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Melbourne

A 13-day adventure by Awesomes Read more
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  • Trip start
    October 24, 2024
    AwesomesMelbourneTraveler
    Our apartment at 253 Franklin StreetOur outlook from the apartment

    Melbourne Day 1

    October 25, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C

    We left last night at almost midnight and flew in to Melbourne at 6am. We have made this trip specially as we were invited for a wedding in Dandenong. We were fortunate to be able to check-in early at 830am at our Airbnb that was just a stone throw from the Queen Victoria Markets.
    We trundled our suitcases around the markets to kill time, found yummy coffee and a spinach and cheese Borek. Unfortunately after only nibbling an eigth of it because it was hot, the condensation weakened the paper bag and my borek fell through the bag onto the floor. I was most unimpressed.
    The apartment is very tiny but has everything we need. We checked in and had a nap before meeting up with our cousin for lunch and a catch up.
    After the catch up, Ruby and I went walking through a pocket size Falstaff park to do some shopping.
    I was tired after shopping, so we had an early dinner at 5pm at Dao Xiao Mian. We were both astonished to find that we could only have a small entree and a bowl of noodle to share whereas a couple on the next table had a bowl of noodle each, 4 entrees and a large plate of dumplings.
    Tired and drained, we made our way back to the apartment for an early night.    Read more

  • AwesomesMelbourneTraveler
    That's not how you toast marshmallow!!!Gelato after op shopRice Paper Scissors at Hardware Lane

    Melbourne Day 2 Brunswick Street

    October 26, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C

    To begin our day after a good sleep in, we had to go to Queen Victoria Markets for our second attempt at having borek, after our last miserable one. By the time we got to Queen Victoria Markets it was nearly 1030am.
    Not only did we have borek but fresh fruit juice, coffee and a dozen St Helen's oysters. They were plump, fresh and juicy. After such a heavy meal we walked to Brunswick Street through the lush and beautiful Carlton gardens. Passing beautiful trees, fountains and a wedding, with other couples having their photo shoot. It's putting us in the mood for a rather wedding themed trip
    After walking all that way we had to stop for sustenance at Alimentari. A very busy and crowded eatery with the yummiest porchetta sandwich. There we met a nice couple from Melbourne who were going to visit Bunker Bay in 2 weeks and were very helpful recommending places to visit and eat in Melbourne.
    Ruby realised she hadn't packed any thermals and was panicking that we would be cold on our campervan leg of our trip. That crisis was averted when we found the Sacred Heart Op Shop which happened to have thermals on special for $2. Such divine intervention.
    We had the best coffee and hazel nut cake gelato after our big buy at the op shop.
    We went specially to Brunswick Street Fitzroy the Rose Street Market and the Fitzroy Mill markets but were rather disappointed as they were much smaller and nothing appealed to us.
    We did end the day well with a lovely dinner at Rice Paper Scissors at Hardware Lane for Thai fusion food. A nice reward for a 14.5km walking day.    Read more

  • AwesomesMelbourneTraveler
    Venus by Jeff CoonsRembrandtThe SalonDinner at Stalactites

    Melb Day 3 National Gallery of Victoria

    October 27, 2024 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 15 °C

    Breakfast was spiral kale and leek borek and a bratwurst as we weren't planning on having lunch but having an early dinner after the gallery

    We were very impressed with the quality of art at the National Gallery of Victoria. There were a large number of works by the Masters, and other highly prized contemporary artists. In 1 of our 2 gallery tours of the day, we discussed that this was largely attributed to Alfred Felton. With his bequest the Gallery suddenly gained access to acquisition funds greater than those of the National and Tate galleries in London combined and, between 1904 and 2004, more than 15,000 items were purchased with an estimated value today of approximately one and a half billion dollars.
    We did not see everything, hardly peeped into the East Asian gallery despite spending almost 5 hours , including 2 free 1 hour tours and a very quick snack of our leftover breakfast spiral borek for lunch.
    We had to pick up a jumper from Southbank bought on Marketplace as
    I had completely forgot to pack anything for the potential cold nights in the campervan from Melbourne to Sydney later in our trip. That added an extra 2.4km on our walk to an early dinner. We had planned to have a Chinese meal but saw Stalactites, a Greek restaurant and decided upon that.    Read more

  • AwesomesMelbourneTraveler
    Breakfast at Gathered Cafe
    Warby Ovens National Park, Sunrise Trail

    Great Alpine Road Day 1

    October 28, 2024 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 15 °C

    Ruby found a car hire office that was only 100m from our accommodation. It was a very quick and easy process to get our Mazda CX-5 rental from East Coast Car Hire. Getting out of Melbourne City was another matter. I was very trepidous but managed to successfully execute a first and only right hook turn, without being even beeped at.
    Our first stop was for breakfast in Moonie Ponds at Gathered Cafe.
    They served the best matcha latte with lovely art and an interesting Vietnamese breakfast of sizzling beef, pate, laughing cow cheese, eggs and a tiger crusty roll. The serve was enormous so we shared. Infact we have been sharing at every meal so far. Quite economical and waist trimming.
    The drive to Milawa was very picturesque and 16 mins before the accommodation, Ruby found a short 6 km hike at the Warby Ovens National Park. It was a little undulating and rocky underfoot after the shit hill climb (actual hiking term coined by you-know-who) at the start. It was lovely to be amongst the tall grass trees and gums and views. Ruby commented that the under growth weren't as prickly as in West Australia. The highlight of the walk was finding 3 wild orchids.
    As we skipped lunch after the big breakfast , we couldn't wait to get to dinner at Merlot. We were so famished we had an entree and main each without sharing.
    Food was pricey but not as fine however the restaurant had nice ambience and a quiet dinner was rather special.
    Much as we enjoyed Melbourne, it is nice to be out of the city.    Read more

  • AwesomesMelbourneTraveler
    Beechworth, gold rush town with wide streetsBeechworth Post OfficeNewtown FallsHike that we thought was to Paradise Falls but it wasn't so.The hike we thought was to Paradise Falls ended at this log. Most bewildering.Paradise FallsSteps to Paradise FallsParadise FallsParadise FallsCows in a line heading to the milking shed

    Beechworth and Paradise Falls

    October 29, 2024 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 14 °C

    The Airbnb host made the most scrumptious breakfast of bacon and eggs from her chickens, muesli and fresh fruit.
    After the hearty breakfast we visited the small quaint town of Beechworth. An old gold mining town with the wide streets and beautiful old buildings and shops that line each side of the street.
    The tourist information lady in Melbourne told us to look out for koalas when we see a koala sign. On Wangaratta Beechworth Road, there was a Koala Next 5km sign. At 80 km/h, I spotted a furry lump on a tree. I made a U turn and didn't see the lump but on the next U turn almost giving up, I spotted the lump of fur again. So as I was going slow and hogging traffic, I was able to pull up on the road shoulder about 10m away. We walked back and found 2 koalas up 2 trees. Moving ever so slightly to readjust their perch. A wonderful find, on par with finding a rare orchid.
    After Beechworth, we returned to Milawa for cheese tasting as they are well known in this region. Ruby tasted the variety of goat cheeses and the blue ones. We both tasted the cheddar, camebert, brie and washed rind. My favourite was the Milawa White. It was an accidental cheese that was made to the blue cheese recipe but someone forgot to introduce the spores. So without the spores for blue cheese, it was a white cheese. It was so tasty they continued to make this cheese.
    Full from breakfast and cheeses we skipped lunch again. Ruby found a Paradise Falls hike on AllTrails app in King Valley area.
    The hike took us up a steady slope for 2.8km through a woodland. It was moderately interesting but there were no waterfalls. Infact the walk ended in the woodland at a log. Returning the way we came, we ended up at the car without finding the falls. However the AllTrails app directed us down a steep flight of stone steps to Paradise Falls. It did live up to it name. Ruby continued on a narrow track after the lookout in the direction of the falls, and we found ourselves right under the falls. We decided that since we were hot and sweaty from the hike and there was no one else around, we took a very quick 10 seconds natural shower under the spray of the falls. The water was freezing but refreshing. It was truly beautiful.
    Driving to dinner, we saw cows walking in single file heading towards the milking shed. They looked so cute marching in single file.    Read more

  • AwesomesMelbourneTraveler
    Argyll Bed and Breakfast in Milawa
    This was found on the mosaic trailSculpture of a phoenix found on the mosaic trailChristmas shop in BrightOvens RiverOne of the many swing bridges across the Ovens RiverCanyon WalkOvens River on Canyon WalkApex Lookout TrailDonkey Orchids in Apex Lookout TrailSun Orchids on Apex Lookout TrailView of Bright from Apex LookoutView from Apex LookoutLook at the large burrow over Grace's left shoulder.

    Myrtleford and Bright

    October 30, 2024 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 13 °C

    Our next accommodation in Eurobin is midway between Myrtleford and Bright. We didn't spend much time in Myrtleford as there wasn't much to see. Even their mosaic trail had no mosaics.
    So we checked in earlier at Eurobin and headed to Bright for an explore.
    Bright is an old mining town with a roaring Ovens River. On the walk along the river, there were still remnants of the tail race and sluicing trenches hand dug by the old Chinese miners.
    Another walk up to Apex Lookout provided a panoramic view of the town of Bright, Mt Feathertop, Mt Porepunkah, and Mt Bogong. An added bonus was finding some sun and donkey orchids.
    Our day finished with a yummy Thai dinner, Netflix and a well deserved rest.    Read more

  • AwesomesMelbourneTraveler
    The Horn from the Dickerson Falls Nature Reserve Hike
    Cabin built in the 1930'sOld GalleriesLadies Bath FallsDickerson Falls

    Mt Buffalo

    October 31, 2024 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 11 °C

    Today is a day spent doing 4 short hikes at different locations at Mt Buffalo.
    One hike was at the high point 1907m called The Horn.
    The other walks were Dickerson Falls Nature Reserve, Old Galleries, and Ladies Bath Falls.
    Each trail showcased different trees, plants and scenery. Fascinating as well as refreshing, especially when we stuck our feet into freezing water at the Ladies Bath Falls. Feet was all we were prepared to dunk in the falls.
    The altitude did make hiking a bit challenging for both of us. I was a little dizzy going up The Horn, very similar to the discomfort I felt climbing Mt Toolbronup in the Stirling Ranges. Ruby found it a little painful climbing up inclines at that altitude.
    We decided to do less and got back earlier to the accommodation for a rest.    Read more

  • AwesomesMelbourneTraveler
    Great Alpine RoadDead gum trees, resulting from a bad bush fireWas the highest point on the Great Alpine Rand meeting place for cyclists and cars in the early 1930Dinner PlainsArchitecture! Architecture!Omeo from the Great Alpine RoadOmeo Post OfficeOur accommodation

    Mt Hotham and Omeo

    November 1, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C

    Today was a very uneventful day. We drove from Eurobin to Omeo, through Mt Hotham, and Dinner Plains.
    Both towns are ski towns and very quiet now that ski season is over.
    The architecture of the chalets at Dinner Plains were very interesting, incorporating stone, with wood and weather boards.
    Mt Hotham had lots of high rise apartments and looked much like other ski resorts.
    The drive was picturesque with undulating terrain and surprisingly lots of dead gum trees. We later learnt that it was because of a very bad bush fire.
    We are now in Omeo for a night to rest and energize for the long drive tomorrow to Olinda.
    We were all set to unwind when the Jucy Rentals called to say that the booking for the campervan we were relocating was cancelled. This news threw us and we were frantically checking for alternatives. After much deliberation and anxiety, I made the decision to go back to Perth when we return our car to the airport on Tuesday 5/11.    Read more

  • AwesomesMelbourneTraveler

    Omeo to Olinda

    Nov 2–3, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    We set off bright and early, before 8am. The drive to Olinda was long but scenic and picturesque. On the way we stopped at Bairnsdale, Moe and Morwell. We went to the farmers market and got yummy apples at Bairnsdale, looked in Gippsland Art Gallery in Bairnsdale, bought fresh plump cherries at Moe and visited the Latrobe Regional Art Gallery in Morwell. I was very taken to the charcoal sketches and the aboriginal expressions of art at the respective galleries.
    We stopped at Trafalgar for a short leg stretch hike which turned out to be a lovely walk but with steep inclines and descents. We did all that without lunch, if you count an apple as lunch.
    Ruby found a lovely bracelet on Marketplace that matched a necklace she had, and we picked it up from Narre Warren South. Dinner was a shared bowl of hot mala noodles at the food court of Paradise Shopping Centre. We were even too tired to eat.
    We finally got to Olinda at 7.15pm.    Read more

  • AwesomesMelbourneTraveler
    RJ Hamer Arboretum
    Baby fernTeenage fernGrandpa fernWedding Tea CeremonyOlinda Tea House

    Olinda, Tanya and Williem's wedding

    November 3, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C

    The Airbnb accommodation in Olinda provides bread, muesli, Vegemite, peanut butter, jam, milk, yoghurt and so much more breakfast provisions.
    After a rather big breakfast, we did a hike around RJ Hamer Arboretum.
    It was so wonderful to walk amongst a variety of tall trees, and gigantic ferns,. I feel dwarfed in this magnificent forest.
    We had lovely lunch in Olinda village and had a little walk around. The highlight was the Emma Jennings Gallery.
    We then attended Tanya and Williem's Tea Ceremony and Wedding dinner.
    It was a moving experience and an honour to receive tea from the newly weds.
    The dinner was a ten course banquet
    at Olinda Tea House. Beautiful setting, amazing food and lovely catch-up with Aunty, cousins and friends.    Read more

  • AwesomesMelbourneTraveler
    King's crossaintKing's chocolate cakeA short drive around Olinda before dinner where we found a rock to sit upon with this view

    Olinda

    November 4, 2024 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 13 °C

    Today was a catch up with the cousins and the newly weds at a quirky restaurant called The Hatter and The Hare. As the name suggest, the restaurant is themed in the Alice in Wonderland decor and the names on the menu like Tweedledee, King's croissant, Curious Curiosity, etc.
    Food was cafe style, all day breakfast type food with an Asian fusion twist.
    The most sweet and thoughtful thing about the catch up was that, the newly weds paid for the entire meal to thank us for travelling over to Melbourne for their wedding.    Read more

  • AwesomesMelbourneTraveler
    Our beautiful Western Australia, photos taken about half hour before landing.

    Homeward Bound

    November 5, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    We were sad to leave the trees of Dandenong. Sad also that we never made the drive to Sydney. However, it was good to be home as both Ruby and I tested positive to COVID on our return. This strain of COVID zaps all energy and we slept for 36hrs from travel weariness and COVID.Read more

    Trip end
    November 5, 2024
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