limerick roots - even if she had to go to Australia to do so.! The girls all want a mention as they’re following the blog with a special hello to Sa, whom I am reliably informed, is the blog’s greatest fan! 

The variety of brunch available was infinite. From corn + zuccchini fritters, cheese toast and bacon to eggs and bacon with an Aussie twist, unlike anything one would breakfast on in Ireland. The Aussies love their eggs and particularly pride themselves on their poached eggs which are slow cooked at 63F. These dishes were complimented with Tickled Pinks and Black and Blue - juices) , Long Blacks (black coffees) and Flat Whites (white coffees). Brunch was delicious and the company entertaining as the topics of conversation  turned to visa challenges and their return date to Ireland!  What a lovely group of girls.  

After brunch, CC, Jane and I visited the Botanical Gardens bathed in glorious sunshine. 

The trees were still clothed in green, it appears Autumn comes later in the Southern Hemisphere.  The range of blossoms was limited. You gardeners might enjoy researching the names? 

In the Botanical Gardens, we visited the War Memorial to the two World Wars. The war memorials are very important to the Aussies as Australia lost so many men in both wars. 

Later, we walked back to our apartment on a shaded street  pathway. 

What a wonderful way to spend a Saturday.! 

Tonight we’re going to meet my niece L in CHINCHIN, another Melbourne institution, I’m reliably informed. 

More tomorrow........