Everyone we met in New Zealand told us how much they loved Melbourne, and they were right! What an incredible, vibrant city, and we’ve barely scratched its surface.
Despite Air New Zealand’s annoying requirement forcing us to physically check in at the Auckland airport (instead of online) and the longest walk to a gate that I’ve ever experienced, we had a non-eventful flight to Melbourne and even a decent in-flight meal on Sunday, June 3. As with New Zealand customs, Australia’s customs personnel were efficient and non-dramatic. Oh, if only the U.S. could learn from other country’s policies for international travel! Air New Zealand has already posted on their website info about the new/updated U.S. travel requirements, which are guaranteed to make our return trip a pain.
Anyway, back to Melbourne. The city has a fantastic public transportation system, including free trams for everyone within the city’s center. And right by our closest tram stop was the State Library of Victoria, a neoclassical structure established in 1854 that is still in use today. While the first two floors are devoted to reading rooms, the third and fourth floors offered exhibits.
On the fourth floor, there was an interesting history exhibit about the State of Victoria. Apparently, this is a popular outing for schoolchildren, and we listened as one of the guides told factual stories and interacted with the children. At one point, he was talking to the children about Ned Kelly, one of the last Australian bushrangers, an outlaw, gang leader and convicted police murderer. One of the little boys expressed enthusiasm for a displayed rifle, and the guide wasted no time describing in quite graphic detail (well, at least for 8-9-year olds, in my opinion) the dangers of guns. I wanted to applaud! Even more astounding was that the guide felt no need to self-censor, nor did the teachers comment or intervene. Now, that’s freedom of speech!
On the third floor, was an exhibit titled “World of the Book.” The presentations did a very good job of connecting books to our hearts and minds (as the description stated). While viewing the books of engraved artwork, hand-drawn and painted nature scenes, and elaborate covers, I couldn’t help feeling a little sad that we no longer value the interaction between the arts and sciences. Can you imagine if Darwin had tried to persuade the world of his findings without his intricate drawings? The same can be asked of Audubon’s “Birds of America,” which was on display.
On Tuesday, we visited Federation Square and the Australian Centre for the Moving Image. We were surprised and pleased to discover that the main part of the museum was free. This museum was also well presented, covering everything from the beginnings of the film industry to today’s social media. We walked around and viewed everything until our feet were numb. It was nice to gain a different country’s perspective on film/TV/Internet, which has such an impact on our lives.
Wednesday, we went by train to visit the 19th century mansion Rippon Lea. While the tour and the grounds were nice, we found the interior a bit disappointing.
Thursday, we finally made it to the Queen Victoria Market. Now, that was an impressive display of fruits and vegetables, meat, seafood (the Abalone was so fresh that it was still moving!), cheese and other deli products! We were surprised to find strawberries for sale at a somewhat reasonable price (remember, it’s winter, here) and promptly bought a small container. There is also a section for arts and crafts, but we had already blown our budget in the food section. That evening, we ate at an Italian restaurant on a side street lined with eating establishments, each of them enticing you to try their food as you walked by. A street performer entertained the al fresco diners with familiar songs, and everyone sang along. It was fun and reminded me a bit of dining in Italy.
Friday morning, we left Melbourne, and the rain has been following us off and on since. For two days, we followed the Great Ocean Road, stopping for the night in Apollo Bay and Cape Bridgewater…at least that was the plan. When we picked up our rental car, we were warned to avoid driving after dark due to the prevalence of kangaroos in the area, so we breathed a sigh of relief the second night (Saturday) when we arrived at Cape Bridgewater about 20 minutes before sunset—on a close-to-empty gas tank.
However, the room at the hotel (or an old house) was not at all to my liking: very old carpets, damp, cold. As you know, these are not issues for my stalwart other half, but when the proprietor told us that the only café in town was closed and gas could only be obtained in Portland, 30 minutes away, Herman determined that we would not be staying. So, off we drove in the dark, searching around every bend in the road for lurking kangaroos (please note, up to this point in our travels, we hadn’t even seen one of the creatures). Upon arrival in Portland, Herman successfully filled the gas tank via an automatic station, the type that doesn’t accept U.S. signature credit cards.
We then searched for a hotel room, which we thought would be easy, until we realized we’d been looking online at Portland, OREGON, not Australia. Yep, you guessed it; the entire town’s accommodations were sold out because of the holiday weekend (Queen’s Birthday) and several events. By this point, we were really hungry, so we managed to find a nice restaurant. While we ate, Herman found a hotel at a town that was over an hour away! He went ahead and booked it, though we were both dreading the drive…in the dark…with the kangaroos.
As we were getting ready to leave the restaurant, I told our sad tale to our waitress, who spoke to the hotel manager about our plight. Lo and behold, they were able to book us a room at their sister hotel down the street (someone had cancelled at the last minute). Huzzah!! Oh, did I mention that Saturday, June 9, was our 37th wedding anniversary? What a way to celebrate!
Yesterday, we drove away from the coast toward the Grampians, where we are staying for two nights. We have finally spotted numerous kangaroos (even a few resident ‘roos at our hotel) as well as wild Cockatoos, Kookaburras, Australian Magpies (they sound like broken cuckoo clocks) and Rosella parrots.
Tomorrow, we’re heading to Naracoorte, on the way to Adelaide. I’ll post again if and when we have decent Internet speed. Cheers!
Trambling 
Gorgeous scenery, birds, animals, buildings, markets – WOW!!!
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Thanks for keeping us with you on your journey! I have a nephew in the Melbourne area. If you get in trouble, he can come visit you in kangaroo jail.
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I got “tickled” (well, partly tickled, partly scared) about the possibility of y’all encountering kangaroos in the dark. The scared part because I think of drivers around here that have had run-ins with deer or wild hogs coming out of nowhere on dark country roads. My “tickled” part was thinking about y’all pulled over on the side of the road in the dark (after given up on getting a hotel or running out of gas) and y’all having fallen asleep and there’s a “knock” on the window. Herman looks up and it’s a kangaroo (standing up right) w/ a cop’s uniform on, with the warning that it’s dangerous to be out there – – – beware of the kangaroos. tee hee!
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Such beauty there just as in New Zealand.
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