Melbourne

We've had a great day in the civilisation of Melbourne today and yesterday evening, shopping and eating. I've added some links to pictures of the places, as we couldn't get pictures of them all (and forgot!)

Yesterday evening we went for a walk to see the Skydeck Eureka thing (click here) - apparently the tallest building in the Southern Hemisphere.  We got there and it didn't look any more impressive than any of the buildings on Canary Wharf, so we decided that instead of spending £30 to get a lift to the top, we would go and eat nice food instead.  Good choice. The building did have giant gold bees on the side of it though, which was impressive. As neither of us like heights that much we were happy!

Skydeck Eureka thing

Impressive golden Bees - very large!

View over the bridge to the skydeck thingy

The Arts centre - there is a big spiky dome thing in the background like a giant net

We generally walked around a bit and ended up on Hardware Lane (click here) which was a bit like Brick Lane in London but nicer and not full of Indian restaurants, but all kinds of restaurants and bars.

Today we got the tourist (free) circle tram (a bit like the circle line in London but overground so you can actually SEE things!) and got off to have brunch at a little cafe in the Block arcade which was expensive but very chic and enjoyable.  Then we walked around some more and ended up in Melbourne Central, a shopping arcade above the station that has a massive Victorian stone building in it (click here) and a big cone on top of the shopping arcade to house the stone building (click here).

Block Arcade for Brunch

Mmmm hot chocolate!

Pig joins us for brunch

Pig liked to ride the escalator alone, with thought it was time to let go and let him do it.

We shopped a bit and I got my nails in-filled as they were starting to come off.  I've got a nice purple shade now :)

It then started to rain so much that we cancelled our plans to go to the beach at St Kildas and decided to stay in the shopping centre instead.  We eat at Nandos in a cunning plan to hope that the rain would stop and then we could walk back to the hotel.  But it didn't so we had to get a taxi, which Johan managed to get - much to my delight.  It really rained - big heavy drops of rain and lots of them!

  

Me at the nail place - Johan was very bored so taking these gave him a reason to live for about 2 hours!

Now we are back at the hotel having a mini rest and then we will hit the gym soon which is on level 11 and overlooks the city centre with big glass windows.

Melbourne from Apollo Bay

After a very loooong drive we have made it to Melbourne. We very nearly got flattened by a tram but it missed us. Phew. We set off from Apollo Bay at 10am this morning a drove on some very winding roads along the sea, with beautiful, yet scary views.

This is my fear picture - one I accidentally took when I was clasping hold of the camera so tight as we were going along a winding road with a sheer cliff edge along the side

Sheeoak Falls - supposed to be a waterfall but after trekking the '600m' (which was more like a mile) through terrain you can see on the Lord of the Rings, but when we got there it was dried up!!

Johan looking for fish at one of our loo stops

An example of the types of houses there are - very colonially I feel.

Pancake lunch!

Yesterday we had a great day just reading, eating, watching a DVD and sleeping. Generally relaxing after a lot of travel. The room was amazing, we had a massive bath - see Johan modelling it below!

We've returned the hire car now and are looking forward to spending some time in civilisation! Tonight we plan to visit the night market and on Friday we have the chocoholics tour which I am SO excited about!

The Great Ocean Road

After a less than good night's sleep (for me anyway, Johan was ok) at the Comfort Inn (ironically, it wasn't that comfy) we were up and on the road by 10am. There was some kind of massive parrot fight at 6am as they were all squarking like mad! As breakfast wasn't included we got some pots of porridge in a supermarket in Barossa and made them by adding hot water from the kettle.  Smart. Mum, you should be proud - the camping days have equipped me well! :)

As we were on the road early we had time to stop in various different places along the Great Ocean Road to Apollo Bay, where we are staying for two nights.

We stopped at a variety of places and I can't remember the names of all of them, but they were all very beautiful and impressive.  I know the one with lots of columns in the sea is the 12 Apostles.  What was most impressive is the contrast of the almost turquoise sea with the yellow ochre/burnt umber/terracotta rocks.

I did most of the driving today, but Johan did the first bit.

The first island at The Bay of Island looks like a wedge of cake

The colours in the rocks

An opening - perhaps a collapsed arch?

An arch -  I think this was called a gorge

A cove

A grotto!

Just before the 12 Apostles

Look at the blue colour!

Very impressive how the different rocks have eroded and weathered in different ways

All the evil flies on my back, gr.

We got 'G'day' comments today due to our matching hats!

Pictures from the 12 Apostles:

Crazy surfers near the rocks!

A car window picture from Johan on the road very close to Apollo Bay

And another one!

Welcome to Victoria!

The Drive from Adelaide down the coastline has now taken us to the border from South Australia to Victoria. The signs at the border were too good an opportunity to pass up...

Port Fairy sucks a bit less...

Now sitting waiting for our food at Ramellas Cafe in Port Fairy, after having checked in at Comfort Inn, and had a bit of a walk around (taking in most of it, I'd think). To Victoria's immense joy, this place looks like it's got an impressive cake selection, and I think she's already zeroed in on an apple and custard layered cake :-)

The general opinion is that we are now a bit tired of "middle of nowhere" places, and are starting to look forward to Melbourne and civilisation.

Food coming soon...

My (Victoria) food was very nice, here is a picture of the pretty harbour:

On the way there we stopped at yet another nice beach, although we were freaked out by the sand beetles:

Argh!  They were everywhere.  At first you didn't notice them and then they were everywhere!

On the journey out of South Aus and into Victoria we stopped to change drivers and the prettiness of this field and tree captured me: